Slip Sliding Away Pacemaker

Well I have been careful with not raising my arm and other things for a week. However, because I am thin I think the pacemaker has shifted some. I will check with my wife who saw it when installed and another family member thought it looked the same. I did not agree.

5 Comments

moving pm

by Alma Annie - 2013-12-27 09:12:13

Mine shifted 90 deg within first 2 weeks. Has never turned back. I have had it 21/2 years. After one of the new digital mammograms, the radiographer pushed it right over, even though it is supposed to stay in its pocket. Last year I caught the leads somehow when drying a bit too vigorously with a towel after a shower, and now the leads are under my arm and a bit uncomfortable. However the Cardio says all is well and it is working well. I am thin too which is why it moves easily, but it still sort of stays in the pocket, even though it does not always seem to.
Just point this out when you have your next check up.
Alma Annie

Depends

by Theknotguy - 2013-12-27 09:12:34

It depends upon how the doctor implanted the PM. Some people on this forum have indicated their PM has shifted. I'm not sure how those were implanted so I don't know how they shifted.

Based upon your description you may be seeing the swelling go down. My PM "pocket" was about three times the size it is now. All due to the swelling from IV's and swelling from the wound,

I had two GALLONS of extra fluid from the IV's. My feet were swelled up to about three times their normal size and my fingers looked like sausages. That was all due to the fluid from the IV's.

As the fluid drained off and the swelling went down my PM first stuck out more. Now it's down to normal size and I can feel it. So your PM may not be shifting - you may just be seeing the swelling going down.

Keep moving the arm carefully - you don't want it to get stiff.

Hang in there. Life gets better!

Theknotguy

Settling

by fconzero - 2013-12-27 10:12:41

I hope it does settle because today I felt what was a corner of the pacemaker that was poking into the skin. I will hang in there or go to the doctor and make them fix it. I appreciate everyone's reply.

healing

by Tracey_E - 2013-12-27 10:12:43

They can shift as they settle into place, look different as the swelling goes away. As long as it's not more uncomfortable, it's probably fine.

Give yourself some time

by Theknotguy - 2013-12-28 10:12:29

I had pain for about a month after the PM insertion. I would get a pain going up into my left jaw. I also had a spot on my back directly behind the PM insertion pocket. Somedays better, somedays worse. I attributed it to where they inserted the leads into the vein under my collar bone and stretching of the pocket where the PM was inserted. Three things helped.

1) Drinking more water. Keep hydrated as much as you can. At first I was drinking 3 liters of water per day. That helped.
2) Take Tylenol on the bad days.
3) Mild exercise at first. Then exercise under medical observation.

Start getting on with your life and quit concentrating on the PM site. If it's really bad, they should see that by 60 days out. Otherwise everything settles down and you'll start to feel better.

If possible, see a psychologist. A large percentage of people with PM's get depression. Your obsession with the PM site may be your way of expressing depression. It isn't a sign of weakness to get help.

Hang in there. Life gets better.

Theknotguy

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