Newbie questions

So I'm 35 years old and was told 10 years ago I needed a pacemaker. I ended up asymptomatic for the last 10 years but symptoms returned and here I am 1 week post op.
I'm wondering about a couple of things. When they say don't lift arm up, how far do they mean? Like a 90 degree angle to my body or over my head? Can I use my left arm to push or pull? Also can I sleep on my left side?
I'm also having quite a bit of discomfort still. The md says its incisional pain but it's more sharp shooting pain into my breast. I'm thinking more nerve. I'm finding that wearing my bra constantly is helping alleviate some pain but md told me not to wear my bra. Any insight would be helpful. I have a 7 year old do it's just hard to sit and do nothing.

3 Comments

lifting arm

by techiej - 2016-02-16 06:02:24

What they told me was for 6 weeks to not lift the elbow above the shoulder but to otherwise use the arm - and also to not lift anything over 10lb with that arm for 6 wks.

Check with your doc but you should be able to sleep on your left side but I doubt you'd want to until it's healed up a bit. It was about 7 weeks for me before it didn't hurt to lay on my left. I will say that I don't sleep on that side as the PM does bother me after a while.

Can't speak to the pain that you're having.

newbie answers :)

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-16 09:02:24

They usually mean elbow higher than shoulder height. Other than that, move the arm normally so your shoulder doesn't freeze. Pushing and pulling are ok as long as it's not too much weight. My doc says don't lift more than 25 pounds for the first two weeks, but others say 10 pounds for 6 weeks, or anything in between. Use common sense and listen to your body, you can tell if something doesn't feel right. You're more likely to aggravate healing tissue at this point than do any damage.

You can sleep on the left side as soon as it feels comfortable.

It can take a few weeks up to a few months to heal fully. We get some odd sensations during that time as scar tissue builds around the device and the body gets used to having a little hunk of metal in there. Zinging feelings are the nerves knitting back together. All normal!

Twisting.reaching to put on the bra can be a problem, but simply wearing it shouldn't be. As long as you aren't raising the arm, and it isn't pushing on the incision, I can't see the harm. I had mine replaced two weeks ago. A regular bra doesn't feel good yet so I got some sports bras that zip in the front, support but softer. Support definitely feels better than letting the girls loose! I guess guys and flat chested women don't get that.

Newbie questions

by leigha - 2016-02-17 01:02:51

Thanks guys! I guess the sleeping on the left must not bother me to much, I don't start out that way but I surely end up that way. I guess the biggest thing I can do is have PATIENCE

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