Muscle growth

Recently I have started lifting weights. I dont have a problem doing bench press, but I can't grow any muscle on the inside of my left pectoral (to the side of the ICD). Does anyone have the same problem and have any advice about it?

Also, does anyones leads portrude out of the skin? Mine have become quite noticible, possibly due to the muscle growth.

Lastly, what are the pros and cons to having the pacemaker underneath or above the muscle?

4 Comments

Raised Pacemaker

by lahbigbro6 - 2011-02-23 03:02:18

I am female very thin in chest where my pacemaker is. You can see my raised pacemaker. I lift lite weights about 5lbs and can never build muscle. Sometimes I feel very sore in that area if I lift more and do different sets of different exercises. I am sore under pacemaker, so I watch just because !

Wanna See a PM???

by donr - 2011-02-23 07:02:07

Look at me w/o a shirt. You can see the outline of the whole thing, leads & all.

Guess I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum. I don't lift weights or exercise hard. I'm almost scrawny in the shoulder area.

I'm on an anti-testosterone drug as an aftermath of PC. Kinda tough to develop muscle mass now. That & facial hair. But that beats the Devil out of all the alternatives.

You have what to me would be a nice problem. But, OTOH, I'm nearly 75.

Cheers!

Don

Muscle Growth and pacer visability

by mthead55 - 2011-02-27 08:02:41

I have not noticed the lack of muscle development you refer to. Might just be a visual effect from the implant. And, yes, my pacer is very visable. I have been through three pacers in twenty years. First one was under the skin on the lrft side and it didn't take long for my active lifestyle (was in military) to cause irritation and quickly become infected. My second one was implanted inside the right pectoral muscle and I can't see it; only feel it. The leads are quite visable though.
However, the leads broke. This was atttributed to my weight lifting. I suggest you discuss the limitations and possible risk with your cardiologist.
My third pacer was put in two years ago and, as I said is very visable. They did not remove the pacer in the muscle and lead removal is a very risky process so, the device and visable leads are still there.
I still weight lift 5 days a week and just stay away from free weights and any hyperextension of the pects or arms that would stress the leads.

Weight lifting and Pacemaker

by GQ - 2011-02-28 11:02:02

I'm 43 years old and I got a PM implanted last year. After the recovery process I went back to the gym and continue weight lifting as normal. I did not notice any lack of muscle development but the PM was a little visible. One of the leads failed this year but the doctor said it was not because the exercise, it seems to be a defected lead. I got a lead replacement two weeks ago, now I have more scars and a bigger bump on my chest which discourage me to keep developing my body. I'm not going to lift anymore just as a precaution, just doing cardio but I'm very disappointed that my normal live is gone. It takes time to realize that I'm an old guy now.

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.