Sleep

Sleep

by Jimmy Dinfla - 2018-09-28 22:19:47

This is really a question for your doctor.  You may also want to consult with a pharmacist. We are all different and may be on meds that conflict with others.

In my case, I took Diphenhydramine or Benadryl which are over-the-counter AND my cardiologist gave me the OK.  

Talk to your cardiologist or personal physician.

Charlie horse type of feeling....

by BOBTHOM - 2018-09-29 09:26:18

For me the incision site was fine but my shoulder felt like the worst charlie horse ever.  A couple of aspirin and some attempts to stretch a little, nothing over the shoulder and no real pressure, but a little movement.  A comfy pillow and curl up in an easy chair with a boring movie and hot cup of decaf tea/coffee/choco milk.   Good luck, hope you feel better soon!

Pain in the...

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-29 12:07:26

Hi Christina.  You seem to be having a much worse time than did I but my go-to is ibuprophen.  My doctors don't like me taking it but don't bitch too much for occaisional use (hell, they want me on statins, so give me a break!). I never need to take it more than once a day. IB reduces inflamation which is the source of pain - it doesn't just paint over it.

As others have mentioned, keep moving is the best single thing you can do.  It may hurt, at first, but it will get better. Maybe go out for a nice lunch or maybe some shopping (just walk around).

Good luck!  You will feel better soon.

Strange feelings....

by Christina Ann - 2018-09-29 12:16:44

Thanks for the advice.  I also get a strange feeling once in a while. Kinda like I did when my heart was always beating too fast. Like its going to jump out or something. Not sure if that's the best way to describe it. 

It takes some time to adjust

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-29 13:59:51

You're used to the way your heart was.  It's different, now, and may take some time for your brain to wrap itself around the new feelings and turn off the alarm bells.

Just another thought...

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-29 21:03:50

What is your resting rate set to?  I was used to 40-50 when not in AFL and 80-100 whan in AFL.  My EP set mine to 80bpm for the first month until the heart got used to being paced (something about sudden-death if it were set lower).  It's still set at 70, though he said he'd drop it back to 60. 

It did feel like it was jumping out of my chest, at times.  I'm fine now (though seem to picking up a lot of PVCs in the evenings).

sleep

by Tracey_E - 2018-09-30 10:36:44

Sleep can be hard the first few weeks! Some of it is the soreness, some of it is getting used to a faster heartrate. Normal can feel a bit crazy when you're not used to it. As the others said, ice helps. I also found it helpful to sleep hugging a small pillow. It kept me from rolling onto my sore side as soon as I fell asleep and also supported the arm. 

AgentX, with most heart block, minimum rate on the pacer is irrelevant because the sinus node is setting the pace. Yours doesn't work that way because of the afib/ablation, but for anyone with a sinus rhythm, it doesn't usually matter where they set the minimum. My rate was in the 80-90's the first few months after so many years of being in block, then it settled down to a more normal resting rate. Changing the resting rate wouldn't have any effect on that because it was all me, not pacing. The pacer is just playing follow the leader, making sure the ventricles beat when the atria does, it's not setting the pace. 

Sick sinus syndrome

by Christina Ann - 2018-09-30 11:37:38

I apparently was having issues with my sinus nodes. For s long time since I was 18, I was tachycardia and I got sick back in July, and something flipped and I became braydicardiac. 

sick sinus

by Tracey_E - 2018-09-30 14:23:21

If you have that as well as av block, then you might feel better tinkering with the minimum rate. They call tell you how much time you spend at your minimum rate. If you are pacing there a lot, esp at night, you might feel better and sleep better with it a bit lower. 

Tracy_E

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-30 20:50:23

I wasn't suggesting that the minimum pacing rate caused the problem, rather the increased heart rate (for whatever reason) can cause the brain to be hyper-vigilant for some time.  This would apply to pretty much anyone who has recently received a pacemaker.