CAR AND VEHICLE SEAT BELTS

I have recently, three weeks ago, had a pacemaker fitted. Because I have scarring from a previous accident on my left shoulder and chest the pacemaker was fitted around my right shoulder.

I live in the UK and therefore drive on the left which means, as a driver I sit in the vehicle on the right hand side and the seat belt strap goes over my right shoulder and therefore directly over my pacemaker. The position of the belt is very uncomfortable although, as I have only recently had the PM fitted this may ease with time however, as the belt passes directly over my PM if I were to be involved in an accident the full force of the belt retaining my body would bear down on the PM. I see that there are cushions and pads available for comfort but in an accident I do not think they would help.

Currently I am wearing the belt routed under my right arm to avoid the PM but long term I believe this would significantly impact upon the ability of the seat belt to retain my body during an accident, are there any solutions?

5 Comments

Car seat belts

by H van Dyk - 2023-04-14 07:08:20

Same problem here. I think it will get better over time. My pacemaker is only 4 weeks old. Currently I move the belt as close to my neck as I can. Other people use a small pillow.

seat belts

by new to pace.... - 2023-04-14 07:14:16

Welcome to the club you did not want to belong to.  That accident you are so worried about may never happen.    For now you only need to raise the belt off the pacemaker.  In time you will not need to use any thing.  My sister sent me something that fit on the belt as was able to not sit right on the pacer.   Others speak about using a towel under the belt.  You can look in the search box on this page for other suggestions.  Next to the "logout" in the upper right hand corner. is what looks like a magnifer click on that and put your query in that.

new to pace

Be creative !

by IAN MC - 2023-04-14 07:34:53

I remember that I had to do a 600 mile car journey from the UK  to the South West of France on day 7 after implant.  The belt was directly over the PM  wound for much of the journey ( depending  on  whether I, or my  wife, was driving ).

I placed a large household sponge between the PM and the belt and it was incrediblly effective.

 Also I enjoyed watching my wife carry the suitcases  (which is one of the benefits of going on a touring holiday soon after a PM implant ! )

Ian

 

 

Seat belt

by AgentX86 - 2023-04-14 15:41:56

Routing the seat belt under the arm is incredibly dangerous.  It risks massive internal organ damage in the case of an accident. A little loose isn't nearly as dangerous. 

As others have noted, you want to lift the strap off the pacemaker.  The best thing I found is a harness cover.  These come in a variety of types.  Here in the States, they're sold anywhere car parts/accessories are sold (nearly everywhere).  Here is just one example:

<https://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Authentic-Sheepskin-Shoulder-Protector/dp/B07GJJ55NC/ref=sr_1_2_sspa>

Place this over the sternum and it'll lift the strap over your pacemaker.

oh no!

by dwelch - 2023-05-14 21:42:03

The one nice thing about driving on the wrong side of the road is that the seatbelt is not over your pacemaker.   That sucks that you couldnt take advangage of it.

This is the one thing about pacers that truly sucks.   The seatbelt.   I have had pacers for 35 years and tried all kinds of tricks.

Usually I have some winter gloves in each vehicle just in case.  They work in a pinch esp right after a new device.   A facecloth works as well.  You do not, certainly on a new pacer, want to use this as padding right on top of the device.  Too tender.   Either just under the device or just over although there isnt much space above the device to the shoulder, put something under, folded glove, facecloth, something to make a "bridge" over the pacer so that the belt is not actually touching and pressing on it.  

Some folks do this forever even after the incision heals.  I have one of those big fuzzy fake sheepskin seat belt covers and that provides enough padding for day to day use between new devices.  It does/can interfere with the seat belt retracting all the way or sometimes you have to help the belt so it doesnt interfere with the door closing.  You can take a pad like that and slide it down just under the device and also make a bridge, some folks I have read here do that.   

With my first two/three devices I had classic 60s vehicles with no shoulder straps, and would just hold the strap with my hand when driving in other vehicles.   Then I had a 1980 chevy truck and chevy had a clip on the belt that would slide you could slide it down to where it enters the retractor and set it so that it was just barely loose causing no pressure.  I spent years on later vehicles trying to replicate that little plastic clamp with marginal success.  Eventually trying various pads, including the one that does or did advertise on this site.  

Some folks are not senstive after the device heals and dont have a problem.  Mine for whatever reason is and the seatbelt is the only issue in living with a pacemaker.   Sorry that you cannot take advantage of where you live to avoid this problem.

 

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