Ahh! I'm getting a pacemaker on Monday!

Hi everyone! What a great site for info and support. I'm a 31 year old female who is getting a pacemaker on Monday 6/25. Just wondering if anyone has any good advice or suggestions for me. I'm concerned about whether I'll be able to wear my bra right away- I can't stand going without one! Also concerned about pain, as I'm having an EP study at the same time and will have 2 incisions. Any advice or info would be great! Thanks!

9 Comments

good luck

by Shell - 2007-06-23 02:06:18

I'm a 35 yr old female and have had my pm a little over a year. I agree, take it easy and don't lift your arm up too high but make sure you do move it some so you don't get frozen shoulder. The only thing I didn't like is not being able to pull my hair into a ponytail (def. need to lift my arm for that) Some people put their arm in a sling but I didn't need it. I'm the opposite as you, i don't like wearing my bra but I def. need to when I go out but you will want to wear one after so the incision doesn't get pulled. (I thought I'd be better not wearing one. Nope) I didn't find it neccessary to wear one to bed but we're all different. My strap goes over my incision but I wore a regular bra not problem. ( I also have no problem with my seat belt but some people do.) Also, if you live with someone else make sure they help out and do any lifting that may need to be done.

These darn bras!

by auntiesamm - 2007-06-23 03:06:21

Hi Chicken 1000 - Welcome to this elite and unique club made up of wonderful folks just like you! I hope you will find it a blessing as I did when I got my PM a little over a year ago. We women have a challenge with our bras, no doubt about it. Through trial and error I found a small soft cloth folded and placed between my incision and the strap gave me plenty of padding and did not irritate the area. Depending on which bra I had on it was a little different. Just experiment a little. You will find in the car if you are driving the seat belt comes right across the area as well. Most of us experienced this and I got one of the little faux lambswell covers that snaps on the seatbelt and placed it over the incision. Worked like a charm! Most difficult for me was not raising my arm above shoulder level. My husband caught me a few times the first day home - it is so automatic to reach! I put little yellow Post It notes
on the cabinets or anything above shoulder level that I reach for all the time without thinking. That was just enough of a reminder and after a few days I was good at remembering. All you need to do is read some of the old postings about loose leads and you will realize why it is so important to prevent pulling them out! Good luck on your continued recovery. Keep us posted on your progress. Take care and God bless.
Sharon

Your Not Alone!

by Melissa M - 2007-06-23 03:06:44

I'm 33 (will be 34 on June 26) and I had an ICD put in last Thursday. I am definitley on the mend, am still feeling some discomfort, but what you feel the first two days will quickly subside. I took pain meds for the first two and half days and then moved to Tylenol. They put mine lower and deeper than most for cosmetic reasons, so they said my healing migh take longer. I couldn't believe the pony tail comment...that is exactly what I have been saying to everyone. You should have seen my husband trying to do my hair. It is the one thing I didn't think of and it has been driving me nuts. As for the bra, that is great advice. I wasn't wearing one and still experiencing pain, especially up and down the stairs and it does make a difference. I have had to start with a strapless bra, but will hopefully be able to graduate to one with straps. Good Luck and it will be over soon enough!

WEARING BRAS

by 220 chandler ave - 2007-06-23 04:06:04

I HAD A PM IMPLANTED5-24-07. HAVE ONLY WORN A BRA WHEN NEEDED. I AM ON MY FOURTH WEEK OF RECOVERY AND AM FINALLY STARTING TO FEEL SOME BETTER. IT DOES TAKE TIME AND ALOT OF REST FOR YOUR BODY TO ADJUST TO THE PM. MY DOC RELEASED ME TO GO BACK TO WORK, BUT I DID NOT WORK EVERYDAY LAST WEEK AS I AM STILL NOT UP TO PAR. MY DOC SAID THE PACEMAKER IS WORKING GREAT BUT HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT MY BODY IS STILL REACTING. SO TAKE IT EASY, AND FOLLOW WHAT YOU BODY NEEDS.

SHARON

Thanks for the advice and support!

by chicken1000 - 2007-06-23 05:06:38

Oh my gosh- I'm so excited and thankful for the replies to my questions/concerns. Thanks to everyone who offered advice. I'll let you know how I do with my surgery. Thanks again :)
--Jenn

2 incisions?

by bambi - 2007-06-23 10:06:27

Hi Jenn,
Welcome, and I 'm sending you good thoughts and prayers for you on Monday! Everyone has, as usual, given wonderful advice and solutions, so I can't really add anything that hasn't already been given. I do agree with Cathryn about the Dr.s treating this as minor surgery. Maybe it's because after they send us home either the same day, or the next, they don't see our day to day struggles with the inconvenience of not lifting our arms or anything heavy for a few weeks. Plus, sleeping and other activities need to be changed for awhile! I was wondering about the 2 incisions? Usually an EP study is done with a femoral stick and doesn't require an actual incision. Just curious! Take care!
Bambi

Women need to stick together!

by ela-girl - 2007-06-24 02:06:13

Hi, Jenn! I was on earlier today but had no time to post. I have time now and it looks like you have gotten some great advice already! This site is wonderful. If I would never had gotten my pacer, I would never have gotten to know some of the great people on this site! I am 29 and am blessed to even be having my 30th birthday in a few weeks. I LOVE this pm technology!

As far as my two cents on the bra situation...I didn't wear one for a couple of days. When I did, I just cut up a handerchief into fours (so I had extras to use that were clean) and would fold it and place it between my incision site and my bra. It really wasn't much of a problem or even uncomfortable. My doctor said it would just protect the incision site a bit and offer some padding for comfort.

Now the seatbelt sitting over my pm area...that's a whole other thing for me. Slowly, it's getting easier--and it's been 9 months! I don't care for the seatbelt covers...it causes to much pressure on my site.

And I have to agree with Shell and Melissa...it was horrible not being and to put my hair up! You really take for granted that you can just whip it up in a pony. I laughed at Melissa's comment about her husband doing her hair...that was me! Oh the horror! And when you go to wash your hair or anything...pain!

It took me into my 3rd week before sleeping became more natural, too. Cathryn is right...getting a pm implanted is considered 'minor' heart surgery and this is why I think doctors tend to think that the recovery must be no big deal. Besides...I would like to know how many doctors actually have a pm?! My pm was implanted via emergency surgery but even so, I don't think any of my doctors or nurses or pm representatives would have given me any good, logical advice that would help me prepare for the recovery process. Only experience and this web site has helped with that.

You're in good hands. Keep us updated!
ela-girl

In the 70's...

by valerie - 2007-06-24 05:06:15

didn't people not wear bras?
I say its time to bring that fashion back. lol jk
Anyway, look at all your new friends!! You're in the right place.
You'll be in my prayers on Monday as well.
take care!
~valerie

jenn

by jessie - 2007-06-24 11:06:10

i myself wore one right away and drove the day after i was released to the bank. i am not so sure i should have but i did. i had absolutely no problems with the bra thing but everyone is different my pacemaker is also on the right side so when i am driving i am okay but my husband tends to do most of the driving lol lol so good luck monday. i will be praying and thinkig of you jessie

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