pacemaker movement?

greetings all:
i am now just 7 weeks post-op PM implant and have a question. i am a thinner person with the PM implanted in the upper left chest area and it is quite noticable which does not really bother me (visually). my question is, at this point in recovery, does the PM shift its position under the skin to a certain extent? at times, it seems as though the appearance of the site changes-one day more pronounced on the left margin and another day more pronounced on the right side of the PM. it is suppossed to be this way? my first interrogation is not until 2/18 so have a ways to go. also, i have noticed a stitch (i believe,not sure. i had the dermadhesive) in the healed incision line. anyone else had this and if it is, what happened next?
thanks as always,
steve

8 Comments

Are we always going to feel it when we move?

by axg9504 - 2008-02-03 01:02:45

'm at 3 weeks and my PM clearly protrudes above the chest wall at one edge. I have a model with a 'bigger' battery and so I don't know if it's bigger than it's brethren. I'm wondering if I'm going to always feel the PM as I move my arm across my body? It's not a hassle and maybe I'll get used to it.

Position

by Janet - 2008-02-03 03:02:26

The main issues I have is moving form a lying position to upright. When I lie down, which right now I can only do on my back propped up, It feels as tough it moves towards my collar bone.

when I get up in the morning I have to hold my breast to stop it being too painful. After about 15 mins it settles down and is fine form the rest of the day.

Still a bit of soreness around the PM scar area and very tender to touch the operation sure. 6.5 weeks in.

Having said that I an back playing badminton as well as cycling and walking in the gym.

xx J

SHIFTING

by peter - 2008-02-03 06:02:02

Well some move around and some dont. Ive had mine for 11 months and it moves about about 4 inches as I move my arm up and down. No real discomfort though.
If it keeps moving I should mention it to the technicians. I am just a little concerned that one of my leads might fracture with all the constant movement. If anyone else has this movement please comment because we dont seem to know if its a potential problem or not. Cheers Peter

sugarmagnolia

by MHCHAMPION - 2008-02-03 08:02:21

Hi,
My PM actally shifted toward my sternum from the original site which is upper left chest area; just gradually over several months' time; have had it 2 1/2 years. It has stayed there; didn't shift back. Dr. said it is in a little sack which he constructed apparently from 'me" and the shift was ok.
I, too, am a skinny person.
Also I had a stitch protruding at one end for a couple of months; showed it to Nurse Practioner and she said it would drop out which it later did. I did not know when just missed it one day.

Take care.
Margaret

Stictch and Protruding

by Jules - 2008-02-03 08:02:37

Hi

Had my PM for three weeks now and as you say it does protrude there is no way that I can say you would not see it.

Also the nurse took out the stitches and today I have noticed that there is part of a stitch left in. Am going to find out if I can leave it.

Revision of Pm

by gsue55 - 2008-02-03 09:02:21

I got my Pm in Sept of 07. It started moving around quit a bit and I was having discomfort with it. I too am fairly thin.My Ep put lanicain(sp) all the way around my pm site to see if that would help...it did for the time period of about 1 1/2 weeks.

I went in on January 15th to have a revision done. They put my pm under a muscle. I am still recouping from that but..I think I might be on to something here.

I am hoping it helps as the Drs. have said ..if it doesn't they would move it to the other side. I don't know what that would do but...we will see.

Good Luck to all

Gloria

Same here!

by cottontop - 2008-02-03 11:02:22

I just had a check up and the Medtronics Rep. said that it is going to move around a little. When they put it in they make a pocket and she said it could shift. I am very thin and mine is placed under the skin and not the mucsle. I have not had discomfort with this. Hope everything is fine. I was very worried also but she put my mind at ease. I think I really new it was OK. Just good someone who knows telling me what I was hoping to hear. Oh, those mind games. I think they come free when you get a pacemaker! LOL
Take care,
Amy

visable pm & leads

by aldeer - 2008-02-03 11:02:32

I, also, had dermabond that was really great because I could take a shower the next day after implant. After a month or so, I did have a small stitch begin to show at the bottom of the incision. It worked its way out on its own. My upper body has almost no fat, and the pm is right under the skin, so it is always visable...especially the leads are. I have felt the pm slightly move at about five or six weeks while swimming, and at times seems to be showing more on one side then the other, but other then that it is just great. It was done the end of August 1007. Hope this helps. aldeer

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