Just Found Out

Well I am 15 and I just found out that I might be getting a pacemaker. I have quite a few questions.

First how bad is the pain after the surgery?

Second how noticable will the pacemaker and scar be?

and Third how long will it be before I am feeling back to my old self with no pain?

6 Comments

well

by Coolhandlule - 2009-06-17 08:06:50

Is your surgery while your awake or asleep

1. It should not hurt very much at all, I would say more stiff than sore.

2. The scar isn't that bad, but you will be able to see it

3. You should feel BETTER than your old self!

Thanks

by lil_gymnast - 2009-06-17 09:06:09

also im a gymnast trying to get ready for nationals and i am not sure if i will be able to continue with it

welcome

by Tracey_E - 2009-06-17 10:06:01

Welcome! What a tough thing to be facing when you've worked so hard to get to nationals! I hope that you're able to juggle this with the competition.

Everyone is different but I found the pain to be very minimal. I never took anything stronger than tylenol after I was released from the hospital.

How noticeable it is depends on your build and your surgeon. If you're a gymnast, I'm guessing your small but solid muscle. Thin, small boned women tend to see the lump more than someone larger or more solidly built.

Talk to your surgeon beforehand and tell them it's important to you that it not get in the way of your gymnastics and that it look good. Most put it just under the skin and just under the clavicle, which can get in the way of things like seat belts and backpack straps and you may feel it when you tumble. They can put it a bit deeper and lower if you ask. This will delay healing a bit but I don't think it is any more painful, the soreness just lasts a bit longer. Just my opinion, but it's well worth it in the end.

Mine is completely buried behind the breast. It was inserted from the side so you can only see the scar if I wear a string bikini and I can barely feel the edges of it if I poke around looking for it. If you're not done growing I don't know if they'd consider you a candidate for this but it can't hurt to ask. If you want to know more, I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Most people are sore the first few days but feel themselves by the end of the first week. It goes uphill quickly from there. We usually have restrictions the first 6 weeks- no lifting weight or raising the left arm higher than shoulder level-to give the leads a chance to grow into place. At the end of six weeks, you should be able to work back into your old routine.

Best wishes to you. If you have any questions, please ask away. There are a lot of here who have been paced for many years (15 for me) and feel terrific, we lead perfectly normal active lives. There are also a handful of members your age; some got it more recently, some have had their pm's since birth. You're not alone!

PAIN

by pete - 2009-06-18 02:06:51

I found that that I got more pain than other pacemaker patients in my ward. I was surprised that some wanted to go straight home as they said they felt nothing. As long as I kept quite still in bed there was virtually no discomfort. However when I needed to get out of bed to go to the bathroom etc the movement caused considerable pain. I found it best to roll out of bed and let my legs fall on the floor and struggle up from that position. The pain took 7 days to eae off and I only get a slight tickle/irritation after 2 years. Good Luck Peter

Not as bad as the dentists!

by Hot Heart - 2009-06-18 05:06:59

I was scared, shocked, how could someone as young as me need a pm (im 56). But i did, i got it, op was a breeze, id been terrified and felt an idiot afterwards. Just lie on bed chat to nurse and in half an hour its done, not even discomfort really, and got straight up and stuffed dinner and pudding down me.

Slight discomfort at first, not pain, still get it occasionally, but no worse than any other part of the body that may be aching a bit.

My scar is fab, couple of inches long, been looking after it, loads of moisturiser, fake tan instead of the real thing, and its a great talking point!

Good luck HH

Not a problem for me

by jmac - 2009-06-18 11:06:57

While I don't know why you need a pacemaker, at least you'll enjoy being much younger than most everyone else in your cardiologists waiting area! I've had my pacemaker for 2 years now, and have never had a problem. I was 57 when I received it. The implant was easy, not much pain, and about a month later I was back to running. The pacemaker has not limited me at all. I only missed 2 softball games. I run 15 miles a week, workout, lift weights, and play slow pitch softball. Again, not knowing what your problem is, I haven't missed a beat. Softball season just started, and at the urging of my wife I was able to find a device on the internet that fits over my pacemaker to protect it during softball games. The only real change is going thru airport security! Good luck with your pacemaker.

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