PM Shifting

Has anyone noticed that there pm is or may not be in the same place as when it was implanted?

I feel like mine...and it looks like it has shifted upwards towards my collar bone. Sometimes it feels like it's jammed under my collarbone if I lay or reach a certain way.

Is is possible I dislodged it? Or is this still part of the settling in process?

Thanks,
Wendy

4 Comments

moving pm

by Hot Heart - 2009-10-21 01:10:54

hi there, mine has a little movement sometimes when i lie on it, but nothing major

HH

Pacemakers can move!!!!!!!

by Pookie - 2009-10-21 08:10:06

Anything is possible. For me my pacemaker moved right into my left armpit. It wasn't that uncomfortable in my armpit, but the leads were tugging and bothering me so that is why I opted to have another surgery.

After 6 months of complaining it was finally repositioned as the first doctor didn't suture it down, but after this new cardiologist fixed me, it hasn't moved since.

Good luck

Pookie

I 2nd what Frank said

by Angelie - 2009-10-21 09:10:16

Pm's will move around a bit if the doctor doesn't suture them in. I'm still in the healing process with my second one, but my first one moved around quite a bit. It would even go on it's side when I reached over with my left arm, or slept on my left side. It does feel a little funky, but otherwise harmless.

If it starts to hurt or be a bother to you in the fact that it hinders your normal range of motion, I suggest informing your doctor about it.

The only thing the doctor can do to fix it is by cutting you open again and rearranging it in the pocket. I know my little "odd" feelings didn't bother me enough to go through another surgery, so it's usually something you have to weigh the pros and cons of.

Good luck,
Angelie

Traveling pacer

by ElectricFrank - 2009-10-21 12:10:42

They are supposed to suture the pacemaker to the underlying tissue to keep it from shifting or flipping over. Often they don't do it.

As far as it riding up over your collar bone, that isn't uncommon. After spending a few weeks or months being very careful of movements we start getting more active. If I reach across with my left arm like putting some kinds of seatbelts on the top of the pacer flips up over my collar bone. It isn't painful so I don't think about it.

frank

You know you're wired when...

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Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.