chrikkie

Had pm implant 10 days ago.  Warned not to raise arm above shoulder level in case I dislodged a lead.  In the night I forgot and stretched up to switch light on in a hurry. Am worried sick that I may have done some damage.  I cannot face going through the "procedure" again.  I am 80 years of age.  I do hope someone can help me.

5 Comments

rest easy

by Gotrhythm - 2017-03-13 13:07:42

Dislodging a lead is really rare. Yes we are warned not to raise the arm, but I think that's more for the comfort of the lawyers than protection for us.

Another reason not to worry: You already have ten days of healing time under your belt. The incision on your chest has closed, hasn't it? Well, healing has happened and is happening on the inside too. The tough fribrous scar tissue the will hold the lead in place has already started to form. Just reaching up to a light switch isn't violent enough to pull the lead out.

In fact, if you don't do gentle movements and strectching of the arm and shoulder several times a day you could wind up with "frozen shoulder." So stop worrying and get moving--gently!

we all do that!

by Tracey_E - 2017-03-13 13:40:03

At Gotrhythm said, at 10 days out the restrictions are just precaution and it would be rare for a lead to dislodge. We all reach up, stretch, etc at least once while we are healing. No big deal. ;) 

Same thing

by Hamsquatch - 2017-03-13 15:46:14

I did the same thing and thought "uhhh" didn't cause a problem though. Try sleeping with an oversized shirt on with your PM side arm tucked inside the sleeve, this helped me with unwanted semi conscious movements. 

Hi CHRIKKE...........

by Tattoo Man1 - 2017-03-13 16:37:54

............may i just add my voice to the wisdom of the other three respondents.  Yes, lead displacements are always a worry but I am quite sure that you will be just fine.  This advice about reaching is well based, but as Gotrythm points out, there may well be other things on the agenda.

That said no surgeon wants his valuable work to be compromised, any more than you do.

An idea...say that there are things in the kitchen that you might need to reach for....get someone to take them down and put them  on the worksurface for you.

I have long thought that, if possible,having a Pace maker is a great opportunity to get those around you to be your Personal Slaves !!..with all due respect , at your fine vintage age its the very least that you deserve !

You take care, and try not to worry ( too much )...Tattoo Man

chrikkie

by chrikkie - 2017-03-20 08:56:57

Thanks to you all for your consoling comments.  I worry about this pacemaker business more  than when I had breast cancer.  I had just received the all clear from my cancer when a fortnight later was told I was to have a pacemaker.  No one ever mentions this, but was the procedure painful for anyone else?  I had mine under local anaesthetic and had repeated anaesthetic injections (I lost count how many) and found it all terribly painful.  I did NOT expect this and usually have a high pain threshold.  For this reason I dread anything going wrong and having to go through it again!  But thanks to you all.  Sorry to whinge.

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