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Visible Pacemaker
- by Hogan4am
- 2020-01-14 10:44:13
- Surgery & Recovery
- 1325 views
- 5 comments
I had a complete pacer/lead extraction on 12/20/19. My pacemaker was relocated from under my arm to my chest. I am a small person (5 ft 6, maybe 120lbs) so while the scar is not bad it feels like the pacer is very obviously placed on my chest and I can feel it if I touch it.
It is placed under the muscle so it is still sore and I am not sure if it would still be swollen at this point or if, due to my size, you'll just always be able to see my pacer.
Is there any exercises I can do to help with range of motion?
Thanks!
5 Comments
Be careful
by Pacer2019 - 2020-01-14 23:36:39
Someone one told me to swim šāļø after surgery ..... I was soooooo excited and couldn't wait to get to the pool .
Jumped in and damn near drowned - guess I had to know how to swim šāļø for it to work
ao I would suggest swimming IF you can swim -
trust me ... a PM doesn't make you able to swim if you couldn't before
Swimming
by Deborahlbnc - 2020-01-15 13:25:31
Ok, that made me LOL! I can't swim so I identified. There is SO much
good advice on this forum.
Deborah
Iām glad
by Pacer2019 - 2020-01-16 00:45:32
You LOLed . Sometimes it's the best medicine as they say
it reminded me of the old joke where a guy smashed his hands and asked the Dr "Doc will I be able to play the piano once I heal?"
Doc : "of course !"
the guy says "that's great I never have and always wanted to !"
Visible
by Bluemermaid - 2020-01-19 15:32:40
I had a pacemaker with ICD installed 01-07-20, and the swelling is not down yet. My previous pacemaker, without ICD, was smaller in size but you could still see it, well defined on my chest. I am 5' 6" 135 lb. with not much fat on my upper body. I am 60, and the fact that it can be seen doesn't bother me. I am just grateful to be living a normal active life.
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Sighting of pacemaker
by Selwyn - 2020-01-14 13:18:03
Some pacemakers when implanted in front of the muscle are pretty obvious ( as is mine, and you can see the leads coming out from the top), but that what happens when you don't have any fat layer.
It does take more than a month for the swelling to settle down, especially any blood clot, so that you can be hopeful that the PM under the muscle becomes less obvious. A lot depends on how thick the muscle of the chest is and how much fat you carry.
With regards to exercise- help yourself to anything that feels comfortable and does not pull on the wound. Wound strength with be more of less complete by 6 weeks. You will not pull on the leads to cause any problems no matter what. The use of immobilsation of the affected side's arm for any length of time is to be discouraged. After 6 weeks from the implant, I would try swimming, gently does it and build up. This will help the shoulder and build up the chest wall muscle thickness.