Pain with breathing in

Hi there all,
I am a 40 year old woman who just had a dual chamber pacemaker put in 5 days ago for persistant bradycardia.
Since the surgery I have had pain when I breath in. Mostly with deep breaths. Otherwise no other signs of issues except the expected pressure and pain at the incision site. I have no issues with my breathing or swelling.
Has anyone experienced this?
Not sure what to think of this. I am an RN but can't seem to determine if this is something to report back or not.
I am due to go back to work in 2 days and I am not sure if that is a good idea either.
Sue

10 Comments

I say Call The Dr.

by J.B. - 2010-12-18 01:12:29

Any lingering pain from a pacemaker implant is not normal. So report it now if you have had the pain for more than 24 hours. Being a nurse you know it could be nothing more than a mild case of pleurisy, or it could be a complication from the implant.

I had that

by MSPACER - 2010-12-18 02:12:56

I had pain for the first week or so when I took deep breaths. But it subsided. Call your doctor anyway to discuss. You should be having a follow-up in 2 days with the doctor. Didn't the surgeon set up and appt. that was one week after the surgery?

Pain with breathing

by ElectricFrank - 2010-12-18 03:12:22

Think back to your courses in A&P when getting your RN. Inhaling uses the intercostal muscles of the rib cage, which is right in the area affected by the pacemaker pocket. Normal resolution of the inflammation of an incision takes 2-3 weeks.

There is nothing special about the pacemaker over other small incision surgeries so expect healing to be about the same. The only special thing to be aware of is an infection that could affect the leads where they enter the vein. This is rare, but is serious if it happens due to the chance of blood infection.

As for going back to work in 2 days, you aren't likely to do any damage unless you need to do heavy lifting or raise the pacer side arm above your head.

hope this helps,

frank

thanks for the response

by PacerSue - 2010-12-18 03:12:58

Thanks everyone for the comments. I am not a nurse right now I am the patient and that makes things confusing. We like to second guess ourselves.
I do not have any follow up with the surgeon and not even with our internist until Feb. I will just see what comes by Monday to see if work is an option.
I don't feel sick or that unwell so I will just see what happens in the next couple of days.

No follow-up?

by MSPACER - 2010-12-18 06:12:56

It sounds odd that you were not set up for a follow-up appointment for one week after the surgery. I believe that this is common practice to check the healing of the scar, and check the pacemaker. Please double check with the surgeon. That does not sound right.

Red Flag

by kkc915 - 2010-12-18 11:12:45

Any discomfort with breathing would be a red flag right from the get go! I would suggest you be seen by your doctor. Or perhaps get a second opinion.
I just got my pacer inserted on Nov 16th, my doctor restricted movement with my arm and also restricted me to even drive for four weeks!!!!! I couldn't imagine any doctor even allowing your return to work in only seven days!!!
So please seek medical attention, better to be safe than sorry!
Good luck and take care of yourself!!!

tutto normale

by federico - 2010-12-18 12:12:57

ciao....non ti preoccupare del dolore alla ferita ....è normale nei primi giorni...Per il lavoro cerca di non alzare pesi almeno per i primi 15 giorni.....in seguito dimenticherai di avere un pacemaker.....auguri

My 2 cents......

by Pookie - 2010-12-19 01:12:28

(and please keep in mind that I'm the overly cautious type)....but I'd be asking to be seen as soon as possible. What you describe - just doesn't sound right.

It could be nothing or it could be pericarditis or pleurisy or the start of an infection....you can never tell.

Every doctor is diffferent. Every doctor in every country is different. Every hospital is different. But I would expect that you should have a follow up appointment to at least have your incision site checked within the first couple of weeks post-op.

I'm from Canada, and I remember having my first interrogation at 4 weeks.

Just to be on the safe side - call and ask to be seen and have your pacer checked if at all possible. Pretty please:)

Take care,
Pookie

Happened to me too

by Kelliefan - 2010-12-19 12:12:24

I had pain when taking a deep breath for a couple of weeks after I had my pm on 11/1/10. It happened off and on and about the time I would get worried it would go away. I am 7 weeks out and have pretty much forgotten the thing is there. I was back to driving and doing pretty much a normal routine in a week. Just tried not to get overly tired. Good luck

Patient not nurse

by ElectricFrank - 2010-12-20 01:12:28

I don't understand that statement. Just because you are a patient for purposes of the pacemaker shouldn't mean that all your training as a nurse is turned off. This can have disastrous consequences.

A doctor friend of mine's wife died of cardiac arrest while she was waiting to be taken to the cath lab at a major hospital. He didn't say anything about the lack of monitoring equipment, nor noticed her lack of breathing because "it wouldn't be ethical for him to involve himself in her case, which was being (badly) managed by a cardiologist".

This is one of the reasons I chose to stay awake during my pacer implant. I make it very clear to all in the O.R. that I don't care about their politics when I'm on the table.

It's time to wake up and smell the anesthesia. It's your body.

best,

frank



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