8 year old with pacemaker

Hi, my eight year old son will be having pacemaker surgery this spring.  I am a newvous wreck, but I have been assured that he will be able to resume his daily active lifestyle once he is fully recovered.  He plays competive hockey and many different sports at school, and has 2 equally active brothers at home.  I am in the process of purchasing him a vital beat shirt and guard for him to wear as well...any other moms of active children have a pacemaker?...were they indeed able to resume to their "regualar" lifestyle once healed?.  Im also concered what his chest will look like once the implant is done.  Will the kids in the changerrom notice, or will kids notice it when he is swimming...does it really stick out??  He is shy and I would hate it kids point and make fun of soemthing sticking out of his chest...he is a slim boy...

1 Comments

Pacemakers in children

by Pacemum - 2018-02-19 15:44:17

My daughter has had a pacemaker since she was a few months old. She will be 18 next month.

It depends on where the pacemaker is placed as to how visible it is.   Her pacemakers have been placed in the usual adult position since about a week before her 8th birthday.  When her pacemakers were moved to this position they decided to place it under the muscle as it was less visible.   You cannot see her outline at all. She was very slim when the pacemaker was first placed in this position. I would enquire about where they are planning to put the pacemaker. If it can be placed under the muscle it will be less visible.

Any scar should fade to a very faint line over time and will be barely visible.  They tend to use a surgical glue to heal any wound which is very messy until any excess drops off but it does mean that you should get a nice faint line when it is all healed.

To avoid any complications it is best to stick to any advice from the cardiologist before resuming any physical activity.  There could be a 8 to 12 week ban on certain activities straight after implant but if your son sticks to the advice and waits to the end of any time limit he should not suffer any complications.

The cardiologist should be able to discuss any precautions that need to be taken before resuming each type of sport.

Hope that this helps.

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