Placement & Pain .... frustated in general.

• by ChantalW
• 2018-11-20 09:48:43
• Complications
• 1061 views
• 1 comments

I am on my third medtronic pacemaker and had my last implant on 8/23/18. 

I did not need any pain meds at all follwing either of the two previous implants and never had issues with where the device was at. 

This time, the pocket was revised, device was sutured onto the pectoral muscle, and a new lead was added.  Previous leads were left in place due to concers of possible complications removing them.  (Not exactly sure how the previous lead was secured after being disconnected)  

I have had pain from day one.  Initially, I had pain in my shoulder as well as the entire left side of my chest.  I was not able to lift my arm to shoulder height for several weeks and even then it was painful... just less so  

It has been almost 90 days now.  I can not sleep on my left side bc the device is so far to the left, it is painful to lay on that side.  I have also experienced loss of range of motion with that arm as I can not reach across to scratch my right shoulder as I could before.  The pain in my shoulder is less, but still there.  It is a strange “tired” ... dull & achy pain in the joint  

In the last three weeks I have had new pain.  When I extend my arm (like resting it on the back of a chair next to me) or when I have extended it and bring it back in, there is a stinging/tearing feeling.  When I get up from laying down it has the same feeling but as if the device is being pulled down.  And, there is a needle like scratch/poke  just any time... no particular movement of the arm or torso. 

My first two were done by my Dr in Missouri, and this procedure was done by another Dr in TX (we moved). I am so frustrated and wondering if I would have had the same problems if I had gone back to MO for this last one. 

Overall this has been a terrible experience!

The Dr prescribed Tramadol following the procedure but it made me jittery and sick.  I called the office the next day and let them know   The nurse (?) was dismissive and told me to take extra strength Tylenol.  Really?!?!  Apparently she was either suggesting I was “seeking” or she was not going to bother the Dr to request a similar strength med.  Luckily, two days in, I remembered that I had some Tylenol 3 left over from a previous problem (months prior)and was able to take them. (Still have 27 of 30 Tramadol left as well as 2of the Tylenol 3s) So I am taking these with me to next weeks visit to make sure that individual understands that her tone and suggestion was not lost on me and that I am not a “seeker”.  

I had my one week follow up visit and expressed my concerns to the nurse (this Dr does not see you until your one YEAR follow up visit) the nurse was dismissive and told me I was good to go back to work (she wasnt aware that I had a new lead placed). I explained that as a bedside RN, I do heavy lifting on a very regular basis so she gave me a “Dr note” to be off for the next 5 weeks due to the new lead. 

I could go on but I am sure everyone is getting the level of frustration I am having with the way this has gone