Update and a question

Hey everyone! Surgery went well I guess on Friday. I would have to say it was probably one of the longest 2 hours of my life in surgery itself. The "happy juice" you all spoke of was not all that happy inducing and certainly wasn't enough of it...apparently my blood pressure wasn't satisfactory enough to warrant giving me more when it started to wear off...so needless to say I was extremely tense throughout the surgery. But despite not having the blood vessel that they normally insert one of the leads in, surgery went well..they kept me over night and I got to learn first hand how much I hope I never have to stay overnight again...guess thats a null point though since I will be doing this every few years.

In any event, I'm pretty much not taking the prescription pain medication anymore, only took 1 pill last night after leaving the hospital. I don't really believe in the stuff, but the pain is tolerable for the most part without anything anyways. But, my question is, is it typical/normal/okay that when I breath deep or try to say a longer or louder sentence my upper chest hurts? I am finding it hard to decipher from just chest tightness from the muscles healing and actual lung pain....

9 Comments

Question

by SMITTY - 2010-04-19 01:04:17

Think of it this way. Do you think you would be having pain like you describe if someone took a hammer and gave you a good beating in one small area of your chest? Of course you didn't get beat with a hammer but with having to cut open your chest and make a "pocket" to hold the pacemaker and (if yours was like mine) putting in the pacemaker involved lots of pushing and in general some painful work. I was sore in places I did not expect to be sore for a few days. I was lucky with my first one, the soreness was practically all gone in less than five days. I was not so lucky with my second one. I was sore for a couple of weeks and I would hurt when I coughed, or moved to quickly or fast.

So I would say what you are feeling is about normal for the third day. However, you should be seeing considerable improvement in a couple more days. But if things appear to be starting to go the other way, don't wait, contact the doctor.

Good luck,

Smitty

Good Description Smitty

by ElectricFrank - 2010-04-19 01:04:25

Direct and to the point.

Just like me

by nutria - 2010-04-19 04:04:56

I had my PM installed last Thursday and, just like you, I have some chest discomfort when I take a deep breath or cough. So I think that is normal. My cardiologist told me to keep my left arm below my shoulder and to sleep on my back for a week. No problem with the left arm but sleeping on my back has been difficult for me. I have not been able to get a good nights sleep. I think maybe it may be from sleeping in an unnatural position for me or maybe the "low setting" on my PM may be to high. Before the PM, my average morning heart rate was about 55 bpm. The PM is suposedly set for 60 bpm and maybe my body is not used to the higher rate. Guess I'll ask the cardiologist when I see him in a week. This is a great web site.

Relax

by jonstone - 2010-04-19 05:04:58

I had my first pacemaker fitted 10 days ago and although i feel fine now, my chest was painful around the sternum area for a few days. But then again my surgeon must have had hands the size of boulders from all the digging around he was doing, and he didn't give me any sedative!

Jon

Welcome

by COBradyBunch - 2010-04-19 06:04:04

Welcome to the club. Now get out there and live (of course once your doc gives you permission that is).

elephant

by qwerty - 2010-04-19 10:04:51

Yeah, they forgot to tell me about the elephant they had sit on my shoulder during the surgery. If you just had yours done Friday, you are doing great. I took pain meds for 3 or 4 nights when I got home to sleep. Smitty was right on. It is surgery. I was more alert than I anticipated I would be, just as you were, so I know there was a lot of pounding and pushing on my shoulder. I didn't have any chest pain, but I had decided my shoulder was broken. It wasn't, but it did take 2 full weeks before my shoulder started getting better. Everyone heals differently and like Smitty said, it depends on how much pounding/pushing they did and where.
But, do not despair, watch it, take it easy and don't raise your arm. It definately does get better and the benefits are wonderrful!
Get well quickly.

Gratitudes: Smitty & ElectricFrank

by Carolyn65 - 2010-04-19 11:04:12

Always the good, educated, well needed advice. With all the years of experience both of you have, I never could have made it through all my posts. Thanks for all your wonderful, helpful, needed explanations.

Yes, just a few days is not enough time to realize what is normal and IF there is any UNnormal. Your body is the one you need to listen to. Take the time and the weeks your Dr. said to take to recuperate. If, after the 6-8 week time period, you still notice what your body says is not quite right, then call your Dr. or even your PM company. They have great answers also. Of course, in any emergency, get medical help quick.

Each one of us heal so differently in time, but all of us share the pacemaker answers. Listen to your body.

Let us hear from you.
Carolyn G. in TEXAS ~ Beautiful Spring Bluebonnets

welcome back!

by Tracey_E - 2010-04-19 12:04:53

I can't say it better than Smitty! If you're dizzy or lightheaded or can't take a deep breath, then you need to be seen. The rest is just normal recovery.

I will add that replacements are outpatient so you probably won't be kept overnight next time.

No need to sleep on back

by ElectricFrank - 2010-04-20 01:04:33

Go ahead and sleep on the side opposite the pacemaker and put a pillow in front of you to support the upper arm. Works like a charm and no way does it do any harm to the pacer. Worse case is that it will still squeeze the area in which case it will be painful and you will change position.

My experience is the the medical bunch have no idea of this approach. When I used it in the hospital after my original implant, the night nurse told me she had never heard of it. I had the implant late in the afternoon and got a good nights sleep with no meds. (After I issued orders that I wasn't supposed to be disturbed).

frank

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You take technology to heart.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker was installed in 1998 and I have not felt better. The mental part is the toughest.