A couple questions

Hi everyone, its been a while since I,ve posted, but am pleased to say that things have been going well. I got my PM in May and have been back to a "normal" lifestyle for several months.
My first question has to do with the setteling of the device. My doc mention in July that it would take a while for the PM to fully settle in place and for the past 2 or 3 weeks, I've been having really strong sensations of movement to the tune that its shifted down over an inch. Is this ok/normal? I'm 6'2" and wiegh 165 so theres not a lot of padding so "Bert" is very obvious...which leads to question 2. I referee soccer and while its relativley safe, I was`recently on the receiving end of a hard kick that hit me in the chest, it just missed the implant area but lead to my wondering if, because of the lack of natral padding, could a hard hit damage the device or the lead connections? Should I wear additional protection? I pace 100% and can't afford to damge my littlt friend. As always your thoughts are appreciated.
Rick

3 Comments

Two questions for you

by donr - 2012-10-21 04:10:03

Rick: Glad all is going well for you.

1) would you walk up behind a mule, grab its tail & twist?

2) Would you jump out of a plane w/o a parachute?

Since you are 100% paced & totally dependent on Bert,

3) why on earth don't you wear an extra padded shirt over him?

IMHO, going unpadded is the same as doing the two acts I referred to in my questions.

As to your question about the PM moving, I'm only 5'6" & my PM has not moved since the day it was installed.

Don

moving

by Alma Annie - 2012-10-21 05:10:52

First of all, yes you should definitely wear lots of padding over pm during soccer.
As for pm moving, well after first 2 weeks mine had turned 90 degrees, I worked out it is the way I am sleeping. It has also flipped up vertically three times as I turn over to sleep on my stomach, my elbow somehow gets under it, but always flops back down again! EP has said no worries, although he did raise his eyebrows. The other thing, I had a mammogram 5 months ago; new machine and it pushed pm over to left. It hurt and I yelled. Now the wires are all under my arm and a bit uncomfortable, but EP says not to worry it will not affect it working. I am 100% paced, very short and also thin, but pm's are tough and sturdy.

Hope this helps
Alma Annie.

Securing the pacemaker

by ElectricFrank - 2012-10-21 11:10:17

The pacemaker has a hole near the area where the leads connect that is supposed to be used to suture the device in the pocket. This is highly recommended by the Medtronics Implant Manual, and they say it is likely the pacemaker will move if it isn't done.

Despite all that many surgeons will neglect it and claim there is no need to tie it down. If it was secured this way at implant there is only one way it could move. That would be if the sutures were torn loose. While that could have happened in the soccer incident tearing out the stitches should have left it painful and inflamed.

frank

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