Soon to get Pacemaker

I am a backpacker. Should I have the pacemaker installed above or below the muscle to be the most comfortable when carrying a 40 pound pack? Doctor says he can put it in either place. Any backpackers out there that can comment on things to do to ensure the left strap does not irritate me or bother the pacemaker itself?

2 Comments

pacemaker position

by akelleher - 2015-08-08 01:08:19

I'm getting my first pace maker on the 17th. I had hoped to backpack for the first time this summer. I hope to in the future. This is a good question.

What strap type?

by Theknotguy - 2015-08-08 02:08:23

Carried a 30 pound backpack all over UK for 15 day trip. Since I was unconscious when the doc put the PM in, didn't get a say as to where it went. I'm ambidextrous so there wasn't really a good place to put it. Doc put it on left side under skin in pocket between shoulder and rib cage. So it's above the muscle. TracyE, another member on this forum has her PM (I think) under the muscle. She's indicated it took longer to heal after the PM implant. She also lifts weights and felt the need for extra protection. Maybe she will chime in with her thoughts?

Daypack had meds, personal stuff, camera equipment, rain gear, snacks, things the wife needed, and other necessary stuff. Weight, like I said, was 30 pounds. Had it off and on as we traveled by coach all over UK. Daypack had form fitting straps with across the chest snap to keep the straps from sliding. I think longest I had it on was about 1.5 hours.

First time through airport had some sore spots, but those quickly went away. The form fitting straps distributed the weight and the across the chest strap kept the shoulder straps from digging into the shoulder. I got along fine.

I feel the two biggest things of importance were the form fitting shoulder straps and the across the chest snap strap. I could adjust the shoulder straps using the chest strap and, like I said, keep them from digging into the shoulder.

Granted, this was more of a daypack than a frame camping pack, but daypacks are notorious for not having good support. I've used an external frame camping pack too. The shoulder straps on an external frame camping pack are better than the ones on my daypack. Once again, I feel the across the chest snap strap would be the best addition to pull the shoulder straps in so they don't chafe. There's nothing worse than having to walk and keep adjusting the shoulder straps.

Mostly I could feel the shoulder strap press against my PM, but there wasn't any pressure upon it. As Sparrow said, put a 50 cent piece about where the PM would be, and use surgical tape to hold it. That will give you an idea of how it would feel. Put tape around the 50 cent piece before taping it to your body. The PM doesn't have any sharp edges.

The next biggest thing was putting on the backpack. You just had to be careful not to do a running and lifting start. You can strain the scar tissue that way which is uncomfortable. I took care when putting on the daypack so I didn't put any unnecessary strain on the PM site.

My wife's daypack didn't have the across the chest snap strap and she had a lot of problems. Shoulder straps were digging into her shoulders, were pulling back on her shoulders, slipping off, and the pack was moving all over giving her trouble with balance. Her daypack was causing a lot more fatigue than mine. (Prior to the trip I offered to purchase one like mine for her, but she (of course) refused.)

Another thing to consider is how soon you'll start wearing the backpack after getting the PM. I was swollen for five months after getting my PM and the PM site was really sensitive. It was five months before I could let anything touch the PM site. The trip was nine months after I got the PM. It was a little touchy the first couple of times but not after that. I'm also thinking I carried a small towel that I could wrap around the strap or put under the strap too, but never really needed to use it.

Hope this gives you some insight and will help in your decision making.

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