found it all very difficult and painful

I am concerned since most of the post I read on here don't seem to be the same as my experience. The first day of surgery, I commented to my nurse, I felt like my solder was broken. She state that is because they manipulate your shoulder bone. Also the pain in general was terrible and now two weeks later, I still find it difficult to sleep at night due to the pain. I have to sleep flat on my back due to the damage to the bones and even if I try to sleep on the good side, the pressure on my collar bone if very painful. My wound is large and with a lot of black areas all around it. The doctor cut into a chest muscle to make the pocket. I was told I wouldn't be able to return to work for 4-6 weeks. Do others have the same experience? This is very very painful and a very slow recovery.
Susan

7 Comments

Comment

by Peg541 - 2012-02-06 11:02:04

Hi Susan,
My doctor told me that cutting into the muscle is more painful for recovery and more bruising so you are probably right on target there. It seems you just had it implanted so give yourself some time.

My shoulder on that side hurts a lot too. I told them all about my bad back and bad knees but never mentioned that my shoulders are both bad too. I suppose it was the position they had my shoulder in during the surgery. It is better a bit every day but still quite uncomfortable. Tylenol does the job though.

I am also sleeping flat on my back. Try a few pillows under your knees. Also try turning to the other side and putting a pillow over your body to hold the affected arm. It has not worked for me yet but I am only 6 days post surgery. I hate sleeping on my back and my back screams every morning.

Give your body a chance to adjust to the pacemaker. Have you spoken to the MD about all of this? They seem to be pretty laid back and say it's nothing but it does hurt and lay you up for a while.

Good luck to you and keep us in the loop.
Peg

Skin

by Peg541 - 2012-02-06 11:02:07

Oh, my doctor put mine under my skin. I had said go ahead and do muscle but use your judgment. He said I had plenty of places to hide a pacemaker under my skin and he saved me a lot of pain.
Peg

Sub muscular implant

by Heidiglassmeyer - 2012-02-07 01:02:15

Hi! I had a much longer recovery after my second PM was implanted under my chest muscle. My first recovery was short and after a few days I was feeling much better. After the relocation, I was in much more pain and it took longer to recover. I did find it more comfortable to sleep with a pillow under my left shoulder that supported my arm as well. I will sometimes sleep wrong, over a year later, and have that shoulder discomfort. When that happens I will use the pillow for a few days. Do you think something has happened to your shoulder? Have you had it checked or has you pain improved at all? If it hasn't I would probably have it checked out.
Take care,
Heidi

Deep/shallow Implants

by graham1 - 2012-02-07 07:02:34

Hi. My first implant was deep within the chest muscle and I could barely feel it.Eighteen months later I had two faulty leads replaced by a different surgeon and the same pm replaced just beneath the skin.I can almost see the maker's name on it!! Does this procedure represent a difference in opinion amongst medics or are there other medical reason for this difference.I ask because this appears to be an issue on this post.
Graham

Rapidheart

by GolfingSusan2 - 2012-02-08 07:02:46

You are the first person I've known with such a similar medical history! I too had a large whole ( about an inch ) closed. And the problems began with the meds I needed. When it reached a point my beats were stopping completely for over 4 seconds multiple times a day, I was told I needed the pacemaker. It has now been two weeks. I will have my first follow-up appointment in two more weeks. The rep for my pacemaker is only available one day a week at my Doctor's office and they were booked up for next week. I tried to sleep on my good side and it still hurts the other side with the pressure on the collar bones. I think I should be okay in a couple of more days. I do have more use of my arm now but not full use. I can only raise it halfway up but that is better than it was two weeks ago since I could barely move it at all. I am still really black from bruising. I don't know what happened regarding the bone manipulation but plan to speak to my Doctor about it. I mentioned to his nurse today by phone that I was not given very good discharge instructions since no one told me when I could shower, how long to leave the bandage on, should I be changing the bandage, and when to call the Doctor for a follow-up appointment. I called today because I felt it was time to. I am just glad this is all winding down and I began driving again yesterday but have to rely on my left arm for the most part since I have limited mobility in the right. Thanks to all on here for all the input. It was wonderful!

