Sleeping

Hi,

This is all new to me and my question today is when can one sleep on the side their pm was implanted?

Another question is does the feeling of having something in ones chest ever go away?

Carole

7 Comments

Sleeping on the side

by STennant - 2008-09-11 03:09:38

I do sleep on the side of my pacemaker occassionally but, sometimes it is uncomfortable

a few weeks

by Tracey_E - 2008-09-11 04:09:53

It was a 6-8 weeks until I could comfortably sleep in any position.

How much the feeling goes away of physically having it in your chest depends on how buried your pm is. If you have thin skin, are small boned or thin, then you may always notice it. Mine is under the breast, I have to poke around to even locate where it is so I can totally forget it's there most of the time. Mentally, well, that's a different story. Some of us forget it's there much of the time after having it a while, others are always aware of the fact that their heart needs a little help.

doesn't bother me much

by Angelie - 2008-09-11 05:09:56

I'm a 33 yr old small framed gal that is 4 weeks post implant. I started sleeping on boths sides and on my tummy last week. I can now sleep comfortably in any position, although I do feel it. Just this morning in the shower, I felt like reaching under my skin and yanking it out, but those feelings don't ever last long.
It feels like I've got a big bandage or something there, especially when I rotate my arm around. My scar is only an inch long, and my doctor did a really good job placing it under my collarbone, but there still is a little buldge there. If anything, it makes me look more muscular when I flex my shoulder muscles. Hee, Hee.

three and a half months

by ccmoore - 2008-09-11 08:09:05

I am nearly 63, had mine installed mid May. It isn't very deep and I have a bulge about half the depth of the unit. It took 3-1/2 months for me to feel comfortable sleeping on my PM side [left].
Later,
Charlie

Sleeping

by richan - 2008-09-11 10:09:49

Hi Carole,

I have had my PM since March of 05. My cardiologist told me that I would get used to it. I suppose to some degree I have. However, I always know that it is there - I can feel it's presence; especially when I'm using my arm a lot (swimming and stuff). Like Charlie, mine has a buldge.

I do sleep a bit on my left side - usually not for long because it feels like my PM is in the way.

Oh well, I can live with it OK.

Take care,
Richan

Sleeping w pacer

by ElectricFrank - 2008-09-12 02:09:27

I've had mine nearly 4 years now, and don't even notice it sleeping. I can't remember when I stopped being aware of it though. Its been quite a while back.
One thing I found that helps is to put a pillow in front of me and wrap my upper arm over it. I first used it to sleep on the side opposite the pacer for support so I wouldn't squeeze it.

frank

Same Day

by OIMAPRINCESS2477 - 2008-09-18 12:09:21

I actually found that it was more comfortable for me to lay on my pacemaker side right after my surgery. I found that it was alot more painful to lay on my right side and try to keep from rolling on my left side. I just used alot of pillows to put me in a comfortable position. I guess it just depends on the person. Good Luck finding your comfortable position.

Britt<3

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