Postop Pain with Pacemaker insertion

Good evening. Thank you for participating in this forum. I have a Biotronik dual lead pacemaker, MRI compatible. c.2016. I am retired. I became increasingly exhausted, had a lot of trouble remembering things, and then could not concentrate, etc, ... I literally would feel like sleeping on my drive home from work. It was serious. I was diagnosed in the doctor's office, where I was having a preop check for a foot surgery that was to be in 3 days time. Instead, I had a Holter monitor for 48 hours, and on the day I was supposed to have ankle surgery, I had a pacemaker insertion instead. After the pacemaker surgery, I stayed overnight. During that night, I began to feel extreme pain. I am a retired nurse, and am used to taking care of post op patients, and my pain level was through the roof. I fought to get Ibuprofen. I was literally in tears for most of that night.

The cardiologist came in the next day and he informed me that it really should only require Tylenol, this surgery, and he did not know what I was complaining about. I had swelling out the ying yang, and it looked like someone beat me with a baseball batt. I was dark grape colored, and sooo swollen despite constant icing. This lasted 10 days. I could not use the bathroom without my husband's help. I had to support my breast so that it would not hang on the wound.I could not get into bed alone, could not sleep... I just laid there and cried...

I have had a baby without anesthesia, so I am no wimp..but this pain was severe.

This entire situation came on suddenly, and I was going to have ankle surgery. Yet the cardiologist pretty much said that he thought I was drug seeking, when I told him about the level of pain I was in. This was unbelievable and so upsetting. He made a judgement about me that was absolutely without basis, but yet he was in control. My own physician had had an accident, and was away from the office, as she was recovering, so... there really was no help.  

 

 Has anyone had this kind of pain after having a pacemaker insertion? Thanks. VtPacer

3 Comments

Pain after insertion

by lmhause - 2018-08-14 22:58:26

Hi there.  My pain was not as severe as yours but it was more than could be controlled with tylenol.  I am a nurse as well and felt like something was wrong.  I went back to MD and had an echo and was diagnosed with pericarditis with a small effusion.  As that has resolved a lot of the pain has gone away but my incision is still sore almost 3 months later.  

I hope you get well soon.  I would be persistent with the MD and if need be seek a second opinion.  

Lisa

Pain

by AgentX86 - 2018-08-14 23:54:31

I'd be finding a new doctor.  It's probably a reaction to the FDA/DEA but that sort of treatment isn't acceptable, IMO.  Severe pain like that shouldn't be treated with such indifference.  There may be something severely wrong.

We're all different but a surgeon should know that.  I had very little pain (felt more like a sunburn than sutures).  They gave me percs in the hospital overnight.  I didn't think I needed them but the nurses insisted that I take them.   On discharge, my doctor "called" in a prescription for enough percs for a week.  I didn't take any - didn't need 'em.  BUT, I'm probably at the other end of the bell curve from you.  Because one person reacts one way, doesn't mean everyone is the same.  Could be that your surgeon f'd up, too, and is tryng to cover it up by blaming you. I'd not be a happy camper, either!

Me Too

by Tonydig11 - 2018-08-16 09:05:11

So I am 4 week out now. Finally back to normal. The night I was in the hospital I was also in great pain. I asked for something and I got a half of the weakest Vicodin and 2 Tylenol. This did not even touch the pain I was in. I asked the Dr the next day to please send me home with something. He told me flat out that he would send me home with 3 Vicodin’s THREE. When I was discharged I was told that the Dr changed his mind. I think these Dr's don't know the pain as they have not had this done to them.

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So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.