Two inches below collarbone

by RapidHeart - 2012-02-08 07:02:58

Hi Susan, I'm so sorry you had this experience, it sounds horrific & very painful & scary. In general, pacemaker surgery is a simple procedure that shouldn't leave you in so much pain. However, each patient & surgery are different. I'm 64 years old and I'm having pacemaker replacement surgery on 2/21/12. This will be my 3rd pacemaker. I had my first implanted, with the leads in Sept. 1991, couple of months before I turned 44. Unlike most patients, I have an extremely rapid heartbeat and the medicine that slows it down can make the heart rate too slow. So a pacemaker was implanted to "catch" slow heart rate if it happened. Was born with 2 serious heart defects undetected in 1947, and yet I grew up, although I had limitations, like no gym, no strenuous exercise, etc. I had surgery for one defect (large hole) at age 34 & 2nd surgery to repair other defect (small piece missing from mitral valve) at age 44. Developed atrial fibrillation after the second surgery. My first experience with pacemaker implanation surgery was good. I stayed overnight in the hospital and went home the next day. I was given exercises to do with my left arm. My pacemaker is about 2 inches under my left collarbone. The first surgery hurt a little bit for awhile, but nothing serious. I think they stitched me up. I was raising my daughter, who was 4 then, so I was home and not working. The first replacement surgery was in Jan. 2004. By then I was divorced and working full time, daughter was living with her dad so she could go to a good high school. I had the replacement surgery at the end of the week. My experience was excellent, I was in the hospital six hours. I was admitted to the outpatient unit, give a few preliminary tests, had the IV put in & then they gave me the antibiotic & sedation IV. I was alseep during both the first & 2nd procedures, even though they use local anesthesia. I expressed my preference for a "twilight sleep" because I hate needles! After the 2nd surgery I woke up starving, hospital gave me a big lunch, and then called a relative to pick me up. I had no pain from 2nd surgery and they used surgical glue to close the incision, same one they'd opened up the first time. I rested all weekend & was back at work full-time by Monday. I should mention that I've lived alone since my divorce (except for a couple of years when my daughter lived with me), which was almost 14 years ago. For my approaching 3rd surgery, they called it a "generator replacement" which makes me sound like a car. Should be similar to the 2nd replacement procedure. I don't anticipate a difficult experience. I will be admitted at 7 a.m., surgery is at 9 a.m. My surgeon is my arrythmia specialist, he is compassionate & will agree to a twilight sleep. Will be in a different hospital, I'm told they are very good. They said I should be there only a few hours. I guess my pacemakers have all been implanted just under the skin. For the 3rd, I still don't need new leads, just lucky. I no longer work, had to go on Social Security Disability in 2005. Again, I'm really sorry your experience with pacemaker surgery was so terrible. Since you mentioned the posts you're reading don't compare to your experience, I would speak to your doctor and voice your concerns. It's too late now to change what happened, but this is normally a routine procedure done on thousands of people a year. When your pacemaker needs to be replaced (they last around 8 years, some less, some more) be sure you get a different doctor. I've always had a few twinges of pain, which you do have forever after any surgical procedure, but nothing like what you describe. And I've had two open-heart surgeries and others. I feel so bad for you. Good luck with the recuperation period.

ICD

by howdoyoumendabrokenheart - 2012-02-13 02:02:04

Hello, sorry bout the pain but I too experienced a WHOLE lot of pain. I don't know if people who felt little pain had pain medication but due to my condition I could only use Tylenol and let me tell you, the first two weeks were beyond belief. I would wake up yelling in pain. Now it has been a little over 3 weeks and the pain is a great deal less and I cannot wait until next week cause I'm sure it will be almost unnoticeable. The only trick with pain is not to give into it. Once you do there is no where to go. When it hurts try to do something, go online, play some cards, call someone on the phone just distract your mind, no matter the hour. Don't forget that tension will build in your shoulders from trying to avoid moving to not be in pain, but if you just, say, move your arm and it hurts, just move it a little more in time it will not hurt so much but if you freeze up every time you feel pain it will cause you problems. Do know that in time it will get better. .

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