Anyone have an abdominal pacemaker?

I was born with a heart defect that resulted in me being implanted with a pacemaker at 18months of age. I'm now thirty and my leads require much higher voltage to pace than when I was implanted with my device. I'm using pacemakers rather rapidly, and approaching my fifth pacemaker change. I started having complications and pain in my shoulder area, so in 2015 I had an extra set of leads implanted in the abdominal area, incase my leads broke after being repositioned. (These are on the outside of my heart versus my original leads that are inside)  My doctor wants to use my abdominal leads for my next generator, but I am very frightened of how it will look and feel inside me. My current pacemaker is implanted below some muscle so I can't see or feel it. 

I want to hear from patients with abdominal pacemakers. Can you feel or see the pacemaker?  

Also, my doctor tried to explain to me the differences between the leads implanted in my heart and the ones on the outside - BUT I was extremely emotional  at the time and it didn't stick. Can anyone provide me with information about the two? I'm trying to do my research before I make decisions. I'm currently scouring the forms and other information listed to find answers to my questions. Any help is appreciated! 

2 Comments

Abdominal pacemaker

by Pacemum - 2020-03-05 17:37:52

My daughter had an abdominal pacemaker when she was young. It was more prominent than under the muscle. With children with external pacemaker wires they sometimes tuck under arm rather then abdomen area.  

It is my understanding that having the leads inside the heart gives a function that better replicates the hearts natural pacemaker system. However I am not sure whether this has changed with the new technology.  

Abdominal pacemaker

by 50shadesofpaint - 2020-03-06 02:11:22

That's what worries me, abdominal pacemakers are normally used for children...not adults. My doctor says he can bury it deep enough so that it can't be seen, but I'm honestly terrified with how it will look and feel. I don't want to live with discomfort and even thinking about feeling the implant in my abdomen makes me nauseous. :( 

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The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.