new placement?

Hi I am new to this website and forum. I had a pacemaker implanted in 2004 my freshman year of high school. I hated it then and I hate it now. I have my pacemaker implanted just under my skin in the I guess "normal" area. I was looking at other forums and what not and noticed some people having it under their chest muscle? Just looking for more info on recovery time, how more serious is the surgery and what not. I am 21 and have not let this pacemaker change my life what so ever. I still train brazilian jiu jitsu, I play rugby, and workout regularly. I still am self conscious about it because I can still see it and I hate it. I have tried to except it but it still bothers me. I havent had the battery changed since I had it put in and my last checkup the rep said I have about another 1-3 years left. Thanks for your feed back.

-E

9 Comments

Submuscular Implant

by DawnM - 2011-10-05 02:10:40

I've had my PM for 4 months. My electrophysiologist was the one who recommended submuscular placement because he knew how self conscious I was with the esthetics of the PM. I have a very slight raise in the skin and a very small scar. If someone didn't know I have a PM, they'd never be able to tell (even in a swim suit or tank top). I highly recommend a submuscular implant if you can find an MD with plenty of experience implanting this way. I only took Vicodin for about 4-5 days and then took Tylenol for a few more days. The recovery was not that bad at all.

Best of luck!

ask

by Tracey_E - 2011-10-05 06:10:40

You should certainly ask about having it moved when you get your next replacement! Since you already have the scar, it may be easier to use the same incision but make the pocket deeper. Moving it to a totally new location would mean moving leads also and having a second scar.

Some drs are more open to and experienced in burying it than others. If your dr is at all hesitant, get a second opinion or ask about consulting with a plastic surgeon. My first one was done by a plastic surgeon. I'm on my 4th now and needed the pocket revised this last time because scar tissue had built up, a plastic surgeon did that also.

Mine is buried, it was done that way the first time rather than revised later. Recovery is a little longer than placing it just under the skin but it's not bad. I took pain meds to sleep the first week or so but other than that got by on tylenol. We're all different and heal at different rates, tho. If you search the old posts, we've had a few members who had the pocket revised and the pm buried deeper.

Good luck!

New Placement

by turboz24 - 2011-10-05 07:10:32

I also plan on having my ICD relocated once it's due for replacement (My current EP didn't implant the ICD). They really can't do anything with the current location, as the ICD is sitting directly on my pec muscle, nothing additional to burry it under without removing and opening a new incision under my armpit for a sub-pec placement.

" I still am self conscious about it because I can still see it and I hate it. I have tried to except it but it still bothers me." For me, hate isn't the right word.. Loathe is more appropriate. My current solution is just not to look.

I just wanted to make sure that a sub-pec placement isn't going to cause issues with heavy weight lifting, which my EP said it would not.

placement

by edejesus - 2011-10-05 09:10:37

Yea that was another one of my questions was how it will affect my pectoral muscle. I understand it would put me out of lifting for a certain amount of time, but after the recovery period will I be ok to lift heavy and what not. Ill have to ask my doc next time I go in, thanks for the imput you guys!

E

by donr - 2011-10-05 10:10:02

Lad, you are doing well on one front. You have not let the PM affect your life. A lot of folks really let the PM change their way of life & are miserable because of it.

BUT... you have let the PM poison your attitude. I promise you, unless you have a big, blinking neon sign on your chest that says "PM Planted Here," no one ever notices it. AND - if they do, that is their problem, not yours. You are functioning above the norm for people your age - in spite of a "Handicap," that really isn't. Let me tell you how obvious mine is: I was dragged into an ER after an auto accident with severe chest trauma that should have killed me. They did not see that I had a PM till, through a morphine induced stupor I told them! You have to learn to figuratively "spit in the eye" of anyone who makes a derogatory comment about your PM.

That little buddy you haul around LETS you do all that stuff you are proud of. Could you be as active as you are without it? Doesn't sound like it if you got it while still in HS.

