Soreness

Soreness

by Gemita - 2021-02-26 15:51:21

Jean Anne,

I am very small framed and petite.  I suffered from soreness for well past three months.  Is your wound (incision) well healed or does it look slightly inflammed?  Does your device area look fairly normal, for example, no signs of swelling, oozing from the incision, skin colour normal?  Any redness, swelling, oozing might indicate signs of infection but if it looks okay I would suggest it probably is.

Try to keep some padding under your bra straps to avoid any friction rub because this can cause soreness quickly. Do this for a week or so to see whether your discomfort eases.  For some of us it may take up to six months, even a year to feel comfortable again.

If you are in any way concerned you can always take a photo of the area and email to your doctors for an opinion or visit them for some checks (although I see you have already seen your doctor).   Please do not suffer in silence though and spend your time worrying.  Go back to see your doctors again if you really need to.  Some of us can be very very sensitive to our devices at first.  I was and so was my husband with his pacemaker

Soreness

by AgentX86 - 2021-02-26 16:30:34

Hi Jean, I'm not a small person but it took a good eight months before mine was no longer sore to the touch. I never had any real pain but it was very sensitive for that much time.

I had to use a pad on my shoulder harness to drive. I still use it because it keeps the strap away from my PM.

Tenderness

by Persephone - 2021-02-26 19:18:06

Yes, the tenderness can last a while.  It will get better, though - hang in there.  At 3 months in, I was probably also wondering if the sensitivity would ever calm down, but in fact it did.  I can now give and receive hugs with little problem (notwithstanding that most of us are getting fewer hugs during the pandemic).  Give yourself some time and protect the area as needed in the interim, as advised above.

Site Tenderness

by Marybird - 2021-02-27 09:36:43

I think I had some tenderness to the touch at the pacemaker site for close to a year after it was implanted. 

I still get some mild itching around the scar and it's been a little over 1.5 years after the implant. It's well healed, no problems, though sometimes there is a tad of reddening at scattered locations at the skin around the scar. I attribute that to possibly a slight foreign body reaction,  perhaps. I find it helpful to rub some OTC cortisone cream on it. 

Soreness

by Beattie - 2021-02-27 16:32:04

HI Jean Anne, 

Did you have a sub pectoral implant? 

I am very thin and both of mine have been done sub pectoral. With my first implant it took about 10 months for everything to settle down, it they have made the pocket extremely deep. 

My second round didnt seem so bad i had it done in June last year and am now not too uncomfortable at all. If it does get sore after i do too much i just use an ice pack.i still use a pillow to support my left side when sleeping havent stopped doing that since i got my first device. Creature of habit i guess 😊.

Finding a bra that sits comfortable is a challenge strapless or wire free seem to work not too bad for me. 

Hope you feel better soon . 

Cheers

Thank You

by Jean Anne - 2021-02-28 10:07:21

Wow!  Thank you so much for the responses. I can live with "sore" for a while longer. I'll try the ice pack. I loved the comment about hugging. Yes, I use to try for 10 a day. This year I've fallen a little short but my dear hubby is always available to fill in the void. 
Blessings on each of you. 

Soreness

by Julros - 2021-02-28 16:14:30

I thought I had "prolonged" soreness, but since finding this group I realize my experience was not that unusual. But the reaction of the nurse practioners at the cardiology office made me feel like a complainer. In doing some research, I found that many females have prolonged post-op pain. I am still not sure reason for my pain.  My primary provider and physical therapist felt it was nerve pain due to my description of "burning". When I finally saw the EP at 6 months, he surmised atypical infection due to swelling but no redness. I also saw a vascular surgeon for subclavian vein stenosis, who scoffed at the suggestion of possible infection. Anyway, the worst was gone at 6 months after working with the PT, although the incision was still sore to touch. Now at 18 months, it is occaisonally achy, especially when cold or it gets bumped. 

I am so thankful for this group for affirming that my pain was real and that I was not whining or drug-seeking. 

Soren8

by Regina M - 2021-03-13 19:40:22

I'm so grateful I found the support group! comment on dealing with soreness and it's going to help so much cuz I just don't know what to expect. Thank you all very much for your wonderful comments.