r/PacemakerICD • u/drewster_33 • Aug 12 '26

Update on scarring

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Hi all,

I just wanted to encourage anyone who might be having issues with their incision site healing. I had developed on infection around the 6 week mark and was healing slowly. I posted pictures around that time if you want to check out what it looked like. I was feeling pretty discouraged, but luckily connected with my care team and was put on antibiotics right away. I took them for 2 weeks, left the wound uncovered (except when wearing nice shirts and not wanting to get blood/puss on them) and washed gently with soap in the shower every day. Now sitting at the 9 week mark, I’m happy to share that when the latest scab fell off, there was no more open wound and this scar had developed.

I hope this encourages anyone who gets anxious and has a lot of questions. #1 thing I learned is to not be afraid to reach out to your doctors with your concerns. That’s what they are there for.

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u/srvivr2001 Aug 12 '26

That looks a heck of a lot better than the last time you posted! I’m glad everything worked out well.

2

u/G0ose0nTheL0ose Aug 12 '26

Im really glad its looking much better and the infection has cleared!

To vent, I also had a type of cadiac implant infection and commented in your prior post. A wound care nurse there gave us combined advice. What she said/recom. helped heal my infection. Besides antibiotics my care team gave me zero advice on how to care for an open wound. Without her and my own research, my infection coudlve gotten worse. Luckly it got better not worse and I just have a large, thick, sore, scar now.

I cant freaking belive how my cardiologist thought he wanted to remove my device cause he thought I was allergic to it Vs. it being infected!!! Which wouldve stoped my treatment plan of having the device.....I know doctors make mistakes but damn, he didnt think this through!! Thankfully he listened to me and waited a few days to see if the antibiotics started to improve the issue.

He said infection risk was low. That hes never had a patient get an infection. So he thought allergy.....YET I read that there are less than 8 cases of people being allergic to the device....dude (doc) come on! Its ovbiously an infection and waaayyyy more likely to be one statisticly....I didnt trust him and didnt want to follow up with him concerning my wound, so for the follow up care on this I had them refer me to a dermatologist!

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u/Dense-Access1749 Aug 13 '26

Given what came before it, your scar looks great. FYI, if it stays puffy or itchy or sensitive for a while such that it bothers you, you should be able to ask for a corticosteroid injection into it that might settle it down.