Pacemaker implant surgery and life with a pacemaker may sound scary. There are so many questions that come up before and after surgery. The most important and common questions and answers will be covered in the pacemaker booklet sent home with you after surgery. "For Young People with Pacemakers" offers answers to more questions, online support, and supplemental information. For the quirkiest of questions with genuine answers, read below.
Q) Will my pacemaker rust from the moisture in my body?
A) Pacemakers are made with biocompatible parts, meaning that they are nontoxic and should not react negatively with the human body, besides causing a little scar tissue formation. This is normal. The pacemaker is made of a generator, battery, and leads. The generator contains all of the electronic parts, including the battery, which is typically made of lithium-iodine. The leads are flexible wires that send signals from the generator to pace the heart. The outer case is made of titanium, or a titanium alloy. None of the parts of a pacemaker will rust in the human body. The only reason pacemakers must be replaced after a number of years is because of diminished battery power.
Q) Can I have my pacemaker removed?
A) The short answer is no. The more complicated answer is that it is possible, but highly unlikely. Four University of Minnesota medical doctors (MDs) completed a retrospective study to determine the answer to this question. Termination of Implantable Pacemaker Therapy: Experience in Five Patients was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine by the American College of Physicians on May 15, 1997. It looks back at five patient cases to find out why these patients had their pacemakers removed and how they fared afterward.
Q) Am I a bionic woman (or man) now? Am I a robot?
A) Congratulations! Technically, you are bionic. According to Merriam-Webster, bionic is defined as "having normal biological capability or performance enhanced by ... electronic or electromechanical devices". So, if you have a pacemaker, or any other electronic device implanted in your body, you are bionic. A robot is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a machine that looks like a human being". It may walk and talk like a person, but it is not a person. Since this does not describe you, you are not a robot.
Q) How do I cover up my scar?
A) You don't, except for sun safety. You have gone through a lot to get to where you are today. Your scar is a reminder of your strength and resilience. That may not be the answer you sought, but think back and you may find it's true. To protect your scar from sunlight, choose an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) shirt that will cover it. That is the most effective option. A typical, non-sheer shirt will also work. Sunblock is another option. For females, many cute tops of various styles can still be worn with little to no exposure of your scar, if covering it is very important to you. Experiment with different tops that do and do not cover your scar to find what you feel most comfortable in. For males, the majority of boys'/men's shirts will cover your scar. Just make sure to give it a liberal dose of sunblock before exposing it to the sun.
Q) Is it weird to name my pacemaker?
A) Absolutely not. It serves an important role in your life and you have to live with it every day. Naming your pacemaker helps lighten the topic when discussing it with friends and family, adding a little humor to what may otherwise be a bleak or touchy topic. A little personification never hurt anyone and you may be surprised at how often it makes you laugh. Many people name their pacemakers, g-tubes, ports, and more. I am leaning toward Oscar for mine. Why? My pacer has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R (and I don't even like bologna)! It is a catchy song. Oscar the Pacemaker.
Sources:
YouTube - Oscar Mayer song
Demosthenes Iskos, Lurie G. Keith, Scott Sakaguchi and David G. Benditt. "Termination of Implantable Pacemaker Therapy: Experience in Five Patients". Annals of Internal Medicine 126 (1997).
Venkateswara Sarma Mallela, V. Ilankumaran, and N.Srinivasa Rao. "Trends in Cardiac Pacemaker Batteries". Indian Pacing and Electrophysiology Journal 4(4) (2004).
Illustrated Glossary
Merriam-Webster - biocompatibility
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