Recovering from a Pacemaker

[CJDa]

I was glad that I had a few weeks preparation before I had the Pacemaker to practice things like dressing and how often I use my left arm. I knew I could not raise my left arm higher than my shoulder for 6 weeks afterwards so knew that yoga and Tai Chi would be shelved for the 6 weeks.

As I arrived in the recovery room I was loudly and clearly reminded about not raising my arm. Got it. But I hadn’t fully appreciated about not lifting anything heavy or leaning on my left elbow.

Here are some adaptations I’ve made. I pretty much wear anything, especially if it’s loose, remembering to put my left arm in first and also take it out first; I open my roll on deodorant to put under my right armpit, then it’s flowing alright for the left side, I get in the left hand side of the bed not leaning but get out on the right so I can lean heavily and hutch myself over. Before going in I took anything heavy I might want to use down from shelves I would not be able to reach with both hands for. On the kitchen cupboards I put signs saying REACH WITH THE RIGHT as I’d noticed that if you open the cupboard with your right hand you reach with the left.

I think I’d have struggled more if I’d been left handed but have been OK most of the time and now have only 10 days of restrictions left.

It has been hard to explain to friends who had expectations that a Pacemaker was going to help my arrhythmia but most people now understand that it’s a back up for if I need more drugs to slow my heart rate. I repeat to myself that it’s a back up.

I hope this may help others at some point.

All best wishes to this helpful community

[Buffafly]

Thank you, shall save advice 💝 especially as I am ambidextrous!

[BobD Volunteer]

One of my fears having a PM as I sleep in the recovery position !

[CDreamer in reply to BobD]

I sleep in that position as well and it’s really not a problem for me Bob, once the wound has healed and the inevitable swelling and bruising from the trauma, I found it far less limiting than than being in AF when I really couldn’t sleep on my left side because of the row in my ear!

[CDreamer]

All down hill from now on, it was the best thing I ever did.

[reinaway in reply to CDreamer]

This is really helpful as I have been given several choices and a pm is one of them. 💖

[southerngirl]

Gosh, I had a MedTronic pacemaker inserted in 2019. I wore a sling on my left arm 24 hours a day for 2 weeks to help remind me not to raise my arm. By bending, I still could use my left hand to help cook etc. The EP, after checking to see that the inserted wires were healing in place, told me 2 weeks post insertion that I could discontinue the sling. I had no issues at all after that.

[Sally_Scott]

Wow. Had no idea about not being able to use left arm for 6 weeks! I’m having a pacemaker next Tuesday so I’d better start practicing. Any other tips or explanation you can give me would be very helpful. Glad you’re near the end of yr 6 weeks

[CDreamer in reply to Sally_Scott]

Assuming you are female? Make sure you have a bra without any metal adjusters or connectors on the front of the straps that would irritate against the wound.

Shirts, jackets and cardigans are much easier to get on and off than anything that is over head but I found bending over meant I could get things over my head without lifting my arm - left arm in first, bend keeping left arm close to body pull garment over head.

Expect sore, painful area around the wound and implant pain for the first few days so paracetamol at the ready to help sleep at night. It was a few weeks before it was comfortable to lie on my left side.

No driving until you can lift your arm. No lifting of arm does not mean no movement at all. Try get some advice about gentle shoulder movement and very light touch massage once the wound has completely healed and there is no bruising or tenderness (7-10 days) to avoid scar tissue forming around the site as there are many interconnective ligaments and tendons around the site of implantation and one of the affects of developing scar tissue is frozen shoulder. I got excellent advice from soft tissue rehab therapist.

In normal times I would say book yourself several wash and blow hair appointments because it’s really difficult to style your hair one handed but see if there is someone who can help.

It wasn’t that restrictive, the main difficulty for me was remembering not to lift because everything healed really quickly and it’s very easy to forget that you should not.

[Sally_Scott in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you so much for your advice and explaining all this to me. I had no idea on this. Better to be forewarned. X

[baba in reply to Sally_Scott]

A pillow at your back when sleeping to remind you not to roll onto your left side (only during settling in period after that you can sleep in whatever position you like).

