Pain in the center of chest.

Well hello my fellow pacers.
Surgery went as expected, the first 24hrs was horrible. Pain was so bad. I came home and had to go back to ER due to Allergic reaction to the Dressing, caused me to have blisters on the outline of the dressing. Now I'm back home and now when i take a deep breath or laugh, i have a pain in the middle of my chest like I was intubated or something. It hurts kinda bad, They did a Xray before I left, could it be possible to have my EP doc told me today that if any thing happens to call her directly, SO should i call her for this or wait till my first pacemaker meeting on tuesday... Whatcha think.?
Love Charly

8 Comments

cx pain

by patpeter - 2008-06-29 07:06:41

You've probably called the MD by now and I think you should too. I usually get a pneumothorax after my PM placemants and it hurts when you breath etc. It happens when they are threading the wires in and they nick the lung resulting in the pneumothorax, if the nick is not large it gets better on it's own but if it's large they may have to have a chest tube placed to re-inflate the lung. It's uncomfortable and painful that's for sure. Get it checked and keep us informed.
Pat

knock on wood

by locobill22 - 2008-06-29 08:06:35

Hi Charly,

I too had my ICD implanted this past Thursday. Aside from some minor pain the first day around the implant, things have gone very well for me. I was expecting more pain, as you did. I took a couple vicadins, the first day but that was it.

I am paranoid about lifting my left arm up for fear of pulling the leads out. I need to look at some of the other postings and try to determine how easily they might come out.

Hopefully, recovery will continue at this rapid pace. I even went out to dinner Friday night with friends and was out on the lake today.

Bill

Hard to determine

by harley63 - 2008-06-29 09:06:03

Charly~

Seeing that you posted this in the wee hours of the morning. I hope by now you have either called the MD or the pain is better.

IF the pain is NOT better, please pick up the phone and call the EP!! Better to check then to dismiss this.

It's hard for me to do cyber nursing analysis. :O) Please keep up posted on your recovery.

Cheering for you!!
Harley63

Pain in the center of the chest

by MHCHAMPION - 2008-06-29 10:06:28

Hi,
I did not have pain in the chest but I can certainly relate to your discomfort from the blisters under the self-adhering bandage. I was broken out from my shoulder above the PM down toward the center of my chest for a month. It took a long time for me to heal and I pray it does not for you.
Take care and get well soon.
Margaret

Chest pain

by HelenB - 2008-06-29 11:06:57

Hi Charly,

I had the same thing, and it turned out that my chest wall had swelled up as a response to the surgery, making it painful when my lungs expanded. I know a few other people who have had the same thing. I did go to see my doctor about it, and he did a chest x-ray to confirm. He said it was not uncommon.

Hopefully you have gone to the doctor if the pain has continued, and are feeling better. It's always a good idea to get checked out.

best of luck,
Helen

Chest pain.....

by Bionic Beat - 2008-06-29 12:06:00

Get it checked out!!

Any kind of unexplained chest pain should be a medical emergency, IMO.

Having said that, I too, had pericarditis after my pacemaker implant.

It's quite painful and responded to aspirin and rest.

I had a nurse with a horrid cold, kept handling my pills and sneezing over me, think that's how I got it. Yuck!

I feel fabulous!

Bionic Beat

Get checked

by ela-girl - 2008-06-29 12:06:14

This also sounds like pericarditis to me, too, which is the swelling of the pericardium sac around your heart with fluid. It can also cause the pain in the middle of your chest that you speak of...especially when you breath or laugh or lay down. Bending over will usually make you fill better. I got this after surgery, too, and it was painful!!! You just take some meds like NSAID's and another med to make it go away...but it can be stubborn!

Definitely check with the doc! Keep us informed on how you're doing...

ela-girl

chest pressure

by sbanana - 2018-07-23 10:03:03

I'm 3 weeks post pacemaker implant, and still have not felt "back to normal." Chest pressure has been constant.  Went to urgent care and all tests came back negative.  Doctor said could be swelling from surgery.  Hoping discomfort subsides soon!  Pretty bad heart burn after eating, that lasts a long time too.  I would love to know if these are common, post-implant, symptoms.

You know you're wired when...

You invested in the Energizer battery company.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.