I suggest you give your little buddy credit where it's due. Go lift weights w/o a shirt. Some dude asks you
"Hey, E, what's that scar on your chest?" Your answer - "My PM for my heart. Can you lift as much as I just did?" You have now established your reputation as an outstanding performer.

Hating your little buddy has eaten at you for 7 yrs, now. Think what it'll be like when you are on your third PM.

Oh, BTW - get that PM relocated at the next battery change - so you can lift more. That's a rational reason to do so.

Good luck.

Don

haha

by edejesus - 2011-10-05 10:10:10

Thats actualy what my doctor said. "you cant even see it"!! and the PM rep who does my check ups told me to stop manscaping which I though was funny. haha

Its just bothers me to see it out of the corner of my eye. On my last check up the doc and PM rep actually told me that I am not 100% dependant on the PM. Which I was pleased to find out. I still use it but if it were to stop working for whatever rare reason, Id still be ok and it wouldnt be a medical emergency.

My pediatric doc back in the day told me, "your going to need it sooner or later so why not sooner" so I guess thats the reason I got it put in so early.

I guess Im just worrying about cosmetic reasons. I have excepted the fact that I cant get it taken out, so hey, if I dont see it then it wont bother me.

E -

by donr - 2011-10-06 10:10:48

Well, now you've been told by a PM Host that no one sees it! At least I have that street cred! Better than your Cardio telling you & he's never had one.

BTW: I'm an OLD FART - 75 - made a few more trips around the Sun than you have. Am deafer than a post & wear two hearing aids. Behind the ear type. Would you believe that no one sees them, either????? Nope, no one. I can recall when I first got them, almost 25 yrs ago that I was pretty self conscious about them being seen. Took a while, but discovered that they were invisible, believe it or not - & I wear a crew cut!

Sounds like you have a better grip on reality than your first post implied. For that, I am happy. You sure came across as an angry young man in that one, embittered by what fate had dealt him. Trust me, not pretty.

BTW: I read your comment to David, the Brit Royal Marine. Good comment. Right attitude. Maybe you do have the "Spit in their eye" attitude I mentioned to you.

It's one thing to have them move the PM under a muscle at battery change time, but clearly another to have it done early for cosmetic reasons. The latter is not a good reason. Let your vanity be satisfied by what you can lift, not what you look like!

Don

I wish

by turboz24 - 2011-10-08 01:10:29

"Thats actualy what my doctor said. "you cant even see it"!! "

I wish I got that comment.

Mine usually range from "wow,that does look pretty bad." to "If you stopped working out it wouldn't be as visible".

I don't have to worry about the manscaping, since I don't take off my shirt anyways, but mine is also pretty sensitive. I'd say putting anything like a shaver on my ICD is like putting the same shaver against your teeth and switching it on..... ouch...

But then again we are talking about a .5" thick 2.5" sort of round piece of metal vs a pm, which is a lot smaller.

I would definately wait until battery replacement, anyways I doubt any insurance company would pay for replacement just for cosmetic reasons.

E -

by donr - 2011-10-08 08:10:55

Hey, E!!!!!! I got the answer about whether or not anybody sees your PM!

Friday I was getting some PT for a hip problem. First part involved getting into a waist deep pool for therapy w/ a pressurized jet of water & exercises. There was also a woman in the pool at the same time, working on therapy for two broken femurs.

We started chatting & did so for about half an hour. Naturally, we were in bathing suits.

She left the pool before I did & the thought of our exchange struck me. Got out, got dressed & found her in the main room, getting ready to leave.

Asked her straight out if she saw my PM. She told me "NO!" Then I told her why I asked. She thought it was pretty funny. Followed by the comment "Who looks for such a thing, when you are talking to people you look at their face."

So, there's one data point for you confirming what I told you.

Now go out & lift!

Don

You know you're wired when...

You prefer rechargeable batteries.

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My pacemaker was installed in 1998 and I have not felt better. The mental part is the toughest.