2 days post op

Hi Guys. I'm Ashley. 23 and currently on post op day 2. I was fitted for the mri safe Medtronic pacemaker on Wednesday for inappropriate Sinus tach and bradycardia. I had an ablation last month for SVT. And in order to control the tachycardia with a beta blocker. I had the pacemaker implanted. So far so good. I feel like I'm hunched over and My shoulder feels like it's just stiff and same as my neck. I've only been wearing my sling at night trying to avoid the whole "frozen shoulder" thing. Anyone have any tips on anything I could be doing or would help with anything. I don't know anyone with a pacemaker so it will be nice to talk to others going through the the same thing as me.

5 Comments

welcome!

by Tracey_E - 2015-12-05 01:12:54

So glad you found us!

Hunching over is normal, so is getting stiff from sleeping in funky positions. Just be aware of it, as you get less sore it'll be easier to stand up straight. A heating pad on your upper back may loosen things up.

Rather than the sling, I found it helpful to sleep hugging a small pillow. It kept my arm down, and kept me from rolling onto my sore side.

After the first 24-48 hours, it's highly unlikely you'll damage a lead and the arm precautions are just that, precautions. Try to keep your arm down, yes, but it's not the end of the world if you forget and move it a bit too high. Swinging a golf club, not so smart. Raising your arm in your sleep, not a big deal. We all do it! There has even been a study that patients with no arm restrictions had no more incidence of dislodged leads than patients with restrictions.

Just keep moving

by Theknotguy - 2015-12-05 02:12:10

Just keep moving. Gently at first. Drink plenty of water. Per TraceyE the small pillow is a good idea too.

The first 4-6 weeks is for the scar tissue to form. After that you'll need to get back to normal activities and get the scar tissue stretched out.

I did and do a lot of walking. TraceyE works out. In either case we are not sitting around.

Feel free to come back to the forum to ask questions. We have a lot of people with a lot of experience.

Hope everything else goes well for you.

just rest

by Madamski - 2015-12-05 12:12:59

Hey! Welcome to the club :) I´ve had my PM for 3 weeks now, so I´m still pretty new too.
But I´d suggest for the first week: Rest and give your body and mind time to deal with the whole new situation! Drink enough, eat healthy and have your friends and family come over and entertain you and help you.
As for the shoulder lock thing. I have my arm not in a sling but kinda tied to my leg during the night and to my belt during the day. It´s like a 2 feet long leash, so I can move my arm but not lift it too high. Some people told me they thought it´s just some accessory I´m wearing :)
Take care!

29 years old and 12 days post op

by laura1brown23 - 2015-12-09 02:12:02

Hello!

I am new here and when I read your message about being young and having a pacemaker I had to join!

I was hunched for a good few days after the op but it does get better, day 15 and I don't hunch any more but when I put my coat on I have to hold it on the side of my pacemaker scar as it just feels heavy!

I never wore a sling I just literally slept propped up on my back with 3 pillows!

I showered but just didn't get the PM area wet. I still can't brush my hair properly etc and because I'm a teacher my cardiologist advised I return to work in Jan.

I think for me at the minute I'm kind of struggling with the emotional side of the PM. Worrying if my blood pressure has dropped or my heart rate is too low etc and when I type this it sounds silly but at the time it's not.

Some days are more painful than others! Like today my whole chest area really hurts! Don't know why! So I'm taking bad with good.
For the first few days I noticed I had a headache when I walked around but that seems to have passed now.

Although I have had 4 migraines since my op!!!! Normally I get 4 a year!

I have my check up tomorrow tho. Good luck to you, I hope you continue to make a full recovery.

I go to this site for everything!! Xx

One tip...stop....

by donr - 2015-12-12 01:12:07

....worrying about the frozen shoulder thing.

Google on "Frozen Shoulder" & read about a dozen or so articles. Those that mention time to generate the condition agree that it takes "...weeks to months..." to develop the condition. They all say it develops slowly. For the period that you have to limit the ROM of that shoulder, you are not going to develop the condition.

BTW: wearing a sling at night will NOT limit the ROM in the region above the level of the shoulder. To prove it, slip a sling on the other arm & see how easy it is to raise the arm above the shoulder. The only way to stop that motion is to pin the elbow to the waist w/ a sling attached to a belt at the waist.

One final thought - if you use the arm normally during the day while limiting the ROM to below the shoulder you will not be even remotely risking frozen shoulder as I read the Google references.

The best to you - May you & your new little buddy live long & prosper.

Donr



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