Advice after a pacemaker

[Earlybird9]

Hello, I'm very new to this. I had a pacemaker fitted one week ago, and had a bad experience. I had Pneumothorax (air in the chest cavity, painful) and was kept in overnight. A week on, and I'm not feeling so good. All sorts of little pains, and feeling sore. I can't sort out whether it's the after-effects of the pneumothorax or whether I'm just being a wimp. Would appreciate anyone with experience offering advice?

[Elfmaiden]

Hello, sorry to hear about your bad experience and pneumothorax. I would recommend talking to your pacing clinic regarding your concerns. I have had my pacemaker for almost 3 years and for me it was more straight forward procedure. I was sore for some time afterwards and took regular paracetamol. I would suggest lots of rest and allowing your body time to heal. Be careful not to lift your arms above shoulder height and no heavy lifting. Hope your are feeling better soon.

[Earlybird9 in reply to Elfmaiden]

Thank you so much, Elfmaiden. I think I was expecting to feel better much too quickly. I'll call my pacing clinic on Monday. Just to hear from someone is reassuring!

[Elfmaiden in reply to Earlybird9]

Your welcome, hope you get some reassurance on Monday. Any further concerns over the weekend there is always 111. Take care

[Rhinos67]

My pacemaker experience was relatively smooth, apart from them not being able to give me a sedative and not being given enough anaesthetic. It still took several months for the site to stop being really sore though and if I do too much in the gym or heavy lifting the area still becomes sore and swollen. That about 9 months on.If in doubt get in touch with the Pacemaker clinic though.

Also worth joining Pacemaker UK Facebook group 😊

[Earlybird9 in reply to Rhinos67]

Thank you, Rhinos67. I also felt quite strongly that I didn't have enough anaesthetic! Uncomfortable procedure was pitting it mildly. Good to share experiences.

[Rhinos67 in reply to Earlybird9]

Yes felt like a red hot poker in my chest and screamed in pain. The surgeon apologised and asked for me to be given more. I was in a bit of a state after that 🥺

[Hylda2]

Had mine fitted in September and Ablate in November. Always surprised when they tell me I’m in AF 60% of the time.

[Earlybird9]

Thank you, Hylda2. It's so nice to hear from others sharing this experience.

[jockthesock]

hi Earlybird, sorry to hear about your complications and pain - it WILL get better over time, most of us have a few problems at the beginning ❤️‍🩹.

As well as the pacemaker uk site on Facebook mentioned already, have a look at Doug Rachac’s videos on you tube, they are really great for new pacers 👍

All the best 😊

[Earlybird9 in reply to jockthesock]

Thank you, jockthesock. These messages mean so much! And I'll check out the Youtube vids.

[Thumper76]

Hello there. Bless you. Sorry about your bad experience 🙁. Mine wasn’t so great either. I got a pneumothorax too but ended up having a drain in for a week 🫣. Anyway I felt like you, achy and sore and stabbing under the breast. It took about 5 months for it to feel ‘normal’ again. So, rest up, look after yourself, don’t do too much, contact your clinic if any concerns (just as the other hearties on here have advised). Hope you feel better soon ❤️

[Earlybird9 in reply to Thumper76]

Thank you, Thumper76. So glad you mentioned the stabbing under the breast - I thought that was really something scary, but you give me confidence.

[Kimkat]

hi, I had exactly the same experience as yourself. It’s pretty scary and I did think I was having a heart attack at the time, in fact the pain was so bad at one point I couldn’t lie down in bed and the following morning I was taken to A&E to be checked over. I was given intravenous paracetamol which gave me quick relief and was sent home with soluble paracetamol and told that it would gradually improve over time and it did. I think it took around 2 week’s to rectify itself, so hang on in there and it will get better, hope this helps. By the way normal paracetamol didn’t really help, so I would use the soluble type, it gets into your system quicker

[Earlybird9 in reply to Kimkat]

Thank you Kimkat - all these responses are helping so much! I'll get some soluble paracetamol tomorrow. Yes, the pain from the pneumothorax was dreadful and I thought something had gone terribly wrong with the op, I couldn't lay down in the hospital bed. Just knowing that other people have experienced this and got over it is encouraging.

[Kimkat in reply to Earlybird9]

The main thing is that it will go away after time, my husband has just said it was nearer a month for me to fully recover but I think that stabbing breathtaking pain was just a fortnight. It was 5 years ago so the memory fades 🙂

[daveandsanthomas]

You are certainly not a wimp. I had mine done a week ago & I'm in constant pain. I too can't tell whether it's the healing process or there is something wrong. I'm told it's early days yet & to expect this pain & discomfort for a few more weeks yet. I thought this thing was going to change my life, but I've not seen any signs of that happening yet.

[Earlybird9 in reply to daveandsanthomas]

Hello daveandsanthomas - I am now eight weeks on from having my pacemaker fitted, and from the worries I expressed on that first post. Just to reassure you, I had several weeks of not sleeping well, feeling disturbed and sore, and with all sorts of aches and pains around the wound site and chest. However! I have had my follow-up appointment and everything is fine. I am still adjusting to having the pacemaker in place, but I am so much better. I can walk without getting out of breath and the stress has lifted. I think I expected to feel well much too soon - so give yourself time, don't try to do too much before your follow-up, and I'm sure that in a few weeks you'll be a lot happier - as I am. Good luck and take care of yourself.