Recovering

So I am in bed recovering. The procedure took longer than expected. 4.5 hours. It was very painful. They couldn't reattach the wire and had trouble extracting and replacing it. After the surgery I asked the doc how long I would have to be off work and he said a few days but just let then know. Last time I was off 2 weeks following and still felt rushed then. I really don't want to pull another lead and deal with this again, but I do want to go back as soon as I SAFELY can. What do you all recommend?

4 Comments

Safe can be soon...

by heckboy - 2009-01-29 11:01:01

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I've had a lead extracted and replaced too. I'm 46 and active. My recovery seemed faster the second time around, but I was happy to have a 2-3 weeks off from work. I liked being able to get up and nap whenever I wanted...I still do, but my PM is less of an excuse now. :)

My lead became dislodged a about a year after implantation. They say it's very rare to dislodge a lead that late after implantation, so I was/am was more conservative with my movements.

With that said, I still do anything I want, I'm just more careful. Weeks after my 2nd, I road a camel in the middle east, hiked Petra in Jordan. A few months ago, I went on safari and was chased by a hippo and I'm still within a year of getting my 2nd PM.

Your mileage may vary.

oooops

by maryanne - 2009-01-30 12:01:04

Sorry I meant to say BriBoy01.....

When to go back....

by maryanne - 2009-01-30 12:01:25

Well Heckboy I am not sure if you know my story. I will give it to you in a nutshell and give you my suggestion.

I have had a PM for 24 years. In 2006 I had a lead replacement(they just capped the old lead)leaving me with 3 leads insitu...I had a bit of complication with the capped lead migrating had to go back in a month later and have the lead that was capped repositioned.

This has never been the same. I saw a specialist back in September who thougtht I had an infection and recommended I have a lead extraction and PM replacement and have the whole thing moved.

Things went terribly wrong I ended up with a torn aorta and a sternotomy and they never were able to get all the leads out. I had a general anesthetic so wasn't aware of all of this. I was in the CSICU post op as I ended up with open heart.

Hear is what he told me about work prior to the sternotomy and post....He said if it was just the lead extraction and PM removal that I should be off work for 4 -6 weeks....I think that is partially due to my work...which is very physical. He said if they ended up having to do a sternotomy it would be 4 - 6 months. Post surgery I asked them again...how long before I could go back to work....I got mixed messages....one doctor said 6weeks another said 2 -3 months.

I am now almost 8 weeks post op and I am still no where near ready to go back..I still feel the chest bones healing....I have started mild yoga and because of the placement of my new PM it makes it challenging to get my arm over my head to perform a good stretch. My GP won't even consider sending me back and said that I have to see the internist first which isn't until the end of February....so looks like it will be a while yet.

I know I am getting better, but I also know that I am unable to do the full scope of my job and hence not only would I be a detriment to myself but to those I would be caring for.

So my suggestion is listen to your body. Those dates the doctor gives you are very general and only guidelines....I don't know if they know what kind of work you do...if it was a desk job and you didn't require lifting or putting yourself at risk you most probably would be safe....but only you know what your job requirements are. Play it safe....feel strong when you go back.

All the best....

How long

by ElectricFrank - 2009-01-31 01:01:23

Your body has been through a lot so it may take a while. The recommendations by the docs are just averages and we each have different ways of healing. I tend to handle surgery very well so ask the doc how long is necessary for bones and muscle to heal to a safe point, and then use my own sense of things as far as getting active.

There is so much movement of the rib cage when we are active that I would expect it to be uncomfortable for a while.

good luck,

frank

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