Not prepared for the recovery tim

July 20th I had pacemaker surgery and like others who have posted comments, I was totally unprepared for the pain involved and the recovery time. I tried to go back to work one week after the surgery and ended up staying for 4 hours. That night I was in so much pain that I could barely handle myself. The next morning I went to my primary care doctor. They ran precautionary tests but basically said the pain is normal and that it can be 6 to 8 week for recovery. I was floored. Not one time did anyone mention this to me. In fact all I hear was that it was a "simple" surgery... no big deal. Obviously those comments came from doctors and nurses who have never had this procedure. I am a very strong healthy person but this has taken alot out of me. I would appreciate feed back from others. thanks.

11 Comments

Don't worry!

by dw5281 - 2009-07-29 03:07:50

I had mine in Feb 2008 & I was in a lot of pain as well! I had a nose bleed in the hospital as well & jumped my hand up quick to stop it & stupidly used my left arm - oh the pain - I ended up dosed up on codeine!!!

I'm actually a PE teacher & I had 6 weeks off work before I went back. This was good timing as I had 2 weeks to get back used to it & then I was off for 2 weeks for the easter holidays!

I was in pain for around 4 weeks I'd say - I slept a lot as well - some days I didnt get out of bed which is really unusual for me! I think its difficult to say whats a 'normal' recovery for people as I'm sure people feel/react differently!

Try not to use your arm on the side where the pacemaker is - that is quite uncomfortable! Don't lift anything heavy & follow the instructions of what to & what not to do from your dr. If youre not ready to go back to work - don't! I went to my dr 2 days after the op & explained how I felt (bloody exhausted!), what I did as a job & the sick note was not a problem!

Don't worry - let it heal & don't rush it

Wish you lots of luck!

Sorry

by Angelie - 2009-07-29 03:07:50

Everyone is different and no two people are ever going to respond the same to any drug, procedure, or treatment.
Sorry you're having a rough time. Although it is usually a simple procedure without a whole lot of pain, what may be pain free for some might be excruiating for others.
My doctor sent me home with some prescription pain medicine which I didn't use for pain but more as a sleep aide to help me get comfortable at night. I was at work 2 days afterwards with restriction, but I have a desk job. I however got on the treadmill a week afterwards and walked 3 miles.
I really haven't heard of it hurting terribly so, but like I said....everyone responds differently and it's impossible to compare. If it continues hurting in an unbearable way, I would demand to be seen by your physician to get to the bottom of and solve your pain. It should not hurt for long.

Hang in there,
Angelie

JK - been there

by DC Pacer - 2009-07-29 04:07:09

JK

I was in the same boat - I ended up taking three weeks off of work. I am in sales and I drive for a living - couldn't operate the car safely and pain free for almost 3 weeks. Everyone's idea of real pain is obviously different - give it a few weeks for the tissue to heal up and the bruising to subside and see if that helps.

Get well

DC

Bummer!

by uvagershwin - 2009-07-29 04:07:59

My last surgery was 7 years ago and I had 2 incisions to heal, and my mom tried to make me stand up straight!!! This is quite hard to do when one of your incisions is on your abdomen... And my surgery before that was when I was 4 years old; I am 15 now and STILL remember the pain!!!! So ya, heart surgery HURTS! I'll pray that you feel better and I'm so sorry your are being affected this way; it sucks!!!!

<<>> Syd

anti-inflammatories?????

by COBradyBunch - 2009-07-29 05:07:22

Same story as yours. Was up and about the day after surgery but for me the pain got worse instead of better. One week after surgery went to work (didn't go back the first week because I had already scheduled two days of vacation that happened to hit the first day I could have gone back due to Dr's orders and while I made it through the week it was really hard. Pain by the end of that week was 8-9 on a scale of 10 and spreading. Three trips to the doc and the same song and dance that you got about it couldn't possibly be hurting that much and on the last one they finally gave me some killer anti-inflammatories which while making me a bit dizzy and upsetting my stomach finally, on day 4 of the meds, got the pain under control. Now a total of 5+ weeks out and some tightness but little or no pain (certain movements still hurt, but nothing that impacts me other than to tell my body don't do that again stupid, or at least not for a little longer).

