Continued Chest/Shoulder Pain

I've this has been posted elsewhere-I apologize. It's been about 18 months since my Surgery, and for the past 3-4 months the pain in my chest/left shoulder has been getting worse and worse. The pacemaker actually still "flops around" in my chest, and the wires or something protrudes from the pacemaker site. I get sick to my stomach at the seeing/feeling the pacemaker moving around and the wires protruding..I'm in constant pain, and wondered if anyone else has had the same experience. Thanks

6 Comments

Pain

by Grateful Heart - 2014-07-19 02:07:47


You should NOT be in constant pain 18 months later. Talk to your Doctor about the pain.

My device protrudes too and I can feel/ see some of the wires. When I lay flat or exercise on certain machines I can also see the device move toward my outer skin as if it is going to fall out of the pocket. My bra strap will sometimes catch on it lately so that tells me it is protruding even more now.

It doesn't make me sick to look at it though, it's a necessary part of me.

It does seem to be getting worse but for now I am just keeping an eye on it hoping it will last until replacement time.....in a few years.

Grateful Heart



Hi ONNHA......................

by Tattoo Man - 2014-07-19 03:07:21


......................I can add little to the wise words of Sparrow and GH. 18 months post surgery is both a long time and no time at all...we all react/respond/assimilate so very differently to our 'New Guest'

So...its obvious by your own words that..'You Don't Like It'....many here on PM Club have had the same feelings,..and no amount of good news stories will be much use to you.

Go to your Medics..make your feelings known..go to any consultation with a clear, written, list of your concerns..and do not accept any fobbing-off..

This can be hard if you are not used to playing hardball but you could point out that a happy/informed patient represents a result for the clinical team.

Learning to love your PM is a really easy thing to talk about....less easy to achieve...

Stick with PMC.

And PMC will stick with you.

Tattoo Man


Thanks

by ohnonothimagain - 2014-07-19 05:07:09

I appreciate all of the comments- yet I was told that any pain or "discomfort" would subside or be gone within a "few" months. So of course this getting worse after 18 months is an issue. Being on Medicare and having NO supplement means I have to pick and choose which Dr's I go see. Plus I have NO car, so any specialist/cardiologist means making plans weeks in advance for a bus/ride. What is also an issue is that being on Social Security means I'm concerned about running up bills.. So maybe this is all just stress and nothing more. But the blasted thing protruding is a nuisance at least- and hurts way too much at most. But I don't want to live off of pain pills the rest of my life. So it's a catch 22 situation.

Sparrow

by Grateful Heart - 2014-07-19 11:07:09


You're contributions to this site is invaluable to the members.

I was happy to read you have been feeling better lately.

Grateful Heart

Still no relief

by ohnonothimagain - 2014-09-15 12:09:03

Well- Two more months have passed, and the pain is still there. I often wonder if it's due to muscles being clipped or something that's just rubbing the muscles/nerves. There is a constant dull ache there in my chest and left shoulder. Sometimes it hits hard like someone has punched me in the chest. It isn't pleasant to keep wondering what's wrong. I need to see my cardiologist to make sure there's no problems, yet can't afford it. oh well.

Still having pain

by ohnonothimagain - 2015-02-24 07:02:43

Almost 2 yrs post op, and I'm STILL having a diffuse/sometimes sharp pain in my left breast area. Sometimes it's over the lead and pacemaker area, sometimes it's more in the armpit area. And it's like I've been punched and it still hurts afterwards. Saddest part of all is that I cannot go back to former Cardiologist due to financial issues. I'm concerned that its' only a couple of days until my 2 yr anniversary and I'm still having pain. My family Dr just dismisses it, and I still feel the pacemaker and leads flopping around in my chest. I have to be REALLY careful taking a shower as if I happen to bump the pacemaker it not only hurts, but shifts around enough to worry me that the blasted thing is not very stable in that little pocket. It has not gotten better as many suggest here- and I'm not a hypochondriac. So I know the pain when I feel it. I worked in the Medical field for over 20yrs and this just doesn't feel "right"..

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I had a pacemaker since 2002 and ever since then my life has been a total blessing.