Having a pm put in next month..

Hi
I'm having a PM put in next month and I'm wondering about the recovery - what I can and can't do or expect to be able to do.
When it says you can't lift your arm up - does that extend to just wearing button up clothing post op ? If so for how long ?
Also I have 6 Labradors ( I'm an exhibitor ) - how long before I can take the dogs out on lead ? I use my left arm to hold the lead and they can sometimes pull on the lead if they see another dog.
Sorry if these are silly questions but I don't know what to expect.
Thanks Lesley

3 Comments

dogs and having a PM

by joelcr3 - 2014-10-23 02:10:43

I have a 5 yr lab and I can understand. First you can tell the electrocardio pysiologist who puts it in that you walk a dog on the left side and it can be put on the right side. My dog likes to wake me up by hitting my chest. He has hit me over the PM so be careful. Maybe have someone walk your dog for a while.

Use other arm

by WillieG - 2014-10-23 06:10:01

Hi! I was told not to do much for 6 weeks with my left side. But whenever I called the office to ask if I could vacuum with the other arm, they said "yes". Asked if I could lift my grandson who weighed 20 with my right arm and they said, Yes! So maybe if you only walked one dog with the other arm you would be OK. But you should ask your doctor. I even cheated and swam gentle breast stroke after 4 weeks and I was fine! Common sense is good!

Good luck! Willie G

recovery

by fontanamen5 - 2014-10-31 06:10:12

i am 46 and on my 3rd pacemaker. Surgery is usually done with a local and if they are putting in a new pacemaker and leads, they usually keep you overnight. As said above, they dont like you to lift things with the arm on the side you had the pacemaker implanted. I was even told all 3 times not to drive a car for 6 weeks or until follow-up appointment. believe me; you will know if you lifted your arm to high. It will hurt badly. i was told they usually will implant pacemaker on the non dominant side; but that usually isnt always the case. I had a vein blocked (for the lead to go down) on left side; so they had to put it on the right side. when i had my first pacemaker, they gave me a sling for my arm. It helped. But what helped the most was a pillow to position my arm on at all times. It also might be uncomfortable to lay flat in the bed. The first night i was more comfy in a recliner with a pillow under my arm (for support). You will definately know when your overdueing it. Just be careful and you will be fine.

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Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

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