[Sally_Scott in reply to baba]

Good idea

[captainKFF in reply to CDreamer]

Hi, can one have an MRI with a pacemaker in?

[bantam12 in reply to captainKFF]

Yes, my husband had several MRI's, he had to have them done at the same hospital as his pacing clinic as his pacemaker needed to be adjusted before and after the scan. I needed an MRI at a different hospital and as they didn't have a pacing tech they couldn't do it so I had a CT instead which is ok with a pacemaker.

[CDreamer in reply to captainKFF]

With the right equipment and precautions, yes. Modern PM’s are not an issue but some of the older versions may need to be checked by the Radiologists. I’ve had a scan since PM was implanted.

[100h in reply to Sally_Scott]

Good luck! I had mine done nearly 6 weeks ago. I bought some zip-up front opening bras, they've been excellent.

Make sure you take something to keep the pain away for the first 10 days or so. I used Panadol, just to keep the edge off things.

If you can, have someone else do the cooking for you, otherwise start making some extra meals now & stash them in your freezer!

I loaded up the bed with a variety of pillows & cushion. I've been trying to sleep on my right side, with a cushion behind my Bach & another one parallel to me in from to rest my right arm on.

Doing my hair has been difficult. Luckily I had no big plans to go anywhere for the last couple of weeks.

I like the idea of putting a reminder note on high cupboards. It's just so automatic to open things with your right hand & then stretch out your left arm to move things.

I found once the pain subsided I really had to concentrate on minimising the use of my left arm as I didn't have the pain to remind me 😊

Good luck with everything!

[Truckerclark]

I got my pacemaker in 2 weeks ago , wound still healing and sore at times , my biggest issue is itching ,it’s bloody itchy lol, yiur right it’s difficult not using your left arm ,sometimes I forget and just as I reach up I stop myself , I’d advice anyone that is alone to try get someone to stay for a few days at least afterwards ,my kids did for me ,as I found that difficult and pain was rather intense first week or so , great site for advice and help ,it’s not sorted my AF but I’ll get more meds to help that now that my heart rate isn’t dropping low now ,,,

[100h in reply to Truckerclark]

Mine is still itch occasionally too, although it has definitely lessened over time.

[Junoesque]

I had my pacemaker battery replaced and did not have to have the leads replaced but the procedure was the same as when I had the pacemaker inserted. But I was told by the specialist that did my procedure that it is now not necessary to worry about the not lifting the left arm. He said things have moved on since I had the pacemaker eight years ago. Do not to worry. So it is interesting what you have just written.

Is he wrong I wonder.

I had my procedure five weeks ago. All is well, thank goodness.

[100h in reply to Junoesque]

My cardiologist told me the no lifting advice is to ensure the leads don't tear out when it's first put in. When it's time for your pacemaker tor batteries to be changed the leads should be well & truly embedded in.Glad it all went well for you!

[Junoesque in reply to 100h]

Thank you. I can see the logic in that

[Truckerclark in reply to Junoesque]

It’s probably because you only had battery change our leads are still bedding into place ,yours are fine after all this time , we haven’t to lift them high as it might break stitches and pull lead out of ,fir me atria ,,,

[Junoesque in reply to Truckerclark]

Yes I see that. Thank you.

[CJDa]

I will add to my earlier suggestions that I only felt some discomfort afterwards - and I don’t tolerate pain very well at all. I did regular shoulder rolls, both shoulders, just for balance, and never stopped using the arm. For the first day I placed my left hand on my right shoulder and that was a good reminder. I had done some food preparation but actually managed well, on my own with minimal assistance. I’d probably have accepted more if it weren’t for COVID and loved a food parcel from a friend and a takeaway from another. My wound was perfectly healed after 10 days and I’ll take the feedback from the nurse that it was the best healed wound he’d ever seen.

We’re all different in our responses. I had minimal anxiety about the procedure before or after but am glad to see it opened up some discussions.