A couple sleeping questions, mainly for women

Hi there,

Took me a week or so to work up the nerve to post this breast-related question, but I'd rather start with the women in this group than my cardiologist.

I've had my PM for a week and a half, and have my first checkup coming up on Tuesday. Hopefully all will be well. Had to take the steri-strips off a couple days ago because I was reacting so much to the adhesive I was getting welts at the top and bottom of the strips. The incision looks really good and is healing nicely. My Dad's a retired surgeon, and I'm living with my folks until I can drive again. He says all is looking fine.

I can't sleep on my back and usually sleep on my left or right side. My PM is on the left side, so since it was implanted, I've been sleeping on my right side. The first few nights I could feel the PM shift when I would turn on my my side, but it seems to have settled in now. I also have been hugging a pillow the past few nights, and that seems to make it all feel better.

Here's the question, and sorry in advance to any men who have read this far, we're about to get into breast territory. I'm pretty large-chested. When I turn on my side, my breasts shift/flop to the side, and with the fingers of my other hand, I can feel the edge of PM up at the top of my armpit. It was implanted when I was lying on my back (obviously), and I figure that my chest just shifts and stretches when I lie on my side. I haven't been pushing on the PM or anything like that, just happened to notice it one morning when I was waking up.

Any other women know what I'm talking about? I'm not too worried about it because otherwise, everything seems to be feeling fine. It would just be nice to know if any other women experience the same thing, and if it's worth mentioning to my doctor next week.

One other more general question - since the implant, I'm waking up much earlier than I used to. I'm a nightowl, and used to go to bed at 2 or 3 am, getting up at about 9 am. Now I go to bed around 1 or 2, and wake up around 7, which is just way early to me. I wonder if having the PM and having it keeping my heart pulsing along is making it so that I'm getting better sleep at night and maybe I don't need quite as much any more, since my heart is not slowing down any more. Anyone else have sleep pattern changes?

Thanks in advance, and hope all are ticking along just fine this evening!
A-M

4 Comments

a-m

by jessie - 2009-02-01 01:02:35

i found four fluffy large pillows in my house and i also was not a back sleeper. i found if i turned slightly to the side i could sleep. i do remember tho it was easy to fall asleep on the unaffected side. the pillows feel wonderful and give lots of support. jessie it will heal and it will get better

Welcome to the club!

by Broken Hearted Jane - 2009-02-01 02:02:23

Yeah, I'd say this is normal. You get used to the sleeping thing after a while. You develop a routine pretty quickly. It takes me a while to get comfortable each night anyway, but it's not something I really think about anymore.

About your breasts, um, shifting.. I can relate. Lying on my side makes my ICD protrude more than it does when I lie on my back. As my weight fluctuates, it's also more visible as I'm just standing up and hold my shoulders back.

par for the course

by Angelie - 2009-02-02 03:02:52

Opposite you, I am very thin and ah-hum......I'll just say not very "blessed" in this area.
When I lie on my side it moves a lot too. I think I could very well flip the darn thing over if I really wanted to.....it moves that much.
I just try not to think about it too much. Mine is right on my armpit edge as well, sometimes it just kind of gets in the way when I'm moving around. I wish mine was closer to my breast bone, and less close to my arm which I'm moving constantly.
You'll get used to it soon, hopefully. I have heard of people, though, on this site that have had to have it moved because it was so uncomfortable to them.
I thought of that as well, but I wouldn't have it moved unless they were already in there for something. It's not worth making my scar worse. (my scar is very tiny)
Look up my profile- you'll see what I mean.

Good luck.

Thanks, y'all

by abreaux - 2009-02-02 04:02:24

Angelie: I'm thinking you're doing well for a 134 year old - really born in 1875 as per your profile? Like you said, I'm not finding it to bother me, just noticeable a bit when I'm on my side. The only way I would worry about maybe moving it is if it shifts more into my armpit or if I manage to lose some weight and it becomes more prominent. Like you, I kind of wondered why he didn't put it closer to my breastbone.

Broken Hearted Jane: thanks for the scoop - even in the last few days I've noticed not being quite so careful when getting settled in bed. But it definitely feels better to kind of hold my chest when getting up in the morning so that things don't move around too quickly...

And Jessie: yes, pillows are deifnitely my friend these days, if for no other reason than something soft to hug and hold against my chest!

Thanks again, everyone!

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

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