left handed getting pacemaker on left side and worried.

Left handed

by LondonAndy - 2017-01-31 12:55:45

Yes, I'm left handed and they discussed what I do (desk job) and hobbies (none involve riffle shooting or anything desperately strenuous) and recommended it still was fitted on my left side.  That was a bit over 2 years ago, and I have had no problems except the temporary one below.  To be honest I mainly come here to see what sort of issues I should be aware of - I've had no problems with it! 

Only issue I had was sleeping on my left side was uncomfortable (it felt as if the pacemaker was being pushed against something).  Not quite sure how long that lasted, as although I tried to avoid sleeping on my left sometimes I would roll over in the night, and eventually (about a year) I realised there was no discomfort at all.

(Mine was fitted for Bardycardia too, but as a resut of surgical complication when they fitted a replacement aortic valve.  I am therefore 100% paced.

Left

by Cabg Patch - 2017-01-31 15:17:31

The reason most are implanted on the left side is it is much easier to access the artery the leads are inserted into from that side.

I'm right handed but have my device implanted on the right, long story not worth the effort. My previous device was on the left. I can assure you that I have far less issues with the device being there than I did opposite side.

Relax

by Gotrhythm - 2017-01-31 15:30:22

It's human nature to complain when something is wrong, and to keep quiet whan everything is fine, so you hear about a lot more problems here than all the times when the implantation goes perfectly smoothly with no complications of any kind.

The fact is complications are rare. Really, really rare. I got along fine. No pain after the first 24 hours. Healed without incident and had full range of motion in my left arm within a week or ten days. My story is pretty typical.

I'm right handed but I don't think it would change my life if the pacemaker were on the right side. The only problem with the left side has nothing to do with handedness. For some people the shoulder strap of the seatbelt hits the pacemaker and is uncomfortable until you're all healed up and the swelling has subsided. 5 years out I don't notice the seatbelt.

Trust your surgeon. You'll do fine.

Left or Right

by doublehorn48 - 2017-01-31 17:06:33

I'm left handed.  My first pm were on the right side because I was left handed.  Then they were put on my left side since the Dr. said that I could shoot a shotgun with no problem.  That's first time I had heard the shotgun theory.  (Shotgun would or would not hurt the pm).

Now this is just my opinion.  I don't see any reason not to put the PM on your left side , UNLESS you're going to shoot rifles or shotguns.  The pm  isn't the ptoblem, it's the leads.  We're always told not to lift weght or play contact sports with a pm, but you can shoot a gun.  If I was a person that shot a gun with a lot of recoil, I would have my pm placed on the right side. It just makes sense to me.

I will now step down off my soapbox.

Easier Procedure

by Artist - 2017-01-31 18:00:27

As Cabbage Patch says there is a reason the surgeons prefer to place PMs on the left side.  They have more direct access to the veins they prefer to use to insert the Pm leads.  The pulmonary veins on the left side have a lower blood pressure and this is a consideration when they have to puncture the vein to insert the lead. After about 30 days there are usually no restrictions on weight lifting.  After several months of healing, I was totally unaware of any discomfort when sleeping on my left side.  There are restrictions regarding shoulder fired weapons on the left side.  I would give priority to the surgeon's preference for inserting the leads on the left side.  After the surgical site has healed, your left arm should be just fine.  I started lifting 5 lb weights at 2 weeks post op and heavier weights after 30 days.

thankyou

by DianeJ - 2017-02-02 08:55:58

Well I am off in 10 minutes to get this done.  Thank you all for your response.  Makes me feel a bit better.