Pacemaker Pressure

[readyabout]

I had a Pacemaker fitted at the end of February 2024, all has healed well, and everything was ok at 6 week check. I am fairly slim, and the Pacemaker bulges out, it sometimes feels like there is pressure, I use a light moisturiser to help surrounding skin, I wonder if any one has experience of this, and what else I might do?

[EMBoy]

My pacemaker bulges too, and in the beginning, I had the same experience as you (mine used to itch as well). I tried moisturiser, but it didn't really make much difference so I stopped using it. Nearly five years down the line, however, the skin has stretched and I barely notice it.

Unfortunately, the skin in that region is fairly thin, and if I touch it, I can feel all the lumps and bumps on the surface of the pacemaker. It still itches occasionally.

I think that time is the great healer with pacemakers, and in a few months, you will probably have whole days when you aren't even aware you have one. For me, the improvement in my quality of life more than outweighs the fact that I have a lump on my chest that I hardly notice anymore.

All the best on your pacemaker journey - it will get better as the days go by.

[readyabout in reply to EMBoy]

Thanks helps that others have similar issues

[L8Again]

Based on my daughter’s experience - not a lot. She is now on her second pacemaker which has rotated 180D within the pouch exposing the connecting wires. As device installers leave slack in the wires to allow for pacemaker/body movement, her pacing team has said that they will not intervene until there are connectivity issues which they doubt will happen.

[readyabout in reply to L8Again]

Thanks for info.

[Thaifan]

hi I had a pacemaker fitted 2 years ago and like you have very little fat in the area. Mine is still visible and like EM boy you will get used to it. I never found any creams that helped.

[readyabout in reply to Thaifan]

Thanks for advice

[Goldstar45]

Hi I had an ICD fitted in 2017 which is a little larger than just a pacemaker and being of lean build it is very evident under the skin on my collar bone, it seemed very tight to begin with however I have become use to it being there, some days it feels tight but I think about the benefits of having it and get on with life!Sometimes it is itchy and I use E45 cream to sooth it.

Hope you are soon able to accept your new life enhancer all the best for the future.

[readyabout in reply to Goldstar45]

Thanks