2nd PM and a bit uneasy

Hello! This Sunday will mark 8 years with my first PM and I could not be more grateful. At my last appointment, my doc said he thought I could make it to next summer before my replacement but lately I've been feeling "off." Something just doesn't feel right. I'm getting checked in the next few days to make sure that my battery has not turned off early (something my doc said was possible).
Now my question. My PM is implanted under the muscle (doc went in through my armpit). Does that affect the replacement procedure/recovery? I feel really optimistic after reading everyone's comments about how much easier the replacement procedure is than the initial implementation.

1 Comments

changing buried pm's

by Tracey_E - 2013-06-26 08:06:54

8 years is a great battery life! Most I've ever gotten is 7. I'm on #4 now. Mine is put in from the side also, tunneled under the breast. Having it buried means we're a little more sore on replacements but it's not bad. If the original surgery is a 10, the replacement is a 5-6 the first day or two, 2-3 by a couple of days. I have never taken more than Tylenol after the first few days, and that is mostly at night to sleep. I've gone on vacation twice now within a week or two of a replacement. The only restriction is watching the incision. The other limits the first time were for the leads and most of the soreness was making the pocket. This time it's just going through scar tissue.

If you aren't feeling right, it may have gone to EOL (end of life) mode. It's still pacing and keeping you safe, but it paces at a steady rate and cuts off all the bells and whistles so if you pace a lot you will feel it.

Good luck!!

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