Hello from UK - Loopy Lou here!

Plastic Surgeon opinion?

by Gemita - 2023-02-08 07:21:04

Hello Loopy Lou, how nice to hear from you.  I am also in the UK - in Kent - and joined the Club about 4+ years ago.

I will leave that special one to answer your post because she has lots of experience dealing with scar tissue and knows how to get the most out of her team.  I am still in the learning process and still on my first pacemaker.  Not at all looking forward to them opening up the wound, but I have been told it is all very straightforward.  

I have seen Dermatix silicone gel mentioned here for treatment of scar tissue and also getting in a plastic surgeon to help your cardiologist to do a better job, to help keep the scar tissue to a minimum?  I suggest you have that meaningful conversation with your cardiac team and discuss your real concerns well before you need your replacement, so that you will have no nasty surprises.  

Anyway, greetings from Kent xx

Hey from poole!

by Loopy Lou - 2023-02-08 07:33:08

Congrats on your first PM!  Have you named it?!  Mine is Gerry the Pacemaker!

I don't really like my surgeon and his words to me were 'you don't like me anymore do you' when I went for my check to which I said.... 'why?" And he said it was easier for him!!! GRRRR!  How about thinking about us women who like to wear scoop tops and not look like we have been ravished by Wolverine...!   Or.... lol!

so I now have, one scar on my right side, and 2 on my left.  Oh well!

It is a straight forward procedure but I would rather be sedated than awake!

Louise x

Hi from sunny Bexley

by Gemita - 2023-02-08 08:19:09

My pacemaker is called Gemita, my username, named after our pet korat cat who was bossy, vocal and full of confidence.  Hopefully I’m none of those things.  Never knew my pacemaker would do so much to help me Louise.  I am delighted so far.  My doctors were spot on recommending I have one.

Yes I was fully sedated during implant - a general anaesthetic because of my nervous disposition and EP's preference.

Cannot understand why the easiest route wasn’t to go in through the same wound in your case, or at least one of them or are we missing something?   

Sedative!?!?

by Loopy Lou - 2023-02-08 08:21:07

Omg! You were able to have a sedative!!  I asked and they initially said NO because you have to 'cough' and 'sniff' !!!!  Sounds like you had a much better experience than me!

When did you get your sedative - were you aware of anything?!?

ugh

by Tracey_E - 2023-02-08 08:40:33

You know my thoughts on your surgeon!!!! I have 2 scars for 5 pacers, and the second scar was because they needed to put the new lead in a different place. I don't know anyone else who has a new scar for every surgery. I think your surgeon is just one of those words we don't say around here. Any chance he's moved or retired so you can have someone else do the next one?

And I've never been awake for any of them. General for the first two, conscious sedation for the last 3. (thinking that naughty word again!) Tell M you need my surgeon to do it. Won't cost much!! lol

Gemita, meet my buddy Loopy!! She's the one I went off to see when we left London. 

Yo Tracey!

by Loopy Lou - 2023-02-08 08:45:34

Yo Tracey!!!!!!  Wait whaaat?!!?!? You have never been awake!?!?!

and yes, my surgeon is a word we cannot mention - but we all think it!

Yes a general anaesthetic for me

by Gemita - 2023-02-08 08:56:54

Louise, when I went for my pre-admission I was told my EP would implant under a General Anaesthetic, so thought this was quite normal for pacemaker surgery until I came to the Pacemaker Club and realised that most members have their implant done under light sedation, some of whom clearly remembered their experience.  I would absolutely hate this and fight them all the way.

No, once I got the IV meds into the vein, I was out for the entire procedure and woke in recovery with just some light discomfort coming from my pacemaker site.  They kept me in overnight because of the GA and next day I took myself safely home by public transport.  I had it done in Guy’s & St. Thomas’ main London hospital, great team of caring electrophysiologists.

Tracey yes I gathered Loopy Lou was your buddy.  It is good to meet her.  She needs to come on here more often, wouldn’t you say?  

scars

by new to pace.... - 2023-02-08 09:32:04

they used a surgical glue and inside stiches, if you are not allergic to the glue.  Which i found out after that i am.

Also try acpuncture will help with the underlying scar tissue.

new to pace

Scars

by Aberdeen - 2023-02-08 14:24:57

I have 3 scars from 3 pacemaker surgeries. I didn't ask if they could use the first scar when I had the second surgery. For the third surgery the surgeon said he was inserting it in in a different place so the leads wouldn't fail again.

 I was self conscious but now if scars are visible I don't care any more! 
I find Dermatix gel very good.

Scars

by AgentX86 - 2023-02-08 15:49:56

I'm an old fart guy so scoop necklines aren't mich of a concern, thouhg I do appreciate them. 😇 I'm on my first but the scar is unobtrusive, not that it matters because I have a big Herman Munster, CABG, scar down the middle.

My PM surgery was done with a couple of locals.  One for the chest and one the leg for the AV ablation.  It worked for me.  Creating the pocket was painful but that was about it. I had to stay overnight for observation because I was then dependent.

Two of my three ablations were done with locals, the third with consious sedation (don't know the difference).

My Scars

by doublehorn48 - 2023-02-08 19:22:04

First off I think you need a different doctor. What a jerk. Scars don't mean much to a man but I can certaintly see where they would bother a woman. I think I've told this before but here goes. My first pms were put on the right side and one was put in my pertoral muscle. I have three good scars on that side. I used to drive a truck and then had to unload the trailer at restaurants. One day a young man at a restaurant was in the trailer helping me unload. Being young he was telling me how strong and tough he was. He lifted up his shirt and showed me a scar on his stomach that he had recieved in an accident The scar was about 3 inches long. When he was finished bragging he pulled down his shirt. At that point I pulled my shirt off and pointed at my scars on my right side. He looked kind of shocked and asked what had happened.. I answered, "a guy cut me with a knife". I still smile remembering the look on his face.

Scars

by annieg - 2023-02-09 17:37:03

Hi Loopy Lou. I'm 45 years old and have had many many pacemakers since age 5. So i've got the huge scar and drainage tube scars around my left side - the big one is a foot long. Then i've got a smaller scar on my left shoulder from a pacemaker, and now my final (hopefully) scar on my right shoulder for the 4 pacers I've had implanted there. It is by far the worst one - widening with every implant and getting a bit more ugly. I have tried creams for my shoulder scars and nothing works. I have gone to the makeup counter at a large department store  - and they did a great job covering my scars for a wedding I was in with spaghetti straps on the dress. They are a part of me - a part of my journey - but I too, sometimes wish them away. When asked about them from someone I may not know - I'm quick to say - knife fight. Sometimes laughter truly is the best medicine. 

Knife fight

by AgentX86 - 2023-02-09 22:05:34

Instead, tell them that a bunch of guys knocked you out and cut you.