Pace Maker

Large, hard, painful swelling.

by Thin Lizzie - 2019-01-09 00:04:05

Thanks Robin1. I have been told that I have a high pain tolerance, which is one of the reasons that I have been concerned. My cardiologist is away, and my GP wasn't much help.  

Pain Around Incision Site

by Brettmalec - 2019-01-09 01:54:28

Hi Lizzie! I'm post op 2 days and I've got the shoulder pain and swelling along with pain along the whole incision site (as to be expected after two days) but I'm sure I'll have the pain and swelling for a few weeks as well. I've just been taking lots of ibuprofen and Tylenol along with ice packs. I can't quite remember how my first pacemaker healing experience went as I was only 7 at the time so I'm going off of how it goes this time around lol!

First pacemaker

by Benjijohn - 2019-01-09 05:34:12

If I am not mistaken this is your first device. I had the same issues after my first device and the doctors told me that it was normal (but still did some tests just to nake sure that there was no infection)

I think your situation is the same, but just to be on the safe side stay in touch with your doctor

wish you the best

Large, hard, painful swelling

by Thin Lizzie - 2019-01-09 06:52:44

Thanks Benjijohn.Yes, it is my first device. I cannot get an appointment with my cardiologist for another month, and have been to my GP twice, but he was of no help whatsoever. Will just have to wait until I can see my cardiologist, and hope until then that I have no infection. Don't know what else to do.

2nd or 3rd device

by Thin Lizzie - 2019-01-09 08:08:37

Just wondering why a person might need a 2nd or even a 3rd pacemaker. I thought this would be a one-off thing, with only the battery needing to be changed every few years. Obviously I don't know much about pacemakers!

Multiple Pacemakers

by Brettmalec - 2019-01-09 15:20:24

Everytime the battery goes bad you'll get a whole new pacemaker so that's a quick in and out procedure. And that's every (give or take) 10 years but that all depends on what device you have, how often you're paced etc... Other than the pacemaker itself being replaced you'll probably sometime go through getting new leads as well. Hopefully, someday it can be a one-off thing!

Multiple pacemakers

by Thin Lizzie - 2019-01-09 21:52:45

Thanks for explaining that Brettmalec. something to NOT look forward to! Oh well, I am 81, so maybe it won't happen.

More hard and painful swellings

by Thin Lizzie - 2019-01-15 18:49:17

Four weeks after op. now, and I still have the original and very painful swelling at the incision site, but I now also have some smaller, hard and quite sore swellings. Has anyone else experienced this?