Moving pacemaker

Hi everyone

I just have a quick question, there is a possibility I am going to have to have my pacemaker moved from my left side to either my right side or my abdomen. Can anyone tell me what the pro and cons may be to moving it to my abdomen and how the surgery recovery is? Also I was wondering if they will have to place new leads. Any input would be great!

2 Comments

Pacemaker Sites

by donb - 2013-09-24 11:09:44

Hi Daisy, I felt obligated to answer your posting as I've been through 3 site changes in the past 21 tears with 6 differant pacemakers. My 3rd left chest eroded & then my 4th & 5th in my right chest also eroded.
AS I feared going back to my 2 top Cardiologists knowing my right chest site also wouldn't support another replacement, I was lead to our Top EP at Harper University Hospital Detroit by my Grandaughter who she has worked with as supervisor at her hospital.
This Dr. Lieberman does forums State, National & Europe on new techniques & I found him to be very up to date on implants. As I'm a skinny old man with zero fat between my chest skin & ribs & having not much area left on either side of my chest he took one look & found a good layer of old man fat just under my belt. After diagnosing my infection in my heart from the leads & starting IV Vancomycin he removed my 5th pacemaker and a few weeks later did my new implant & leads in my right abdomin.
Having 5 implants with no cushion to house them & pain every time I would just bump them only to find erosion starting it has been a Treasure of no pain whatever from day 1, no restriction as with lead problems. I can't believe how relieved I am as now after 21 years I can forget having an implant.
My only restriction I added myself is I am now wearing suspenders. As having narrow hips I always had to use a wide leather belt & I just didn't want to risk a "pants on the ground" & also found real comfort wearing these Larry King Specials. My above Dr Lieberman has a good website you might Google him @ Harper University Hospital. also forgot to mention he does lots of children & when I asked about restrictions he just said I find most of my younger children doing the "Monkey Bars" the next day after surgery with Belly implants.

abdomen site

by Pacemum - 2013-09-25 06:09:11

My daughter had her first pacemaker in her abdomen. It was more prominent to the eye in the abdomen and she was able to feel it more through the skin. She prefers it in the shoulder site but she dances so felt the pacemaker more when dancing when it was in her abdomen

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