Anybody unable to sleep on side. ?

Hi friends.
Any info advice would be good i had my pacemaker 7 weeks ago in my right side now all is healing i find it sticks out slightly at one side ( can feel the bumps etc ) told this is ok and normal but my problem is i like to sleep on my side but when I try the p.m. Sticks right out !! and it worrys me its moving or will turn over so i quickly move to lie on my back again were it seems so sink back in more.... Am i safe to lie on my side or will i just have to wait longer to heal etc.....any advice etc would be good. Thank you Katz x

10 Comments

Side sleeping takes time

by Theknotguy - 2013-12-31 01:12:16

I had a lot of trauma before I got my PM so side sleeping was impossible. I had a broken rib and a chest tube wound from the collapsed lung on the right side and the PM on the left. So there was a lot of pain just trying to sleep on either side.

As the pain went away I was gradually able to sleep on my right side. Still not my left. However some things will help.

I used a second pillow to help. I'd roll over onto my right side and put the pillow on my chest, then put my left arm on the pillow. That kept the weight distributed so it didn't pinch or push down on the chest tube wound. Funny how you can sleep better sometimes when you lay on your side.

I still can't sleep on my left side. The PM pushes, on my shoulder, on the vein where the leads are inserted, or on my ribs. So I'll kinda roll on my left side and put the pillow between my head and left shoulder. It still isn't sleeping on my side but it's better than nothing.

I'm so happy to be alive that not being able to sleep on one side isn't even worth the complaint to me. I didn't expect to get out of the situation scott free. So let's see, dead or can't sleep on left side. Guess I'll take not sleeping on my left side.

Theknotguy

thanks for comments so far pls people feel free to leave more

by katz - 2013-12-31 07:12:48

Thanks for the response so far very appreciated thank you all. My main concern was when i lie on my side the pacemaker sticks out a real lot, i had it put in my Right side so when i turn on left it sticks out just wondered if that was normal and ok or not, or if i try on right side just uncomftable, not really a great problem i know as i can sleep on my back just wondered if others had Sticking out episodes when on side !! thanks. Kat x

Time will sort it out

by Hot Heart - 2013-12-31 10:12:15

In the early days we have to be a little careful about not dislodging wires, but after a few weeks when it is all embedded in you can get into any position you want, it is more about confidence than anything, Use a pillow at the moment to help you get comfortable, I've started sleeping on my tummy sometimes now, find it comfortable. Happy New Year! x

Sleep Habits

by donb - 2013-12-31 10:12:17

Hi Katz, Sleeping will get better!! It takes time for your site to heal & form scar tissue around your pacemaker to keep it secure. Unfortunately we are not all the same as I have had serious problems with a few of my replacements over the last 22 years with them moving about & finally erode. My best success over the years was having my 4th implant put in under muscle as far as comfort.
As we are not all custom built, a few of us have more discomfort with our sites. I have been a collector of soft real feather pillows to surround both right & left side while sleeping which helps train our body movements. As I started with "sleeping will get better", well it has !! I finally had to have my 6th pacemaker implanted in my abdomen under muscle and it's been the greatest. As now it has a nice layer of belly fat to cushion it. I saw my original Cardiologist & he gave me support admitting that my body is just not built for chest implants.
As you're just a young Lady & with our group of supporters you will do well. This site has been a blessing for me over the years of sharing !! Sweet Dreams !!
DonB

Try a Towel.

by Colleen - 2013-12-31 10:12:26

My husband rolled up a towel, and secured it with tape so that it didn't unroll. I find it helpful to position either underneath me when when I lay on my Left side, or to support my left arm when laying on my Right side. I've had my PM for 6 weeks, and am now starting not to need the towel all night.

sleeping

by judyblue - 2013-12-31 11:12:00

Katz:
they are all right: it improves with time. after 13 weeks I can sleep on both sides but a pillow is necessary. And sometimes on the pm side (left) I go too far and it feels uncomfortable. One of the questions I asked my cardio who put it in was : is my pm secured so it will not flip or move? I was told of course like I was silly, but some on this site have said theirs are not! If you get a definitive answer like I did, you will at least not worry about that. It was a concern for me because as the swelling went down it sure seemed to have moved under my arm more. again I was assured it could not move. I am not comfortable yet with the feeling of it under my skin and all the bumps. I hope that changes over time. good luck!
judy

Pillow

by billylittle - 2014-01-02 01:01:37

I hug a pillow so it will put pressure on my device. It seems to help with the sideways pushing from laying on my side.

Flipping pacemakers

by GillyC - 2014-01-03 10:01:19

Heta Katz, if you click on the lick below you should be able to read my post on flipping pm's

http://www.pacemakerclub.com/public/jpage/1/p/story/a/storypage/sid/26672/content.do

I went through the same as you by the sounds of it - and I'm still having it happen now.

I have learned to sleep differently, when I sleep on my right side (pm implant left side) I sleep with my left arm along the length of my body, it seems to be a way of managing 'flip' whilst I going to sleep .. although I do obviously wake up with my arm back across my body and the pm sticking out. I have learned to smooth it back by putting my left hand onto my right side chest and then drawing that hand back across my chest so that the pm lies down again - its usually a fluid movement which also involves my turning to lie on my back. Its taken time to learn how to deal with it but I've pretty much got there now - hope you learn a way to deal with yours xx

Hi

by Schoolpsych - 2017-02-07 19:08:47

did you ever find a solution for this?

hi

by katz - 2017-02-07 19:26:15

hi. No I'm just learning to live with it 😊

You know you're wired when...

You participate in the Pacer Olympics.

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