Pacemaker recovery

Hi. I am very new to all this. I had a pm placed just over a week ago and although I have had cancer surgery, complicated neck surgery this wound seems more painful than the lot! People say you forget about pain and maybe I have it wrong but the site where the pm is was incredibly bruised - it has gone down a lot but the wound site is still really painful. Is this normal? My implantation had to be done twice because they found one of the leads did not respond properly - this was straight after surgery. So it was done again immediately even though I had already been sewn up. Could this be why it is so sore? Everyone I know said this would be so straightforward. I have a heart block so the pacer only works when it is needed. As yet I don't really know if it is working as I have not done any strenuous walks. I just wonder if I should have done this or as suggested by one of the docs just adapted my lifestyle - which would also include no driving. Feeling very unsure.

7 Comments

Pain after pacemaker

by divergent1 - 2014-04-12 04:04:39

I'm still pretty new to this as well. I got my pacemaker last month. I went back to the ER with chest pain. They explained that I got really bruised up under the skin to deep muscles (when they revived me after my cardiac arrest). Then when the MD put the pacemaker in there was a lot of force used moving muscle around. At least this is what the ER folks told me when my echo was okay despite that chest pain.

They suggested ice packs as well. After a month that deep chest pain is almost gone. I understand the question about having a PM at all. In my case the experience of a cardiac arrest was horrible enough to scare me into accepting whatever they wanted to do. If I'd been driving and had that arrest other people might have died.

Take it easy

by Jonny - 2014-04-12 08:04:10

Welcome to the forum. It could be that the scar is more painful due to them having to go back in again, however if there are no signs of infection then it should soon settle down.
Having the PM was the correct thing to do as though you don't say what symptoms you were getting from heart block I guess you must have passed out at least once if they would not let you drive. How can you adjust a life style to the possibility of collapsing?
They will tell you when they check you out after the first week what amount of pacing is taking place via the PM - if they don't then ask. Best of luck. John

Absolutely, positively, totally NOT....

by donr - 2014-04-12 08:04:14

....NORMAL!

Normal means:

1) They get the PM & leads implanted CORRECTLY on the first try.

2) You don't get all beat up & bruised.

3) You did not tell us what kind of Heart Block, so cannot comment on that part of question.

4) You did not mention any radiation or chemo therapies after cancer surgery. If that surgery was in the neck region, that could well contribute to some of the difficulties you have had healing.



Donr

ICE

by kmom - 2014-04-12 10:04:44

Have you tried putting ice packs on it. It seems to have really helped with mine. What you're going thru does not sound normal like others have said but maybe some ice packs should help. Welcome.

Mine hurt too :(

by howdoyoumendabrokenheart - 2014-04-13 12:04:43

Hello. When I first got my ICD it hurt me like heck. I did panic when they told me I could leave the next day (I had been in for 10 days at that point.) All they gave me was Tylenol, that could be because of my condition and all. Well anyway, I would wake up yelling from the pain. I mean yelling, well more like growling, lol, actually.

I saw so many who had no pain at all or very little compared to me. I guess it is an individual thing. But like you, I know medically induced pain, lol. SO this was right up there with the best pain medically induced, lol lol.

Do know it will pass and you will not feel or even be able to really remember the pain. You will remember it did hurt but that pain will not come back again.

Take tylenol if you are allowed or ask your doctor for something and let them know it is hurting (I did and he told me to take some tylenol, you think they bought stock?)
better to be totally safe.

Feel better soon.

Welcome Ces58

by NiceNiecey - 2014-04-13 12:04:46

Good advice from other members so I'll just comment on your strenuous exercise statement.

You PM is probably "firing" (aka pacing or working) regardless of whether you're exercising. When they do your first device "interrogation" (aka offloading the information!) ask them what percentage of the time your PM is working. If you have 2 leads (sounds like you do), they'll be able to tell you how much each chamber is paced. Don't be surprised if that number changes. I was originally told I was pacing 12% of the time in the right atrium (I also have Heart block). After a couple of adjustments, and a couple of weeks, I was pacing 86% of the time so don't be worried if that happens to you.

Keep us posted and all the best.
Niecey

Sounds familiar

by Dawnie - 2014-05-01 11:05:46

I had my pacemaker implanted 2 weeks ago and had the same experience. My incision had to be re opened and the whole procedure repeated.
My bruising has just faded but I'm still quite tender and sore although it's getting better every day.
It's worth it though to get control of your life back. Persevere...it can only get better. Onwards and upwards :)

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