biventricular PM

On Dec 17 I had my pacemaker replaced. I used to have a regular PM with 2 leads, but the doctor decided to change it for the 3 leads model (biventricular PM) used to treat heart failure. He inserted the battery and the third lead and left the old ones, which were only 1 year old. This one is bigger than the other one, and it's very difficult for me to lie down and sleep. I've been trying to lie on my right side, because my back and neck are killing me from sleeping in the same position every night. The problem is that every time I do this, I feel a deep pain in the center of my chest and I also feel that my skin on the incision is getting stretched. I don't know if this is normal, because I don't remember feeling it last year when I received my first device. I'm having an AV node ablation on February but I'm not seeing my doctor until Jan 14, so I wish you could help. Thanks!

3 Comments

Sleeping position

by agelbert - 2010-12-28 07:12:55

I've had my PM since 2007 and have the same complaint about sleeping on my right side and getting a stiff neck. My PM is on the left side. After I had lost over 20 lbs the leads felt like they were too close to the surface but I was told there was no danger of them abrading their way through. Recently, however, I've stopped the arm movements with weights while on the treadmill because of an itching and pinching sensation where the leads form a loop near the PM when I roll over onto my left side in bed. I figured if I move my left arm less, the fascia (collagen fat under the skin) will be less abraded and keep the leads from causing itching or pinching sensations. At any rate, as the years have passed, I have slowly been able to sleep on my left side more and more. When I feel like the incision area is being stretched, I try to adjust my position in bed so the skin is not in tension in that area.

Stretched skin

by ElectricFrank - 2010-12-29 01:12:16

After my replacement last Jan with a slightly larger pacer, I had some stretching of the skin around the sight. I gave it a couple of weeks for the incision to heal so I wouldn't pull it open and then started putting some pressure on it sleeping. It was mildly painful, but not enough to keep me from sleeping. The problem was pretty much gone after a month or so. I also at one point was having a pricking feeling and then had the end of a stitch protrude. I gave it a gentle tug with some tweezers and removed it.

I also rubbed some skin cream into the incision and stretched area during this time. I think some others here on the site have mentioned using Vitamin E cream.

You surgery only 10 days ago isn't very long for things to settle down.

best,

frank

Feeling stretched

by kermiehiho - 2010-12-29 05:12:06

I got my first pacemaker at the end of last month, and I still feel like my skin is stretched over the device. Actually, while I can feel it, I can't see it, but if I sit up straight, I can feel the pacemaker pressure on whatever muscle is there. I haven't slept on my pacemaker side yet, although I can roll over it using my other arm to support.

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