Pain laying down

Hi all, 

    I had my 5th pacemaker fitted about a month and a half ago and ever since have been having an EXTREMELY hard sleeping. I had the surgery bc my pocket was loose and the old PM was slightly moving, causing irritation and inflammation. Now that is all gone and the new PM has been placed under my pectoral. Given that I've had this surgery several times and know what to expect, the having pain laying down (side, back, anything) is concerning. I've heard of cases where people have to get them re-fitted bc it puts pressure on the leads but I've only heard of that being a constant pain... not just to lay down. 

My cardiologists don't seem to think much of it and just gave me more percacet which I don't want... thoughts????

5 Comments

recovery

by Tracey_E - 2017-08-09 11:07:32

Is this the first it's been under the pectoral? I also had my 5th moved to the pectoral after the first 4 being submammary, and it took more than a month and a half for it to settle in, more like 3 months before I could sleep however I wanted and closer to 4 months before i was doing my full routine at the gym without noticing it. It's been over a year now and I still can't sleep all night on my left side, it gets achy. I think with it being under muscle, we are constantly shiftig it around so it just takes longer to heal. Have you tried a heating pad or ice? Sometimes heat works best, sometimes ice does. 

response

by DaniyalRoshan - 2017-08-12 08:13:31

ok... that makes me feel a little better. Heat and ice work well for me too. Did it feel like yours was being squished or something when you were flat? This one really others me and it just feels like the muscle puts a lot of pressure on it or something so I just constantly feel it laying down.. do you know it that is the type of thing that will go away? I just don't know since its in a new placement. 

forgot something

by DaniyalRoshan - 2017-08-12 08:15:18

and yes, this is the first time under the muscle for me

squished

by Tracey_E - 2017-08-17 18:23:15

Yep, it felt squished sometimes. I think it takes longer to settle i when it's under muscle because we are constantly moving and disturbing the scar tissue that tries to build up around it. I liked my first placement better, but this one has settled in nicely and it's way better than if it was just under the skin. But it didn't get comfortable over night! 

quick question

by DaniyalRoshan - 2017-08-25 18:37:41

Hey Tracey quick question! So the pacer seems to be healing a little bit finally but I still have the most discomfort laying down and in a car... did yours sometimes feel like you could feel it on the ribs? I can't really tell what I'm feeling but there's a general discomfort almost alll the time. My cardiologist seems to think it will take a couple more months... thats fine with me but I was definitely expecting a speedy recovery. Ice and heat help a lot, but when I don't do it frequently it swells a bit. Did that happen for you?

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At age 20, I will be getting a pacemaker in few weeks along with an SA node ablation. This opportunity may change a five year prognosis into a normal life span! I look forward to being a little old lady with a wicked cane!