Having problem coping

I received my pacemaker two weeks ago. I had severe afib and it couldn't really be treated because of bradycardia. I thought this would be a walk in the park both physically and emotionally because I have already had breast cancer and uterine cancer. This, I thought, would be easy. Now I find myself afraid I'm going to do something to mess up the leads, not able to find a comfortable position to sleep and depressed and crying. Whoa. Does sleeping on your side get easier?  Both sides bother me. Do others suffer from feelings of loss?  It feels like one more thing taken away from me. I never expect to feel so sad. 


7 Comments

It gets better

by LondonAndy - 2017-10-25 06:14:05

Oh wow, you have been through a lot.  We are all different, and the reason for implant (and indeed where our device is put) vary, so I can't say definitively but I hope these comments are helpful.

I had my device implanted because of surgical complications arising from heart surgery, so as I had an 8" opening down my chest I definitely couldn't sleep on my side for the first 6 to 8 weeks.  I always sleep on my side, so it was a struggle to adjust to this and I found the best way for me was to sleep in a reclining chair.  I already had an electric one, which you can stop at any position, so that way I could adjust my angle of sleep to be comfortable, and I did get used to it though longed to return to sleeping on my side.  To be honest I didn't really think about the pacemaker during this period - it was by far the minor event, and I only joined this site a few months later to find out more about what future issues might be!

Once I started sleeping on my side again, it was uncomfortable to sleep on the pacemaker side for ages - I think it took about a year to be comfortable. (My implant was 3 years ago).  Since then it has been absolutely fine, and ironically I have since changed which side of the bed I sleep on, and sleep on the other side mostly anyway!

I also wouldn't worry about the leads.  There is slack to allow movement anyway, and from other comments I have read here, at two weeks the leads should already be well secured where they should be.  Obviously don't start jerking weights, but the odd absent-minded reach for something on a high shelf didn't affect me.  I am 100% paced, so I would definitely have noticed if it did!

I know it is easy for me to say this, but try not to think about your new friend.  It is there to help you live a better life again, and they fit over 300,000 of them every year, so welcome to the club :)

Hang In There

by Rinnde - 2017-10-25 06:14:11

Hi there. It will get easier. Cut yourself some slack, you have something foreign in your body that will take some getting used to.  I have been pacemaker dependant for 36 years now and mine still feels uncomfortable at times. 

It is very rare for your leads to move so I wouldn't worry about that. I have always been more comfortable lying on my non-pacemaker side.  I hope you start to feel better about it soon. 

in the early stages of recovery too...

by 0o0 DC 0o0 - 2017-10-25 07:09:58

I am so sorry to hear that you are struggling, especially as you have clearly had several other massive hurdles to overcome in the past. I am most definitely not a voice of experience but hope that I can offer a small amount of comfort with some of the shorter term issues. Also, I think most will admit that they have had their struggles initially, have a search on here and you will find some brilliant advice from an amazing group of people. I sure did when I needed it and just knowing that there were others that have been through the same issues helped me massively.

I had my PM placed 4 weeks ago (as I said, I am not an old hand at this!) after being diagnosed with sinus node block which was causing my heart rate to drastically drop and pause leading to collapse. I am 31, a very keen sportsman and always kept myself physically fit so it all came as a massive shock and was/still is something I am coming to terms with.

When it comes to sleeping, initially I was purely on my back and even trying to move was fairly painful but in the last 2-3 days I have found myself able to lie on either side and I am definitely getting more comfortable day by day.

I can feel the little blighter in there but it is doing a vital job, I have had lots of twinges, aches and pains and also few episodes of palpitations but again from asking/reading on here a certain amount of that is to be expected in the initial recovery phase. I am accepting the fact that I like many many others now have a PM and I am determined I am going to get back to exactly how I was before all of this kicked off, one thing is for certain I wouldn’t be able to get back to normal without it!

I appreciate that everyone heals at different rates but 'give it time' and 'not expecting too much too fast' appear to be re-occurring themes when it comes to recovery.

I truly hope you start to feel better soon.

normal

by Tracey_E - 2017-10-25 10:17:10

What you are feeling is perfectly normal and it will get better as you heal and get back to a normal schedule. You are clearly a fighter. Sometimes we stay strong through the harder fight then the littlest thing hits us like a freight train. Or a not so little thing.  I did it backwards from you... handled the pacer just fine, had some seriously hard days (weeks) with a bad mammogram recently. Even the toughest of us still has down days, angry days, feel sorry for ourself days. Cut yourself some slack, take some time to mourn another loss, then remind yourself you are a bada$$ and this too shall pass. 

If your leads got through the first few days,they are fine! Any limitations after that is precaution. You will get back to sleeping on your side, tho it may take a few weeks or even months. 

New PM

by kmg021 - 2017-10-25 13:03:32

I completely understand what you are feeling.  My PM was put in 3 weeks ago and i have been an emotional roller coaster.  I have already started seeing a counslor which has helped.  I have felt useless and many other emotions, but have been told that this is normal.  I have even signed up for Tia Chi to see if this will help.  All I can say is to take it one day at a time.  

As for sleeping I sleep on the side that does not have the PM and use a small.pillow to.support my arm.  So.far so.good

Sleeping on pacemaker side

by grilor - 2017-10-25 20:29:51

Couldn't sleep at all on my pacemaker side in the beginning. It was my preferred sleeping side prior to and now it is again. i've had mine about 13 months. Can't remember when it became easier, but it will.

Thank you

by Dodgerfan - 2017-10-25 23:54:30

Thank you for taking the time to reassure me that I can climb one more mountain. I was posting in the middle of the night (Los Angeles time) because I couldn't sleep and was completely overwhelmed. To wake up this morning and see that I wasn't alone and others understood made me cry all over again. But this time in gratitude. I just moved here a few years ago to be close to my grandson who is seven, so I don't have many friends and I don't want to burden my family. Your support and encouragement means the world. 

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