A 2½ pounds pacemaker?!!!

Hi Gellia.

I couldn't help but be shocked at the comment you made regarding your 1st pacemaker, implanted 32 years ago.
It weighed 2½ pounds? Would you mind elaborating? I'm very curious about how it felt, where it was placed, was part of it outside your body? etc.
Mine is a bit larger than the norm, but at about 3" long, and ounces in weight, the next time I have a complaint about how it feels, I'll remember how you must have felt, and feel fortunate about the advances made over the years.
It's great that you have done so well for so long, it gives me something positive to look forward to.
Thank you, take care,

~ Dominique ~

6 Comments

I remember!

by auntiesamm - 2007-07-18 02:07:16

Hi Gelia & Dominique - You made me think of my dad and his pacemaker which was implanted in 1975. It was the size of a large yo-yo and there was no way to disguise it whatsoever! It was always visible under his shirt and he was an average size man. Following his death, for whatever reason it was removed and given to us with his other belongs. I remember picking it up and be shocked at how much it weighed. It was a good 2-3 # . My dad was not a complainer so we never heard him say anything about the size, weight, etc. The PM was a Cordis which was about the only one available back then I believe. How things have changed in the last 30+ years! I have such a profound appreciation for the new technologies and advances in medical science that have made our lives so much better. Take care and God bless you.

That's it!

by Gellia2 - 2007-07-18 04:07:13

Mine was a Cordis, too. And, it was a really BIG yoyo!
LOL They are so much better. I'm going for wire longevity now. 25years with one break and counting, but still ticking!
They are still 100%. Thank God for modern technology.
When my heart problem was first discovered, my parents were told to take me home and enjoy the time I had left. Life span prediction back then was about 4 - 6 more years as there was no pacemakers (OK, so I'm old!! LOL). Well, I fooled them and made it to 26. That was 1975 and I joined your Dad with a Cordis.
I sure like the ones we have now ALOT better!

Thanks

by tachybrady - 2007-07-18 04:07:27

To you, the pioneers of pacemakers. I will quit complaining about mine now. Best of everything to all of you!

Thank you Gellia.

by Stepford_Wife - 2007-07-18 06:07:06

Hi., Gellia and Sharon.

Thank you so much for the enlightening history of the saucer/yo-yo size pacemakers. I can't imagine a 4½ hour long operation, under local anesthesia, to implant such a monster! The pocket must have been huge!
I suppose, if there wasn't much of a choice, it beat the odds of survival without it.
Were you given the opportunity to keep it, after it was replaced? It probably would be a collector's item, worthy of the Smithsonian. Lol.
As far as you being old, watch it! I'm a year younger than you are. Lol. Age is just a number.
Keep up the good attitude, it's refreshing.
Like Sharon says, thank goodness for the new technologies.
My very best to both of you.

~ Dominique ~

Hi Dominique,

by Gellia2 - 2007-07-18 12:07:15

Yes, my first pacer weighed in at slightly more than 2 1/2 pounds, about the size of a saucer and a little more than an inch or so thick! When it was implanted, they put it under the muscle and my breast tissue...quite deep and lower down than most at that time (no general anesthesia either - only novocaine for a 4 1/2 hour op - ouchie!) through a 6" incision. Then it had to be done all over again three weeks later for a pulled out wire. I was still quite young (26). With a few adjustments (good support bra), I got used to it. It was replaced for battery failure after 4 1/2 years. The new one was much smaller and didn't stick out as much. Today, they are so much smaller that I barely know it's there. They've improved on techniques for implantation also. I just had my battery replaced and it was a breeze compared to those first few operations.

how was check up

by pinkypie - 2007-09-20 08:09:06

hi how are you i was just wondering how ur check up went and are you still having the feeling of pm pausing,it still happens me sometimes at my checkup i was told that one of my leads was too high let me know how u got on thanks
dolores

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I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.