Pacemaker Insertion

I am 17 years old, and am having a pacemaker inserted in a few weeks. I was born with Unbalanced AV Canal Defect with a single ventricle, and because of that, they are going to place the pacemaker in my diaphragm area. I am worried about people seeing the pacemaker through my skin, and the extension of my already existing scar. Does anyone have and answers or suggestions as to what's coming for me?

I really appreciate it.

Tris

5 Comments

Placement of PP

by Texas54 - 2013-01-27 02:01:21

Hi, I am having a CRT-D put in this coming Thursday . I did not want the device to show either so I asked the Surgeon to put it under my breast muscle. I understand it is a little more painful this way but is worth it to me. My surgeon is going to place it so the scar will be hidden mostly by wearing the right kind of bathing suit and shirts. I am a female and already have two scars on my right side from breast cancer. The only the one that shows is where the lympthnodes came out . I really did not want another scar seen on the left. I am pretty sure placed just so I can hide the scar with buying the right clothes. Gives me an excuse to shop although my husband says I don't need a reason to shop. Talk to your Doc about your options. Mine was very compassionate with my request. Best wishes to you on your surgery. Keep reading this web site and ask any questions you want. You will find that you will get responses from some really great people!

Thank You

by madi.hanna24 - 2013-01-27 04:01:37

I really appreciate your feedback and supporting thoughts! I am a female, and would love to have the PM place under my breast. However, because my heart is shaped differently, he says it would need to be placed below my ribs in the center of my chest. This means a pretty severe surgery for me. I've had two open heart surgeries so far, and have been very lucky to have those go well. This time though I have been getting more and more anxious about the surgery going wrong. Does anyone know if this kind of placement is common, or if the surgery goes well?

It's been really helpful being a part of this club. Thank you so much.

-Tris

new pacer

by daisy41763@yahoo.com - 2013-01-27 05:01:56

Hi there, welcome to the club. I bet your a little scared.
Its not as bad to have a pacer as you may be thinking.
The drs usually hide it pretty good and the scar really same as disappears to just like if you'd been scratched by a cat. , it takes some times though. As far as being able to see it goes, there mostly not visible thru clothes at all. I'm sure you've been reading up on the matter. this site is full of stories and there experiences of all sorts. You said diaphram, where at exactly is that, and are you a female?? I have a dual chamer icd, its implanted in the left upper chest, right below the collar bone., under a muscle, sorta like in a pocket. I don't wear anything revealing so., it don't bother me being there. Ask about if they can put it there. if you wear a halter top its hidden. best of luck, ill say a pray for you.. god to give u a speedy recovery!!

Epicardial leads

by golden_snitch - 2013-01-28 04:01:11

Hi Tris!

I had two pacemaker leads placed that way. It's more invasive than a regular pacemaker surgery, but on the other hand it's nothing like an open-heart surgery. With your two open-heart surgeries you have been through worse than what's coming up now. Since you don't need to be put on a cardio-pulmonary bypass for this pacemaker surgery, the risks associated with it are not as many as with open-heart surgery. Also, the healing process is much faster than with a sternum cracked open.

I don't have my pacemaker in my abdomen. I had one incision between the ribs below my left breast to place the pacemaker leads, and then the leads were tunneled to my pacemaker unit which is in a subpectoral pocket below my left collar bone. But sometimes I think it would be better to have the pacemaker unit in the abdomen. The way it is now, I can feel the leads when I take a deep breath in or cough as they run through my chest all the way up to the pacemaker unit. Also, the scar below the collar bone is more noticeable than the one below the left breast, for instance when I wear tops. The scar below the breast can only be seen when you wear a bikini, maybe not even then. You'll get used to it. It subsides and becomes pale within a couple of months.

I have a friend who has a univentricular heart like you do. He just had a pacemaker lead replaced in November, and they actually had to cut his sternum because it was difficult to find a good spot for the new lead. However, he was out of hospital within three days, and just yesterday he posted pictures of himself cross-country skiing.

Good luck!
Inga

Appreciation

by madi.hanna24 - 2013-01-29 02:01:19

Inga,

Thank you so much for your insight. You have no idea how much of a relief I feel just reading about your experience and your friend's. I was really worried about the risks and recovery time, but it sounds like I shouldn't have concerns. I hope he is able to put it below my breast, but even if it is on my abdomen, it should blend in with my other scar.

I so appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, and it really did help me feel better. The relief I feel hearing how everything is simple and runs fairly smoothly is really great. Thank you.

Good luck to you too!
Tris

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