Thankfully I'm Improving.......

Hi all
Just to say what a difference a few more days makes! It's 16 days post-PM today.I started off feeling great as soon as the PM went in. By the beginning of this week I was feeling terrible (exhausted/chest soreness). Then mid-week I went into some sort of emotional meltdown over the PM, failed ablation, damaged sinus node etc. Thankfully the arrythmia nurse who looks after me gave me his words of advice & wisdom, when I contacted him for help in the week, & today I'm happy to say that by following his advice I am improving & feeling much better than I have all week. What a relief!!

I have been doing as he said & getting more rest, which is helping the exhaustion. He thinks my exhaustion is not just from the PM surgery but also due to only having my ablation 3 months ago & then sick sinus/chronotropic incompetence afterwards as the ablation caused damage to my sinus node.So I'm actually trying to recover from all that, not just the PM implant.

My chest soreness is improving, it comes & goes (middle of chest).

I feel better emotionally, since the arrythmia nurse told me NOT to think about all that has happened before....I can't change any of it. He said to focus on now & the future....which is looking good with the PM.

My incision site has healed really well, the scar is smaller than I expected & I can't see the PM box under my skin (it is under my skin & not in the muscle). Managed to stop the painkillers 2 days ago which is great, no more pain from the wound.My HR is still staying at the set lower rate of 60 & going up on exertion (RR on due to sick sinus). Far better than before the PM when my HR was dropping as low as 32 & not going up much on exertion. Now I can walk, climb the stairs.....& this week have felt up to doing a few things indoors.

I'm off sick from work at the moment & the arrythmia nurse, EP & my GP have all told me not to go back until I feel well enough. They know that I usually try & run before I can walk & do way too much!! After the way I felt earlier in the week, I am taking all their advice & only going back when well enough. I work in a NHS hospital & my job involves quite a lot of dashing around as well as some heavy lifting, pushing wheelchairs etc, as well as some desk work. I struggled back to work in August, with a HR of 32 & terrible brady symptoms....I ended up being admitted for the PM urgently as I became very unwell with trying to work feeling terrible & hardly able to function. The arrythmia nurse & GP advised me not to go back in Aug, but I insisted. This time I'm doing as I'm told!!

Anyway, thank you for your good wishes on here. Just wanted to let you all know I'm over my "crisis" in the week & improving. I definately have a LOT to learn about life with a PM, I'm only 16 days into it. I've been reading through older posts this week & have been learning lots from all your previous messages & replies. What a GREAT site this is.

Best wishes to you all
Janey

1 Comments

hi Janey

by sue uk - 2011-09-30 02:09:22

Good to hear you are starting to feel better. I remember what its like l was very "up&down" for the first few weeks & l found it all very emotional which is strange for me as l am usually the "strong one" yet l was crying like a baby at times & had no idea why!!!
l went back to (part-time) work about 6wks after.My docs supported my decision but said l had to see how "it goes". My work is very busy & even now somedays are a struggle but those are the most rewarding because l can do it (only just sometimes)
You will know when you are ready so best to rely on your feelings & of course your docs opinion, as for the emotional bit, well its still early days yet so dont be suprised if there is more to come its all part of the healing process.
Take care Janey, all the best Sue X

You know you're wired when...

You have a high-tech ticker.

Member Quotes

Thank you technology! My life is much improved.