My pacemaker is shifting around suddenly

Hi, I'm new here. I found this forum looking for help with a problem I'm having, thanks so much for allowing me to join. Looking around, I can see lots of things that would be helpful, and I also hope to contribute whatever I can to help others.
About 6 weeks ago, I noticed my pacemaker turning onto it's side.... I could see and feel it sticking up.... as soon as I gently placed my hand over it, it laid back down in place. Over the next few weeks I noticed it slipping out of the "pocket" ...if I laid on my left side, it turned onto it's side, if I laid on my right side it slipped up and towards the right. When I flipped onto my back and gently touched it, it slipped back into the pocket. I saw a doctor in the er who shrugged it off and said it looked fine in the X-ray...I saw the Electro cardio tech who without physically examining me said his readings were all fine and claimed that it would show up on the readings if there were problems. I tried to relax and trust the doctors about this... then 2 days ago I woke up and my pacemaker was sitting on top of my breastbone on the left-center of my chest...again it flipped back into the pocket when I gently touched it. My husband has witnessed all of this and came with me to my regular cardio's office who fit me in yesterday to have him check it. He sent me for more x rays....and I'm waiting for his call. I either need reassurance that this is all normal (seriously doubt it is) or for someone to take what I'm saying seriously and fix it before the leads are pulled out.
I hate having another PM surgery....but I hate it more, stressing so much I can't sleep out of fear of dislodging the pacemaker completely.  My guess is when I was remodeling my house and moving in, I tore away the tissue holding the pacemaker in place since that was what was going on at the time this all began. I remember my chest being sore, but figured that was from painting and removing floor tile. I also have enormous breast (40G), which could also be a factor.
Am I freaking out for nothing?

4 Comments

Hi welcome!

by Lavender - 2024-08-09 11:04:09

You are most welcome aboard. I am so sorry you're having this concern. I commend you for seeking help. It's reassuring that all is working well and that's paramount! 

Others here have had drifting pacemakers. Some end up in the armpit. Initially I think most are stitched in place but things can break loose. Mine is only secured on the side nearest the breastbone. When lying on my right it leans forward. We are not to touch them or they can flip over which is a problem. I lean into a pillow at night if on my side to hold it in place. 
 

So good you had xrays to check placement. Your dr can decide if it needs restitched. Breast size can be a plus and a minus, isn't it so? But we are what God has given us. Your problem is not unheard of with your traveling device. Let's wait and see what the doc decides. Do let us know. Keep in mind they keep sending you home, so they're not thinking this is life threatening at this stage. 💕🌹

hi

by Tracey_E - 2024-08-09 11:41:28

I'm sorry you are dealing with this! No it's not normal, but it's also probably not serious. Worst case, they go in again to stitch it back in place. This should be very minor and outpatient, nothing at all like the first surgery.

Mine shifts all over the place but it doesn't turn. We discussed fixing it, but it's annoying, not painful or harmful, so I chose to leave it alone until my next replacement. 

Leads are put in with plenty of slack, usually coiled behind the device, so it's highly unlikely you are going to pull a lead. 

 

Slipping

by piglet22 - 2024-08-09 12:46:30

Hello 

I was looking at the clinician manual for my older Medtronic Ensura.

I noticed that it only has one suture hole at the top.

That could allow it  spin if it had room.

The leads should stabilise it a bit.

It must be quite worrying if it manages to stand on edge. No way should it be allowed to flip completely.

With mine, sited on the left chest side, I can feel the leads pointing towards the collar bone on the left of the device.

I haven't read all the comments but I think it definitely needs to be seen soon.

In fact, I would be wary of moving it at all in case it goes the wrong way.

An X-ray would reveal how the generator and leads are lying.

The leads are the things that need protection more so than the generator.

The risk is that you could lose the slack they allow for your movement.

Good luck and hope you get sorted.

device moving around

by islandgirl - 2024-08-12 23:47:57

My first device, a PM, ended up sliding into my armpit but I never did anything about it.  The main concern was the edge wearing through my skin.  They do move around, and my current one does, too, but they shouldn't flip over. I had a CRT-D D that dropped within a month turning on my left side would cause it to flip. The area was very sensitive.  I wore a bra 24/7 to keep it in place.  I had changed EPs and mentioned it to the new EP after close to a year of putting up with it and he sent me to a cardiothoracic surgeon specializing in heart device repositioning and he replaced it and repositioned it.  He put it under the muscle as I am active. Mine was very low and in my chest, left side, and he cut in the same place and cleaned up the incision from multiple devices being replaced in the past.  Said he had never had to retrieve one that had dropped that low.  The previous device appeared not to have been placed in a pocket nor stitched down.  I was in the hospital for several days, and in cardiac care unit part of that time.    

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I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.