Pacemaker replaced again shortly after?

Hi all,

I just had my new pacemaker put in last month but I was stupid and completely forgot to ask my cardiologist exactly what pacemaker he was going to put in. I've had to use a pacemaker for most of my life and they have been getting smaller every time I've it replaced so I guess I mistakenly assumed that would be the case with this new one. As it turns out the new one is much larger than the one I had previously and I hate it so much. I'm a small person and I can physically see the thing protruding into the juncture at my armpit between my shoulder and my chest. It's causing me pain in my shoulder and clavicle and I haven't been able to sleep because of it. I used to sleep comfortably on my left side but the big new pacemaker is physically preventing me from doing so now. My quality of life has definitely gone down since putting it in due to lack of sleep and major discomfort and I don't know that I can stand 8+ years of this thing in me. I just want a different, smaller pacemaker like I use to have. I'm suffering physically and mentally because of this and I'm at a loss at what to do.

So I was wondering, has anyone ever had a pacemaker put in only to have that one replaced shortly after due to complications like this? Because that's the only solution I can think of.

3 Comments

A larger replacement

by Grateful Heart - 2018-08-04 20:19:16

I've got the same problem.  I thought my replacement would be smaller too.  Of course it is more updated than my first CRT-D but it is also much larger.

They had to make the pocket larger and the device is close to my armpit and protruding on that side....I am not a small person.  It is pushing into the area where they had to dig out a lead that was sticking out and bury that lead deeper.....so it's still really sore after 16 days.  I try not to complain to my family but they see I'm still using ice when I can because it helps numb it.

It's really hurts but I am hoping it will ease up in time.  

I haven't provided any solution for you....but I empathize.  I hope it gets better for you.

Grateful Heart 

give it more time

by Tracey_E - 2018-08-05 10:23:00

Give it a few months to settle in and fully heal. A month isn't long. If it still bothers you after that, talk to your doctor about your options. They probably won't replace the device but they might be able to make it more comfortable by repositioning it. 

Sleeping on your left

by LondonAndy - 2018-08-06 00:47:14

I am not sure if this will help, as I am only on my first device, but I had trouble sleeping on my left, my favourite side, at first. The device would dig in to me when I did. So I changed what side of the bed I sleep on and tried sleeping on my right, and got used to that instead. I realised why I slept on my left was so that I was facing out the side of the bed, and could have the duvet slightly not all over me, but face and tummy could 'breathe and be cooler.

After I would guess 6 to 9 months, I realised that I could sleep on my left with no discomfort at all - I guess it just took time for the device to settle in position.

Ironically I now prefer to sleep on my right anyway!

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I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.