Pacemaker left or right?

Playing

by BradyJohn - 2023-04-23 16:23:30

Hi there Violino,

Typically pacemakers are implanted on the left because that provides the best routing for the leads as they go to the heart.   I don't play violin, but one of my sons does,  so I've been around a lot of violin playing.  I'm fairly confident that if you are patient you will be able to play and forget the violin is there.   I would bring it to your appointment and show your doctor your concern. 

All the best! 

John 

placement

by Tracey_E - 2023-04-23 17:16:22

They usually put it on the left because the veins in that side are the shortest distance to the heart. Taking your violin along is a great idea. Make sure they are very clear what your needs are.

My ep brought in a plastic surgeon to place mine. He didn't want to mess with alternate placement, but understood that placement was important to me. I'm very active and don't want it in my way. 

thank you

by Violino_Sunflower - 2023-04-23 17:40:42

Thank you Tracey and BradyJohn, the thing is that, when I will have it left, it might hurt when my shoulder rest is pressing on the pacemaker. When it's right, they already said they could do it, but then put the pacemaker more towards the middle in order that I can still use my arm intensively. I play between 2 and 10 hours pro day...Music is my life, and this has to stay this way...The cardiologist said that f.e. tennis is not good with a pacemaker due to the movements of the right arm, but violin playing is also very intense....pffff I'm confident that it will be okay but also nervous because I need to tell them tomorrow morning. It should be done in the right spot immediately... Already all the planned concerts for the next month have to be annulated, but after that, I want to be there 100% as musician or let's say: I really hope so. 

good luck

by Tracey_E - 2023-04-23 17:57:31

I've never played violin but I would think it would be better to put it deeper on the left side than on the right. Your right side is reaching across and doing the movement so it would be harder to get it out of the way?

I'm on my 5th, my first 4 were submammary so very low, because it was under breast tissue you had to poke around to even feel the edges of it. 

thanks tracey

by Violino_Sunflower - 2023-04-23 18:54:55

Yes, I think deeper down will anyhow be better, but the shoulder rest of the violin is already quite low, so what I will ask the doctor is what she thinks of the idea of putting it right but the maximum possible towards the middle, I think that must be possible. I'm happy to be on this forum, thank you everybody, and many greetings from Belgium.