i got my ticker helper, i hurt!!!

hey got my pm on tuesday, and im still really hurting... i thought i was a surgery pro, but this hurts way more then i ever thought it would. did anyone else feel like their armpit was on fire and have an aching arm??? i think my armpit and arm hurt more than the incision...... this will get better right???

4 Comments

Yep

by bobad - 2008-10-30 02:10:40

My shoulder and armpit hurt worse than the incision and PM stuffed in there.

The good news is, the worst is almost over!

It hurt me too

by markjbaker - 2008-10-30 04:10:05

There was quite a lot of explanation before my ICD implantation about what they were going to do, but - they never said a word about how *blank* much it hurts!

I got some strong pain-killers - Solpadol which took the edge off it. After 2-3 days the incision and pocket pain was much easier. My armpit, shoulder and arm ached for a couple of weeks and I couldn't lift or pull anything for maybe 4-5 weeks. I didn't lift my arm above head height for 6 weeks, as instructed by the Doc, for fear of dislodging the leads.

The incision got a mild infection and I got some anti-biotics for it. Check the wound area for redness or heat. Mine felt very warm and the doc agreed it was an infection. If untreated the infection can spread along the leads.

So take it easy, it is going to get better pretty soon.

Hang in there,

by Pete K - 2008-11-01 12:11:43

Hi Jenny,
I had a pacer implanted last Spring. It will prob take 3 or 4 weeks for the tissues to stretch to accommodate the mass of the pacer and icd's are a bit larger. Also, the implantation is quite a bit more traumatic to the area than the doctors ever let on. (It's still "heart surgery" ! LOL) Good news is, barring infections, you're at the worst of it this first week. Hope your doctor told you that ice packs on the site will help tremedously. Also, it is really scarry at first, thinking something must be wrong to be causing the soreness. Unless it gets really hot and/or red around the wound site, it's prob not infected and okay. Especially hard to get comfy when trying to learn to sleep again at first. Of all the things that I tried back then, the ice packs had the greatest effect on helping the pain and keep the inflammation down. Good luck and stick with the pacer group for lots more answers.

Pete

Where did they place it?

by ElectricFrank - 2008-11-01 12:11:57

A lot depends on how much tissue damage they did in placing the pacer. This is true of any kind of surgery. With a pacer the deeper they implant it the more tissue damage is done. So places like under muscles and breasts are going to be sore for a while. In my case it is just under my skin and never was very sore.
Of course infection is another issue. A paper cut on a finger can hurt like heck if it gets infected.

Give it the weekend and if it is still very painful I would see the surgeon. Don't be put off by him/her. Get some answers.

frank

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