PM Advice for Women?

I've read about a gazillion posts the last few weeks in preparation for my upcoming PM surgery. Awhile ago I read a comment from a woman who said she wanted to write up a sheet of info focused on advise for women getting pacemakers (tips for sleeping, getting dressed, wearing bra's etc.)

I can't remember who it was, but I'd surely love that list...or just some general female tips before surgery!



7 Comments

advice for women

by Pookie - 2012-02-25 10:02:31

Hi Renee:)

I think from a woman's viewpoint showering and "doing" our hair and what bra to wear is one of our 1st concerns.

When you are allowed to shower (I did bath & washed my hair separately in the sink as soon as I got home) just make sure you cover the surgery site with plastic and stand back on to the stream of water. Next time you have a shower - just for practice - pretend your left arm is in a sling - I actually tried it = just bend at the waist and you can certainly wash your hair if you keep your left arm tucked in and your right arm would do most of the washing but it is possible!!!!!! As far as curling your hair, etc. you might want to go to the hair salon for that - all I did was blow dry my hair and threw on a ball cap.

I didn't have a problem with the bra dilemma because I don't have much in that area, but a lot of the women buy bras with front closures. I don't see how a sports bra would work cuz I find them a struggle to get into to begin with.

Sleeping - just have a huge arrangement of different sized pillows and you will somehow find a way to make sleeping comfy for the 1st couple of weeks.

Dressing, I wore mostly my husband's stuff cuz it was bigger and mostly wore sweatshirts cuz it was winter when I got mine and I was cold. If you live where it's warm, just wear clothing that has buttons in the front.

Hope this helps,

Pookie



Hi Renee

by Peg541 - 2012-02-26 04:02:09

I too read a gazillion things about pacemakers and meant to write something sooner.

I have not had mine a month yet. Mine was implanted 1/31/2012. I read for weeks and weeks beforehand and could put one in myself if necessary just from reading so much. Or so I think anyway....

My advice? I threw all sorts of money at making sure I was comfortable after the surgery. It was mostly wasted and I returned everything. So here's my list.

I will say I received valuable aid here at this site and some of this was suggested here and it MAY work for some and you in particular.

My pacemaker is very small, on the left side more under my arm, under my skin. The incision was sealed with surgical glue. No dressing no stitches.

I took a shower the next day. The surgeon said yes the nurse said no way. I am a nurse so I listened to the nurse. I made a dressing out of saran wrap and tape and taped it over the site and got in and out quickly. It did fine. Never a drop of water touched my scar every day.

I washed and dried my hair with one hand. It's entirely possible I practiced for days before the surgery. Really the hardest thing was washing both hands after using the bathroom.

Bras: I ordered Genie bras a month before the surgery online. I was told in many places that the Genie bra was the only one I would be able to wear. By the time the bras arrived in the mail I was 2 weeks past the surgery so I just gave the package back to the mail man to return for refund.

I wore my regular bra home from the hospital. I put it on backwards and turned it around. Yes it hurt a bit but everything hurt the day of and the next day. I did not stress the wires. I never moved my left arm. The bra went on fine and the straps did not hurt.

The bra, my usual bra, held an ice pack so nicely and I used ice packs for the first three days. That helped the pain immensely. Tylenol did the rest. Regular Tylenol. I put sock in my bra for when I had no ice. The sock helped me not have to worry about rubbing but it never ever rubbed.

I bought seat belt covers in fake sheepskin but I returned them immediately since the pacemaker is no wheres near my seat belt.

Of course I wear an A bra. That might be the reason. I have a lot of room from the top of my breast to where the pacer scar is. That may have helped. I am tall.

By the end of week one I was 99% healed, glue had peeled off and I no longer needed ice or Tylenol. I never had one bruise which is amazing for me. I bruise from head to toe any other time. My EP is in the top 1% of the US, maybe that's why?

