squishy lump

I recieved a new pacemaker last week because my previous one (of 10 yrs.) was just too irritating. I'm thin and the connectors ends would feel like they were poking through my skin. It was implanted slightly higher than normal. My new Dr. agreed to replant a new one, slightly smaller than the current one and put it a bit further down and also suggested using a pouch to pad it since I am thin. OK, its only been 11 days but this thing is so bulky. I think he implanted one of my throw pillows in there!. I sure hate to complain but....it is SO big and puffy. Would this possibly just have swollen tissue around it yet? Well, obviously it's possible but do you think it's likely enough that I could expect it to go down or is it normal to be quite puffy because of this pouch thing? I have no idea what this pouch looked like. 

5 Comments

Give it time to settle down

by crustyg - 2019-07-24 04:56:26

Hi: there probably is quite a lot of swelling from the tissue manipulation required to get the old box out and adjust the pocket (==pouch) where the box sits.  Usually this is underneath the deep fascia but above the pectoral muscles, but there are options.

Changing the pocket requires some blunt dissection to separate the planes of tissue == some hand tearing apart of the tissues to create a pocket a little higher than before. This produces some tissue damage and the body's first response is swelling as blood vessels allow cells through the walls to fight infection - which is what inflammation is.  There may be *no* infection but the body responds in the same way regardless.

I've not used them but there are pads and protectors to go over the PM box which might help - but if you've had a PM for 10 years (and I've had one for 9 weeks), I suspect you know a lot more about this stuff than I do!

Best wishes.

Swelling after surgery

by Selwyn - 2019-07-24 07:06:33

Patience! There always is swelling after any surgery. Depending on the degree of trauma this can take some weeks to resolve. The swelling may be inflammation, blood clot/bruise. Any worsening swelling is cause to seek medical help. Don't fiddle with the site as this worsens the problem.

10 days vs 10 years

by AgentX86 - 2019-07-24 08:09:57

You probably don't remember what it was like after your first implant. What you describe is perfectly normal. The swelling can las a couple of months and it can be tender for months after that.

my ICD

by Uelrindru - 2019-07-25 16:11:12

when I got mine installed I thought I'd never get to the point that I'm not thinking about it. It felt HUGE, getting an infection at the site later didnt help but it has gone down and I have gone through days of forgetting it.

If you're really concerned ask to see a nurse or your EP and they'll know for sure

I really need to look into those padded shirts for work, I wear a harness to work in lifts and the chest strap sits on my ICD, after an eight hour day the site aches.

thanks everybody

by TJL - 2019-07-25 21:29:23

ahhh yes, patience. lol  And yes, it is just a lot of swelling.  I usually have more common sense but I had no idea what the "pouch" was like that he used and was half wondering if all the puff actually WAS the pouch. But I have since found out the pouch is no thicker than a t-shirt material. I must have had nothing better to do when I couldnt sleep at 1 a.m. ish than to worry about dumb stuff.  Thanks so much for the replies. 

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