HI EVERYONE, I'M BACK!

HELLO TO ALL, I HAD TO JOIN THE CLUB AGAIN TO BE ABLE TO POST. I COULDN'T POST ANY MESSAGES, EVEN AFTER "CLEANING COMPUTER FILES ETC".
ANYWAY, I HAD POSTED AFTER HAVING MY 1ST PACER IMPLANTED. THAT WAS ON SEPT 13TH. JUST OVER 2 WEEKS AGO. I'M HEALING GOOD, JUST STARTING TO HAVE THE NERVE TO TRY SLEEPING ON MY USUAL SIDE POSITION. IT HURTS ON MY LEFT STILL, ALMOST FEELS LIKE A PINCHING; SO I AM TRYING MY LEFT. THE FIRST 5 DAYS WERE HARD FOR ME. ALOT OF PAIN AND BRUISING, AND ESPECIALLY MY LEFT ARM AND COLLAR BONE. I DID STAY VERY ALERTLY AWAKE DURING THE WHOLE THING. THEY WHEELED ME INTO THE OPERATING ROOM AT 8:05 AM, AND I WAS IN RECOVERY AT 9 AM! APPARENTLY, THE NURSE IN RECOVERY TOLD ME THAT I WAS GIVEN "EXTRA" MEDS TO MAKE ME "SLEEPY" BUT I GUESS IT WORKED OPPOSITE ON ME FOR SOME REASON. I DID FEEL THE WIRES GOING INTO MY HEART.
I AM STILL FEELING THE ODD STAB PAIN AND ALOT OF TIGHTNESS AROUND THE INCISION, BUT GETTING TO BE LESS EACH DAY. I STILL HAVE THE PRESSURE FEELING SOMETIMES, AND A LITTLE SHORT OF BREATH SOMETIMES. WHICH I AM BELIEVING MORE AND MORE THAT IT IS MY ANXIETY. OF COURSE I HAVEN'T HAD MY PACE MAKER CLINIC APPT. AS YET. THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL CALL ME IN 4-6 WEEKS. I WAS TOLD BY THE LADY THAT TESTED MY PM IN RECOVERY THAT SHE HAS "LEFT ONE OF THE TWO LEADS UNHOOKED? FOR NOW" UNTIL MY APPT. WITH THE CARDIOLOGIST. I DID WALK YESTERDAY, NOT A LONG WAY, PROBALLY A 1/2 MILE ALTOGETHER, AND FELT A LITTLE TIRED WHEN I GOT BACK. MY GP HAD TOLD ME TO START BACK AT THE GYM, BUT JUST TO WALK ON TREADMILL AND MAYBE BICYCLE, NOT ANY OF THE CIRCUIT TRAINING YET. I HOPE THIS ISN'T TOO LONG OF A WRITE. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR ANSWERING ME, I REALLY DID NEED THE UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE AFTER MY SURGERY. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN I CAN WRITE YOU ALL AND SAY I FEEL JUST GREAT! LIKE SO MANY OF YOU DO. THANKS AGAIN,

JANICE

5 Comments

Ouch!

by hooimom - 2007-09-29 09:09:04

Janice,

I guess I was lucky to be knocked out during my surgery! I don't think I would like being awake and feeling something going into my heart. You are very brave. I am glad you are feeling better. Sleeping positions can be a little tricky for awhile, but it gets better. Just keep up what you are doing and slowly build back up to your old exercise routine. Your day will come when you can say that you feel great. You have a great attitude!

Michelle

It Gets Better

by mhkitchens - 2007-09-29 11:09:07

Janice,

Hang in there it get better. I am 7 weeks post op and also a side sleeper. It took about 5 weeks before I could comfortably sleep on my side. I do know with no ill effects. I am beginning to forget at times that I have a pacer. The tightness will probably there for some time, especially when you think about it. I am looking forward to the 8 week time frame as my Cardiologist has cleared me to play golf on that date and I feel loose enough to play now.

I haven't posted that often but have found this site to be immensely helpful. Someone will always respond to your post.

Happy pacing,
MH

Longer for others?

by scpck - 2007-09-30 04:09:11

Wow I'm more than happy I don't recall anything about my pacemaker surgery. I really don't recall much of the whole hospital stay.

My doctors (27 of them in one group) do the replacements in their office/outpatient building. Apparently under a local-lidocaine? That's an awful thought to me.

I haven't had any trouble with sleeping positions though thank goodness. I'm a side sleeper too-usually with one arm over my head, but dear hubby made sure I had the sling on etc. It's been about 7 weeks now and today I used the pressure washer to clean the siding on the soffit-only after the fact did I wonder if I maybe shouldn't have. I never, never, never forget I have this thing though. Does that get easier?

Ouch is Right!

by Vicki - 2007-09-30 05:09:27

I just shake my head here reading that you were awake and alert during the whole procedure. I was pretty much out of it. I heard the doctor laugh and say she's snoring. Apparently the meds started to wear off at one point because I could feel pressure like someone pushing down hard...guess that was the PM being pushed into place...don't know, didn't ask. I just yelped and said I am feeling pain and then they put something in the IV and no more pain. I'm about at the 7 1/2 week point now and can do almost everything I used to. I am getting more energy at times. As for sleeping, I've been able to sleep on my side since about week four. But sometimes I can feel my heart beating on the left side and it bothers me. I have forgotten at times I have this thing...not for days, but for hours. I still have anxiety and find myself checking my pulse often. I have other heart issues...tachycardia and also moderate to severe mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation which will one day require replacement. Ugh. Not even thinking about that...but then...of course I think about it often. Hang in there, the PM will get better.
Vicki

Me Too!

by Carol - 2007-10-05 01:10:06

Just wanted to comment as I am really fresh post-op (4 days). I too was farly awake. I first had the EP study and after determining I had a 2:1 AV Block (infra-nodal?) my pacer was then implanted, I heard the nurse say "I've given her enuff meds to knock down an elephant" and I was still somewhat aware...AND I too remember the hard pushing on my left shoulder. Not a piece of cake. Anyway I am having the same issues, trying to find a comfortable sleep position, some anxiety (just knowing there are wires in my heart is so creepy!), checking my pulse, etc., etc. I also have tachycardia issues. But, this site is awesome, as it helps me to know that others have experienced the same stuff and are still moving forward and making progress! Carol

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

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