using left arm

i had surgery on the 16th (last thurs) and i don't go back to the doc till monday the 28th and i have to wear a sling till then..when i go in will he remove stitches then? i have a really thick bandage on top now and kinda wondered..what next? also will i be able to do dishes and laundry after monday? it'll be 11 or 12 days post op...i have bradycardia..hb at 40 and never had a clue it was my normal and now i feel knida blindsided by this whole ordeal..so quick

4 Comments

Right Now...

by Tattoo Man - 2012-08-22 05:08:28


.....the hardest thing to do is ,.let go and relax.

Chill, till your next appointment...but make a list of all your concerns and anxieties.
Meet your People with clear questions,...and this might be tough...expect clear answers.

Bottom Line there..as a USA resident, ..you pay good money for care..get value for your investment.

In the UK its different, but as ever, Patient Knowledge, Expectations will drive good End Game results

Ask yourself ..what you really deserve and work to getting what you want

Tm

Who's doing the dishes now?

by donr - 2012-08-22 05:08:32

Hey, if it's worked this long that some one else is doing them, fer cryin' out loud, milk it for a little longer!

THis is a secret, just between us - You could be doing dishes & laundry right now - as long as you don't violate the elbow below the shoulder & weight-lifting restrictions.

BTW: your surgeon is a dinosaur as far as bandages/stitches, etc are concerned

Don

Arm sling

by Stbryblnd - 2012-08-22 09:08:21

I had my surgery on Aug 9th. The dr took off all that bandages and left just the suture strips that came off on its own few days ago. My Dr told me wear the arm sling for a few days as reminder to NOT lift my left arm above shoulder and I wear it for a while then I take it off.. I wear the sling overnight whle sleeping because the 3rd night I accidently put my left arm above my head while sleeping and it didnt feel too great when it woke me up so I wear it to keep my arm down while im sleeping. Dr told me I can do things as long as I do not lift my left arm and do not lift anything over ten pounds. Im cooking dinner every night for my hubby and kids because he just cannot cook..lol. The kids help me with picking up heavy things like the gallon of milk or whatever. Mayby your Dr is more cautious than mine is but I think the whole key is , keep our left arm down til it fully heals and dr releases us. Hope that helped.

no time to think

by anitaslater - 2012-09-18 11:09:17

I had my pm put in on 8-11-12. I had went to the dr because both my father and brother have heart problems and I was feeling light headed, tired all the time. I have been under a lot of stress for over a year. just chalked it up to that.
The dr ordered a ekg- he was back in in about 2 minutes after I had it done-he then told me my hb was 35! He told me I needed a pacemaker right then. He wouldn't let me leave the office, ordered a echocardiogram-said the arteries and valve were fine and told me to call my husband, my employer and that he already had a room ready for me. That they were going to put it in at around 4 that afternoon! The hospital staff had me registered, prepped, and ready to go all before my husband even got to the hospital (about an hour away).
They were going to put it in with just locals til they found out I am deathly afraid of needles. They waited until the next morning to do it so they could put me totally out!
I have had my postop checkup, and the dr has released me but the incision is still sore and the site of the pm is still touchy, I am not taking any chances by doing any pushing, pulling or lifting won't even put my arm above my head yet! Scared that I could pull the leads out of place. The pm seems to be working well, hb has been staying around 80 bpm.
How long does it take for the sorness to go away?
Thanks for your help.

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