Recovery?

Hello, I am going to be getting a pacemaker in two weeks, and I have heard all different kinds of things about what the recovery is like. A few things that I have been wanting to know more about are:
how long you have to wear a sling for
how long you should not lift things for
how long you are not supposed to drive for
I was just wondering what everyone's experience with the recovery process was, and I am always interested in hearing your stories.

Thank you so much,



Lauren

8 Comments

Rules

by Tracey_E - 2014-01-03 05:01:07

Drs vary greatly but these are average
-sling, 24 hours
-lifting. I was told no more than 10 pounds for 6 weeks
- drive, some are told as long as 4 weeks. I wasn't given any restrictions but if you have passed out there will be a period of no driving

I was sore but feeling energized and walking daily from the time I got home. By the end of the first week was back mostly to normal activities, just moving slowly and napping a lot.

Take a button up top to the hospital and skip the bra. You won't want to be twisting and stretching enough to pull anything over your head the first week.

I found it helpful to sleep hugging a small pillow with my left arm. It helped me keep the arm down and not roll onto the sore side in my sleep.

Sling

by Elleninminn - 2014-01-03 05:01:10

I was told not to wear a sling at all, so I didn't.

Lot's of advice on here

by Jonny - 2014-01-03 05:01:44

Hi Lauren,

If you put your question into the Search function (top right of this page) you will get answers that have been posted in the past. This is a popular question as you'll appreciate.In short though:

1) Guess you live in the US as in the UK it is not normal to wear a sling. I can't see the point unless there is a individual specific reason for doing so. Restricting arm movement can cause frozen shoulder which is painful.
2) You can lift things straight away so long as they are not heavy, but generally 6 weeks is the norm, and as you will have read do not lift your arm - well point of elbow - above shoulder height for the 6 weeks, though some say 4 weeks. Guess with a youngster like you then recovery will be quicker than with those older.
3) Here in the UK you are not allowed by law to drive for 1 week and until you have had your first PM check (which is normally at 1 week here if you drive). You have to inform the authorities (DVLA) also that you have a PM fitted, there is a form to complete and send to them.

Recovery varies so much from one individual to another. I felt pretty good straight away, but I guess I was back to normal in around 4 weeks. Best of luck. John

My experience

by rfassett - 2014-01-03 08:01:41

Was told to wear the sling for a day and then at night for a month. Was told not to lift over 5 pounds for a month. But the bonus item - a got the doctor to tell my wife that I could do no household chores for six months. :). And I was told no driving for two weeks. None of those restrictions were a big deal.

My experience

by Beckes76 - 2014-01-03 11:01:08

When I got my PM moved to the upper chest area back in 2005 they told me no driving for 2 weeks, no lifting, pulling or pushing over 10 lbs for a month and no raising my arm above my shoulder for 2 weeks. I didn't use a sling once I got home. I just got my PM replaced at the end of November and still had all the above restrictions including the raising my arm bit. I did it anyways. I know my limitations and all so I took it easy for a few weeks then went back to what I was doing before the surgery.

Becky

Wide variety of answers

by KAG - 2014-01-03 11:01:32

but every Dr is different.

I wore a sling from the hospital to home and took it off. Wore it only at night for 4 nights to keep my arm down when sleeping. Then it went into the closet. Kept arm below shoulder for a couple of weeks but did move arm around to prevent frozen shoulder.

No heavy lifting, more than 10lbs, for 6 weeks. Also I have 2 large dogs and the Dr recommended not walking them for that time so my arm didn't get yanked if they took off after a cat or squirrel.

No limits on driving, I never passed out. So I was driving within the first week. Used a cloth to pad the seat belt from the PM site.

I walked around the house from day 1 as much as possible. Took a while to get my stamina back.

You should get instructions before you leave the hospital. Get back to normal activities as soon as you can.

Kathy

You really asked ...

by donr - 2014-01-04 02:01:02

..."How long is a piece of string?".

The answer varies, not by country of residence, but by the Dr you see, Guidance varies w/i the city you live in.

My experience at age 66 - back in Feb 2003:

1) Sling for 6 weeks.

2) No raising elbow of PM side above shoulder for 6 weeks.

3) No lifting more than 5 lbs w/ PM side arm for 6 weeks.

4) No driving for 6 weeks.

Draconian, Eh?

I looked at the Nurse giving me those instructions & negotiated her into:

1) Sling for 6 weeks, but as only a reminder to keep elbow below shoulder, BECAUSE - I went right back to building a house the next day. I felt that good. After a week, I chucked the sling during the day.

2) No Change. Frozen shoulder problem is exaggerated, according to Orthopod who was planning to work on my shoulder shortly afterward. Normal movement for daily living w/ elbow below shoulder would preclude that problem.

3) No lifting more than 8 lbs w/PM side arm - EXCEPT - I could lift anything I was capable of lifting with curl motion. Why 8 lbs - that is how much a gallon of water/milk weighs; lifting w/ curl motion does NOT involve the muscles of the area where the PM was located.

4) No driving for 6 weeks. No big deal - I don't drive except in emergencies anyway - can't stay awake.

Don

Thank you!

by LGP - 2014-01-04 12:01:21

Thank you all so much for all of your stories. It helped me calm down a little after being told that I would basically not be able to do anything, including walking to school, for six weeks. I was also having a hard time trying to explain to my family and employer about how long recovery normally takes. It definitely helps me to be able to hear stories from people who have pacemakers rather than just the cardiologists.

Thank you,



Lauren

You know you're wired when...

You name your daughter “Synchronicity”.

Member Quotes

Pacemakers are very reliable devices.