Update - 3 weeks post CRT - D Op and return to work

[Heartlady1]

Hi all

Just wanted to give an update in my recovery process following my CRT D implant and my return back to work this week.

The first two weeks I recovered really well and was very positive, and amazed, how well all going so went back to work on a staged return to work basis ( 9 to 3)

Boy this was a bit of a shock to my system and so pleased I didn't go back full time. I walk to work each day... not allowed to drive as yet. However work only a 10 minute walk away.

My job is telesales... So once arrived I am sitting at a desk answering phones and typing... easy Huh ? Er so I thought.

My muscles ached by mid morning

.. my shoulder felt like it was freezing up... and the walk home after a day at work really left me sore, hurt my device to walk... and felt absolutely pooped from aches and pains. !

So next day when I went in I made sure to do some of my calls standing up.. did more shoulder exercises ( I felt like one of the people from the full Monty ) apparently my shoulder moves are quite cool. But they kept me more mobile and stopped me feeling pain. When I got up and walked round the office I kinda cup my device in my left hand... it helps stop vibrations from my walking. And I asked work if they would drive me home as I felt it was too much at the end of the day for me to do the walk. They were happy to help.

I am still glad to be back at work psychologically it has helped me get back to Normal... but I have recognised and accepted not to do too much too soon. So next week going to do part time again... as I feel I am not ready to go back to full time yet... and this weekend is going to be spent chilling and getting my rest to help me heal. .. thank God for Strictly on the TV 😁.

So anyone looking to have a device fitted do take any return to work slowly and don't be afraid to ask for help.

Now 3 weeks down and only 5 weeks to go before I get hopefully the ok that all wires are in place and life thwn moves forward... at whatevwr pace my body allows 😁

Happy Saturday everyone

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

All sounds good, well done! I'm typing this from work and had just been reminiscing how the cable on my headphones used to give me a lot of pain when it sat over my device (took to wearing my headphones backwards and wrapped around myself to avoid it) and this was at least six weeks after implantation, probably longer. Now I'm not aware of the device at all, can wear my headphones like a "normal" person What I mean by this is that it's still early days for you, as you said, and I'm sure you will be able to stop thinking about your device before too long, it's good to hear you're listening to your body in the meantime and doing what you can to help yourself mend. Keep up the good work x

[Heartlady1 in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Thanks Laura. Yes I have my headphones on other ear... moved my phone so as not to be reaching across. Gotta keep trying whatever works lol. And remembering that I am still on the mend yet.

Can i ask in the early days did your device feel a bit hot and sore if you did too much... and did you ever experience pain under arm pit and down left hand side of body? I think it's muscular and it does go away.. just weird when you get random pains or discomfort.

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star in reply to Heartlady1]

I do remember it feeling a bit hot sometimes and definitely sore. I imagine moving around makes the device shift a bit and irritates the surrounding area? It does seem to make a permanent space for itself eventually and kind of bed in and then everything gets comfier/easier. It's a fairly sizeable foreign object so hardly surprising our bodies object at first!

I did get a sore armpit too, but if I poke around in there, I can sometimes feel wires, so I figured that was why.

Nowadays I don't feel any heat or pain at all unless something (or someone, usually my daughter!) really pokes or leans on the top bit of the device where it's a bit nobbly.

You said your shoulder was feeling a bit stiff, didn't you? That's bound to have a knock-on effect on other muscles. Maybe that's why your side is sore? I remember being told to keep my shoulder mobile (not too mobile!) but it sounds like you're already doing that. Think it will just take time and patience x

[Heartlady1 in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Thank you Laura... that's really reassuring. I know it's only early days yet and I do have to be patient. It's a conundrum isn't it when heart wise I feel great with lots of energy and yet wound wise it's painful and throbbing. But good to know the pains I am feeling are Normal. I have taken more painkillers and just gotta be patient. As you say it's rather a large heavy device.. when she put in my hands I thought it was size and weight of a Zippo lighter! Good to hear that you don't feel yours at all now. So just a healing and bedding in process. And definitely worth the pain for the gain 😀 x

[skid112 Heart Star]

Good going really good, make sure you do rest though but sounds as if you are on the right track

[Heartlady1 in reply to skid112]

Thanks skid... it's lovely to be able to share my experiences on this forum and hopefully help others. And great to get all the encouragement and reassurances from people who have been through similar. So glad I found this site 😀

[Wodney1966]

I was off work 6 weeks when I had my icd fitted than back into full time as a bus shunter 👍👍👍👍👍

[Heartlady1 in reply to Wodney1966]

Thanks Wodney. Yes beginning to think I went back a tad early. I think in part it was due to one of the junior doctors at hospital telling me I could go back to work the Monday after my op "it's only a procedure you have had" when I asked for a sick note. The nurses told me to ignore the comment but I guess it made me think itvwas not that major a thing I had done.

I was also feeling so well .... So just going to take it easy and keep to part time fpr a couple more weeks.

[Wodney1966]

You do right chill out gd luck