Nervous for my pacemaker

Hello,

I am a 30 yr old female and I am scheduled to get my pacemaker on Thursday, 4/5/12, and I am very nervous. I have a few questions that I am hoping someone could answer for me.

First, I am an average sized female, if anything I am more on the thin side, and I am scared that you will be able to see the pacemaker budging out of my skin. Am I overreacting?  I googled pictures online (which probably wasn’t a good idea) and the pictures they showed, you could see it though the skin.

Also, l was born with a congenital heart block, so my body has never known what it feels like to have a heart beat higher then 50-60 beats per min. Am I going to feel different? I feel fine now, and I always have felt fine. I’ve never been lightheaded or had any symptoms from my heart conditions.  Am I going to feel like I am having a 24/7 anxiety attack now and feel like my heart is going to pop out of my chest? Will I have more energy? (I hope not... I’m kind of hyper as it is :)

I’m sure I have the same nervousness feelings that everyone has had before the surgery, but I just figured I would ask these questions in case someone could answer them for me.

Thanks!!!
Megan

12 Comments

Thanks!

by meganp - 2012-04-02 05:04:35

I just checked out your pic's Thanks!!!! i didnt realize i could do that.
I could only see your pacemaker in one of the pic's i think.... and it was not even that bad!!! i was expecting a lot woprse! so that make me feel a lot better.
Thansk again!!

placement of pacemaker

by Pookie - 2012-04-02 05:04:35

If you are really skinny and don't want the pacemaker to be seen there is a procedure where they can place the pacemaker underneath the breast - however, I don't know much about it -- just what I've read on here.

I too am quite thin and mine sticks out a lot. If you wanna know what mine looks like go to the Member Gallery (upper left hand corner) and type in Pookie and just my pictures will appear.

We are all different and for me I didn't care if people could see it or not. Heck, I don't even remember I have one now, but I've had mine since November of 2004. I was 42 when I got it and just turned 50 a week ago. I guess all I wanted is to feel good and didn't care about another scar.

Hopefully one of our female members will respond with information regarding the pacemaker being implanted under the breast - in the meantime you could always do a SEARCH (upper right hand corner) concerning this matter.

And feeling nervous prior to surgery is quite normal:)

Take care,
Pookie

LOL

by Pookie - 2012-04-02 05:04:48

Guess I've been a member here way too long.

I just looked in the Gallery = I have 2 pages of myself, is that vain or what........LOL. Mind you I've been on this site for almost 7 yrs:)

Pookie

It's all in the eye of the beholder

by bjbumblebee - 2012-04-02 06:04:05

I was 18 when I had my first pacemaker. I have a congenital heart block, my heart rate never went above 45. I cried and cried when I was told I had to have a pacemaker for fear it would show. My doctor got irritated with me but implanted it cosmetically so it did not stick out. After years of new generators the doctors starting placing it higher up and now it does show but now I don't really care. I'm 51 years old and my pacemaker is part of who I am and the generator and scars do not bother me. As far as feeling different, my lungs got really tired at first as they had to work harder to keep up with my beating heart. Immediately after they inserted a temporary pacemaker I felt warm all over for the first time, it was really quite wonderful. My first pacemaker was only a single chamber unit so it did not speed up so when I finally received my first dual chamber pacemaker exercising became so much easier, I had no idea! It's is scary I know but you may be surprised how much better you feel. I really do not know life without my pacemaker as it has been apart of me for 33 years.

Bonnie

Under the muscle

by ebfox - 2012-04-02 06:04:38

Hi Megan,

When mine was implanted a couple of months ago, the surgeon asked if I wanted it on top of the pectoral muscle, or under the muscle. On top is a much easier procedure and underneath is more painful. So you have that option if you don't want it to show at all.

In my humble opinion, anyone who would judge your appearance by a minor lump on your collar bone is not worth your time.

Regarding how you will feel- you should feel better than you do without it. If you feel worse, go back and work with the PM tech. They can adjust these things for individual lifestyle.

