Does pacemaker size impact swelling recovery time?

@mllgroom
Having had a ICD/Pacemaker since 2006 and on my 3rd device I can pass on my personal experience.

In Mayo's Pacemaker treatment rooms they show all the present ICDs, pacmakers and ICD/Pacemakers from all the companies. They differ in size per their function and device maker. Mine is quite large to the sizes I see but I have both the ICD and Pacemaker made by Boston Scientifif.

Swelling indicates inflammation. That is quite normal to have and will take some time to go away. Everyones time frame for swelling to go away will be different for all. Try to keep the area free of pressure and limit your arm movements to the instructions given to you by your medical team.

You have a foreign body in your body and the body will react to it. What my EP says is eventually the body will ecapsulate the device and the swelling and information will go down if not completely away. But remember you have a device below your skin or muscle so some rise will be there but it is the device and encapsulation not swellling after time.

How much you will experience in reduction depends on how much skin you have where device went in, size or your device, and if like mine was implanted below my chest muscle not below my skin.

The device is always going to be there so some elevation is going to be there but if you did not see my scars you probably would not know I had a ICD/pacemaker. Again though mine is below my chest muscle. Some of my friends have those below skin and I can see a slight rise in skin.

I was told by my EP that I probably would not get used to having it for about a year. He was right. I completely forget I have one until I raise my left arm above my head or my wife wants to lay her head on my chest.

The swelling really does go away but you will always feel the ICD while making certain motions with your arms in particular. It takes about a year to encapsulate and about 3 years or more to get used to sleeping on your side where it sits.

Thanks
Appreciate your comments

Καλημέρα σας απο Ελλάδα θα ήθελα να ενημερώνομαι σχετικά με τοποθετηση βηματοδοτη που εβαλε η μαμα μου και αν μπορει να κάνει χειρουργειο οστεοαρθριτιδας μετα απο ποσο καιρο απο τη τοποθέτηση. και για σύνδρομο brugada type2 που εχω .Ευχαριστώ πολύ.

Good morning from Greece, I would like to be informed about the placement of a pacemaker that my mom put in and if she can have osteoarthritis surgery after how long after the placement. and for brugada syndrome type2 that I have. Thank you very much.

Υπάρχει βηματοδοτης κ απινιδωτης μαζι ; Θα μπορουσε να της βαλει ο ιατρος βηματοδοτη κ απινιδωτη μαζι ; η μπαίνει σε ειδικές περιπτώσεις ο απινιδωτης Ευχαριστώ πολύ.

Translation:

Is there a pacemaker and a defibrillator together? Could the doctor put a pacemaker and a defibrillator together? Or is the defibrillator inserted in special cases? Thank you very much.

My swelling from the Medtronic ICD was horrendous looking initially. It is nearly the size of an old flip phone. I honestly thought they had given the closing of the incision task to a newbie. There was a giant bulge at the location of the ICD with excess tissue stitched into what looked like a topknot elevated a full inch above the circular bulge which was the size of half a tennis ball.
A year out, it is a beautiful almost invisible flat pink scar which will eventually turn white. You must be patient. In about 6 weeks from surgery, you will begin to notice ongoing, consistent improvement. Doctors say it will take a full year for the ICD to be “seated” into the pocket they create for it under your skin. In spite of the swelling, the discomfort was minimal. Two weeks post procedure, I went on a long planned vacation with my family which required full days on my feet with a lot of walking. Age 77 at the time. All was okay, but no white water rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking with my sons and grandchildren. No lifting your left arm above your shoulder for 6 weeks to avoid pulling out the ICD wires threaded into your heart. Honestly, it is a minor procedure which is well worth the recovery time.

@renakigreece My Medtronic Defibrillator is also a pacemaker. It serves both functions.

@renakigreece Welcome to Connect! Yes, I have a pacemaker and defribillator together, an ICD. The pacemaker keeps a heart beating at a certain speed when necessary. The defribillator shocks the heart back into rhythm when it stops. We do not give medical advice, we share experiences and make suggestions. Only medical professionals can determine if your mom can have osteoarthritis surgery.