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Hi, I had to have my pacemaker done 2x in 7 days
I was never told baby my arm the first 4 weeks, I basically was not told anything besides do not lift my elbow over my shoulder.
I had my pacemaker put in Oct 23 of 2025, 2 days later I was readmitted they said my coughing ripped my wire out of my heart. Medtronic had to shut me down because my machine was shocking me. I stayed in the hospital a week the pneumonia never went away so they put me to sleep to fix my wires. And 2 weeks later I was still in hospital with plural effusion, pneumonia, bronchitis. A total mess. That's my story, I am here to ask questions, I'm finally in week starting 6 of my new pacemakers, how long does it take before you can sleep flat without hurting like crazy, do you get collar bone pains? I want to sleep flat please help... talking to surgeon is like me talking to myself.
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I’m sorry for what you are going through. I have no answers for you, I’ve never experienced this with my pacemaker, but sending hugs.
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1 Reaction@nayac
Wow! Your surgeon nor your EP or cardiologist did not give you restrictions after your pacemaker surgery? I can tell you my experience with this was really strict restrictions on movement of my left arm and restrain from activities like fishing, tennis, etc. and anything jerking was involved. Also movement above you head with the arm closest to surgery site.
Do you say you have Medtronic? If so you can contact them and they probably can give you general guidance but most likey will refer you back to your cardiologist or Pace Clinic.
Do you have a electrophysiologist (EP). They are professional medical experts in electrical functions of heart and are most experienced doing ICD and Pacemaker surgeries.
I did not have you experiences. However I did have wire come out of my LV because I planed tennis too soon or too aggressively. Had to have surgery to attached a lead directly to heart.
Do you have access to A.I. or web sites of major medical intuitions. You can usually find answers to your questions on those sites. I don't sleep on my back. But any surgery is going to take time before you body heals it.
Were you told that the body will eventually incapsulate the device and the irritation caused by the device will diminish drastically. I was told this by my Mayo EP. But he said it takes about a year for this to happen.
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5 ReactionsTook about a year before the pain went away for me. Took two years to be able to sleep on my preferred left side. I had my ICD re implanted 3 hours after the first try. One of the leads did not attach to the heart wall fully and fell away. (that was what I was told) It was a long day.
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5 ReactionsIm so sorry, Like some of the others said I was sent home and for 6 weeks was told not to do anything strenuous, Not raise my arms over my head and no showers only baths. But as for pain I'm a side sleeper and don't remember any issues with that. I could feel the device in my left shoulder area but it did not affect my sleep that I remember. I do know over the years I had it the only thing I noticed is on occasion it would feel a bit itchy so I would kind of move it around a bit and that satisfied the itch. The only other thing was that i stuck out a bit on my chest wall so it was visible with my shirt off like when swimming. But after a while I got used to it being there. I hope you heal up and that in a few months it works out and you can get used to it.
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3 Reactions@jc76 HI my EP did my heart ablation for atrial fib which gave me the bradycardia can't win either way lol... No, I was told do not lift my elbow above my shoulder that's all the information I was given.
I wasn't even told when discharged from the hospital with pneumonia that I could cough it out. And if I knew you were awake for the procedure, I'd probably have picked to keep passing out too.
I had a cardiac loop implanted for 2 years before the surgery as well the entire ordeal was terrible but thank you for your insite.
I even looked for a group of us on my own no one told me that there were more of me (smiles) out there with issues.
Nice to meet you
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4 Reactions@deniseheart ouch!! did they not have the huge x-ray screen in the or with you to see where the implant was? My first one was great, it was when they had to do the second one. I'm getting ready to go on week 8 on January 8 ... and I am still sore on the actual device or if I try to lift even 10 pounds I hurt for a week.
nice meeting you
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1 Reaction@nayac not sure what equipment they have to check the lead placements. sigh I hope that your pain leaves you soon. Have a wonderful New Year 🙂
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1 ReactionHello, we know the lead came out because I was constantly getting shocked, then the chest xray showed the lead had moved out of my heart. So Medtronics worker came and shut it down
Happy New Years as well
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2 Reactions@nayac you’ve had it rough I don’t have any answers for you just support I’m at 11 months and I haven’t gotten any answers with my problems of fatigue shortness of breath they run stress test and echo and say I’m fine no one seems to care how I feel I still sleep elevated