Help- advice for a sore 27 years old

Hi all
My first post so be kind !

Had my PM fitted on 27th Feb 2012 due to cardioinhibitory vasovagal syndrome in which my heart rate would slow and suddenly stop causing blackouts

I was very sore for a week after the op, however this subsided with the bruising

its now three weeks on , i have been off work and have been taking it steady however i seem to be in more pain and discomfort now - muscular type pain

Unsure if this is due to laying on either side at night - i start off on my back but due to usually sleeping on my isde end up there !

also , the last week my PM seems to have rasied alot and is visable through my skin to others and its raised at the edge ! the corner of the device appears to be sticking up to corner of my scar

had my first checkup and cardio mentioned that due to being slender maybe visiable and take up to a year to embed into muscle

I am off on a 5 week honeymoon of the states in may and am hoping it doesnt get in the way of swimming , watersports etc

How long should it take for the muscle pain to subside ?
when will the scar go down ?
what are other experiences?
any helpful advice and tips ?

Gem :)

3 Comments

Hi Gem, Welcome!

by Heidiglassmeyer - 2012-03-17 11:03:22

I've had my PM since 2010 and found even now I will do something that irritates my PM site and will be sore for a few days. To this day if I sleep on my left side I will wake up with a sore pocket or shoulder. Like you, I start on my back but seem to end up on my side. Your body is still healing and it may take a few more weeks. You know your body the best so if it continues to bother you it wouldn't hurt to bring it to your doctors attention again. I did try sleeping on my back with a pillow supporting my left arm for a few weeks and it did prevent me from rolling onto my side.

How was your PM implanted?
Like you I am slender and my PM stuck out a bit and never "settled in". This may not happen to you but my skin did start to erode and I ended up having it relocated under the chest muscle. The muscle pain during recovery was much worst the second time. I am far more comfortable now but you can still clearly see the PM and a few bumps at the end of my scar where I believe the leads go into the vein? Forgive me for the lack of technical knowledge lol. I joked with my plastic surgeon that i needed a fat injection around my PM. Her suggestion was to gain some weight. Anyway, the scar does take a while to become less noticeable. Give it a few months. You can hardly see mine now.

I would think by May you should be good to go and enjoy your honeymoon! Make sure if you are out in the sun to put sunscreen on or cover the incision so you don't get any discoloration of the scar :)

Take care,
Heidi

WELCOME know your pocket

by arebruss18surgs - 2012-03-18 01:03:59

Unless you pm or defib is anchored well it may move .. most dr. rely on scar tissue and time to hold device in place. pocket revisions are needed from time to time
take it easy keep close attention of skin bulge or movement...

thankyou all

by Mrs P - 2012-03-20 05:03:34

hey , thankyou all for your kind and helpful advice! Due to being young dont know anyone else with a PM so lovely to be able to chat on here with you guys
I am due to see my cardiologist again mid april so may ring and ask for the app to be brought forward as the pain and spasms seem to be getting worse and the PM seems to be trying to poking through the scar , espically at the edge x

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