BTW, I have had a shoulder rebuilt and three knee surgeries and this was worse than any of the knee's I had done and ranked up their with the shoulder rebuild. Also used to get my teeth filled w/o numbing so it wasn't that I can't take pain, this SOB just plain hurt.

Problems

by J.B. - 2009-07-29 05:07:34

JK,

I'm sure the doctors do tell most of their patients that pacemaker surgery is simple and no big deal. And for many of us that is true. Fear of doing something to a lead kept me from doing many things I wanted to and could have done for a couple of weeks. Since then my surgery has a non-issue. Everyone should have a time as easy as mine was. If you look at the comments here I think you will find that most of us say that but a few have run into problems like you are having.

As some of the others have said no two people are alike. I doubt very much that you will ever now what has caused your surgery to be such a bear. It could have been poor technique by the surgeon, an inexperienced surgeon, or it could have been one of those things that can't happen but it did happen to you, or any one of a thousand other things. But like I said, the hell of it is you will probably never know.

I do have a couple of suggestions. A) Don't let anger or worry over something that usually does not happen make your situation worse. Take your lumps and get on with as much of your life as you can. B) Let that doctor know that you know what has happened to you is not normal - maybe not his fault but not normal. C) Never pass up an opportunity to call his office and ask questions or complain about the after effects of your surgery.

I know as well as anyone that getting even never wins us any prizes but the joy of just thinking we are getting even can make our day a little brighter so let that Dr. know you are not happy.

God luck,

J. B.

recovery time

by riodog - 2009-07-29 10:07:15

I'm really sorry so many people had pain after their surgery. I didn't, but that's not necessarily a good thing. My lung was punctured when the PM was put in but apparently no one noticed so I was sent home 3 days later. I was at home 2hrs when I got a large pneumothorax and was rushed back. 10 days later I got to come home again. In the meantime I was so loaded with painkillers, pills to make me sleep, etc. that I have almost no memory of anything to do with my PM. It's really weird, I feel I lost 2 wks of my life. My cardiologist went over what happened at least 3 times and I still cannot reconcile what happened to me. I think I would rather have had some pain.
By the time I got home there were no restrictions about the use of my arm at all, I could use it just as I always have. It would pull alittle now and then but no big thing. Was I lucky or not?

gsd

pain and recovery

by Pauljr - 2009-07-30 02:07:49

JK,
I had mine done on July 21 , not enough fat under the skin so they put it under the muscle ..... A lot of pain killers and asprin and antibiotics , still some what sore and will attempt work next week but will go home early if it is too much, and you are correct , it felt as if i got hit by a truck and it turned around to try and finish me off .... hang in there by all means , I'll be praying for you .
Paul

time heals

by petethetreat - 2009-07-31 12:07:42

i had mine put in under the muscle on 22nd June - pain was there constantly for 2 weeks before it started to ease.
only get the odd pain from time to time now so it does get better

EXHAUSTED

by CPARS01 - 2009-09-02 10:09:02

I had a pace maker and defibrillator St. Jude) done in June. I can sleep all night, be up for a couple of hours in the morning and feel wore-out before noon. I have been back to the Dr. and told him about it. He gave me two new scripts to try for a month, lisinopril and carvedilol.I hope this works, i just don't know! Was wondering if anybody else had these symptoms.

It gets better...

by witchflower - 2009-11-06 02:11:50

At age 22, I had my pacemaker "installed". I too was completely unaware and unprepared for the recovery time or the pain. I was told it was a rather short recovery time and then after the surgery, I was given a buttload of information that informed me that it would be several weeks and months before I would be fully recovered.

Now I am 28 years old and have had my pacemaker for a long time. It does take quite a bit of time and adjustment as far as learning how to sleep, etc, but eventually your body will adjust to it and you won't be so aware of the pacemaker. Keep in mind that I still have issues with laying certain ways, turning and reaching, etc.

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Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.