PAIN OH the pain.
- by bunnykin
- 2009-10-06 06:10:20
- 600 views
- 8 comments
PM/ICD friends, I need you folks to turn to now.Since I had a faulty lead extracted from the ventricle and implanted a new ICD (my 4th) 2 months ago, I don't feel the same anymore. It's really no fun. I can't do stuff I normally do and I've slowed down somewhat in all my activities; My condition is very complicated with VT and torsades de pointes and was shocked back to normal in July. I really need to ask my friends here what I can do to alleviate the pain. Am getting lots of pain from the wound site each time I try to turn onto my left or right to sleep. It feels as if the device ports or leads are poking into my flesh each time I try to be lying on one side. This has never happened before with my other 3 ICDs. However after this operation I noticed that my days of lying on either side during sleep has come to an end. Sad...if I so much as to sleep on one side, esp. my left(device side), within 5-10mins when I turn back to supine position, I have to yell out with excruciating pain! I know some of you will ask me to check with my Dr or EP; I DID. He checked and said it looked ok and that the device interrogation also seemed alright. So what's going on? I've so much pain that I can only weep quietly sometimes. I'm not sure what's happening other than each night when I sleep, I just pray that next morning is not going to be painful when I wake, or even middle of the night, when I wake usually several times. The luxury of sleeping right thru is so distant that I've not experienced it for sometime.
Please give some advice or share views if possible. I feel so down & forlorn.My poor hubby could only sympathize and ask me to try to rise up slowly...bunnykin
8 Comments
Don't put up with it
by ElectricFrank - 2009-10-06 10:10:55
There is no reason why you should have that much pain after 2 months. Just keep in mind that it is going be your responsibility to get something done about. Contact the doctor and let him know that this is serious and that you want something done or refer you to another doc that will.
frank
Ouch
by mike thurston - 2009-10-06 12:10:09
Bunny,
That seems odd that the Doctor says all is o.k. yet you are in that much discomfort. I certainly wouldn't think he should let you put up with that much pain. Hope you can find a solution.
Mike
You shouldn't have such pain
by Katielou - 2009-10-07 03:10:16
Hi Bunnykin, I'm so sorry to hear that you are experiencing such pain with your new ICD. There must be a reason for it and it should be sorted quickly. You have had 3 previous ICD's so you know that this is not normal. You certainly should not be going through this.
I can't offer any advice other than for you to be persistant with your EP but I I can understand you feeling low because the fact that you have Torsades & VT is worrying enough.
I too have Torsades and VF, the result of a genetic condition and I do sympathise with you. It's not pleasant to find youself in cardiac arrest but thank goodness for our ICD's.
I wish you well and hope that you can soon find relief from your pain.
Best wishes to you,
Lesley
Yes,pain must go.
by bunnykin - 2009-10-07 05:10:37
Thanks very much for your input. I definitely agree with you Frank and Mike, that there shouldn't be so much pain. I actually yelled out loud in bed middle of the night last week after being on my left side for about 5 to 10mins; Bearing in mind I'm not new to have a device put in (my 4th), it's unlike all the rest and after so long, 2mths. I'll definitely press on and ask the EP when I next see him..gosh which means another few weeks! Hope I'll survive the pain if persists. Thanks pacergirl for your kind words. Tonight will need to pray again that it won't hurt...hopefully over time this pain may go off? sigh. So depressing.
bunnykin
Don't put up with it.
by ElectricFrank - 2009-10-08 11:10:00
I wouldn't wait another few weeks. Call him and be firm that this is affecting your life. It is so easy to see the doc as an authority figure who runs our life. Just remind yourself..he works for you.
frank
I agree Frank..
by bunnykin - 2009-10-09 07:10:47
I totally agree with you Frank, but EP is on conference talks almost every week this month. I'll phone in yes, I will. I just hurt again awhile ago, even before going to bed, it's 7pm plus here. I have a strange feeling the device is either huge for my size or it's really bulging out everywhere poking into me. Oh well, I'll phone & hope to see him sooner. Will keep you all informed if something concrete comes out of this. If there is a good reason for it I would definitely accept it. Again, I'll pray again tonight that I'll wake tomorrow without having to squeal in pain. Thanks for your kindness and care. bunnykin
Getting another opinion
by watersl - 2012-01-11 06:01:49
Check with your insurance company, many will ok a second opinion. This does not seem normal at all. The pain must be coming from a specific area.
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Member Quotes
I am no expert, but I believe that without the defibrillator that I have, I would be dead.
Pain... it needs to go.
by pacergirl - 2009-10-06 04:10:51
Hi Bunnykin, I am so sorry to read of your situation. Your little body has had so much to endure in the last few years. Just reading of your pain has brought back some memories of my own. That's right... memories. It took so much time for my body to heal after countless abdominal surgeries. I would barley heal from one before I had to have another and another and another. We won't speak of what my abs look like. It took a lot of time and tears before it quit hurting. Nerves are odd little things, they cause a lot of pain when they are healing. If we were to not feel anything that would mean that the nerves are dead or dying. I remember the hot searing pain! but it did pass over time. For the longest time I was afraid to move because of it. Then slowly it got better. As long as you don't have swelling, redness or any other signs of infection, you will get better. Hang in there, breathe.... pray and know that I am here for you... breathe, give your body the oxygen it needs to heal. Blessings to you... sleep well... as there are angels in airplanes watching over us tonight.
Pacergirl