Dual lead implant 12 days ago

left vs right

by Tracey_E - 2024-08-27 10:47:57

Unless you play the violin or shoot a rifle, left or right side won't make a difference once you heal. 

Welcome to the club. If you have more questions, ask away!

Welcome aboard!

by Lavender - 2024-08-27 10:48:14

You certainly sound like a healthy active person! Your device won't hold you back and will keep you busy as you enjoy being!

When I had my CRT-P device surgery, I was asked if I am right or left handed. I told them I was right handed. The EP said he would put it on the left side if possible but didn't guarantee that. He said it would go wherever it was best for me. 
 

We have lots of folks with placements on either side. You will be fine!

Righty on right side

by Amyelynn - 2024-08-27 11:23:26

I have my pacer on the right side and I'm a righty (started on left side) but had to be moved over to right after no room on left side for new leads.

recovery may be a bigger pain as gotta be extra careful with your dominate arm for awhile but after that it's not the worst.... I can't believe they didn't ask you. Ugh!

moving forward I am looking forward to mine going back to left side. 🫣 

take it easy!

Leftie here

by Julros - 2024-08-27 15:41:14

I'm left handed, and my device is on the right. I was asked prior to implant which hand was dominant. I used to work with many of the doctors in that practice, and many of them were lefthanded, so perhaps that influenced them. At my current EP office, they seemed flummoxed when doing the device interrogation, as if right sided devices are an oddity. 

Another righty

by atiras - 2024-08-27 16:13:23

My first pacemaker and subsequent icd were on my left. My current pacemaker is on my right. Never noticed any significant difference.

Leftie Here, with device on the left

by PaceCahr - 2024-08-29 13:32:57

I was asked, and we discussed which side would be better, and for me, it turns out that left side is better because I am left-dominant for "small detail" and right dominant for strength usages.

IOW - I write with my left hand - but I pick up heavy objects with my right arm, and use my left arm for fine coordination movements (steering, balancing) upon those large and/or heavy objects. I toss a frisbee left-handed - I use a hammer right handed. 

So far, device on left has worked out OK with one exception. I usually tuck "things" under my left arm to hold them when juggling a lot of things. I have to _Learn_  not to do this with cellphones and magnetic devices!  I catch myself so often! So far, no problematic oopses.  

I think I do this because it frees my "strength" arm to go back and pick up more.  

No problems with using the left side same as the right, modulo the "things leaning against the incision and device."  I think when it's on the right, the access to the surgeon-preferred path is much less conveinient (pun spelling intended).  😁 

Mine was great for the first 6 weeks, good for the next 6 weeks when I started using the arm. But recently, it's been starting to ping in the incision. I suspect it's the nerves trying to re-grow and getting irritated when the device tugs on it's anchor. It's not a serious pain, just like an annoying itch that is mildly painful. Implanted in May, sometime in August my aicd decided to start shifting in it's pocket just a little bit - when I sleep on my right side. That definitely prompts the incision to be a little spicy when I move my shoulder back from where it flopped while I was asleep. 

Good luck in the healing and and recovery!  

Thanks for your feedback.

by Robocop - 2024-08-29 21:18:39

Thanks for all your feedback - much appreciated. Nothing better thank talking to people with 1st hand experience.

Best regards