?'a post pacemaker implant

Scar

by Jdobbs93 - 2017-01-11 16:10:12

ive noticed that to, that some days it's annoying itchy and changing colors and others it's like It's not even there 

I'm happy about my scar now

by Jdobbs93 - 2017-01-11 22:56:30

i am starting to come around to my scar, yes it is a big eye opener, but I realize everyday without it I wouldn't be here!!! Yes it may not look beautiful to others but it makes me feel beautiful and very thankful to be alive 

scars

by Tracey_E - 2017-01-13 09:11:30

I've been paced more than 20 years and STILL regularly have people say "Oh you're so young!" I smile and tell them it doesn't hold me back and I'm lucky to have it. I wear tanks to the gym most every day that don't cover my scar, every once in a while someone asks about it. I smile, tell them that's my pacemaker, then get back to working out. I don't look or act like a heart patient, no one treats me like an invalid or tragic case. People follow our lead. If we feel sorry for ourselves, that invites pity. If we let them see someone healthy and well adjusted, they forget it's there. I got a new one last Feb and was amused at how many people had forgotten I had it. 

p.s. I got my first one at 27, so a few years older than you. I turned 50 last year. I'm healthy, have two kids in college, own a business, stay very active with hiking, skiiing, Crossfit, kayaking. There's nothing I want to do that I cannot and I rarely give the pacer a thought, other than to be grateful I have a condition with a relatively easy fix. Don't let it define you, it's just a hunk of metal. 

same

by Madamski - 2017-01-14 14:01:07

Hey! I got my PM a year ago and am 31 now. I basically have the same problems you have and it was not so long ago I got rally pissed off cause I realised I was gonna have that forever. But since that was right before a holiday when I hiked a lot and drove around (which I hadn´t done for 3 years cause I was too scared to faint during driving) I was got realy thankfull for having such an "easy" solution for my problem like a pacemaker.

As for people asking me about my scar: I started to enjoy showing people that I can be young and work out and look good with a pacemaker so they would lose their prejudice.

And somtimes I say: That´s a pacemaker, so I´m basically a robot, cool huh? OR if I really can´t be botherd I say I had a shoulder surgery a couple of years ago. Usually noone asks more after that and I can still tell them about the PM if I get into a deeper conversation.

Oh and I got told my scar looks sexy too ;)

Hope that helps a little.

Take care!

Gotta look at it differently

by MathTeacher - 2017-01-15 23:09:56

Hi Jess,

 I love Madamski's response.  The kids I teach think it's cool that I'm a cyborg, and no one ever mentions my scar.  My friend bought me a few scarves after my surgery, but I don't have a problem with it showing.  In fact, when I'm at the gym and someone complains they're getting tired, I brag and tell them I never get tired.  I'm like the Energy Bunny, and then I joke, "Need to borrow my batteries?"  It truly is how you look at it.

     I'm just sorry you can't lay on your left side.  I had my implant a few months before you and have been sleeping on that side for quite a while.  Talk to the doctor about not being able to hold things on that side.  You should be feeling better about those things by now.

     My husband was murdered ten days after I got my pacemaker.  To be honest, I don't remember a lot about my recovery and the days thereafter.  There are a lot of things much worse than getting a pacemaker.