Three Months With My PM

Coming up on 3 months with my PM and all is well.

First of all, I'm still alive and I'm pretty happy about that. Getting the PM was a very sudden and nearly fatal experience (my heart stopped twice while in the ER) so what do I have to complain about? It saved my life! BUT there are a few things bothering me. None are that big a deal and I'm happy to live with them if I have to.

Every night I wake up about 5 hours after going to sleep. I generally lay in bed and fall asleep again after an hour or so. Prior to my PM, I slept like a baby nearly every night for about 7 to 8 hours. Why am I suddenly waking up every single night? The doctors say - you'll get used to it.

I often forget I have a PM. It generally doesn't bother me at all. Every once in a while I get a twinge from it. Not real painfull just a sort of a reminder that it is there. Also the skin on and around the PM is sort of sensitive. Doesn't really hurt but has a bit of soreness to it. Again the doctors say - you'll get used to it.

Can't sleep on my left side anymore. So I sleep on my back or on my right side. This is annoying but not too much of an issue. I can sort of lean left with pillows but not how I used to sleep.

The doctor doesn't want me lifting anything heavy (over 40 pounds) with my left arm. I'm thinking this goes away at my next visit at the end of April.

So all in all, adjusting to the PM hasn't been that big a deal for me. I know others have had more difficulty so I guess I am pretty lucky. If I could just get a good uninterrupted night's sleep.....

 

 

 

2 Comments

sleep

by bridgermichael - 2017-03-30 19:00:02

3 months and hard to sleep more than 5 hours does seem strange - should have stabilised by now - it does sometimes "race" but pillows should help so this is a bit strange - maybe your diagnostic parameters are set higher or lower so u get the feeling it's taking over - did u have the first month download as they adjust the highs and lows after they see the months graph pattern - this is when they put the leads over you and download what's happened- if not you you ring up and suggest parameters need an adjustment - if the low set too high it may kick in when you asleep

 

glad you know it a real positive move to have one fitted though 

 

mike b 

Sleep

by TomL56 - 2017-04-01 17:38:00

Thanks Mike!

Yes, I had the first month download and they made some adjustments - not really sure what they did. I know my minimum is set at 60 bpm and I'm pacing at 100%.

So if my heart never goes below 60 bpm, it must stay at that while I'm sleeping, no? What would make it go up from there? I tend to move a bit when I sleep - rolling from side to side - could that cause my heart rate to go up? And the rise in my heart rate could be waking me up?

This seems like a simple thing to fix. Adjust what causes my heart rate to increase so that it doesn't rise as much so easily, no?

I go back to the doctor in a few weeks, I'll discuss it with him but I'm pretty sure I'll be told - you'll get used to it. If so, maybe I need a different doctor.

Thanks again,

Tom

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