Removal & replacement

Looks like I'm faced with having my pacemaker removed due to infection and a new one inserted on the right hand side. Just wondering if anyone else has had this and if the surgery/recovery is different with it being on the right side.

6 Comments

removal & replacement

by Pookie - 2014-05-21 02:05:56

I have not had that, but I knew donb had and I am SO happy to see that he has already commented.

Don is a great guy and very knowledgeable.

I wish you the best Tracie.

Take care,
Pookie

replacement

by Cprice - 2014-05-21 03:05:22

The same thing happend to me in 2012 and i needed emergency surgery because of terrible pain, it took me about 5 months to recover as i got several nasty infections which would not take the strong hint and go away!!. Feel like a new women now thou even i set off alarms every where i go!!!

PM Site Change

by donb - 2014-05-21 09:05:00

Hi TracieK, I had mine changed from left to right chest and found no differance in pain level. My right chest implant was under muscle which sometimes causes more pain but was far more comfortable after the normal healing period. I did have a 60 day period between the change where I was without a pacemaker.
As I've had problems with erosion & infection in the past I now have my 6th pacemaker implant in my right side lower abdomen as both my left & right chest areas were only giving me problems, mainly as I'm way too active for an older person. My abdomen site was almost painless from the day the staples were removed and I was given no limitations in activity. I do limit lifting to 40 pounds as I'm 82 years old & on my 6th pacemaker since 1992.
DonB

I had same

by Minnesota - 2014-05-22 10:05:45

My first PM was removed due to infection and new PM implanted on right side. Recovery was similar except now both sides had incisions needing to heal. It was fairly taxing emotionally and physically to have to go through the whole process again. It helped to share on this site where others understood what I was going through. It has been almost a year since my first implant. I found I am still healing in certain ways. Give yourself time to adjust and accept. It's a bummer being in the 1-2% who end up with an infection but at least it can be remedied. Take care.

me too

by Porkypig - 2014-05-24 05:05:57

I to have had an infection and pm removed and put in the other side, I had a two week stay in hospital on IV antibiotics, after a few days they took infected pm and leads out and made me stay in bed hooked up to a defib machine, after 9 days they said infection was gone and I had new one put in. I found it a bit more painful as its on my right and I am right handed so I was using that hand to much. that was back in feb this year, my scar is still not totally healed so bit worried something going on still. Hope it all goes well for you and let us know how you are getting on.
Take care
Dawn

1998 Extraction and Replacement

by Holladay Pacer - 2014-06-08 02:06:52

Hi. I had a PM pocket infection on the left in a subcutaneous pocket. I was on IV vancomycin for months, then they did a lead extraction (pretty rare and scary at that time...even the most prominent Electrophysiologist at Stanford didn't want to take it on).

However, it worked out great. They put it in subpectorally since I was only 26 at the time. I've had one change out since then in 2006 and I'm due for another in a month or so.

If you don't have it subpectorally, I would suggest it. It makes a huge difference. You really do forget it is even there.

Take care, and good luck!

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