Post surgery

2 weeks in

by ukharty - 2018-11-05 05:07:43

Hi, so I’m some 10 days in front of you and had much the same feelings, still do to some degree but I would say once the stitches came out, not as horrific as I was expecting, it feels more an awareness of the scar than anything else being “caught”

hope that helps 

movement

by Tracey_E - 2018-11-05 10:00:17

It's your body talking to you! It's saying Move Me.  Also perfectly normal. If you haven't been moving, things tighten up, and your body is getting used to having it's new hardware. Don't lift anything heavy or raise the arm overhead just yet, but other than that try to use the arm normally so your shoulder doesn't freeze up. Go gently at first until it loosens, ice as needed, but it's really important to move the arm sooner than later. Frozen shoulder is not fun. 

Wound healing after pacemaker.

by Selwyn - 2018-11-05 12:00:47

As Tracey-E sensibily says it is important to keep moving and not to let things stiffen up.

The chest wall around the PM has been pulled and pushed a bit during the insertion process, and all that local anaesthetic stretches tissues. Of course there is some soreness. 

It is important to keep moving as long as you are not having pain. There is no difference in outcome between having your arm in a sling and free movement, except that the sling group end up with stiff shoulders whcih can go onto frozen shoulder syndrome. 

After any surgery  ( like a bruise) there is a period of swelling. If you sew up an abdominal wound - at the time the job is nice an flat and looks like it's been done by a sewing machine. Given a few days it all swells and is cutting into the stitches. It takes a week to 10 days for this to settle, then there is the scabs to contend with- all that itching. 

Providing your wound is not infected ( increasing pain, swelling, redness, and pus +feeling unwell) expect some tightness from the swelling. Keep the arm mobile, without overstretching the skin that is held together at this time by the stitches, and you will get rid of the swelling sooner than the person that just lets their arm hang. Stitches are usually out in a week to 10 days and then wound strength inceases for up to 6 weeks. 

Given some months the scar goes from red to pale pink. Try not to pick at the scabs!

Agree with Tracey !

by CB805 - 2018-11-10 23:43:37

I am 2 weeks post op and took Tracey’s advice and started moving as I was definitely favoring my left arm and afraid to move it. The pinching feeling I still get but everyday is better. The “bulge” is what bothers me and I hope once all the swelling goes away and it becomes swayed it won’t be so prominent . I didn’t get stitches I got glue and it’s still there. 2 weeks I thought it would be gone and I don’t want to peel it off. So I just let it heal. I agree need to move. Also I got a moist heat pack that I placed on my shoulder not over the device and it helped with the stiffness. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Every day it gets better. 

I'm 3.5 weeks post PM

by Rick1945 - 2018-11-11 06:08:15

My 2 cents worth.

I had a lot of bruising which is clearing.  I have been careful with arm movement but the actual PM site is still a little bruised and senstive to the touch.  It feels like there is a "bubble" above the PM itself and I'm hoping that, in time, the area will feel more "dulll" and that I won't notice it as much.

Mine is not beneath the muscle and will always protude but I'm looking forward to not being as aware of the device.  How long does that take?  Any thoughts?