Left side sleeping

It's been about a month and a half since my boyfriend had his defibrillator implanted. He's always been a left side sleeper and is finding that he is no longer able to without feeling pain from the defibrillator pinching against his ribs. He's been losing so much sleep and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for how he can comfortably sleep on his left side again. One suggestion I've heard is memory pillow. I'll take any and all suggestions. Thanks!


3 Comments

Takes time

by Hamsquatch - 2017-02-07 18:44:55

I could not sleep on my left side at all for a long time, it just took time for me. Not sure if memory foam would help, maybe some very soft pillows. Even though the scar may be healed there can still be discomfort, I personally have found if i move the wrong way (doesn't happen often at all but it has happened) it can cause discomfort or pressure on the ICD side. 

Thanks

by Schoolpsych - 2017-02-07 18:59:49

Thanks for responding. He has a stressful job that requires many hours and I'm really concerned about the lack of sleep. It would be great to find a temporary solution while we wait for time to play out. I'm thankful for any and all. 

left side

by Gotrhythm - 2017-02-10 11:00:07

I'm fine on my side, but even to this day, it's painful to lie on my front. When I had back procedure  and had to stay on my front, the nurses gave me different size pieces of egg crate foam to tuck around the PM. It took a couple of tries, but I was able to position them so that there was no pressure directly on the PM.

Tell you friend it gets better. And if he simply cannot sleep except on his left side, he might want to ask his doctor for some pills, just to get him through the time needed to heal.

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I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.