wondering about pacemaker moving

stitch

by Tracey_E - 2019-10-22 15:31:19

They stitch it in place, then scar tissue grows around it. Some stay more still than others. Mine is under the subpectoral and moves around with me. It's a little annoying but not painful and it won't hurt the device. 

moving

by new to pace.... - 2019-10-22 15:38:15

thanks

It moves

by Benjijohn - 2019-10-23 01:14:28

It can move, at least mine shifted considerably

I was told by the doctors that it was pretty common especially if it was implanted under the skin(rather than under pectorial muscle) and if the pocket was not new( meaning the same pocket was used for battery change etc)

It made sense to me. As devices are constantly changing in size etc, the new PM can move when it is implanted in the previous pocket , that was particularly made for a different device.
 

There is also a lot of scar tissue in the old pocket, which makes it more difficult for our bodies to securely attach to the PM

And unfortunately some doctors do not suture the PMs to the body. 

It moves for awhile but finally it finds it bew place and settles. My second was finally settled to its new place after almost a year. It is by no means as comfortable as the first one, but I got used to it in a way. My doctors adviced me not to get a replacement surgery, due to infection risk.

And as long as it does its job, I am fine.

Good luck

Mine is stitched to the chest

by MathTeacher - 2019-10-29 22:16:23

After over four years with my pacemaker, I just found out that mine was stitched to my chest.  I was telling my surgeon how I sometimes felt a little pulling on the pacemaker when I'm sleeping.  I have to move my arm in closer to my body.  He told me, "That's because I stitched it to your chest wall."  Would definitely explain things.

If your pacemaker is new, it will definitely move around until the pocket grows around it.  When I first got mine, I'd actually hold it when I bent over, just to keep from feeling it shift.