Post PM insertion weight gain?

HI, new poster here, have had my PM since September 2010 and went through absolute hell with it. From the emergency surgery to have it inserted, ( I have left bundle branch block- moderate to severe) to the fact the surgeon cut a vein in my chest and i had a full on collapsed lung and then emergency chest tube and subsequent blood clots. It's been hell. I have felt incredibly depressed post op and gained about 25lbs- (partially from the change in birth control- you cannot use normal birth control pills after a blood clot, only estrogen based and I think that is a factor in the weight gain.)

After all that-- now when I try and excercise i get this tight feeling in my neck, a pain I don't really know how to describe, not like normal chest pains. I thought maybe it was angina but I am only 36 years old!

my questions are:
1. have others had the weight gain? the depression?
2. has anyone had the pain in the top portion of the chest and into the neck when excercising? what is it?
3. any tips on coping with this life changing event of having a PM? my partner does not understand how it has altered me. I am so so ambivilant to hospitals now after spending almost 6 months having to do follow up blood work or have additional complications like severe allergic reactions to my doctors not talking to each other and making conflicting diagnoses... I am fed up.

Sorry for the rant but any help or advice or even perspective would be great.

Take care to all

5 Comments

coping

by pacerBoy118 - 2011-08-02 06:08:59

i had weight gain but it was just after i got it i was upset and never wanted to do stuff cuz i felt like something would happen. Depression can happen your going through a lot and such a short time im only 17 i have had mine since i was 12 you just got to keep your mind strong,cuz when your minds strong your strong and you can overcome this i just got home yesterday from generator change it sucks at times but your not alone

Prayers

by Ehackworh - 2011-08-02 12:08:05

I do not have any advice nor perspective, but I sense your pain and will definitely be saying a prayer that God will wrap you in his healing love and give you peace.

Thanks for comments

by bloc_de_branche - 2011-08-09 06:08:01

Thanks pacerboy118 for your thoughts. I know, its so hard and you are much younger than me so I cannot imagine.

Sooners1978, yeah I can easily say that this entire experience has been the worst thing that has ever happened to me. 2010 was a pretty bad year in my books. I know others have it hard, worse, terrible even but everyone has their own experience. I am not the same woman that I was pre-op,
I too think it is the BC and have an appointment in early September with a new Gyno and I want an IUD. So great advice there and thank you.

I get a major reality check by reading everyone's posts and also relating to many of them. Thank goodness for this forum. Thougths and prayers with everyone who is having a tough time since their PM insertions.

Sending Prayers

by sooners1978 - 2011-08-09 06:08:03

I can't imagine what you have gone through, it has to be hard. I'm sure your weight gain is from the BC. Have you looked into getting an IUD? I have several friends that have them or have had them and had no issues with weight gain. My only other advice would be to find another doctor. I can't believe all that has happened. I'm 4 weeks post op and have been excercising every day since I had it put in. I'm sending prayers your way that everything turns a corner and gets better.

IUD and heart disease

by kathykat11 - 2011-08-13 09:08:53

I know things may have changed since I needeed an IUD ...1977. but I was told way back then that an IUD should never haver been placed because I have rheumatic heart disease and any IUD caused a minor but persistant infection. My valves lasted a bit longer once I had my IUD removed I had 2 porcine xenografts one placed in 1972 and replaced in 1978 The IUD were in 1975 and 1976 the first one popped out on its own I had had no children yet and that happened quite a lot with non mothers back then and the second was placed at my 6 week for my first child. I was told after having to have my valve replaced 5 weeks after the birth of my 2nd child that the IUD had shortened ther life of my valve and to neverget an IUD again. It has been a lot of years since then so I would ask lots of questions before getting that IUD it might be perfectly safe now. Questions back then may have saved me a lot of trouble over the years... who knows.
Best,
Kathykat11

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