Upcoming pacemaker procedure

@mbaisley Checking the calendar, looks like tomorrow is your big day for your pacemaker placement! If your experience is anything like mine was, ( and I hope it is!) you can look at this date as a new beginning, of sorts, as you regain your stamina and energy with a heart that'll beat appropriately to supply your circulatory needs. My pacemaker was implanted on June 12, 2019, and I label that date as the beginning of my feeling like a human being again- hard to believe it's been 7 years since I got that pacemaker.
So I wish you the very best, with minimal pain and anxiety, and not needing too many adjustments to optimize the pacemaker's activity for you, as you become accustomed to your new electronic "friend" and beyond. Any questions or comments you may think of, ask away, and if we can't answer them, we can at least commiserate! Good luck! Mary

Hi I had a Pace Maker Difibulator put in original 17 years ago. And a second one for battery replacement 12 years ago. the procedure the first time comes with more restrictions than with future ones. the initial one they make a pocket of sorts in you upper chest area and also place some wires that run to your heart. so due to those wires and the pocket it takes about 6 weeks of no lifting over 10 lbs and not to raise your arms over your head. there is also no showers for a bit as the incision heals but I don't remember how long that was. probably a w|k or 2 at most. other than that just getting used to having it in your chest. I did not find it uncomfortable but everyone is different. The only thing I remember was once in a while it felt itchy over the area it was implanted but just moving it around usually satisfied that. since it's been a while for me mine was a bit larger than the ones they are using today I'm willing to bet.
Mine also you could see it as a bump on the skin but Ive heard that the ones today are smaller so it my not show at all. Please ask any questions you like.
Have a Blessed Day

@danab I know there are basic instructions needed to ensure the operative site stays intact, doesn't become infected as healing takes place, and to ensure that the newly implanted leads don't detach, but the details of these instructions depends a lot on the individual doctor who does the surgery and his/her practice.

I had soluble stitches, some steristrips closing my pacemaker wound and the whole thing was covered with a Tegederm patch, with strict instructions NOT to remove or touch this dressing before the 4-5 day wound check visit with the nurse in the office. The instructions said I could shower after day 2 but not get the wound wet. I managed that by taping plastic wrap over the Tegederm and securing that with waterproof electrical tape while I showered, and facing away from the shower head as I showered so no water fell directly on the area.

The instructions also say not to lift the arm on the side of the pacemaker above the head, or behind the back for some time ( approximately a month, not longer) or to lift anything heavier than 10 lbs for some time. The reason for this is that theoretically such movement could dislodge the newly implanted leads, although from what I have read today's leads have attachments ( many of them actually have threads at the tips that can be screwed into the cardiac tissue) that aren't likely to become dislodged, unless the lead has been poorly or improperly attached. So dislodgement isn't likely to happen these days even if a person inadvertently lifts the arm prior to that month- we've all done that and worried about having yanked out leads, at least once during our recovery period!
That said, my sister, who also had sick sinus syndrome, did manage to dislodge one of her pacemaker leads about a week or so after implantation- they got that report from her remote monitor and she had to go back and have that lead replaced. I've always attributed that dislodgment to her roughhousing with her then 2 year old twin boys, but I can't say for sure how it happened. I figure that it may well be that engaging in sports, or activity requiring strenuous use of that arm during the recovery period might tend to dislodge new pacemaker leads, and that's where following the instructions of the doc who implanted the pacemaker as to what can be done and when such activity can be resumed is so important.

In any case, once those leads are in place for a time the endothelial lining of the vessels in which they're placed grow around the leads so the leads become embedded and won't go anywhere!

I think the ICDs are still somewhat larger than pacemakers, so I'd think you'd naturally see a larger lump with an ICD but that also depends on the area and depth of placement, the person's own build and the fat or tissue around where the pacemaker is placed. If the person is very thin, has little fat around the tissue where it's placed, the pacemaker will be more visible. I'm padded enough and my pacemaker is small enough that you can't really see much of a lump- I'd have to point it out for someone to notice it- especially as you can barely see the scar either. But if you touch the area you can feel the pacemaker. But that's me.

@marybird Yes brings back memories as I ended up getting a Heart transplant 7 years ago. My heart got to the point the icd was going off too often. Yes your right about everything else as I was in a very physical job as an electronic Tech climbing towers and lifting test equipment. so my doctor probably want to make sure the leads stayed put and wanted some growth over the wires before I went back to full duty. I had mine for 10 years total and never had any problems with the wires coming loose. But towards the end it was shocking me to often. I always was glad it did its job tho as it saved my life a few times.
I also didn't have any staples only teri strips and my doctor said baths only until first appointment I seem to remember.