It seems the EP is going to give me a choice do I want my pacemaker implanted under my skin or muscle?

I am not vain. I don't care if it shows even thru my clothes, I think so anyway......

So please help me with some stories to back up whatever decision I make.

1. I feel it will be a longer recovery if I have it under muscle. Am I correct?

2. Changing the battery in 10 years (I am 62) may be more difficult if the pacemaker is under muscle? Am I correct?

Anything else I should ask? Please tell me your experiences.

I appreciate any responses. This is my first pacemaker.

Peg

 

Hey. This will be my first one I am getting. I am 19 years old. My mom has one to. I am just wondering what to expect. There talking about putting it under my muscle. So the incision will be on the side. Anyone have one of these? What will I feel like after?

 

Hi there,

I just got an ICD/PM installed last week. submuscular. So far, so good. My presyncopal bradyarrythmia seems to be cured. I was wondering about a couple of things, however: how long will my collarbone feel like there is a parrot standing on it and is it normal to occasionally hear and feel little popping sounds coming from the chest area after the implantation? There's no pain or SOB but it's just plain weird!

Love this site by the way.

 

i cant remember the last time i posted a comment because i have finally had my surgery. i had a brand new pacer put in on december 13th, with NO insurance!! my precious family doctor pulled some strings with the local hospital here and i had my implant free! so, there are still great caring people around. talk about refreshing! so, dr. clardy, you are my angel!! i have recovered fully, and am feeling wonderful, better than i have in years. i had a boston scientific pacer put in, whom i had never heard of, but it turns out they've been around since the year i was born...1978. so, to all who dont have insurance, you might consider talking to either your family doctor or your local hospitals, and you might find the answers you need. it w...

 

My 17 year old daughter will be getting her first pacemaker in Feb. She has asked me to buy her creams to help any scars that she will receive, fade. I do not know of any. Are creams available, and if so do they work and will they be ok to use? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

I had my ICD implanted on Friday, Jan.13/2012.The surgery went well, the immediate recovery went well and after the confirming xray was clear to go home. First dressing came off within 48 hours,and the second the next day.No bleeding and minimal discomfort. Needed no pain relief at all. The one piece of great advice was to have a firm pillow pressed firmly against my chest while sleeping on my left side. It kept my left shoulder from drooping and pinching the ICD, incision, and any other collatoral damage during the surgery. I did notice one thing today is that I felt totally depressed. After both heart attacks and resultant angiograms and angioplasties I fell into to a rather deep pit. Apart from this I would recommend having this procedu...

 

I get dull pains in my left arm sometimes in the armpit area and a little bit down the arm it is just a dull sore ache more or less and if I move just right at the top part of the device. How long does it take for the nerves and muscles to repair?

 

My 10 years old son had a new pacemaker put in last week. we went to his check up and the doctor says that there is fluid laying on top of the pacemaker. that we have to keep a close eye on it. and also he had a pacemaker that has been in his belly area removed. that site is very swollen and the doctor says that there is a build up of blood laying under the incision. Has this happened to anyone before ? and if so what do they do for this ?

 

Hi,

They've implanted my firts defibrillator yesterday. I feel a twinge in my left shoulder and where the defib was put which is totally normal after only 24 h.

What I was wondering is that they didn't test my defib yesterday right after they've implanted it. Aren't they always supposed to put you to sleep for a couple of minutes in order to shock you and test the 'machine'?

Thanks for your answers.

 

Hi ..... Went into Day Surgery yesterday, 1/11/12, to have pacemaker implant. Operation at 7:30, met with surgeon, anaesthesiologist, and rep from Medtronic prior to surgery.   All went well and this a.m.another rep from Medtronic came to my room early for a post-op check of my pacemaker.  Surgeon came into room & said I could go home----so here I am.

No pain at site, bandage can be taken off tomorrow, sling for another day. Lots of do’s and dont’s in my hospital discharge papers..daughter is here playing nurse for a few days....

