pacemaker edge

Hi all,
I have noticed that when I put my left arm straight up beside my ear(i.e swimming)that the edge of my pacemaker is clearly visible through the skin on the side of my peck so it kind of sticks out on my left side.
Has anyone else noticed that this happens to them?
Cheers
Pete

4 Comments

Seeing the PM

by ela-girl - 2008-01-29 11:01:10

Pete-

Is your pacer under the muscle or not? I would assume you could see it pretty good against the skin when the skin is taut if the pm is just under the skin. Mine is under the muscle and into to my breast tissue so I don't see it at all. I do, however, have a little piece of one of the leads that I can see through my skin and can see it even better when the skin is taut. I would think that this is fairly normal depending on where and how your pm was placed and maybe even based on peoples' body types. If it doesn't hurt you and you've been cleared for swimming and whatnot...I would think it's all good--but I'm no doctor!

Enjoy swimming!
ela-girl

Hi Pete!

by Helen - 2008-01-30 01:01:17


My pacemaker kind of "hooks" or catches on my arm as I move my arm in a circluar motion.
I can't reach to scratch certain parts of my back due to the strange feeling as it catches. I also find that it is squashed between my arm and chest muscles as I lay on the pacemaker side to sleep - very uncomfortable!

The doctors told me that there was "limited" space near my collar bone and that that was the best that they could do.

Glad to have the pacer though!

Enjoy your swimming!
Kind regaards,
Helen

pacemaker & lead

by aldeer - 2008-01-30 11:01:31

Hi Pete.... I am also a swimmer, but even when I am not swimming I can feel & almost see my pm and definitely feel the lead wire with my finger (even see it) I probably have the extra loop that gevans mentioned because it certainly is not a straight wire. Mine is just under the skin and more in the chest area. (AV node ablation) as they say in all commercials "ask your doctor" :) aldeer (the old, but dedicated swimmer)

Surgeon know you swam?

by gevans - 2008-01-30 12:01:31

My Cardiologist was well aware of my activities (including swimming) and my abhorrence to a lifestyle that didn't permit my expression of those passions...and he said he purposely left extra "looping" of the leads to accommodate those wishes.

Gary

P.S. Everything is working wonderfully and I'm getting younger by the day (except in the mirror)

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