So good luck and let us know how it goes-

EB

Placement

by Heidiglassmeyer - 2012-04-02 07:04:01

Hi Megan,
Just to add to the above comments, I've had both placements as well. I am 43 now and have had my PM over 2 years. My first one was under the skin, the second under the chest muscle. I am far more comfortable with it under the muscle. If you decide on that placement you will want to make sure you discuss it with your surgeon as soon as you can. As already mentioned, recovery was more painful than under the skin but for me it was well worth it. I learned several tricks from other members prior to my surgery that helped ease the pain the first week:) happy to pass them along, just let me know.
Take care,
Heidi

Under the muscle

by SSteele - 2012-04-02 07:04:30

Hi Megan---
I'm thin too, and while having your pacer show is hardly the worst thing in the world, I had the surgeons (a year ago) put mine under the muscle. It doesn't show at all (unless you know right where to look) and if I want to wear that strapless evening gown or skimpy bathing suit, no one will know! It was a little (and I really mean "a little") more painful, but it was not a big deal at all, and I'm really happy with the result.

As for whether or not you'll feel different since you haven't had symptoms, I should think your doctor could shed light on that. I'm a runner and my running times went down! And those funny little sinking spells that I thought everybody had are just gone.

Good luck with the procedure. And don't worry---these guys (and gals) do this all the time. It'll be great.
Shirley

Getting A New Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2012-04-02 07:04:47

Hi Megan,

If visibility of the PM is of concern please talk to your dr about this before the surgery. I have had two PMs and the first one was as near invisible as you can imagine. The second one (by a different dr) is very visible, but it doesn't matter to me. However after seeing what I got and seeing what others have said here I have reached the conclusion that how a PM looks depends greatly on the skills of the dr. So let your concerns be known before hand.

Good luck,

Smitty

Thank you

by meganp - 2012-04-02 09:04:29

Thank you all so much for your responses!! I really appreciate it!!!:) 2 more days to go till I get my pacemaker!:)

HEY!!

by ReneeV2.0 - 2012-04-02 11:04:36

Megan it's great to meet you! I tried to send you a private message, but it says you don't exist. LOL.

I am sorry to hear that you need a pacemaker... however I am thrilled to see from your profile that you are from PA! I am from the Harrisburg Area! Are you getting your PM at Hershey Med by chance?

Just like you I am 30 (okay 31, but we are probably only months apart! LOL) and I am have my 1st pacemaker implant scheduled for April 18th. Small world huh?

Ive done a lot of research and have decided to get it done under my muscle, and the EP said that's no problem. She did say it would be a day or two extra of pain... but in the end that is worth it to me.

Id love to keep in touch and see how your surgery is going. Please feel free to send me an email at ReneeV2.0@gmail.com.


Good luck!! Remember - "you've got a friend in Pennsylvania" :)

Helllllllo

by edejesus - 2012-04-03 12:04:57

Hey Megan,

I too have a congenital heart block. Im 21 now and got my pm put in when I was 14. My pm is more for when Im sleeping or at rest, because my heart rate got a little low. But getting my heart rate up is fine by myself. I honestly never really felt a difference when I got my pm put in.

As for visibility Im not a female so I cant really help you. Im getting a submuscular implant on my next surgery which Im sure would help visibility wise so you should consider that like previous people have said.

I too was nervous before I got mine put in but the best advice I can give you is not to worry about it. I havent really done anything different since I got mine put in. Still active in sports and working out. I think alot of people over react about pacemakers and think their life is drastically going to change. Im sure everyones condition is different, but dont let your pm hold you back from what you want to do. Hope it all goes well!

-Eric

Under left arm/behind breast

by Jennheart - 2012-04-16 04:04:27

hey megan

i have congenital heart disease, i had my pacemaker since 1 month old, i am now 24. I use to have mine in my stomach, but when i turned 6 the surgeon made a small incision under my left arm and inserted the pacemaker there, its basically behind my left breast. It was the BEST thing they ever did for me, because that pacemaker lasted til i was 16 years (10 years!).

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