GER

 

It is now day 4 after op and I am happy to report I am feeling much better. I called the cardio and she said it was just post op reaction to drugs even although I did not have a general.
I am very relieved I feel so much better, did the washing, hanging out one arm stye. Looking forward to swimming, cycling and walking again with our beautiful warm weather in Perth.
Best wishes to the group you have been so supportive and informative. I will still follow for hints on life with a PM.
One thing I wonder and I guess will never know is did the ablation I had for AF cause my heart to stop for 4 secs on a fairly regular basis and hence the need for a PM.

 

I am a 41 year old female living in Ontario, Canada, and I got my pacemaker implanted 3.5 months ago (electrical signals in my heart didn't always work, so my heart would stop pumping and I would pass out). Because I didn't lift my arm for the 6-8 weeks after surgery, my arm and shoulder were very sore when I did start lifting. I find that first thing in the morning I have full range of movement with my left arm and hardly no pain at all. Then as the day goes on, I lose this range of movement and there is a lot of pain in my neck and across the back of my shoulder. Changing position during sleep wakes me because of the pain and I cannot sleep on the left side at all. The type of bra I wear definitely affects the amount of pain I have, but ...

 

Hi All,

Firstly Ian, Frank, Smitty, Mike, Kar4n and Cabg thanks for your helpful comments and advice on my previous posts,they pushed me to continue trying to get some answers so................

I eventually managed to get an appointment to get my pacemaker checked, this happened tuesday and it appears my appointment has gone the way of many others that have posted on here but im looking for a bit of hope as i can feel myself getting more down to the verge of depression by the day.

My pacemaker is working fine - 'everything is working well' apparently and only minor adjustments have been made to 'optimize' settings and preserve battery life, they didnt expand on the adjustments and i didnt ask (although i w...

 

Went back to Duke yesterday and my PM is working great ... Been in 4 weeks and no problems ! Rate at night will not go below 60. Daytime is 70-140. I go back again in March to run the tradmill and recheck. Doctor slowed PM down to 40 and then increased it to 100 yesterday and I felt fine. He also cut it off and my heart beat fine at 52 bpm. Said I looked healthy and he was amazed at how well I am doing. I have a medtronic single lead pacer in the bottom of my heart. 37 year old Male ...
I am so ready to get back to refereeing basketball and umpiring baseball ! ! !

Thanks for the prayers !

 

Hi all,

Any pre-operation advices (defibrillator implant on Thursday)?

Gals, what kind of bra and clothes should I bring at the hospital?

Thanks!

 

I only had my PM installed yesterday but am emotional and washed out. I felt great before I went in and was looking forward to felling even better. Is this normal postop blues

 

Hi All
Just a quick good news post. Just had my 4th PM surgery in 14 years and all has gone well. Have recovered much quicker than after last 3 which all had complications. It was such a relief to recover from surgery so quickly. Just have to sort out my Autoimmune issues and I'll be dangerous!

 

Hi ... am due into the hosp. this Wednesday, the 11th, for a PM.  wed. 11th for PM.

I took my BP tonight and it was 135/94 BUT my pulse was 135. I’ve never been aware of pulse before, just my BP, because that is where I have a problem.

Going to cardio tomorrow am to check my INR and possible get Lovenox Shot.

Thanx INGA and DON for your responses to my posting.

GER

 

Pacemaker installed almost 3 weeks ago. Seems there’s a liability issue between my employer and Dr. The Dr. says I can’t return to normal activities for 3 months and my employer isn’t convinced I’m ready to return to work based on the form my Dr. filled out called "Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee’s Serious Health Condition" under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

My supervisor is willing to put me on lighter duty but has to abide by the HR dept. So, I’m trying to get my supervisor/HR to send a note to my Dr. describing what my physical activities will be until the end of 3 months so the Dr. will hopefully ok me for work.

Understandably the D...

 

I was wondering if anyone has heard of having a pacemaker placed under the breast, not the breast muscle, but under the breast itself?