Nighttime sling use?

Hello all!  I had my PM put in on April 1st. The dressing has been removed (yes it's like Frankenstein) and I've had the device check. Everything looks good and is on track.  The site is very sore and any clothes touching it is uncomfortable but from what I've read that will go away.  My question is about sleeping. I know that I constantly raise both of my arms over my head during the night. I am using my left arm during the day without the sling  following the doctors limitations.  I am using the sling with the waist strap at night since I know my normal sleep position. Do you think that I will be OK doing this and not get frozen shoulder?  I'm just really nervous this early and don't trust myself. Thank you all for the great advice!

5 Comments

Why not ?

by Gemita - 2021-04-11 19:21:14

Sounds like a good plan Lovesthesun41.  The fact that you are mobilising your pacemaker side arm during the day will be enough to prevent frozen shoulder.  It is more important that you get a good night's sleep without worrying about lifting your arm during the night.  As soon as you are no longer restricted, you can put away your night time assistant.  Sleep well

good plan

by Tracey_E - 2021-04-12 08:38:20

The important thing toi prevent frozen shoulder is to use the arm as normally as possible during the day. Your night solution shouldn't have any impact.

How the incision looks now is nothing like how it will look once you fully heal! For me, it got a lot better at 6-8 weeks but took a good year to fully heal. By then it had flattened out and the redness went away so now it's barely noticeable. Once the incision is well closed, start moisturizing liberally. Anything all natural will do- vitamin e, cocoa butter, coconut oil, aloe- just make sure it doesn't have chemicals or preservatives. I got this advice from a plastic surgeon who offered to sell me something expensive but said it's not what you use so much as how often you use it. And also keep it out of the sun the first year. 

Thank you!

by Lovesthesun41 - 2021-04-12 11:56:42

Thank you both for your replies. I appreciate your sharing. 🙂

tethered

by juststeph - 2021-04-12 23:28:12

I just had my pacemaker surgery March 31st. I also sleep with both arms above my head. I've been tethering my left wrist to my leg. Using my bath robe I've been tieing two loose fittiing loops that can slip over my left hand and my thigh. Its about 2 feet long, and allows me to move around as I sleep but prevents me from lifting my arm above my head. Its very comfortable and less restrictive than a sling! 

Sleeping in Recliner

by Wendells - 2021-04-13 07:58:23

I had my PM in October 2020, the first 6 weeks I slept in a recliner as it was to uncomfortable to lay flat. My shirts still irritates the site.

I am still having issues sleeping.   The last week I have been in a bit of pain were the PM sits, sometimes quite painful. It sometimes feels like I'm getting little shocks.

Anyone else have these problems?

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

I have a well tuned pacer. I hardly know I have it. I am 76 year old, hike and camp alone in the desert. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. The only problem is my wife wants to have a knob installed so she can turn the pacer down.