Carolyn65

• by Carolyn65
• 2009-10-04 09:10:45
• General Posting
• 1153 views
• 6 comments

Hey, it is me, the Worrier/the Long Winded, who has asked questions for the past 4 mo. re: pre-PM from all of you ~ to have OR not to have PM ~ My cardiologist/EP did the PM/ablation placement last Friday afternoon ~ it is Sunday eve. now. I was the one w/A-fib, trachy, "gurgitating" some blood flow (?) ~ ~ boy, YOU who do KNOW , can definetely tell I know nuttin' about what I am "spouting". The cardiologist told my family while I was still in "recovery" everything went fine ~ I ended up with a Boston Altrua 60, Model #5603, then it says "Guidant", dual w/dual wires, whatever that all means ~ I was released Saturday a.m. from the reknowned Austin Heart Hospital ~ I was given an antibiotic prescription for Keflex (500 mg) 4xday. I was given a lot of printed matter on PM/batteries/ heart pics/ETC. before/after my implant ~ ~ MY questions could NOT be answered by pre-printed materials ~ NOW, I have more questions ~ I can not even tell I have a PM (no tell/tell signs of any beats, etc), except, the area of the "pocket" where the stitches are were pretty sore yesterday when I left the hospital ~ became unbearably, horrendously painful ALL night last night & I called the weekend "Medical Exchange" for the Dr. on weekend duty early this morning and had pain medication called into my pharmacy. I have Vicodin generic (500 mg) ~ 1 pill every 6 hours ~ still painful but is bearable. Common sense told me the area of the stitches would be sore, BUT, I never knew that area would be this painful ~ feels like the stitches themselves are being pulled by any movement ~ like me getting up/down from chair/bed/etc. As a grown person "who should know better", I was crying w/pain last night. My question to all of you with a simple PM ~ is the "stitch" area suppose to hurt so bad AND how long? I read in some of your comments before my PM placement that you felt like going back to work, etc. the day after PM ~ There is not anyway I could even concentrate on anything right now because of my pain level ~ ~ In the surgery room itself (very busy w/about 6+ people prepping me), a lot of things were going on while prepping me, of which my cardiologist did not talk to me about NOR did I know to ask BEFORE prep ~ My Dr. is nationally known/good, but does not have any bed side manners/ patience. He is good, but very "to the point" and "matter of fact" only. As a female, I now have some questions how your heart Dr. could see where the "wires" should go ~ what areas did they have "camera" like pics to guide him in placing the lead wires, etc.? This part of the female anatomy I can not/won't ask anyone who personally knows me ~ sometimes I think I am imagining some of the "prep" work before they put me to "sleep" ~ ~ I guess it is way too soon to notice any change in my body, but the swelling in my feet/ankles is still with me, of course any salt aggravates this condition also ~ should this be of concern until I go in for my first Dr. appt. this Friday (this is Sun eve) to check my PM area? IF you can think of any simple, BUT, really important to me, things/steps/ procedures you can remember about your first PM placement ~ PLZ. share with me ~ ~ As it is now ~ except for the painful "pocket", I think I am ok, BUT, I do NOT look forward to any future change of batteries NOR any reason to open AND go thru the stitching/healing process again ~ I know not to raise my left hand above my heart nor lift much weight ~ Again, THANX to all of you for your past comments AND I really look forward/need any helpful hints, no matter how simple ~ ( :