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Hi all. 6 days post-op from PM implant for bradycardia diagnosed after an emergency RCA stent (47 y.o., fit, Medtronic Azure XT DR MRI, right side implant). I generally feel great with little to no pain or discomfort. BUT, having trouble sleeping. Find that when I lay down it feels like a weight on my chest - center, not implant site - and I have shortness of breath. Issue subsidies when I sit up and is almost nonexistent while moving around normally during the day. I have a follow up appt tomorrow and will bring it up, but wanted to see if anyone had a similar experience. 

Thanks

2 Comments

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by AgentX86 - 2018-08-19 18:16:44

Hi Eric(k)!  Welcome to a group, I'm sure, you once wanted no part of...

My guess is the "weight" on your chest has more to do with the stent than the pacemaker.  Your heart has been through a lot and now it's getting a full blood supply (one hopes).  I had a similar experience after my CABG.  Of course I had a sternotomy but I didn't have any pain (well, until my wife gave me bronchitis - sneezes were a whole new world of hurt).  I described it as if our cat (a 25lb "panther") was constantly lying on my chest.

I found it much easier to sleep in a recliner.  After my CABG surgery I slept in a recliner for five months.  After my pacemaker implant, I slept in the recliner for two months.  It was a lot easier than rolling over on it, or traping my left arm under me.  I tend to be a stomach sleeper and often get leg cramps if I sleep on my back so a recliner was a lot easier.  We have one next to our bed now.

Just curious.  Why did you have the PM implanted on the right side?  Left handed?  Did you get any push-back?

AgentX

by erickravitz - 2018-08-19 22:46:40

Thank you for the input.  I’ll inquire about the stent tomorrow. I think they scared me so much with the possibility of infection that I am now scared about the possibility of infection...🤯

as for the right side, yes I am left handed. Not only did they not push back, but it was their recommendation to implant to that side. I don’t know if we are allowed to plug hospitals, but the cardiac/EP team at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown PA - great people. Especially the CICU staff where I was forced to spend the weekend for a Monday morning implant.

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic man.

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I had a pacemaker since 2002 and ever since then my life has been a total blessing.