2 Weeks Post-Op

Just checking in! I'm currently 2 weeks post-op with my third PM. I was 17 when I had my first one placed. My second was placed in Nov2013 but had to be replaced due to lead failure and now at 27 I have my third.

I had a check up today to look at incisions and they're looking great! I had the abdominal PM taken out and the leads capped. I chose to have a sub-pec PM placed and the whole surgery took about 4.5hours with a night in the hospital.

I was lucky enough to get the chief of Plastics to sew me up. He told me to start massaging the incisions gently with whatever I want. It can be expensive vitamin E, my favorite lotion, or Crisco for all he cares but to massage the incision. This is will make it heal faster and prettier.

I've been very sore and if I over do it with my left arm it burns and tingles but ice and pain pills help that. I'm struggling to stay positive sometimes because I wish I was 100% again. I'm moving next week and this whole "don't lift your arm or carry more than 5lbs" is really annoying.

I just wanted to thank the forum for all the support and guidance I've found. I'm grateful for this site and I hope to continue to help foster this great community that is the Pacemaker Club.

-Erica

5 Comments

Why did it take so long?

by NiceNiecey - 2014-04-08 09:04:22

I am all new to this but I'm curious why your surgery took 4.5 hours. You had your second device removed from your stomach, leads capped off, and a new PM placed in the upper chest? I haven't heard of someone with such a lengthy procedure.

I'm glad you're doing so well. Look at moving in your condition as a blessing in disguise: somebody else has to do that heavy lifting!
Niecey

Awesome!

by zatt2m - 2014-04-08 10:04:40

Glad to read that things are going well for you! I appreciated coming across your post - I rarely come across others whom I have more in common with than just the pacer. :)

I've also been living on the juice since I was 17 and am 32 now. I had my third device implanted last week and am anxious to be 100% again, especially since I am ALSO moving in two weeks. :)

Do you still have stitches/strips in/over your incision?

Replies

by cheshirealice - 2014-04-08 11:04:31

@NiceNiecey
My surgery took 4.5hrs because my old PM had sunk sort of behind my intestines and they had to be very gentle when removing it. I asked plastics to clean up the old scar tissue in my abs because it was the third (and last) time going in and I wanted a nice scar. The sub-pectoral method is harder to do than a typical under the skin PM. There are many nerves that run in that area they have to be careful with. They separate the major and minor pectoral muscle, make a pocket, insert the PM, and suture it into place. An 18 gage needle is run through the vein helping place the leads with a 2mm corkscrew into the heart. A laser is used to "scar the area" up so the lead stays. Scar tissue is what keeps the lead in place not really the corkscrew. Tests are then run to make sure the pacemaker is working and no other work is to be done. Plastics then sewed up that incision. It typically doesn't take that long but I had a lot to do on me.

@Zatt2m
Hey glad to hear someone that got a pacer as young as I. Sounds like you're doing well with it!

I have dissolvable stitches with wound glue and steri-strips on my incisions. The steri-strips come off slowly with water and I've been cutting them off as I go. I had just a little bit of steri-strip still stuck on and Plastics just ripped it off like a bandaid today. He said that the incision was all healed and to get silicone scar sheets for the scars. Apparently these sheets are amazing at minimizing scarring.

I have been packing boxes for moving but trying to be careful. I have been carrying 40lb or so things but with my right arm and it doesn't seem to affect the left. I would recommend using the left arm to balance things being held by the right. Good luck with the move!

cosmetic issues

by KimKim - 2014-04-24 03:04:12

Hello! I'm new here and about to get a pacemaker implanted on May 15th. I haven't had the opportunity to talk to my doctor much about the surgery, and am researching things as I'm 29, slender build and slightly pigeon chested as is. Did you have to set this up with the doc to organize the sub pectoral implant and plastic surgeon? Is this common?
I'm having my surgery at the Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City.. are they likely to have a plastic surgeon? I'm sure I should likely call my doctor to ask a lot of these questions, but I just thought I'd reach out to others who have experienced this before.
Thanks in advance!

KimKim

by cheshirealice - 2014-04-24 04:04:33

I did have to set this up before hand. Typically the EP just puts it in but I wanted Plastics and the sub-pec procedure. My EP was not comfortable with the sub-pec and we had to bring in another surgeon.

To bring in Plastics I had to visit the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for a consultation before they would get on board with the surgery. The biggest issue I found was trying to schedule 3 surgeons in one day. I had to wait a month and a half until I could get them all together.

I absolutely love love love my sub-pec. You can't tell it's there nor is the scar visible because of the plastic surgeon. If you are interested in these procedures I would start calling around immediately to set stuff up.

I hope all the best with your implant!
-Erica

You know you're wired when...

Your device acts like a police scanner.

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