Clothes
Just had my pacemaker implanted on 3/5/2009. What I am wondering is how noticeable this thing will be when summer comes around and I want to wear a sundress with thin straps or a tank top? I am not so worried about a slight scar, but more about the bump.
13 Comments
depends
by Tracey_E - 2009-03-12 07:03:20
It all depends on how your surgeon put it in, how good your surgeon is at minimizing scars, and how you're built. Some always remain a bump, some become nearly invisible. By six weeks or so, you should have a feel for how much of a lump you will have long term.
Vitamin E, cocoa butter and aloe can minimize the scar, make it blend in faster.
I Take the simple solution...
by turboz24 - 2009-03-12 10:03:27
As I was discussing with someone else in the chat, it has more to do with self perception than what other people will think. It's about how you feel about it. If you are extremely confident in you physical appearance, that's great...
Unless you are one of those gals/guys who thinks it's attractive for someone overweight or really hairy to wear a string bikini or speedo.........
My ICD protrudes a good deal and I really dislike my "growth". I take the simple out and just keep it well covered.
What?
by bowlrbob - 2009-03-12 10:03:41
I know I Iam only a man. But a scar a bump. How about your life. If this is offensive I am sorry I really am not a mean person. But I do value my life more than a bump. I think you will find that most people who see you will not notice or care. For me it is a badge of honor. Bowlrbob
I know this might cause some controversy so I am waiting for the hate mail.
Summer with an implant
by DebLynn - 2009-03-13 05:03:36
Trish,
Be sure to put sunscreen on. The area where your pacemaker is is gonna be very sensitive.
Deb
Trying to adjust, too
by DebLynn - 2009-03-13 05:03:55
I got my ICD last July. I may be old (53 now) but East Texas is HOT during the summer and I live in tank tops and can still wear a bikini. Thankfully, I don't have much of a scar, but the ICD does stick out (and is more painful) cuz I'm not that big.
Any top I can wear that doesn't fall on the ICD is the most comfortable. If people notice the big bump, they don't say anything. Admit it, we're all vain to a point. My mom stayed with me for a couple of weeks after I got the ICD. One morning after my shower, I came out bawling that I looked like a freak! Naturally, she said it wasn't that noticeable. To those of us who have them, they ARE!
Bob's right, it is a "badge of honor," but it's awful hard for us girls to adjust to something like this. Hey, we want to look good, ya' know!
Deb
My experience
by Melissa - 2009-03-13 06:03:08
Hi Trish,
I just got my first PM in Nov last year right at the beginning of summer (in Australia). Looking back now, I think I was worried that I would be self conscious about it, so I made an effort right at the start to wear things with skinny straps regardless of what I thought it looked like.
I think that helped because now, 4 months on, my scar has started to fade and I'm fine about wearing skinny straps. I find people don't really notice my bump even though when I look I can see it. I think my bump is more prominent on one side of the pacemaker and sort of sticks out a bit, but I've had some people look at the scar and ask if that's wear the actual pacemaker is so the bump can't have been too noticeable to them.
I'm a single female, so I sometimes wonder what guys will think - but really I know the right guy won't care!
Anyway so i've come to the conclusion that we take much more notice of our bumps & scars & other 'unique bits' than anyone else it ever going to! So try not to worry too much about it.
Ok, not sure if that helped at all....hope it did :-)
Enjoy your summer! .....mine's running out quickly!
Melissa
bob
by Tracey_E - 2009-03-13 06:03:27
no hate mail here, but I'll just point out that she wasn't complaining or whining poor me, she simply asked a question about healing. It's perfectly normal to be curious what it's going to look like, that's separate from understanding why we need it and being grateful to have it.
no WAY
by Tracey_E - 2009-03-13 09:03:19
Patch, I am soooo going to cancel my subscription to SI!!! And here I promised all my girl friends that I could get them autographed copies of you on the cover. Angelie and I had a girls night out planned and everything to give them out. This so sucks, it's just not right. I'm callin' ADA. Or AMA or CPA. One of them. Heads will roll.
bob
by jessie - 2009-03-13 12:03:48
i think the young ones are more self conscious and we well we are just dam lucky to be here. we have passed the age where it matters really. i understand tho where they are coming from definetely. it is just a non issue with me but then i don't have an icd either. my thoughts on this are that it isn't really important to me but it could be to some, so i know where you are coming from too. take care your friend jessie
Thanks
by trish525 - 2009-03-14 06:03:41
I truly appreciate all of your comments and opinions. I was just asking out of curiosity. As disconcerting as I find this whole pm thing, I thank God and modern medicine that I will be around to take care of my kids.
I have a special someone and his response to my scar was nothing about me could possibly bother him except not seeing me. I
Guess I was concerned too for my kids and how they would react to me having it uncovered.
kids
by Tracey_E - 2009-03-14 10:03:03
Trish, in my experience, kids will generally follow our lead. If you take it in stride and act like it's not a big deal, they will also. Conversely, if they see you nervous or fearful, or ashamed of the scar or the fact that you have a pm, they will act the same. Unless they're older, they probably don't even realize anything is much different, kids are incredibly resilient and adaptable.
Your someone special sounds like a keeper!
scars
by affolterlori - 2009-04-23 09:04:10
I am on my fourth pacemaker and will get my fifith in next 30 days. I was 25 when I got my first one and the scar never really bothered me. I am thin and it shows but i still wear bathing suits and what ever, some people stare, but for the most I feel people don't notice. I have 3 seperate scars as they cannot always go thru the last one. But hey, life is so good compared to before...try not to worry.
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what I thought
by trish525 - 2009-03-12 07:03:10
That was what I thought. I am small so I was pretty sure it wouldn't just disappear. I am told my surgeon is very good and I shouldn't have much of a scar. Thanks for the tip.