SLEEP

Does anyone else have the problem of  trying to sleep at night?  My pm was put in on Dec 14 and it has been flipping around so my left arm is sore, or is the no sleep from anxiety?  The reason they put it in was 3rd stage heart block, surprised me to say the least.  Has anyone else had anxiety problems over this or am I just weird!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9 Comments

sleepless for 4 months

by 6efrau - 2011-01-18 04:01:45

I haven't slept through the night since the surgery 4 months ago. It will get better after you go back for your first check-up and they dial you back. They set the voltage to the highest setting initially because they don't know how much juice you require to keep your heart beating properly yet. How long do you have to wait for your follow-up? I was supposed to wait 3 months, but at 7 weeks I called and said I couldn't wait any longer.

Did you keep your arm in a sling after the surgery? My doctor made me keep my arm still for 2 weeks constantly and then for 4 more weeks while I slept at night to ensure nothing was pulled out of place. It takes about 6 months for everthing to really set in place inside your body.

fiona

by fiona frisby - 2011-01-18 06:01:11

i had mine fitted dec 15th have to sleep sitting up cant bear to lay down soo uncomfortable also cant sleep i think mine down to soreness and anxiety was in 2nd stage heart block have a dual lead pacemaker glad to have found this page as was getting very worried as people said id notice the difference straight away and havent still really tired and sore got my check up on feb 3rd find out more i have deep veins? and nothing was where it was supposed to b inside? so the surgeon said but no more explanation than that at the time i found no communication at all also no sling also 4got to tell me left 1 long stitch left in i went to docs new years eve cos i was sore he was not amused

sleep

by ratsyp - 2011-01-18 06:01:50

I had trouble sleepng for the first couple weeks. It has gotten better. It will for you too. I found by taking all the pillows in my house and sleeping on them help and recently I've been able to take a couple away. Also I asked my dr. about a sling to keep my arm from moving he told me the problem with that is you can get something called frozen shoulder which then you would have to go to therapy so I don't know if it's a good idea to not use your arm. Ask your dr. about that.
Patsy

Sleep

by fiddlebritches - 2011-01-18 07:01:10

My surgeon never came an saw me after the surgery his nurse just said to wear a sling for 2 days , I never did see him so we went to a bigger hospital where that dr just assumed the dr had told me every thing , when my pacemaker started moving around and fliping over my collor bone I told him that I was givien no restrictions he was flabbergasted ......now I am on strick restriction minimal movement of left arm I cant wear a sling as i broke that elbow on ice 2 years ago and it did freeze it took alot of therpy to fix that so now another month off of work 20 lb limit on my right arm I just want to get back to normal will that happen?:

new normal

by 6efrau - 2011-01-18 08:01:04

Fiddlebritches
You sound so much like me when I first came on this website back in October. I had my surgery September 27, 2010 and it has been rough accepting this as my new way of life. I found myself even more frustrated by this website when no one would post back to me. I guess this is why I am trying to answer you back as best I can.

I will tell you that 20 pounds is too much to be lifting. It should only be 10 pounds. You know, like a gallon of milk. Just horrible that your surgeon didn't come see you after the surgery. Mine came by the next morning and had them take an x-ray of my chest to ensure everything was in place. You shouldn't need the sling during the day, but remember to restrict your movements. At night put lots of pillows all around you so you are not moving all over the place when sleeping. I slept in the guest room for the first 8 weeks before I moved back into the bedroom with my husband. That way I could have the pillows around me.

I contacted my manufacturer and they mailed me a bunch of booklets about all kinds of information. You should do the same. My manufacturer is Medtronic.

It has been 4 months and I am still tender at the incision, my collarbone bothers me where the leads are wrapped, but thank goodness I am not in dire pain like I was in the beginning. The adjustments made at my two follow-up visits have helped, but life will never be the same. I decided to learn something new to take my mind off the anxiety. I am now learning to crochet. Do you have a hobby you can use to help you with the anxiety?

Thanks for your coments

by fiddlebritches - 2011-01-19 02:01:01

You all have made me feel so much better that Im no a weirdo and that Im not alone. It is so scarry I am 60 but I act like 20 I am a very active farm wife, and a mental health aid I can work ring s around the young aids in my unit , my grandchildren call me the 4 wheeler grandma cuz we love to give rides and jump ditches I ride horses ect thanks I feel better and will try not to let the anxiety get the best of me your the greatest.

it gets better

by bluesforthesoul - 2011-01-19 02:01:20

I had issues with sleep for a while (including crazy, vivid dreams) My incision site, collar bone, and and left shoulder were quite sore post surgery. It has gotten better over time and at this point I rarely notice any pain or discomfort. I have had mine for a year and a half now. I am more active than I was before the pacer and have had no major issues with exercise. The main issue I have had is anxiety which was never a problem in the past. Face it, finding out you have any kind of heart condition is alarming. Hang in there, it will get better.

Sleep & Anxiety

by harley63 - 2011-01-19 10:01:55

Fiddlebritches....

You sound like me!! I ride a Harley Trike and they call me the energize bunny!!

I've had my pacemaker since 12/19/06, age 43 for 3rd degree heart block. Big surprise to myself as well as everyone that knew me then and those that meet me now!!

I have had my days/nights of not sleeping due to anxiety or 'busy brain' too. Of course my docs have said that my being 'menopausal' could be an issue for the not sleeping too. So we are just treating the insomnia symptoms.

Wish you well and am cheering for you...
Harley63

got information

by fiddlebritches - 2011-01-23 12:01:01

I did call the company and got a bunch of info, thanks for the suggestion it gave me a lot of infor I did not know so I think the pacemaker is moving less my left arm and muscle is still sore like I was lifting weights or something . now just trying to get paper work done for short term disability cuz cant work for 2 mths dont pay the bills very well.

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