Pacemaker Repocket surgery

Hi, Everyone!
I am scheduled to go into the cath lab tomorrow morning for a pacemaker revision- My surgeon is going to get rid of some scar tissue that is causing issues and move/repocket my pacemaker since it has moved a little and I can feel it "lift/pop" when I use my arm.
How long do you think the recovery will be? The Dr. says 2-3 days, but I am really nervous it will be longer. He is not doing anything to the leads.

Thanks!
ally

3 Comments

understandable!

by Tracey_E - 2014-04-17 11:04:07

I can see why you don't want it in your armpit! Sounds minor, wishing you a fast recovery. Keeping the same pocket has a much shorter healing time than making a new pocket.

After my 3rd replacement, mine got really achy all the time so that's why I had the pocket cleaned up. It's great now, don't even feel it.

Repocketing

by Ally86 - 2014-04-17 11:04:19

He said he is just "moving it back over " not touching muscle or doing a whole lot of rearranging. Hoping I will be ok. The pacer is driving me crazy and I dont want to feel it near my armpit anymore!

revision

by Tracey_E - 2014-04-17 11:04:51

When I had my last replacement, a plastic surgeon cleaned up the scar tissue and a lead was replaced. I was able to keep the same pocket, she just cleaned it up. I would say 2-3 days is overly optimistic. Mine is buried deep so I was pretty sore for a week, it was a good month before I could bend/stretch any direction without pulling/soreness. If yours is shallow it won't be nearly that long, but cleaning up one area and making a new pocket in a new place is two sore spots. It's not bad, but I don't think 2 days is realistic.

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But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.