Backpacks!

Hi guys! I'm a college student, recently I got a pacemaker (Dec 30, 2016)  it sits a few inches under my left collar bone. As I went back to classes this week I found it slightly painful to wear my left backpack strap, my backpack is generally heavy with my work load. Should I not worry about it for now until I heal up more or is it typically uncomfortable to wear a backpack with a pacemaker?

5 Comments

Too soon, I think

by oldearthworm - 2017-01-17 12:59:50

IMO, I'd not have something that heavy rubbing against the ''wound'' ... so soon after the operation  ..  A memory foam pad is the answer - the same as the pad used under the shoulder belt ..

hard to tell

by Tracey_E - 2017-01-17 13:24:26

It all depends on your backpack, your build, and your placement. As long as the strap isn't right on top of it it, tho, you should be fine once it heals. Could you borrow a sling type for now? 

Too soon.....

by Bionic Beat - 2017-01-17 15:06:20

I agree with both of the above posters.  Give it awhile before placing a weight over the pm.

 

Bionic Beat

Backpack too soon

by LondonAndy - 2017-01-17 18:19:04

I would agree with other comments, and just add that once healed I am sure it won't be a problem. There is the generally typical six week physical recovery period for the body to repair itself, though I found it was about a year before I completely didn't notice my pacemaker. For example, up until that time I would experience some discomfort if I slept for a while on my left hand side, but now I can sleep all night on my left and not notice.  Not sure how typical my experience would be - we are all different, and your body will tell you when you get it wrong.

PS - after writing my comment above, I clicked on an email from a heart valve surgery website I follow [having had a replacement valve too of course!] and I rather liked the comment by a cardiologist who was being interviewed about how long it takes to recover from heart surgery: "Don't do things that hurt".  Quite appropriate here too, me thinks!

(More here if interested: http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2017/01/13/recovery-timeline/

back pack

by francesp - 2017-01-18 07:07:43

i had my P/M over a year ago I still cannot use car seat belt with out pain P.

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