One week after surgery - OW!!!!

I am a week after surgery and for the last two days the area around my pacemaker has gotten very sore and if anything my energy level is plummeting. I went back to work yesterday (desk job) but the energy level started dropping over the weekend. Now this morning when I woke up the area around my PM hurts like hell. I don't see any sign of infection, have no fever but what it feels like from my lower neck to my shoulder whenever I move is like someone is tearing the muscles around my PM. I expected some adhesion pain as I became more active but this is beyond just adhesions being torn and the pain almost had me staying home from work. Has anyone else been through this after surgery?

Do have an appointment this afternoon with both my GP and to have my first PM check this afternoon but was wondering if any of this is normal. I have recovered from a variety of joint related surgeries in the past but usually by this time things are getting better not worse from a pain mgmt standpoint and also the fatigue I am feeling is bothering me. Did call the on call cardiologist this morning and they said to just have it checked when I come in this afternoon.

7 Comments

energy levels

by Hot Heart - 2009-06-30 01:06:35

Hi there! I was almost an invalid for the first month, but fine now

HH

YES

by pete - 2009-06-30 10:06:16

I had cosiderable pain on movement for at least 7 days after implantation. Sounds just like the pain you are getting. OK after a fortnight. Hope it gets better for yo. Cheers Peter

Ditto

by Tabbycatmeow - 2009-06-30 11:06:21

Personally,
I don't know how in the heck you have been able to go back to work. I had significant pain for at least 2 to 3 weeks. It took me a good month before I was comfortable back at work. Hang in there. It DOES get better!

oh yea!

by punkin - 2009-06-30 12:06:45

The first 2 weeks,I had quite a bit of pain.I would say to family never been shot, but I think this is what a gunshot wound to the shoulder would feel like.Mine hurt threw the back to the front.And would cry thinking they had really mess me up,no energy at all,then about one month later things got better.Had anxiety(sp) bad,never had it before,they gave me med for it the first month,then that went away also.Now have a frozen should.That is painful. It will get better,hang in there.Lottie

My 2 cents worth...

by Pookie - 2009-06-30 12:06:50

I'd be asking for a chest Xray as you might have some fluid in there....I'm totally guessing, but your pain sounds like what I experienced when I had percarditis.

wouldn't hurt to ask the doc.

Good luck & keep us posted.

Pookie

Here is what the docs said

by COBradyBunch - 2009-07-01 12:07:15

My GP said from what he has seen of PM implant patients everything is normal. He doesn't understand why they cardio's tell us to go back to work so soon and he has seen patients out for a 1-3 weeks after surgery depending upon a variety of factors. Basically he felt I did too much too fast and to take it easy for another week.

My cardio nurse who checked my PM yesterday (BTW, she said it hadn't fired once since implant) said that while she doesn't understand why people do need the time she said that what I am feeling and seeing is not unusual. She personally doesn't understand why people take longer to recover than the simple couple of days but did say that almost everyone who comes in for their first check has same issues as I have had, fatigue, soreness that gets worse instead of better after a few days but will eventually subside in 1-3 weeks. She did recommend to not take the tylenol that is what they recommended but to go to advil (IB) and that that works for a lot of folks.

Both said no signs of infection or other complications.

Have upped my pain meds, moved to IB and am feeling better although still swollen and sore on that side and still fatigued. Working from home today and maybe tomorrow to see if I can just catch back up on my energy levels and keep on top of the pain issues.

Two weeks in and still sore

by COBradyBunch - 2009-07-06 10:07:38

Two weeks in and I am still feeling a lot of 'pulling and tearing' type pain around my site. Moving my head and neck seem to cause the most pain (tearing, burning pain about 1 inch above and towards my neck from the edge of my steri strips) Have been out of the sling since three days after the surgery except for a night when I wear it to prevent me from moving my arm over my head.

My docs tell me the pain is normal but was wondering how long I can expect this.

OBTW, also started working out for the first time yesterday. 1 hour on a recumbent bike (so I don't have to put a lot of pressure on my arm). First half our at 65% (very low for me in normal workouts) max HR, 2nd half at 70%. Felt great although somewhat fatigued. Going to go every other day first week and then next week start adding some more time. Hope to be ready to get on my real bike in 4 more weeks when the arm restrictions are lifted.

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