New Pacemaker

Hi ladies,

i am new to having an ICD pacemaker implanted 19 days ago on my right side.  I had breast cancer in 2000 with a lumpectomy on my left breast. So that I would not have lymphodemia issues due to lymph nodes removed in my left arm, my electrophysiologist implanted the ICD pacemaker/defibrillator on my right side. Being right-handed has made it a challenge when blow drying my hair now. I hold my round hair brush in my left hand and hair dryer in my right hand. I am not supposed to raise my right arm above my shoulder for three months so that I don’t pull the three lead wires from the pacemaker that are implanted in my heart. So, to fix the problem my sister helped me rig my hairdryer to a microphone stand that she loaned me. We have it adjusted to a height above my head that does not burn my scalp when the hair dryer is on hot. It works like a charm! I just wanted to share this idea with you ladies who are also having a problem when trying to blow dry your hair. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do to her hairdo, right?

2 Comments

clever!

by Tracey_E - 2018-04-30 22:31:22

Nice way to work around a problem! Once you are fully healed, you should be back to doing whatever you want to do.

When I got my first one, we were newlyweds and my husband wanted to help and offered to dry my hair. Oh my lolol. I didn't have the heart to tell him just how awful it looked. He was so proud of himself. I let it air dry after that. 

Other than not raising it too high, be sure to use the arm normally so your shoulder does not freeze. 

Using arm

by janet3rdgrade - 2018-05-01 12:12:41

Thanks for the advice, Robin. Yes, I do use my right arm in a natural way because the doctor explained about getting frozen shoulder if you don’t. But, he also warned me not to be raising my arm over my head so that the leads have time to grow the scar tissue to keep them secure in my heart. I sure don’t want to have to repeat the operation because I lifted something too heavy or reached too high too soon. 

You know you're wired when...

You have a new body part.

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