Left or Right side placement ???

Greetings to all. I'm getting a P.M. in two days. I read the pamphlet from the physician and noticed that there is a choice between left or right side. I am right handed and play golf a few days a week. I was wondering if anyone has had trouble with their left arm during the backswing?
Are there overall benefits to the left side placement or is it just a lifestyle choice?

Thanks for your input.

Milo

8 Comments

left side placement

by Angelie - 2009-08-03 08:08:16

I didn't have a choice, nor did my doctor even ask a preference. He just simply asked me what my dominant side is.
MOST right hand dominants get implanted on the left side, and vice versa.
I'm very ambidextrous and the placement usually doesn't bother me. I do feel that it is there, but it's not a pain or a bother.

No probs here

by DC Pacer - 2009-08-03 09:08:29

I was worried about my backswing as well. I am a righty and have my PM implant on the left.

If anything, I slowed by backswing down and have hit the ball straighter. Call me crazy, but I think it has helped my golf game, not to mention my 3rd degree heart block!

I also had an four pars, an eagle opportunity and three birdie opps last week when I golfed... I will continue to post that as much as possible!

DC

hilarious

by Angelie - 2009-08-04 03:08:41

That is hilarious, Hot Heart. Way to go.....

which side of the bed?

by Hot Heart - 2009-08-04 03:08:52

Ive always slept on the left side of bed and am glad my pm is on left side. Dont get it banged when he thinks he's landing a fish in the middle of the night, can sleep cuddled up without lying on pm.

When i sleep on right side I can shove pillows wherever I like without disturbing one sleeping man.

HH

side of bed

by nat36 - 2009-08-04 04:08:13

I have a comment/question about the side of bed that people sleep on now that you mention it...
I have my pm on the right side because I am left handed (I asked to put it there and doctor agreed that would be better) but sleep on right side and I am having trouble sleeping like that now. It kind of hurts and just does not work for me anymore. Does anyone else have that problem and will that go away or will I just need to get used to sleeping on the other side??

Left side

by sand dollar - 2009-08-04 10:08:33

Hi,
I had a pacemaker put in on the left (I am right handed) last December. The doctor said that is where he likes to put them on righties. You shouldn't raise your arm above shoulder height for a couple weeks so you don't dis lodge a wire (I had a second surgery because a wire came loose). Once you are home be sure you keep your shoulder mobile, don't let it freeze up. Just move it normally but avoid over the head stuff for a while so that wire has a chance to set and your heart to grow some scar tissue around it. Good luck!

No choice...

by turboz24 - 2009-08-05 08:08:54

Both of my EP's claim that left side is prefered with an ICD, since the energy from the shock goes from the bottom of the heart, throught the heart, towards the ICD case. If it's on the left, most of the current passes through the heart, if it's on the right, only the edge of the ventrical get's direct exposure to the path of the current. That might be different in a dual lead ICD, but mine is single. I'm left handed and it's on my left. It only sucks if I want to carry anything on my left shoulder, since I can't.

Left handed

by PEteacher - 2009-08-11 02:08:54

I am left handed so my doctor implanted my PM on the right side, which he said was a more difficult procedure, but definitely doable.

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