1. < Pacemaker & ICDs

Does the "raised feeling" of a pacemaker implant ever go away?

Posted by jer22 @jer22, Jan 10 9:05am

Had pacemaker inserted 6 weeks ago, was wondering if you would still feel the area over device be raised somewhat and does that feeling ever go away when you put your hand on it?
Thanks
jer22

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gloaming | @gloaming | Jan 12 4:51pm
In reply to @jc76 "@mtnmarge Reference the seat belt. You don't want in aggravating the site now or in future...." + (show)
@jc76

@mtnmarge
Reference the seat belt. You don't want in aggravating the site now or in future. What I did was to lower my seat belt control at top and put the belt below my arm pit not accross it. That keeps my seat belt below my pacemaker site.

You mentioned not getting much information on your device. That should not be accetable. You should have the name of your device. Contact them by phone or their website. They will have a ton of great information on your device, what to expect, what to do or not do, etc.

The emergency rooms are trying to get you out of there. Do you have a electrophysiologist working with you? If not do you have a cardilogist working with you. Those are who you can contact also and would highly suggest you have one on your ongoing medical treatments.

You are going to have some brusing and discomfort. Did they use stiches or glue to close your wound. Were you given any information on use of ice, etc. Tylenol or other medications?

I feel for you. But my experience with ICD/Pacemaker surgery (I have had 3) was done at Mayo Jacksonville by a work reknown EP with excellent pre care, day of surgeries, and follow ups calls at home and follow up visits. I do a pacemaker check at home every 3 months and then a in office visit.

Jump to this post

My intraocular lens implant, a small plastic lens put in place of a cataract, even has a label and a serial number, which were handed to me as I stepped out of the surgery. So, I agree, if this patient was not handed a sheet of paper with guidelines or instructions, it's not very ethical in my opinion.

REPLY
1 reply
marybird | @marybird | Jan 12 5:30pm
In reply to @gloaming "My intraocular lens implant, a small plastic lens put in place of a cataract, even has..." + (show)
@gloaming

My intraocular lens implant, a small plastic lens put in place of a cataract, even has a label and a serial number, which were handed to me as I stepped out of the surgery. So, I agree, if this patient was not handed a sheet of paper with guidelines or instructions, it's not very ethical in my opinion.

Jump to this post

I agree all pacemaker patients should be given written instructions for the care of their pacemaker/ICD incisions following surgery. I know I was.

They also gave me the pacemaker monitor and a temporary pacemaker card showing the name, model and serial numbers of the pacemaker generator and the two leads A permanent card came in the mail in a few days showing this information, also the name and contact information of the doctor who was managing the pacemaker.
It may be that not everyone gets the specific pacemaker information ( ie, model and serial numbers) when they leave the hospital, but they should get it either from their pacemaker clinic or the manufacturer in the mail shortly after the implant

REPLY
mtnmarge | @mtnmarge | Jan 21 9:02am
In reply to @jc76 "@mtnmarge Reference the seat belt. You don't want in aggravating the site now or in future...." + (show)
@jc76

@mtnmarge
Reference the seat belt. You don't want in aggravating the site now or in future. What I did was to lower my seat belt control at top and put the belt below my arm pit not accross it. That keeps my seat belt below my pacemaker site.

You mentioned not getting much information on your device. That should not be accetable. You should have the name of your device. Contact them by phone or their website. They will have a ton of great information on your device, what to expect, what to do or not do, etc.

The emergency rooms are trying to get you out of there. Do you have a electrophysiologist working with you? If not do you have a cardilogist working with you. Those are who you can contact also and would highly suggest you have one on your ongoing medical treatments.

You are going to have some brusing and discomfort. Did they use stiches or glue to close your wound. Were you given any information on use of ice, etc. Tylenol or other medications?

I feel for you. But my experience with ICD/Pacemaker surgery (I have had 3) was done at Mayo Jacksonville by a work reknown EP with excellent pre care, day of surgeries, and follow ups calls at home and follow up visits. I do a pacemaker check at home every 3 months and then a in office visit.

Jump to this post

Thanks for the info re seat belt. I did not know I could adjust it like that. I called re the information I should have about the PM - they apologized that I did not get it at the time of discharge. The did kind of blow me off about my opinion that I was discharged without proper instructions. My site is still a little sore and it is quite prominent. I had a check-up at the 4 week mark and no one indicated that I had any problems. I did mention that it is still uncomfortable but no response. I will be seeing my regular cardiologist in another week and have him check it out. Just to make sure everything is ok. I am grateful for the the PM....I no longer pant or have trouble breathing.

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jdw77 | @jdw77 | Jan 21 4:00pm

Got mine in 2018. It will always be a bump on your chest unless it was inserted under the muscle.

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musculars | @musculars | Mar 26 6:25pm
In reply to @cottagecountry "Hello jer22 Good to hear from you. I hope your recovery has been going well and..." + (show)
@cottagecountry

Hello jer22
Good to hear from you. I hope your recovery has been going well and that you are feeling better.
I have had my device for over 2.5 years now. Being a woman, with a bit more "upholstery" in the upper regions, my implant is noticeable to both touch and vision. But just.
Mine is a sub-pectoral implant.
The EP "made" a pocket on the muscle and embedded it. He attached it with a stitch to the muscle so it wouldn't move. Touch wise, there is a slight rise under the skin where it is located. Visually , I have to turn slightly to see that slight rise in the mirror. I can't see (or feel) any sharp edges corners, or anything like that. (Unlike a friend of ours who is very thin. The sharp outline of his unit is very visible.)
In fact, mine is so hard to detect that when I put my seat belt on and add the pacemaker guard to the seat belt, I have to manually check just where the unit is exactly so as to position the guard correctly.
I suspect the scar and slight bump are mine forever. Such is life.
Best wishes on your continuing heart health journey.

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I was never given the option and I am still angry about it. It is far more deforming than what I was led to believe. What i use when my chest will be exposed is a three dimensional transfer tattoo and at least is more visually deceptive.

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jc76 | @jc76 | 6 days ago

I am on my 3rd ICD/Pacemaker. Had my first one implanted in 2006.

Mine was put under my chest muscle. Why? The EP surgeon found that I did not have enough skin to make putting under the skin desirable. He also knew I was highly active and thus put my ICD/Pacemaker under my chest muscle.

It does take getting used to. My EP said it would take about a year to not feel like a splinter and body to encapsulate it. The area where my device is, is slightly raised. It will always be slightly raised. I am fine with that. It has saved my life about 8 times now. I am glad it is there. It also pulses my heart 70 times a minute. If not because of medications I am on my pulse would be in the 30s.

Recently I have been experiencing some discomfort in the area. I assume this is from weight gain. But I also do water aerobics 6 times a week. Very aggressive arm movements with water weights. I may be doing too much in that area and will be talking to my EP soon about it.

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deniseheart | @deniseheart | 6 days ago

I have had my ICD / Pacemaker 6 years and it is still raised since it was placed above my chest muscle. After a bit over a year, it was no longer bothersome.

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