Day 1 -- all good so far

So, my pacemaker was implanted yesterday (in at 0900, home by 1630 including a 90 minute journey home), without a lot of fuss, except the conscious sedation left me conscious and not at all sedated and definitely feeling everything that was going on, so I swore at lot at the surgeon, who very apologetically said I'd had as much fentanyl as they could give me.  The local worked so I didn't feel the incision, but he brushed a nerve several times which gave me shooting pains down my left arm, and I objected strenuously... also to him using my stomach as en elbow rest. I think they were glad to see the back of me. It wasn't the kind of exerience that will scar me mentally -- I remember the whole procedure and didn't enjoy it but it's past and done with -- until the battery needs replacing.

Today, very little discomfort -- some residual nerve pain/tingling in my arm, no worse than when the nurse clipped a nerve taking a blood sample one time; plus my breast pulling on my wound is uncomfortable, in spite of wearing a very good bra. Paracetamol is handling it so it's just annoying.  Some seepage overnight into the dressing so I'm waiting for a phone call back on how to handle that.  Impossible to sleep on my back so I'm sleeping on my right side with my left arm propped up on a pillow.

One good thing -- they had to put the pacemaker deeper than they planned, having discovered that there's no space at all directly under my skin (I did tell them but they said it would be fine. And then after the procedure, admitted that I'd been right).  So I won't have much visible but on the down side they had to use sutures rather than glue, which will make showering a bit of a contortion for 7 days.

Miss Tick isn't having any effect yet -- single lead, not acvtivated yet, awaiting an AV node ablation in six weeks time (after the pacemaker had bedded in, so to speak).

But, so far so good.

3 Comments

Half the job done...

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-06 15:51:49

It's good to hear you came through the surgery relatively intact. Mine was under the skin but I have more skin than I should have ;-).  It still shows, though.  It wasn't a big deal for me, though I did object a few times when they were making the pocket.  No curse on their descendants, though.

I had the AV ablation done at the same time, with a team working at each end of me simultaneously.  I didn't even notice the ablation team.  I'd had several ablations and various caths before so ignored them.

Keep us informed on your progress.  Your experiences will help others following your footsteps.

 

Bras

by loblolly - 2018-09-10 15:32:32

Wondering what kind of bra is best? Someone said a sports bra, but that sounds hard to put on given restrictions on raising my left arm over my head. Wide straps would help I guess. I have an ex officio bra that I may try, since as you say, your breasts do pull some on the incision site. My procedure was not planned, so I'll have to make do with what's on hand for now.

Bra problem solved?

by loblolly - 2018-09-10 19:32:08

Just found this older post on the site with a good discussion of the issue of bras after pacemaker implantation, Wearing my ex officio bra is working to stop my breasts pulling on my incicion site. It  has wide straps, and is cut so that it doesn't irritate my incision   This post has some good suggestions on what others have found that works...


https://www.pacemakerclub.com/message/16080/any-ladies-out-there-find-the-right-bra-after-pm

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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