Device Above or Below the Muscle

Hi
I'm new to this site and thank God I found it. I'm schedule to a have a 3 lead PM/DF implanted next month. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this and finding it a bit scary. But after reading so many of the posts, I find the majority of the members are glad they did it and it improved the quality of their lives. However, I don't like the PM sticking out in the chest with the corners showing. My question to the members is - What are your thoughts on implanting the device below the muscle instead of on top. It doesn't show as much, but I want to hear from you. My EP said I could get it done, but I would be sore longer.

Thanks
D from NYC

6 Comments

Greg' s Responce

by miller1 - 2013-06-14 05:06:03

I do not recommend you place the pace maker under the muscle because the healing time and risk of infection is deeper. pacemaker should be easy access for replacement and comfort.Anytime you touch a muscle the surgical pain will be worse. Its not so bad the procedure I never felt a thing when they put it in.

It did hurt after the fact during the healing time and it was very uncomfortable because it is a foreign object, but that all goes away in time. Good Luck Greg

mine is

by ohiolaura - 2013-06-14 07:06:48

under the muscle,I was 49 at time of surgery last year,and in good shape,still am thank goodness!
The surgeon,being great,did however beat me up pretty well,what I compare the feeling to is that she was kneeding bread in my chest,making room for the PM.
Im glad she did,its there which I know,but doesn't stick out,I can feel it,but its good for me.
Its been almost a year now,and it doesn't bother me at all, if someone looks at it,I could care less,look away!
Figure it makes me more special:)
I was sore after,but not too bad,Dr told me since I was young ( thank you very much!) my muscles were tight,as is my skin (thanks again!) so the pocket was tough to make,and the skin on top had to be pulled a lot.
Good thing my bikini modeling career had already ended! That is a joke!
Do what you feel you must,I didn't think healing was tough,compared to other things.
Laura

placement

by Tracey_E - 2013-06-14 08:06:45

Mine is buried and I love it. Healing is a little longer but it's not bad. I didn't take more than Tylenol after the first few days, by the end of the first week I was mostly back to normal just moving carefully. I was walking the day I got home, back at the gym with a lightened routine at about 3 weeks. It took 3 months before I could do anything I wanted and didn't feel any twinges.

With the traditional placement just under the collarbone, it can vary how it turns out. Some of it is our build, some is the surgeon. Some people always have it stick out a bit, but many find it settles in within 6 months to a year.

They can place it deeper without going under muscle, that could be a compromise. If you choose subpectoral, tell them you want it BETWEEN the pectorals, not IN. Mine is submammary. I can't tell if you're a guy or girl , but pm's are smaller now than when I got my first one so I think that would be overkill for someone now.

Mine? I can barely feel the edges if I poke around looking for it. Yes, I was sore a little longer. Yes, replacements were a little more sore than if it was just under the collarbone (I'm on #4). More sore, but not awful, imo, I didnt even bother filling the prescrip for pain meds on replacements. I'd say the biggest drawback so far was when I needed a new lead it was a little complicated running it. But overall? I'd still do it again this way. The bit of hassle with the new lead was a small price to pay for almost 20 years of being able to forget it's there, to never have a seat belt rub, to hike with a heavy backpack, to clean a barbell and not worry about it sitting on leads. I'm active, I like having my pm out of the way.

Hi

by Jax - 2013-06-15 01:06:26

My pm lies pretty flat. I can wear a fitted top and you can't see any bulge. Just the way I want it to be.

Sore for longer...

by turboz24 - 2013-06-20 07:06:39

My EP indicated that I would be sore for about a week if I had a Sub-pec implantation.

Usually a sub-pec implant of a PM or ICD does not actually involve any cutting of muscle tissue, but they usually either go through the pectoral/deltoid groove (line between your chest and shoulder muscles) or under the arm pit (I guess kind of like a breast implant).

My EP goes from under the arm pit, simply separates the pectoral major and minor, slips the implant in, stitches it to the pec minor and there ya go.

I do plan on a sub-pec when mine is replaced this year.

Under muscle

by Pacer Happy - 2013-06-26 07:06:57

I got my first PM implanted at age 14 and my doctor went in under the muscle. I could not have been happier with the result! You cannot tell at all by looking at me. Yes, the recovery is a bit longer. But, personally, it was a few weeks of soreness compared to years of happiness. I can feel it over the skin but you cannot see it at all.

I wore strapless dresses for all of my high school dances :)

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

Yesterday I moved to a new place in my mind and realized how bad I felt 'before' and the difference my pacemaker has made.