protruding ICD/pacemaker

It should settle in.

by Jax - 2017-05-06 17:29:01

For the first couple of weeks my pm stuck out.   It does settle down.  I can wear a fitted top and no one could tell that I have a pm.  Everyone heals differently.  I don't remember exactly how many weeks it took but it's ok now.  

icd/pm

by islandgirl - 2017-05-06 18:12:01

I received an icd/pm combination about 7 months ago.  Mine was implanted subpect, but I could see the wires below my collarbone.  I agree with Jax, it should settle in.  I can't see the wires any more.  

Sticking out

by Gotrhythm - 2017-05-06 19:16:24

At 95 lbs you are a little thing aren't you?

Don't judge how much it sticks out now. The swelling (perfectly normal) can take six months or more to go down completely.

But is it ever going to be completely invisible? Probably not. I'm on the petite side myself, slender, though not as slender as you. My pacemkaer still protrudes about 1/4 inch and the outline is clearly visible. Let's face it, a pacemaker or ICD is going to look a lot bigger, relatively speaking, on our chests than on someone 6'4" weighing 210 lbs.

So far, yes it's there, yes it's visible. And it's never been a problem.

3 year old pacemaker

by azkaren - 2017-05-07 22:13:50

Mine is very visible.  It sticks out and you  can figure out where the wires are.  It annoys me because when I bend over or roll over it flops and I can feel it's weight.  But I much prefer keeping it to having a procedure done to move it! 

least of your worries

by dwelch - 2017-05-10 00:27:14

Hate to say it but this is the least of your worries, much better to have it than not have it at all.  Was pretty skinny on pacer number one (30 years ago, they were huge, but icds might be huge today dont have one) and it stuck out the whole time, your body will adapt, it will try to smooth it out with some fat around the sides and over any wires so that the are not as pronouced.  the swelling, etc may go down, your skin will adapt...but you may very well be able to see this one for the duration, the next one will ideally be smaller and so on until you need a device upgrade (more leads) or going from pacer to icd if you dont already have an icd...Just got pacer number 5 my pocket has had decades to break in, it is a 3 lead instead of two lead so the connector end of the pacer is bigger no doubt, perhaps the battery too, so will see if the bulge settles down or not.  Either way would rather have it than not...give it time and let it settle in.

ICD sticking out

by OzHeart - 2017-05-17 04:31:49

Hi Grammaam8, like all the other responders to your post, my ICD was also really obvious for quite some time. Likewise I also had lots of severe bruising all over my chest & tummy - for what seemed like months!  I even thought that the surgeon must have jumped on me to push the thing into my chest!!! However, mine also settled-down after a couple of months and now it is almost - but not quite - invisible.  What is still visible is the scar where they cut the skin to insert it, and this occasionally gets a bit itchy.  You can feel where it is by running fingers over the area, but it's not painful in any way.  Like Dwelch has said, it's better to have it in than not.  I'm heavier than you (86kgs), but I'm not a big man.  I guess it could be better "hidden" in a bigger frame.  Don't worry, give it time to settle-in - which might be a few months.  All the best.  O.H.