PM on right shoulder, left arm pains

Hello,
It is very helpful to read all of your posts! This is my first time posting.
I just turned 39 last week and have had my PM planted 6 weeks ago. My pm is on my right shoulder because I am left handed.
I have read here that chest pain can happen after the implant for awhile but will subside and probably fade with time. Thank you for those posts I was able to read!!!
I have continued to have chest pains and left arm pain and I told the Dr.about these pains and he said I was just being anxious, and come back in a year for my one year check-up. He insisted it was anxiety at two different post op appointments! I have read those recent posts on anxiety here, and they have been helpful, and have eased my concerns.
Yet, I have even woken up at night with much pain after not even thinking about my pm. Last night and today I have had severe and sharp left arm pain at least ten times!!
I DO NOT need any more unnecessary medical bills and going back to the Dr. for even a second opinion seems like a possible waste if this is just anxiety!! nBut, I have 4 children and desperately want to be here to raise them myself!!!
Before my pm, my heart monitor, recorded my sinus arrest lasting for 38 seconds!!!!! When the arrest happened I passed out and my 15 year old daughter did a chest compression on me and then I woke up and began coughing. I have passed out the same way at least 7 times in my life, I just wasn't wearing the heart monitor to record the problem.
How much patience should I have with these left arm pains???
Should I get a second opinion? What will they tell me and what else could they do that my pm isn't already doing?
signed,
trying not to be anxious but also trying not to be dead
Mrs

4 Comments

Pain

by Pookie - 2009-12-04 05:12:54

Hi.

This is just my opinion, but pain is usually the only way our bodies can tell us something is wrong.

After my initial pacemaker surgery, (I had my pacer placed on the left side), the pain in my RIGHT shoulder was more than I could bear....it turned out to be pericarditis, which simply means one of the leads punctured the heart during the surgery and my heart sac filled with blood, literally drowning my heart and I ended up in the ER with an emergency surgery to save my life.

I am not telling you this to scare you, I'm telling you this because pain in the opposite shoulder is a sign of something wrong. Please do not allow the doctors to tell you it is anxiety...I've heard that song & dance once too often.

If you are in pain, for peace of mind and more importantly, your safety, please go and have it checked out ~ even if that means going to your local emergency room. Better safe than sorry....or worse.

Ask that they give you at least a chest Xray or better yet demand an ultrasound.

When in doubt; get it checked out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pookie

Thank you

by mooremail22 - 2009-12-04 06:12:26

Thank you Pookie

I agree with Pookie

by tcrabtree85 - 2009-12-04 10:12:24

You are having a interesting case with a Dr not so willing to listen. I would get a new Dr and if you have anymore pain tonight go into your local ER and get checked out. Once going to the ER request a different EP. If they let you out make a visit to see him and use that you were in the ER to get in sooner. That is what I had to do to see a good heart dr. I wish you luck and hope your pain subsides.

Tammy

listened to your advice!! Thank you

by mooremail22 - 2011-01-20 09:01:24

I did get that second opinion after I posted this. My pain was diagnosed a month later. I had gallstones. Not just a few but 100+. I feel so much better after having my gallbladder out last January.
Thank you for encouraging me to not ignore my symptoms.

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