First Post-----Scared!

Hi Everybody..I just stumbled onto your site, gratefully! I am part of a study and am having a very new pacemaker-like device put in on Monday to help with sleep apnea, but the surgery is exactly like getting a Pacemaker put in (except they will put it in on the right in case I ever need a real pacemaker!).What I am really worried about is that I can't bathe or drive for ten days, as not to disturb the leads. I've about got myself psyched out for that part, but the nurse said I can't lift my arms above my shoulders either (for 10 days). I sleep with my arms over my head on my stomach holding my pillow. My husband and I woke up today and we both kind of realized it at the same time that I am just all over the place when I sleep, and flat on my back is NOT one of them. I'm a nervous wreck! Can one of you folks that has been there and done that give me some tips? Thanks so much!

10 Comments

Belly sleeper too

by kathykat11 - 2011-04-22 06:04:19

I also slept on my belly, notice the past tense. I now sleep in a modified belly/side position with lots of pillows for the first 2 weeks. I too sleep all over the bed and figured out a way to keep from raising my arm while i wasn't aware of what was going on, I put on my sons wife beater(undershirt) and then over that i put on my regular t-shirt with only the side without a pace maker in it out through its sleeve. There was no way to raise my arm while I was sleeping.
Why did they say you can't shower? I was showering within a week with surgical glue and with other surgery have just taped baggies over the incision site if there were just stitches. Be sure to take a button down shirt with you to the hospital. Or you can make the same one arm fashion statement I made a night. Moving your shoulder a bit is good so I don't recommend my solution for 24/7 use, you don't want to get frozen shoulder.
Good luck with your apnea pacer,
Kathykat11

Why I cant shower.....

by bdonahueweedman - 2011-04-22 07:04:01

Because I cant lift my arms above my shoulders and I would need to do that to get out of the bathtub. Again this thing is a bit different than a pacemaker but they are VERY strict about the leads coming out. I like your ideas though Kathy! I will def use them to keep my crazy arms down. Also Kirwen , I want to have my hubby wash my hair in the sink and just poke a hole through a trashbag, but I married Abe Lincoln (he'll drive back to the store 20 miles if they gave him ten cents too much change) so I'm not sure he'll do it. I may have to enlist some of my deviant friends! Thank you two for the ideas!! I WILL be using them! B

Me too

by KIRWEN1004 - 2011-04-22 07:04:13

I am also a belly sleeper, most of the time when I wake up I find myself on my stomach.

When I got my pacemaker in I was worried about this as well so I slept with a sling on for just over 4 weeks.

I only had to wait 5 days before I could shower and my hubby washed my hair for me once during that time so I didn't feel so gross.

Good Luck

pillows!

by Tracey_E - 2011-04-22 08:04:39

I slept on my back hugging a pillow under my arm to keep me from rolling on my sore side. I got my stylist to wash my hair until I could shower, then I got pretty good at doing it one handed. You'll be healed and back to your old self before you know it! It's not as bad as it seems.

sleep

by LS - 2011-04-22 08:04:44

I'm a side sleeper, with my left arm under the pillow. It was hard for several months because I was very uncomfortable if I allowed myself to get in that position. I would suggest sleeping with a sling on.
Liz

A Sling...

by donr - 2011-04-22 11:04:04

...does you no good. That is unless it has a band that attaches to the elbow point of the sling & wraps around your waist. That keeps your elbow pinned to your side. I learned that the hard way. About a week after my PM implant I was sleeping w/ my sling on to keep my arm below the shoulder. Woke up in the AM w/ my left arm up over my head! Went to a canvas shop & had them sew a belt to the elbow point - never had that problem again.

Don

Bandage

by DavidS - 2011-04-23 04:04:43

When my pm was implanted I bought a longish crepe bandage and tied one end LOOSELY around my upper thigh and the other end around my wrist such that I couldn't raise my hand quite as far as my shoulder.
It worked very well. Good Luck.

Sleep apnea

by Dormouse - 2011-04-24 06:04:02

I am very interested in your special pacemaker as I also have sleep apnea. How does it work? It would be weird having a pacemaker each side of my chest but ...Ahh! To be free of that machine...well worthwhile!

Please let me know how you get on with it!

Good luck!

Corinna

Thank You

by bdonahueweedman - 2011-04-24 06:04:21

To everybody for all of your suggestions....I'm really getting nervous!. Not so much about the surgery but about keeping my arms below my shoulders for 10 days! I've become very aware of my arm movements the last few days and although I consider myself fairly lazy LOL.....I guess I put my arms over my head more than I thought. Even putting on shirts etc. Maybe I'll just have to sleep in our big living room chair w/ottoman? Heres an idea: How about I just turn it over to God, quit worrying, and remember that worrying never changed anything I've ever done in my entire life! EVER!! LOL.. THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR GREAT IDEAS!

Sleep apnea

by Parrothead57 - 2011-04-24 09:04:38

Hi there and welcome to the site. I wanted to ask about your device but first I'll comment on my sleep experience post implant. I was told not to raise only my left arm (same side as PM). I usually sleep on my side(s) and put my arm up under my pillow. So I too was concerned about raising my left arm during sleep. To sleep on my left side I just sort of propped more pillows under me and hugged a pillow under my left arm. I probably raised my left arm a time or two but never had any issues. The EPs assistant that met with me after surgery told me not to be overly concerned about it. The clinician at the EP lab assured me that they add an extra loop of wire behind the device to prevent the leads from being pulled out.

I am curious about an implantable device for sleep apnea. I have slept with a CPAP for over 10 years. Is the device directly related to preventing the apnea? Or is it to treat possible heart problems as a cause of the apnea? Just wondering.

Best wishes for your upcoming procedure. Mine was a walk in the park as they say. Hope your's is too!

Keep us posted,
PH

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I have had my pacer since 2005. At first it ruled my life. It took some time to calm down and make the mental adjustment. I had trouble sleeping and I worried a lot about pulling wires. Now I just live my life as I wish.