pain of moving PM under the muscle

How much difference is there in the level of pain with initial placement and placing the PM under the muscle to cushion it? I am wondering if it is the same, worse, or different depending on the amount of movement to that area. Although I am left handed, my right side (the pacer side) is the side I use most, it is stronger because I have had strokes that affect my left side. I am just waiting to be scheduled to get this thing moved so I can be more comfortable. I am still not sleeping well, sleep you get from drugs just doesn’t rest as well as natural.

The pain is still there, but easier to cope with now that I know they can do something about it. There are no guarantees of course, but more padding has got to be better than the nearly nothing I have now. It is too bad they couldn’t install it in my butt cheek... I have lots of padding there. Actually I am well padded everywhere but where they needed to install this thing. My babies didn’t even like laying on my chest when they were infants, I was too boney on my upper chest, I bloom, (read that balloon) from there on down.

Wish me luck and a quick scheduling so I can get back to work and health on schedule.
Kathykat11

4 Comments

PM placement

by agelbert - 2011-01-17 06:01:41

My pm location was black and blue and somewhat sore for a week but it didn't hurt.
I recently read about a Parsonnet pouch. It's been used in cases where there is concern that a pm may move for many years. It's a pouch that surrounds the pm and anchors it to the area.
Google Parsonnet pouch and you'll see what I mean.

Good luck

not too bad

by Tracey_E - 2011-01-17 08:01:09

Mine is posterior to the breast, so it's deeper than if you just put it in muscle. I've had it replaced 4 times now, the last time I got a new lead and the pocket was reconstructed by a plastic surgeon so it was probably the same or a bit worse than the first time. Other than to sleep the first few nights, I didn't take anything stronger than Tylenol. I was pretty sore the first week, mostly back to my normal activities but babying the sore side by the end of the second week. I was back at the gym at 3 weeks, doing my full workout with push ups at 6 weeks. We've had a few others have it put deeper under the muscle and their recovery was similar to mine.

Good luck!

Please keep me informed.

by Dwight - 2011-01-17 10:01:39

Mine is bugging me to death also and I am considering the move to under the muscle. I am very interested in how yours goes so please keep me informed.
Thanks,
Dwight

update on re locatiing PM

by kathykat11 - 2011-01-28 04:01:40

Well, I have news, Tricare prime will not pay for the doctors office that I originally had put the pacer in so the Doctor I saw and who was going to schedule it witht the plastic surgeon is out of the picture.I have already had an appointment with the one they will pay for and would have had it done Thursday except my INR is totally out of whack and it needs to drop 3.5 points before I can get the surgery. it is tentatively set for 2/4 but only if my INR is down to 2.5. My liver is not metabolizing my coumadin so it is hanging around forever in my system. the docor said he ws going to put the pacer inside the muscle rather than between the muscles. he said he had best luck with that approach, I asked about the parsonnet pouch and he said they act like iron in an intra muscular placement and made for difficulty in future work. He said that I would no doubt be living long enough to have to have more work done so He likes to work like he is going to have to be going himself again and he doesn't like causing difficulty for himself or the patient because they usually have to cut out additional muscle when the parsonnet pouch is used. I advised him I asked because I had read moving the PM tended to have more infections than initial placement and he said I will be heavily medicated before during and after. i hope this whole thing gets in gear soon so i can head back to work in better shape than when i got laid off. I will keep you updated.
Kathykat11

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