My shoulder never got frozen. I have a lot of arthritis and tendinitis occasionally and that pain is 1000% worse than the pacemaker pain. I moved my shoulder by day 7 as long as I did not do range of motion like tennis or swimming I was fine the MD said. I can do everything with that arm and shoulder with no pain.

The pocket they created for the pacemaker was tender for maybe two weeks. I feel it when I am washing under that arm. Now it just feels like me. The pacer feels kind of freaky but gosh it does me so much good how can I complain?

I got the pacemaker on Tuesday and Walked more than 2 miles on Sunday. I resumed my stationary bike and walking Sunday, 5 days after the implantation. I now walk 3 miles every day plus work 5 days a week. Easy job right now.

Driving was never an issue. I would advise not to drive soon after in case you need to make a quick move you cannot make. That's just common sense.

All in all this was a WONDERFUL experience. My light headeness disappeared as soon as the pacer kicked in AND we finally got a better schedule for my beta blockers and BP pill.

It's a little freaky when they ask you what do you want your heart rate to be? Sitting on the edge of a table and some tech is screwing with your heart but I feel nothing except a few strong beats.

Again a wonderful experience.

Ask anything We are here to help.
Peg

Also

by Peg541 - 2012-02-26 04:02:18

I should also add I purchased a Medic alert bracelet. Just for emergency identification. I also just purchased a prettier one to wear for occasions. No reason to be caught without identification. This I consider a necessity.
Peg

advice for women

by Marissa - 2012-02-26 05:02:09

Hi, I'm new on here, just got my pacemaker 11 days ago. I took a button down blouse with me for coming home from the hospital, and slept in a button down nightshirt. I did choose to wear a bra as soon as I was upright, as although i'm also not large chested, i found that the weight of my left breast pulled on everything and made it far more painfull than it needed to be. I wore a strapless shelf bra that held me quite well. I switched to a regular very supportive bra after a day though (more comfortable), and I found that the strap did'nt go over my incision (as long as a positioned it slightly to the left). I got the bras on with my husbands help, I held the fron, he did up the back. I am still sleeping in a bra, seems to make everything hurt less.

Hairwashing: I lie back and dip my hair in the water when i'm in the bath, wash in with my right hand, and rinse with a showerhead. I used a jug to rinse for the first 10 days so i was carefull not to get the incision wet.

Personally, I asked my surgeon to put the device as low and as far to the side as possible. I'm quite small framed, but because of where it's been put i can't see the outline of it at all.

As for the scars (I also had a loop recorder removed from a far more central position on my chest), I'm going dressing free from tomorrow - just wish my husband wasn't so squeamish, he's not seet it yet.

Hope some of that helps

Tips

by TalkinCardio - 2012-02-26 05:02:17

Hi Renee,
I bought a couple of inexpensive strapless bras to wear the first couple of weeks after my surgery. They arent real good for support, but then I wasnt out exercising yet anyway so it worked for me. I also wore a button down blouse to wear home from the hospital. A nice small, cushy pillow for my left arm to rest on at night was very helpful.
Good luck, Cathy

Hi Renee

by jane32 - 2012-02-26 07:02:08

I think most things have been covered. I bought a softer bra, that had plenty of give in it, as I have more than enough up top, so needed some sort of support. It was only for a few days and then I got back to normal clothes instead of button or zip up front. I also lay my left arm on cushion when I slept. I also took a small pillow to put between scar and seat belts as I had a 2hr drive home.
Didn't need it after first day. I wouldn't rush out buying things wait and see, you might be pleasantly surprised and find like Peg that you don't need it.

Best wishes
Jane

I love you girls...

by ReneeV2.0 - 2012-02-26 11:02:14

Thank you so much! Very helpful! I am so thankful for this site, and all my new friends :)

I actually think that these tidbits of advice should be on 1 page that easily accessible for newbies. Im sure the question has come up 100 times, and it will come up 100 more. lol

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