Pacemaker Feedback Requested

Easier than you think

by Gotrhythm - 2023-06-01 15:02:34

I too am quite thin with a small frame--really rather fragile and delicate looking. The pacemaker is visible if one cares to look for it. However, not once ever, even at the pool, has anyone asked what it that thing on your chest. If I mention it for some reason, no one has ever said, oh that's what that thing on your chest is--or any variation thereof.

The scar is minimal and mine, I have two now, have faded rapidly.

Since I don't wear bikinis, strapless, or spaghetti strap clothing, all clothing completely hides both pacemaker and scar. I can't imaging anything suitable to the office, that wouldn't.

As for how it feels, once it is completely healed, I think most people would agree, you don't feel it at all. And you don't feel it "working." I go for months at a time without even thinking about it.

Security at airports, concerts etc. is no problem. Their apparatus will not harm either your pacemaker or you. At lot of what you read on the internet about how you can't do this or you have to be careful with that is old, out-of-date information.Today's pacemakers are tough and very dependable in all situations. Any device or appliance that's safe for the general public, is safe for us.

It's really not a big deal

by AgentX86 - 2023-06-01 16:09:59

If your doctors are pushing it, you'll be a lot better off after you have one implanted.  You'll likely feel a lot better, have more energy, and not risk what we don't want to risk

A Gotrhythm says, after it's healed it doesn't feel like much at all.  It becomes part of  you.  It's like your bellybutton.  It's there but how many times do you really think about it.  Other than hanging around here, I probably wouldn't. The surgery itself varies a lot between people.  For me, it was nothing.  I was back at work and walking (about 3mi that day) the day after I got out of the hospital. I had to stay one night for observation because I was completly dependent on my pacemaker. For most, it's an outpatient procedure.

It's not going to be seen under any clothing that most women would wear in public.  There is a raised bump and a small scar, of course.  My scar has faded to almost nothing, and I scar very badly.  If you're worried about the pacemaker can showing (mine does), you can have it implanted under the pectoral muscle instead of just under the skin. This will hide it and protect it more but at the cost of a longer, and a somewhat more painful recovery.

Airport security isn't a problem and shopping center security systems aren't either. However, if they use the wands at events, ask them if they'll confine the search to under the waste

It was a bad idea to refuse it before and as the days go by, the bad idea gets progressively worse.

easy

by Tracey_E - 2023-06-01 17:15:38

Living with it is a lot easier than dealing with the side effects when we need it but don't have it. JMHO

No problems whatsoever traveling and going to concerts. We can walk through metal detectors. The alloys used in the pacers do not set them off and pacers are not affected by them. I don't even tell security anymore, just walk on through. As agent pointed out, the only time I say something is if they have a wand, that needs to be below the waist only. (tho I've had them used higher and was fine! Newer pacers are well shielded and very little affects them)

Talk to your surgeon about placement. It's not likely it will show through clothes but some surgeons put them more inconspicuously than others.  I was 27 and very underweight when I got my first one in 1994. This was before the days of alternate placements so my cardiologist got a plastic surgeon to assist in hiding it under breast tissue. They like to put it just under the collarbone, just under the skin because it's the shortest path to the heart and heals the fastest, but they can easily go a little lower and deeper so that the scar is covered by most necklines. Mine, done by the plastic surgeon, is so tiny and thin that I can wear a strapless top and you'd never see it. Make sure they know how it looks is important to you. 

I promise it's not as big a deal as you've likely built it up to be in your head! Most of us heal and move on and rarely give it a thought. 

Not problematic

by Prof P - 2023-06-02 10:49:45

It's been just over two years since I received mine.  I cannot find the scar.  Someone in this forum has said that after awhile you forget you have it.  I recalled that since that was what I was thinking just the other day: most days I forget I have it. I can show someone where it is, but it's hard to find otherwise.  Cardiologists have seen enough cases to not be recommending "a device" if none is needed.  

Pacemaker placement

by Selwyn - 2023-06-02 11:45:40

If you are concerned about appearance, discuss with the cardiologist about placement. These can be place within and under muscle so that they are hidden. 

The actual procedure is under local anaesthetic. No worse than getting blood taken. A bit of pressure here and there. You have some postoperative restriction of  arm movement whilst the bruising is settling. 

Having a pacemaker may improve your quality of exercise, life, and be life saving. Any of the aforementioned are minor inconveniences compared to the benefit.  I had my pacemaker not for symptoms, just to keep me alive. 

I am thin. I do swim. No one has ever asked me what the lump is on my chest ! As I say, you can have the PM placed deeper and then it is not visible. The scar starts to go white after 6 months and is quite small.