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How long before you don't notice it?
I'm 6 weeks post implant and while all the major pain associated with having the implant is subsiding the feeling of having something there that shouldn't be persist. As yet it's still tender and just "there all the time." Does that feeling go away as the wound heals or is it just how life is going to be from here on in?
12 Comments
It takes a little time
by Good Dog - 2016-04-19 11:04:51
You do have to give it at least 6 months. I've had mine for 30 years, so it is difficult to remember when I stopped noticing it. My life was definitely back to normal in about 6 months. I would say that in 6 months to a year you will begin to forget you have a PM.
Compared to how I felt before I received it, it is well worth the wait.
David
Infection etc...
by Cabg Patch - 2016-04-20 07:04:02
Sounds as if they left the device in place and just treated you with anti-biotics? I had an ICD for 9 years before upgrading to a CRT-D in October. I acclimated to the first device immediately and went on with life. Sadly I'm paying the price for early withdrawal on the second.
My Left Ventricle lead pulled out of town and resulted in a lead revision. Apparently while they were doing the revision, they threw in an infection at no extra charge. Two weeks in pergatory and I left sans CRT and lead but got the consolation prizes, a wound vacuum, an IV infusion pump, and a nifty Death Vest.
This was in January and I finally got rid of the wound vac and infusion pump recently, but the death vest still clings to me every where I go. The bruises and chafed skin are annoying, but the real pleasure is the constant alarms warning I'm about to be electrocuted. Makes one a bit jumpy.
I swear all that crap hanging from your shoulders, everybody looks at you and backs away for fear of what exactly is in those bags and wondering why you keep your finger on a flashing red button. At least you don't have to wait for a table at a busy restaurant, they seem to clear quickly when you walk in...you will have to wait on yourself though.
All that being said, I am slated to meet with a cutter Friday to discuss giving the medical community another shot at killing me off while being paid for attempts whether successful or not. Gives one pause whether it's worth the risk.
So my friend I know what you are going through and can relate to your frayed nerves. All I can suggest is if it gets too bad, seek professional counseling. There's no shame in that and you need do whatever is necessary to get back to a normal life.
Your Alive
by RoyS - 2016-04-20 07:04:09
Hi I have had a unit for about 12 years now you will forget your unit is there after awhile. You will fell the unit if you are jumping or in a 4x4 on rough roads just put your hand over the unit and say thank you. Roy
"Your Alive"
by DampDog - 2016-04-20 08:04:20
I'm afraid I'm pretty much the opposite at the moment and curse myself for having made the decision to have it implanted. I've lived with heart disease for almost 20 years but it's not been at the forefront of my mind. Having this little box in my chest has made me feel sore, frail and old and a constant reminder now of all my heart problems. I'm on more medication now than I was before I had it fitted, my beta-blocker has been increased significantly so I feel like I'm in slow motion some days. In short I'm probably more depressed that I've ever felt and pretty hacked off with it all at the moment.
I've only had it in 6 weeks and spent 2 of those in hospital with a post implant infection. Future generator swaps and possible lead problems and everything else associated with the little boxes just fill me with dread now. I use to go to the gym to unwind and just do what I could do without worrying. Now I'm not even sure what I should and shouldn't do or even what the PM will allow me to do as I'm 100% paced, so I'm told.
Sorry to sound grumpy and gloomy, but it's just how it made me feel. It is what it is.
Understand
by Good Dog - 2016-04-20 11:04:33
I can understand with what you've been through why you feel the way you do. You were one of the less than 1% of PM patients that is inflicted with an infection. Should you need surgery again they will take extra precautions as a result. That makes the likelihood of another infection even less than 1% for you. The soreness will soon pass and you will eventually forget you have a PM. The battery change-out is nothing like what you went through initially. It is an out-patient procedure and very quick and easy. Most of us go in the morning and are home eating lunch a few hours later. It is really easy. Nothing to worry about there.
I think that maybe the biggest issue you may be dealing with now beyond the soreness is more related to the medication than the PM. When you consider that all of "us" PM patients agree that we soon forget we have one, there is no reason to think it will be any different for you despite the initial problems you experienced. However, the medication has side-effects, which are likely the reason you feel so crummy. Those should subside to some degree in-time. Also, if you discuss with your doctor, he may change the dose or switch you to a different medication.
