Pacemaker Migrating

Hi All,

Anyone else here notice discomfort in the area of their pacemaker four months after it was inserted?

Mine seems to have slipped about 3/4" downwards from where it first was, and it feels to me like the weight of it is now mostly supported by the wires coming out of the top and inserted into my veins. (I have also lost 9kg since I had it put in, so it could be that there is a lot less 'meat' around it now.)

My concern is that it may be damaging or dislodging the leads, or might cause problems inside if the leads are rubbing against my body tissues.

My next scheduled appointment is in October, and my medicaI insurance does not cover me for 'routine maintenance' so I can't really do a lot at the moment, other than hope it improves or I get used to it.

I am certainly glad mine is no-where near flipping over, like some people's are on here! That would certainly send me running to the doctor!

Any comments welcome.

Thanks.

Paul

5 Comments

shifting

by polrbear - 2012-07-30 05:07:35

Some shifting will occur, especially with the weight change you've described. Normally, one or two sutures are placed to hold it in position. I'm used to hearing about permanent sutures being employed, but I suppose slow-dissolving sutures would work as well, since the tissue of the pocket should develop with time.

It's also fairly standard to leave a loop of lead wire around or nearby the device to allow for movement or event moderate (a few inches) of tugging to prevent it from dislodging.

If the shift happened suddenly, that's more concerning than if it happened gradually. Are you able to contact the pacemaker group at your cardiologist's office? It might also be a rep for the device manufacturer, but they may know less about your specific procedure. They may be able to look up information about your specific placement and help you figure out if anything would be a concern.

Dustin

Hey Paul

by cruisingatsixty - 2012-07-30 05:07:37

Mine was installed in January of 2011. The doctors where very vague about what to expect. But since it has been over 18 months and lots of research on my own and through my own experience, here are my thoughts for what it is worth. (about one cent on the open market)

At first I felt that pinprick feeling in the region of where my pacemaker is located. I just knew that I was being electrocuted on daily basis. It took me a long time, over a year to get used to it. I talked to my doctor and he just looked at me as if I where just another crazy ol man. (I am, but that is another issue for later). I had a difficult time lifting my left arm and had a tendency to baby it. Since I am an instructor in cosmetology, that was very limiting on what I needed to demonstrate to students.

Then in February of this year, I got a new doctor, and he suggested that I go to a physical therapist for some help. Well, I could not afford that. I do however know several massage therapists and I did set up a regular once a month session with them. The difference is night and day. This massage therapist slowly and gently worked my arm and loosened up the muscles in my upper arm and chest and now I have great movement. (if there is a massage school in your area, it is the most affordable way of doing this, be sure that they are licensed and accredited.)

The body is resilient and actually has some give and take in the blood vessels and veins. Talk to your doctor and see if this might be for you.

I went a year before doing this, I lost my insurance just after the surgery, so I could not afford the high cost of a five minute visit, with no information given to me from the doctor. I am now going to a wonderful clinic that basis the fee on your ability to pay. They are around, you just have to search.

You will be able to do more and more as you get more confident with it. Mine moves within my chest, migrates to the left. I once woke up in the middle of the night and I swear it was just short of being in my armpit!!.

My biggest thing is the weather. I can't do a lot outside when it is in the 90 and above temps. It also feels like I have a wooden disk the size of a saucer there when the humidity is high.

Anyway, I don't know if this helps, but discuss this with your doctor before you do anything and the best of luck to you.

I am enjoying my life as a Borg. Resistance is futile.

Dave

Morning Paul !

by sue uk - 2012-07-31 05:07:23

There are quite a few of us who have experienced this happening. Mine started on its travels about 2mths after it was "installed" l remember being in the shower & noticing my PM wasn't there anymore !!! My GP "found" it & it had moved over 2" across my chest & was lying on its side, it then decided to come back up to the surface.
My cardio arranged xrays to check the leads were ok (which they were) & decided to leave it be.
That was 12mths ago & it hasnt moved anymore but l do have the problem of it flipping on its side all the time & l actually have to "push" it flat YUK !!!!!!
So thats my experience, they do move sometimes but if they are placed in properly & stitched in properly it shouldn't happen!
l dont think there will be a problem with your leads because there is a fair bit of "spare".My cardios concern was the fact mine may have flipped over completely & therefore the leads would have wrapped around the PM itself.
You will probably find your PM will stay put now but if it moves again l would definately see if you can be xrayed just to check the leads are ok.
Wishing you well, Sue X

Thanks

by paulbeales - 2012-07-31 06:07:36

Thank you for all the comments and DMs. It is always good to know that you are not the first to encounter a strange problem.

I have decided that I will work on the assumption for a while that it is either my pacemaker changing position due to me losing weight, or maybe due to the current sleeping habit I seem to have developed of sleeping on my left side with my right hand under the pillow and my shoulders scrunched up, which I am now making a deliberate effort to change.

I then hope that things will improve, or I get used to the discomfort, or October comes and I can get it checked out.

Thanks again!

Paul
(@pacerdude_uk)

one year after placement of icd/pm

by angelssunrise - 2012-08-10 04:08:18

Paul I had my pm put in a yr ago. From the moment they did the surgery I complained to the dr that the thing was moving. A few month after getting it we noticed that it started going toward my collar bone. Dr still didn't think it was an issue. So I finally dropped it, but the thing still kept moving. It finally ended up sitting on my collar bone. I had such a large keloid scar where they had inserted the devise when on night I felt something wet. I had my son look at it and he said that it was opening. I spoke to my husband the next day and we called the dr. He wanted to see me as soon as we could get there from our 45 minute drive. We get to the dr and next thing I know the word surgery asap starting coming out. I had a repositioning surgery two days later.

So here is what had happened, per the dr. When they cut us to put it in they go through three layers of skin. After inserting the device they stitch each layer up. So you actually have three layers with stitches. For some reason the stitches came lose either from the box moving or the they just came lose. The device finally worked through the two layers and was now working on the surface of the outside skin which was my nice and UGLY keloid scar. If the device had worked it's way out or I got an infection I would of had to of had surgery again where they took out the old one and threw it away and had another one put in on the other side. However I was lucky. They were able to take it out and put it back in. This time he had a general surgeon do the surgery while he was there.

This time they cut me in two different sections and stitched two sides instead of the one. Almost like the figure 7. This was to help keep the device in place and they were able to make my nasty scar a much do able one to deal with. Since that time it feels like the device is trying to move but it seems to be staying in a better place. (oh forgot they did put it a little lower in my chest the second time)

The only complaint that I have this time is that with them going through the old scar tissue I have some serious sharp pains from time to time. I think they hit the nerves or they got impacted by the fix. I don't know about this yet I just know that Gabapatin does not work, plus it is not all the time pain.

So my advice from my experience is that if it is really bothersome talk to your dr, if it becomes very sensative demand to get answers. If it is something that you can deal with don't be over concerned about it. It is normal for them to move. Oh as far as being afraid that the leads don't have enough room. I was told that most the dr's make sure that there is enough lead there for movement. My exray tech showed me with mine they layed wire beside the device I would geuss maybe two inches worth of wire. So there should be no fear of the wire becoming short and pulling out. Again if your concerned ask your doctor or if you have an xray of your chest ask the tech to see the xray just to help ease your mind.

The one thing that I am finding as far as my sleep is to have a pillow scrunched up under my chest while sleeping this seems to help with the pressure that you feel when your laying on your side. If I don't do that it almost feels like I am pinching and possibly causing it to move.

Other than that I have no advice. Best of luck to you.

You know you're wired when...

You have a 25 year mortgage on your device.

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