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Sleeping on your left?
I'm due to have an CRT-D implanted this coming Wednesday One (of many) questions that has popped into my head is how well do you manage to sleep on your left-hand side, post implant.Is it even advisable post implant?
I assume it will take a number of weeks for the tenderness to subside around the implant site. But is it difficult to sleep on your left simply due to the device "being there?"
How long are you generally sore for? give or take?
Also do they move about with the pocket or are they "fixed" into position for want of a better word.
6 Comments
left-side sleeping
by knb123 - 2016-02-29 07:02:42
Hi there - I was able to sleep on my left side after about a month. I might have been able to do it sooner except that for a while I was squeamish about trying.
And, as theknotguy has pointed out, everyone's recovery is a bit different. My implant was done emergently after I developed third-degree heart block all of a sudden.
Best of luck to you!
Left side sleeping
by WillieG - 2016-02-29 09:02:30
It took me 3 weeks to feel comfortable on my left side and 2 weeks for the right side. It is true what others have said that we all differ. Before that, feels like a dull metal knife digging in your skin, but after some time passes, you don't know it is there
I felt mine bounce a little for only the first week, most notibly going down stairs. Felt like I needed to put my hand over it. This, too, passed rather quickly and it was fixed into place. It was about 6 months before I didn't have any muscle soreness after raking leaves and a couple of the weight machines at the gym where you pull together with both arms. But I felt mostly normal after 3 weeks.
Good luck and let us know what you experience.
Sleeping
by BetsyQ - 2016-02-29 09:02:59
It was about 6-7 weeks before I could sleep on my left side. For a few weeks before that I used a pillow to prop my left side and that worked well. It's been 8 months and I've been sleeping on my left side very comfortably for months now. Good luck and just give it a little time.
Sleeping.
by DampDog - 2016-03-01 09:03:50
Thank you for all your reply's. We are all different so I guess we all find our own way. Fingers crossed, given time sleeping on my left should be OK. It's one of those odd things that crosses your mind pre-implant. Up to now I had never given what side i sleep on a second thought. Problem at the moment is just sleeping full-stop. Implant is tomorrow and I'm quite anxious on the build up.
I'm quite skinny so I'm expecting to have quite a lump over the device, no doubt that will take some time to get used to. I would imagine you are much more conscious of it while it is all still sore and healing.
I did like to have a little jog on the treadmill, I just wonder how that is going to feel with my new friend sitting in my chest?
Pillow,Treadmill
by Zetha - 2016-03-04 06:03:17
I am 6 months post PM and have had great difficulty sleeping since, never mind on my left side! I have , however, started sleeping somewhat on my left side lately.... before I go to sleep I place a thickish pillow lenghtwise next to my left shoulder, then I turn on to the pillow to sleep on my left side, but not for a very long time. I am also skinny and in my case the PM will always protrude, I can even see the wires underneath my skin. Of course I am not ecstatic about it, but what can you do.... I have to believe that PM has saved me from perhaps having brain damage when blacking out completely. Since PM , I have not once even felt dizzy nor had I had a fainting spell. It has taken me a long time to adjust to the total 'thing' that has happened to me and I often long for the carefree person I'd been 'before' and I have been very depressed about it all, but everything is getting better for me.
Regarding the treadmill.... I only went back to pilates + treadmill after 2- 3 months and have had no problem with treadmill , at the same pace and time that I had always done in the past.
By now your implant should be done, all the best for your recovery..... this forum has been a great help to me , especially in the early days. I could not wish for a more supportive husband and family , as well as the greatest cardiologist , but none of them had received a pacemaker and as with everything in life one has no idea of "something" unless one has walked the road!
Regards,
Zetha.
You know you're wired when...
Friends call you the bionic man.
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My ICD/pacer is not a burden. I still play tennis and golf.
Good news, bad news
by Theknotguy - 2016-02-29 02:02:36
Most people with pacemakers, ICD's, and the like report they can sleep on their left side after the implant wound has healed and the swelling has gone down. Good news.
Bad news. I'm one of the ones who can't sleep on my left side because the pacemaker gets pinched between my shoulder and rib cage. What I do is to pull the sleeping pillow over my left shoulder (pacemaker is on left side) and lay on that corner of the pillow. Not a complete left side sleeping but I've adjusted to it. So, yeah, I can't sleep on my left side because the pacemaker is there.
How long does it take to heal? Depends upon you, your body type, how sore you are from the implant, and all sorts of stuff. I'll let others give you times. I was pretty beat up so my numbers are way off Most of my pain as far as the implant was concerned was gone by five months. But, like I said, I was pretty beat up by the EMT guys.
Does the device move around or stay fixed? Once again it depends upon how the device was implanted and your body type. Some people have "loose" skin and report the device moves a lot. Others have "tight" skin and report very little movement. You do, of course, want some movement so the device moves with your body movement.
After the swelling goes down, the device may stick out more than you think. When I care too look, mine sticks out more when I'm dehydrated and less when I'm hydrated. It's worked fine for over two years so I don't get concerned if it sticks out more or less.
Hope everything else goes well for you.