Trust me, I have had my PM for 30 years and one of my two leads is the original. There is no reason to think that your leads won't last 30 years also. However, if you need a new one at some point, it is simple to insert a new one. They won't remove the old one, just add a new one if necessary. It too, is very quick and easy.
The depression is pretty normal after what you just went though. It too will pass and you will soon feel much better. There is help for the depression if for some reason it doesn't go away. Lots of support groups and even medication if necessary.
Hang-in there............it does get better!
Sincerely,
David
"Understand"
by DampDog - 2016-04-20 12:04:03
Cheers for the encouragement.
I think most of me being "down" (for the moment I hope) is due to things just not going right initially. The procedure itself took longer than anticipated at over 2 hours. CRT-D so 3 leads to place, LV-lead took a while to hit the spot, so to speak. Then being in hospital and IV antibiotics has taken it toll a little, physically and mentally. Also post op I had a few runs of VT which I have never experienced before, apparently because my heart had become irritable, post op.
Probably due to me not feeling so well I was in a lot of pain for the first few weeks and that drags you down too. The pain is subsiding, though it is still pretty tender, quite a bit more than I was expecting.
I'm not sure the consultants help because they see it every day, they play it down, but it does stress your whole system. Think I'm a little down/grumbly with it as for some reason I've just had a couple of days where it seemed more painful and sore than it had been feeling, just felt like things were on the slide again.
I've just this morning had my appointment to attend cardiac rehab, with luck should perk me up.
Anyway, thanks for the kind words..
I'm a "Dave" too.. :-)
Life is great
by Snowy - 2016-04-20 12:04:58
I have only had my PM since January and I am already starting not to notice it. I am still wary when anyone comes near me but life gets better day by day. I was told to give it 6 to 12 months for a full recovery of course this will depend on the individual. Life is great don't miss a day of it.
Denise
Newbie Also
by PatCan - 2016-04-21 02:04:16
It's been 9 weeks for me and I'm already forgetting it's there for large chunks of time. I had a couple of programming problems initially, but it's been pretty much life back to normal since then. Hang in there--life will get back to normal for you as well.
I thought I was the only one that didn't feel "great."
by AddieJ - 2016-04-21 11:04:06
Everyone told me I'd feel SO much better after getting my PM for SSS. Other than almost blacking out a couple times a day....I felt good before I got it, but I was getting scared. I've had it now for almost two months. I'm still not 'me' but I don't have the blackouts. I still have palpitations. I, like others here, felt immediately 'old' but then again I am. I just didn't know it. I run long distances for fun and fitness. I try to do a marathon each year. I am finally pain free now. I couldn't breathe good, couldn't get a deep breath for a couple weeks after implantation for some reason. My Dr. was getting impatient with that complaint. I was getting depressed. Now I can breathe ok, but when I try to run more than a few miles, I literally hit a wall and have a hard time breathing again. Will I ever be able to run good again? Am I now officially old? I'm 'only' 68. :0)
"Infection etc..."
by DampDog - 2016-04-21 11:04:35
Sounds like you've had a rough ride. While in hospital my buddy in the bed opposite had a very similar experience to yourself. He needed a pocket revision and that became badly infected so necessitated having everything removed. He had just had his first few days with the life-vest while he healed, prior to them having "another go!"
Yes I was lucky in that they caught my infection early and killed it with just over a weeks worth of IV antibiotics. Followed by another two weeks or so oral meds. Never had IV antibiotics before those alone are an adventure.
I hope things start to go better for you. It does tend to make you go over to the "Dark side" when so many things go wrong. It's easy to start thinking the worst and having head full of doubts.
From your user name "cabg" I guess you've already had your fair share in the past. I'm 18 years since I had my grafts done. As I say I hope things go better for you.
I'm off this afternoon to have my first PM check-up, so we will see if it's been doing it's stuff or there are any more disasters looming on the horizon.
Still feel it...
by Nicole33 - 2016-04-22 02:04:13
I have had an ICD since January 2005, replaced once March 2015. I still feel it. It is tender somewhat. Somehow in my mind I have turned it around to a feeling of comfort. I know the tenderness is from the very thing that saved my life on March 11, 2011.
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by doublehorn48 - 2016-04-19 06:04:42
Just as the above comment said it takes a little while. But the time comes when you will go days, weeks, without noticing the pm. When you jog and get out of breath, you will blame yourself for not being in better shape. Yeah, life goes on and it's great.