recovery from pm replacement

Hi Everyone,
I just had my pm replaced yesterday, which was a horrific surgery, I was wide awake and felt everything!! But I won't go into all that, I posted that elsewhere.

I was just curious how others felt after their pm was replaced. I have a lot of pain where the new pm was put in. The pressure and extreme pain I do not remember from when I had it put in the first time, I also can't raise my arm above my head because it hurts so so much. I don't want to call the doctor that did this just because of everything she knowingly put me through, I'm looking for a different EP doctor.

Anybody's experience's would be so helpful, thanks so much, Karri

7 Comments

WOW

by Ronniecolorado - 2012-06-15 01:06:47

Hi Karri,

Hope you're feeling better.

So how long was the window between your first and your latest PM???

I had my first CRT-D implanted almost 3 years ago...and was told yesterday, a replacement would be in 5-6 years...at which point I'll be around 65. My initial implant surgery was flawless, I was drugged up and inpatient the next 24 hours, but walked out the 2nd day, to my friend's car and headed home for recovery

Except for some moderate pain during recovery lasting only a week or so...mine wasn't a pleasant experience, but no way as awful as yours.

My range of motion was limited and unable to move my arms over head for a very long time.

Bottomline for me, I better enjoy every second of my life NOW!!!

Good Luck and hope you feel better soon!

Rpn

something is not right here

by jessie - 2012-06-15 01:06:58

that much pain is not normal. i would be questioning why it was done with no anaethetic at all. i have only had it done once but it was certainly not like you describe. jessie

Sorry

by Angelie - 2012-06-15 03:06:14

Sorry you had a horrible experience. First of all, you shouldn't be trying to lift your arm above your head if you've had new leads placed, but you say this isn't your first implant so I'm assuming that you've just had the generator replaced and NOT the leads.

Also your pain depends on whether or not you've had your generator placed under the muscle. I've had pacemakers placed both underneath muscle and just under the skin. The difference in pain levels is like night and day. When I had my pacer placed underneath my muscle, it literally was impossible for me to lift my arm higher than my chest line. It's like the muscle froze or something, but after a few weeks it got better each day.

I've been awake for all of my pacer surgeries with just very light "sleepy medicine" as I don't particularly enjoy losing my wits. I'd rather feel a bit of pain and discomfort and know exactly what went on during my implant. This all goes with good communication with your EP which sounds like you don't have. I'm sorry for that. My doc knew I didn't like to be put under, but also provided me with enough numbing medicine at the incision site that I didn't feel any pain at all- just tugging, and sometimes it even tickled.

I'm truly sorry you've had an awful experience. I've had those too, and never did go back to the lady in which it seems I had a similar experience to yours. I felt like she was using me as a virtual experiment and pin cushion.

Your pain, however, is a different issue. If you're feeling discomfort you do need to let your EP or your referring physician know. Pain is relative. It's not black and white- it's GRAY, and no one can understand but you. If you're feeling pain you do need to address it and it is up to your health care professionals to treat it accordingly.

Be well,
Angelie

Sorry :(

by C. Wynn - 2012-06-15 03:06:57

Hi Karri ,
My name is Charlie Wynn. I am a 35 year old female , I recived my first pacemaker in 1992 when I was 15 years old . I am now on my third one in Nov. 2006 I was in my first trimester of (4th) pregnancy went for routine pacecheck and was told that It would need to be changed with in 2-3- weeks , very suprised because at my PM check 3mo. befor I was told that I had approx: 1 year left befor I would need a PM change . However my OBGYN would not O.K. for me to go under for Gen but local was ok . I did not feel any pain just like pulling and tugging at the site to get it into the pocket I suppose . I would deffently get a second opinon. I hope you get this resolved soon . Charlie Wynn Pacing friend .

Pain??

by Mary1998 - 2012-06-16 02:06:26

Do you mean you had NO numbing shots or anything? I've only heard of this when someone's health is such that giving pain meds via shots or twilight sleep or the like is just too dangerous on the overall condition of the patient. If you are in well health and your doctor actually operated on you without giving your any type of pain meds or anesthesia, I would report that doctore to the proper board. For crying out loud, in the wild west days they at least gave you a shot of whiskey and a bullet to chomp down on. You need to further investigate this.

I just had my replacement and had to keep my arm down for about a week - that's just for the simple replacement. Anything further, it's 2 weeks. You shouldn't be lifting your elbow up until the site heals a bit.

replacement

by Karri - 2012-06-16 11:06:43

Hi,
Thanks for all the comments, I'm thinking about going to the ER tomorrow, I think I have an infection, just too much pain, it even hurts to type this.

Mary, they did give me versed, which I told them it would not put me in twilight sleep, but the refused to listen to me saying that the amount they will give me would knock out someone twice my size. When that didn't put me in twilight sleep, they gave me a few injections of lidacaine, which worked a little, but then she would cut past the past that was numb and I felt that. Whenever I told them it hurt they just kept giving me more and more injections, and my pm is under my muscle so I felt her pull my muscle, which then she injected that with lidacaine, and had a very hard time getting the old pm out. I feel the doctor should have either stopped the surgery when she knew I was awake or knocked me out completely, not just constantly give me injections every time I screamed or cried out.

Also, thanks for letting me know about the raising of my arm, they told me it was fine to life it and carry a baby that I'm watching, but when I called another EP doctor, they said not to life more than 10 pounds.

pain

by SUPERSALE - 2012-06-16 12:06:58

if i want my pacemaker replace i want to be fully sleep so i don't want see or feel no pain


i asked doctor i want fully sleep while you are insert my pacemaker in to me

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