surgery 3 days ago

just had pm installed on thurs for bradycardia...kinda nervous about using left arm...wishing i could get the bandage off and see what's happening under there and shower!!

8 Comments

welcome

by Tracey_E - 2012-08-19 10:08:54

Glad you found us! Don't be shy if you have questions. It's important to move the left arm so you don't get a frozen shoulder. Just be careful not to raise it above shoulder level and no lifting for 6 weeks, or whatever your doc said.

How long does the bandage need to be on? They use so many different types of sutures now it's hard to know. There are some that don't need covered/kept dry at all. My last one was a week, bleh! I love my stylist, she was nice enough to wash my hair for me that week.

Before you know it you'll be all healed up!

improvise

by novie - 2012-08-19 11:08:12

Welcome!!! I agree with Tracy..just be careful...
Laughed at me if you must but I did used a rain coat to cover myself then wash my hair( I have long one) right on the shower tub.LOL, I looked so ridiculous I laughed at myself but hey, I have it done!!! Well, I cannot wet my bandage for 10 days so I have to think of something right? Of course, if you can ask someone to do it for you (that will be heaven!!) or you wash it right on the kitchen sink...there are ways!!!...then, you can have a bath (double heaven!!)..Being in the hospital for 4 days without a shower felt like being there for a year!! Washcloth was not enough!...
I hope that you recover without any problems.

Tingles

by manaman - 2012-08-20 02:08:33

Trust me "tingles" and harsh contacts (grand kids have a way to located thing they aren't suppose to) will be made. I been shocked many,many times and cannot count the times I have had DIRECT contact on the PM. BUT I found it can take a licking and keep on ticking.
Good luck,
Cecil

bandage

by manaman - 2012-08-20 07:08:12

patience my dear! ROME won't built in a day you know.
You just received a nEW FRIEND for LIFE! What is going on under the bandage at present is a trade secret (iit's call HEALING! If you've had children you know they delelope many,many days and ways (without you peeking everyday) well, this is a NEW KID in your family. Let it heal (and it ill) If there are issues you will know. Listen to your body (it talks to you every moment, every day. Move the arm (so it won't freeze up) just do as the DOC told you to do
Quick healing to you with GODs speed!
Over-all your NEW FRIEND needs nothing, demands nothing, expects nothing. It can and will protect you always!
Cecil

lack of a shower.....

by ohiolaura - 2012-08-20 08:08:08

I know what you mean,showering is necessary,and when youre used to it daily or whatever,you feel icky.
But,like said,you can wash your hair in a sink,have someone do it for you.I did take baths when I came home,just didnt get water anywhere close to the chest area,it worked as a temp solution.
You need to keep the area dry,and it will heal up on its own,and boy will you appreciate that first shower.
My bandages stayed on a long time,they were steri strips,hospital said they could stay on up to 3 weeks,and those lil suckers did,I called Dr office after 3 weeks,and they said I could help them come off,so I did.
Was healed well,incision was fine,raised and numb,but closed and not infected at all.Follow the rules,to the letter.
By the way,when my whole heart problem started, went 10 days without a shower! I dont know how the pioneers did it! I didnt feel human at that point......but like I said,I so appreciated that first shower,better than Christmas!

Contradictions

by GlenK - 2012-08-20 08:08:47

I had my PM implanted 5 days ago and the first thing I noticed after I got home was the contradictions in instructions. When he released me my Dr said don't change the dressing or do anything to it except dab it off until you come see me next week.

Then when I got home I read all the details they gave me when discharged. The first piece of paper I read (PM home care instructions) said, Clean incision daily with antibacterial soap and water, and cover incision site with bandage/gauze.

The next piece of paper (discharge instructions) said left shoulder should be kept dry with no dressing or light dressing.

OK, three different instructions for the same wound. For 2 days I kept in dry and took baths in the sink. On day three the home care nurse came and told me taking showers was fine, just don't let the water stream hit directly on the wound. She said you won't need any reminders of that.. lol
So I started taking showers which made me feel better immediately.
She did say when I go back for my week check up on Thursday to take these instruction to him and show him what's going on..
I still don't know which is correct, but now I'm clean and the incision looks fine. Left the strips on there, washed it and dried it by dabbing it. Who knows!!!

WELCOME

by dafrey - 2012-08-20 11:08:24

I was only taped together. Told in 2 weeks it would peel off by itself. never did doc took it off at 2 week checkup. as for shower we took plastic wrap and cut a square just bigger than the bandage and taped it on with medical tape. worked for me.

Good luck and welcome

p.s. I have the revo by medtronics so far I haven't had any issues around the house with electrical appliances.
did get a tingle when working on truck but couldn't make it repeat

New to group- PM implanted in January

by DG - 2012-08-23 01:08:53

It was good to be reminded of the first few days and some of the questions that come up. That first shower will feel great. I was diagnosed with Bradycardia and got away with passing out periodically until it happened in front of my wife. Post implant, I was told that pulse rate consistently in low 30's can have a lot of long range ramifications. I was able to get back to running as always within a short time. Input from the Doctor was if it feels good, do it and don't worry. Every so often I will have times of minor discomfort that are a reminder that I have a foreign object in my body but it is truly minor. I am 61 years old with an Adapta DR. 4 months after implant I won a second place in age group trophy for a 5K. I even tried motocross riding for the first time recently. Pre- implant I got a lot of excellent insight from this site. Thanks to all for sharing. For those of you working on the decision, it can make a huge difference so keep your mind open.

DG

You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

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Sometimes a device must be tuned a few times before it is right. My cardiologist said it is like fine tuning a car.