How Long?

How long should it take to feel better? My understanding was that once implanted you should feel better immediately, but between the procedure and the 5 hour trip to the ER and the pain and feeling like every ounce of energy has been sucked out of me I feel so useless Like what is the freaking point? I thought I heard peple were back at work after only 2 days??? I just want to go back to bed and sleep and it's been 3 days. I''m wondering why did I even bother with the surgery? I feel so alone and my depression seems a lot worse. Guess I'll just go back to bed and sleep. At least then I don't feel.

6 Comments

3 days

by Bostonstrong - 2014-05-11 08:05:16

ANY surgery takes longer than 3 days to heal from. Sleep is probably what you need right now. That and knowing you are not alone. We have all been there, we get it. You will feel better but it takes time. The meds used for anesthesia, the pre op anxiety, the surgery itself are all stressful. Your life is changing, that's stressful too. Sleep as much as you need to. You will adapt to this. It's going to get better.

Baby Steps

by Grateful Heart - 2014-05-11 09:05:31

Not everyone feels better immediately. Sometimes it's a little better each day. That's how it was with me....slow and steady.

Stop beating yourself up...you just had surgery!! It's going to take a little time. We are all different. You can't go by what someone else did in 2 days.

Time heals all wounds....remember?

Grateful Heart

Thanks

by stormynw - 2014-05-11 09:05:42

Thank you Boston Strong, after some further searching I found that evidently Post-op depression, especially heart related is not all that uncommon and strangely, just knowing that, I already feel better. :)

Any surgery

by Bostonstrong - 2014-05-11 09:05:49

Can cause depression. I had a worse time after knee surgery than with the pm but that was being immobilized and the pain meds. I felt so much better once I got moving and stopped the pain meds. It's a lot to cope with getting a foreign object harpooned Into your heart but once you recover and start feeling better the blues go away. Let your family and friends know you need a little extra tlc right now. Supportive family and friends helped a lot but the people here here who have been through this and knew what is was like helped a lot too.

Patience My Friend

by NiceNiecey - 2014-05-11 11:05:49

Most people feel better immediately when they get their PM. But that's because they can suddenly take a deep breath, their heart is instantly beating every second or so, and they aren't passing out. I suspect that's what most people mean by feeling better.

But like most things in life, there can be a downside, too. The downside is a painful incision and the physical and mental adjustment associated with an electronic device being inserted in your chest with leads directly into the heart.

I was totally exhausted for several weeks. I was able to work again right away, too, but I'm self-employed so I didn't need to work on a factory line or something that required my physical presence. I canceled the business trips I had scheduled for 6-8 weeks.

It's so frustrating at the beginning with all the new sensations, worries, and trips to the ER (been there done that!). I am around your age and my PM was a shocker, too. You aren't alone. Just give it time and I promise it WILL get better. I am over 4 months from my PM surgery. I took my usual morning walk today, and took a decent bike ride, too. According to my friends and family, I have my "sparkle" back. You will too.

I do like to remind people that any procedure performed on the heart can bring about a depression. Physicians often warn cardiac patients of this. At this point, I think your feelings are not out of the ordinary. If you still feel hopeless after a few more weeks, I'd talk to my doctor about it.

In the meantime, keep resting and doing as much as you feel able.

Nice Niecey

Still short of breath

by stormynw - 2014-05-12 03:05:19

Thank you N.N. The posts I've received have really been reassuring. I am a little concerned because I am still short of breath and I guess I thought I would see more of a difference by now. Hopefully it will improve soon. It's also quite possible that I'm overthinking it. :)
Dami

You know you're wired when...

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So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.