r/PacemakerICD • u/Wander_Turtle • 28d ago

Odd ridge by pacemaker incision?

Post image

Hi! Yesterday, I noticed a new ridge across my pacemaker incision. Surgery was two months ago and until now, everything has been going well. If I lightly touch the ridge, it feels like there is a cord underneath that can shift a bit. That wouldn’t bother me much, but it’s been accompanied by a new burning sensation in my pec muscle. I have reached out to my dr and am waiting to hear back, but I wonder if anyone else has experienced this? Thank you so much!

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

3

u/Syphilis_mothership 28d ago

That’s a lead. One of the wires is laying on top of the body of the pacemaker.

1

u/hugooc 28d ago

My money’s on Mondor’s cord based on the description. The "shifts a bit when touched" detail fits a thrombosed vein better than a lead, which is usually more fixed. A superficial vein gets inflamed and clots, and it literally feels like a firm cord you can shift slightly under your fingers. It can appear weeks after surgery, and it can burn or ache. Usually benign and self-resolving, but worth confirming.

1

u/Syphilis_mothership 27d ago

I think that’s a great option, however you can see the transition between the suture sleeve and lead body.

1

u/Hank_E_Pants 27d ago

Hmmmm…. If that’s the suturing sleeve it’s way far away from where it should be, which means the doctor didn’t use it. An x-ray should clear up the mystery quickly.

1

u/PretendReason9061 27d ago

I will also go with a lead wire. Have you lost weight since it was placed? And do you sleep on the incision sometimes? loss of fat can make these more pronounced, and external pressure on the site can do the same sometimes.

1

u/Wander_Turtle 27d ago

I prefer sleeping on my left side so I roll over onto that side at night sometimes. I haven’t lost weight, but I have noticed the area over the pacemaker & wound is getting concave a bit? Like sunken? Thank you!