new PM--will it is stick out less as time goes on?

new PM--will it is stick out less as time goes on?

by Herbie - 2018-02-03 11:54:21

Hi Taco19, My pacemaker is four days older than yours, and I'm a bit surprised also by how definite the bulge under the skin feels, and looks. I'm hoping that as the stretched feeling wears off I won't be looking at it so much. I can say that my bruising (two red centimetre wide areas over the pacemaker) appeared after two days, but have gone after eight days. Like you, I would be interested to hear from anyone with more experience. 

NAW

by Shocked1 - 2018-02-03 13:44:39

It will always look like you have a small pack of cigarettes under your skin. You'll get used to it. It's worth it!  My husband's save his life!  Definitely. Bulge is a small matter in the general picture.

It does depend

by Jimmy Dinfla - 2018-02-03 13:47:59

Robin1 is right - it depends: device size, how deep was the pocket, how thin or thick your body frame is, recovery time after surgery, etc.  I am 7+ months, thin framed male and after the initially recovery, the ICD is still prominent.  The car seatbelt irritates my chest, so got some seatbelt mounted cushions (online) that mitigate this somewhat.

It depends

by Theknotguy - 2018-02-03 16:44:20

It depends upon body type, skin thickness, hydration, dehydration, tissue swelling, all sorts of stuff.  

Sometimes I get up in the AM and it's sticking out, other times I don't know it's there except for the scar.  If I'm dehydrated it sticks out.  If I've had plenty of water it doesn't.  Just depends.  

As long as everything is working I don't really care.  Think of it as a survival scar and am happy to have it.  My other option was being dead and I didn't like that option at all.  
 

Yes and No

by Grateful Heart - 2018-02-03 23:25:00

I have a CRT-D.  It settled in after about 8 months and appeared flat in my chest.  After about 18 months, I needed a lead revision.  Same original device was kept and now it sticks out of my chest.  That was over 7 years ago and it still sticks out. 

So...after the swelling goes down, it may flatten out in time, it may not. 

Grateful Heart