Pacemaker Movement

My pacemaker was implanted on May 2. I feel good and have resumed all activities except golf, swimming and weightlifting above my shoulder.  The only oddity I have experienced is when I shave under my arm, the pacemaker is sometimes sitting there.  This has happened two or three times but not every time.  Is it normal to have pacemakers move that much?  Is this something I should contact my cardiologist about?

7 Comments

Hello!

by mbaker87 - 2018-08-28 12:47:28

I think if it is worrying you, it is definietly something to call your doctor about. Mine actually moved a good bit at the beginning of this year. I went and had it checked and it was all okay. Sometimes it just takes an office visit to reassure you everything is okay. Praying you feel better about this soon!

Moving?

by Gotrhythm - 2018-08-28 15:47:36

Some movement is normal. How much is too much? This is a question for your doctor. I certainly think you should bring this much movement to his/her attention.

depends where your device is implanted

by ROBO Pop - 2018-08-28 19:07:08

Bottom line, a pacemaker or defib has a suture hole that the surgeon uses to hold the device in place so it doesn't move down to your derriere as that would create problems with sitting. They do not afix the device tight but allow some slack for movement so that there is no tearing or tissue or muscle during movement. Your device will move to some extent, and that is most pronounced when you are healing however if you feel thedevice is moving excessively then by all means contact the EP and check. 

settling in

by Tracey_E - 2018-08-28 19:12:13

Mine does the same thing. Sometimes it also catches the edge of my workout bra. It may get better as it settles in more, it can take up to a full year to settle in fully and have scar tissue build up around it. It's not dangerous, just annoying. If it bothers you too much, they can put it deeper and stitch it in better but I'd wait at least a year to decide if you want to do that.

Mine newest is over two years old, I'm still debating. Probably not going to mess with it because I don't want another surgery and recovery period and infection risk, but I've got a lot of battery life left and we met our out of pocket for the year so it wouldn't cost anything. So I'm still pondering. 

can I just say

by bluevelvetcake - 2018-08-28 19:47:31

that I'm glad someone brought up the shaving. Mine is slightly over the side and I have to gently push it out of the way to shave the insides of the pits. The first time I did it I wasn't thinking and I saw stars at how bad it hurt when I just pushed it quickly and too roughly. The shaving is the biggest pain in the butt since I got this thing!

Shaving

by Grateful Heart - 2018-08-28 21:36:58

I just got my first replacement 6 weeks ago.  My first one stuck out and was close to my armpit for almost 8 years after a lead revision so I was well aware of it's location when shaving. 

My new one is larger and sticks out a little more towards my armpit.  I was shaving my armpit the other day and when finished I moved the razor away and misjudged the new bump-out size and location of my device and sliced across my skin.  Won't do that again.

Now I know where it is.

Grateful Heart 

Thank you

by RAS - 2018-08-28 22:10:31

It is always good to know you are not alone.  I did contact my EP and was assured that it was ok as long as my pacemaker kept working correctly.  Thank you for the support!  

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