Left or right

Do the doctors usually put in the pacemaker on the left or the right? I’m asking because even though I write with my right hand I do everything else with my left. I use a cane on my left side, I drive with my left, lift everything, etc... there are very few things I do with my right because of an injury I had to my right hand which doesn’t allow me to bend my wrist or turn my wrist. 

Thanks. 

5 Comments

Left

by AgentX86 - 2018-07-20 08:23:47

They like to put it on the left side, not because most are right handed, rather that's where the preferred vein is. It can be put on the right side but it's more difficult. There has to be a really good reason to do so.

Have a similar problem

by Theknotguy - 2018-07-20 08:28:44

I'm ambidextrous.  Unfortunately I was unconscious when they put in the pacemaker so I woke up with the thing already implanted - on the left side.  There was some discussion with my wife but the doctor went ahead and used the left side as they normally do.  Fortunately he didn't go for an under the muscle implant.  

Since they did CPR and there were broken ribs it took me a lot longer to heal. In addition to breaking ribs and collapsing my right lung they also re-separated my right shoulder and damaged the left.  It took me two years to get back to "normal".  

Having said that, I get along fine with the pacemaker on the left.  I did pull the scar tissue about three months out when I threw the ball left-handed a little harder than I should have for the dog.  It took about another six weeks for the soreness to go away.  Now, four years out I can throw the ball as hard as I want left-handed and nothing hurts.  I'll never be a major league pitcher but I wasn't one anyway. The dog is more than happy for the attention and exercise.  

I volunteer at a charity wood shop.  Toss a lot of wood around.   At or about a year out I would work one day in the shop then spend the next four days with warm packs, cold packs, and Tylenol to help with muscle soreness and pain.  But I feel those problems were mostly due to problems from CPR.  

I've gone back to doing things left and right handed just as I did before the pacemaker and get along fine.  There have been several times I've forgotten about having the pacemaker and it's caused some amusing incidents but, for the most part, I don't even know it's there.  Even forgot I had it once and was leaning on a running drill with my pacemaker lying on top of the running electrical motor.  "Shouldn't be doing this", I thought.  No problems with the pacemaker.  

So unless you're into heavy weight lifting or some other heavy duty exercise I don't feel having the pacemaker in the normal shoulder "pocket" on the left side will be a hindrance to you.  The first few months may be a little more painful but after that you should get along fine.  
 

pick a side, any side

by Tracey_E - 2018-07-20 09:08:37

They prefer the left because it's the shortest distance to the heart. Once you heal, it won't matter which side it's on unless you shoot rifles or play violin. 

She's right

by doublehorn48 - 2018-07-20 10:20:17

As usual TraceyE is right.  If you're left handed and want to shoot a rifle, put the pm on the right side.  My pm was on the right side for 17 years then in 2004 it was put on left side.  I don't plan on shooting a rifle and I use my left arm like I did when I was 15 yrs. old.

right left or wrong

by The real Patch - 2018-07-20 18:15:00

come on, we know what some of you guys are talking about. Either learn to use your right hand or get a partner

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