Sleeping and Pain

Hi there, hope this finds everyone pretty well. I just got back from my monthly internist check and questioned her about the shoulder pain and pain around the pacemaker. She did a cardiogram to make sure everything was okay and it was. Heart rate was good at 70 and everything else looked great.

She said I have a partially frozen shoulder, but physical therapy won't be good for me right now because of my fibromyalgia. She also said that she thinks that the pain I am experiencing is the muscles around the pacemaker healing and that I should try to be careful what I lift and go easy on myself since it is only since 2/4 that I had my surgery. She even had to do the EKG while I was sitting because lying on my back causes too much pain.

Can anyone suggest a better way to sleep. I usually sleep on my side or stomach. Since I am full breasted, this is causing alot of the problems. I almost feel as though the pacemaker is moving when I lie down. I know that it isn't, but because of the breast movement, thats what it feels like. Any sleeping suggestions would be great.

Thanks for listening, and again, hope everyone is doing okay.
Marcia

3 Comments

Try different things.

by qwerty - 2010-04-21 03:04:39

What works for one may not work for someone else. A lot of us here have had some success using pillows. I use LOTS of pillows. I received my PM on 1/25 and my wires still stick up significantly. So I try to Prop everything where my wires are not being squeezed. You have to just keep trying different things. Some people have had some luck sleeping in recliners. That does not work for me, but some say it works well.
I have noticed that the past 2 weeks, the muscles in near the PM have begin to not feel so stretched. So it does continue to get better. It just takes a little longer for some of us.
Don't imagine this was much help, but just know that you are not alone. Most of us have had a sleepless night or two.

Cherell

Thanks Cherell

by MAXI1439 - 2010-04-21 04:04:47

Any information helps. The recliner is a great idea except that is where my Yorkie sleeps. I am going to try more pillows tonight and see how that works. Thanks again for feedback.

Keep moving

by ElectricFrank - 2010-04-22 02:04:53

Even though it may not be the most comfortable thing to do you need to be doing some gentle movements both for the pacemaker site and your shoulder. Immobilizing the area can only lead to things becoming worse. The trick is to be gentle. Explore the limits of motion at just the edge of pain.

frank

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

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