Just had my pacemaker put in last Tuesday and my shoulder feels so achy and my chest is achy too especially when I first wake up or if I laugh (so better not do that!). It's so hard to sleep normally and I think that is why I feel stiff because I'm on the couch, then in the bed, then on the chair.... I'm afraid to sleep on my left side for fear of moving my pacemaker. Also I am so paranoid about moving my left arm for fear of the leads coming out and when I laugh too I'm afraid they will pop out. How do they put the leads in to secure them? As you can see, I'm getting a little paranoid. Oops...one more question....It said to take the bandage off in 3 days and shower and that if there was a butterfly bandage underneath those, to leave that on, so when I started taking the bandages off (which were vertical strips overlapping each other) I didn't notice any butterfly bandage underneath, so I stopped removing the vertical strips. Today is day #5 since surgery. Thanks.

Suemarie

 

 

The surgeons secure the leads in in two different ways either a "passive" or "fixed" http://www.dogparksusa.org/pacer_leads.gif in this picture you can see the little nubs that hold it in place. Also scar-type tissue will form around the leads and keep them in place also after a little while. My cardiologist told me that I would come back into the office after 5-7 days and they would remove the bandages for me. Good luck keep us posted :))

 

Hi and welcome to the club from Australia.

We all seem to go through some initial anxiety, I know I did.

As I live a six hours drive from the hospital and sp. both myself and a friend that had a pm at the same time got one of those large waterproof bandaid type plasters and put it over our op site and dressing and showered. It was great to have a decent wash and the plaster protected the site and was easily removed when necessarily. Sometimes needs must.

A cardiac nurse at the hospital told me to roll a towel for my left side and place it alongside my body from under arm down. I found a spare pillow was comfortable. I was a left side sleeper but have now changed to the right side.

Remember keep your wings down for the time required and don't lift anything over and above that which you are allowed. It will all get better and there are so many of us here that can give you comfort. PM folks are very caring and have been a great comfort to me especially as I live way out in the bush.

Sincere regards here's wishing you the best.

 

Hello Sue

I have a question before I comment. The doctor that said "It doesn't matter why, since you have the PM it will handle it whether it's 32% or 97%." the same doctor that did the ablation?" If it is I would take a dam dim view of his cavalier attitude. Even if he didn't do the ablation, I would be offended by such reply.

But he is correct, the pacemaker doesn't care if it is sending impulses 1% or 100% if the time. Of course the battery life will be shorter if it is 100% but still good for 5 to 7 years.

I would not put to much emphasis on the fact there has been such increase based on the results from one checkup. Wait until your next checkup and see what the Reading is then. If it is still close to 100% then that may be the norm for you since the botched ablation. However, don't let that convince you that you will die if anything happens to that pacemaker. The high percentage could be partially due to the settings on the PM. In other words they are set high to give you opium results, and as such the PM works essentially all the time. Where as with a lower setting your hearts natural pacemaker (yes, it still has one even though you have had an ablation) could get in the game once in a while and the percent use by the PM would be lower. Even if the pacemaker did quit, our heart will not give up so easy as it has a backup natural pacemaker. That backup can keep you going for some amount of time. You will not feel like running a marathon with the backup keeping it keeping your heart working because you heart rate will be very slow.

As for the block going away, that is entirely possible, although it may take many months. The node that carries the hearts natural pacemaker impulses is a strip (for lack of my knowing a better word) body tissue and like most body tissue it can heal itself after being wounded. Also, just like any other wound, the healing is a slow process and in meantime your pacemaker will continue to pickup any slack needed.

If I may offer some advice, yes you have a problem and any time you think something is amiss with your pacemaker call your doctor. However, in the meantime don't spend every free moment trying to analyze what is going on with your heart beat and the way you feel. While you have a problem you are wearing a cure for that problem and that cure is not going to let you down.

I wish you the best,

Smitty