Me again ☺️ quick pacemaker question

[Knavesmire27]

How long after having pacemaker fitted can I sleep on my side? I was told at first to prop myself up and lay on my back but not sure how long that is for. Thank you. I really appreciate and value the feedback I get here (hence all my posts 😆)

[Ageingfast]

whilst I needed to sleep sitting up, I had five pillows in a semicircle plus a “teddy” under my knees. The teddy is a rolled up large towel.

Slept well with this set up.

I had open heart surgery but no pacemaker.

Sooty

[EMBoy]

I used a large V shaped pillow for about a week, after which I was able to lie down without too much pain. I was pain free after about 10 days.

[wedgewood]

I had a pacemaker over a year ago . Was never told to sleep propped up .Never told not sleep on my left side . That is the side I usually sleep . Never had a problem .

[Knavesmire27 in reply to wedgewood]

That's really good to know, thank you

[Gfern in reply to Knavesmire27]

Same here as Wedgwood, no problem, it’s only a problem when you find you can’t lie side down you won’t know till you try. I wouldn’t over think it you are going to co be very conscious of it initially but after a few days when you realise it’s not going anywhere it becomes your new normal. Best of luck.

[Anomie in reply to wedgewood]

That was the same for me after I had the pacemaker.

[Eddybear]

I'm having an ICD fitted next week, I told them I always sleep on my side or should I say sides as I tend to chop and change during the night, they said no problem sleeping on the same side as the ICD implant but it could be uncomfortable at first, guess I'll find out next week.

[Whitetrek]

I slept on my back for 2 weeks using a v pillow,, I have gradually been trying to sleep on my side as I am usually a right side sleeper. I find I have to keep my left arm on my body as it can sometimes be uncomfortable if you roll your left arm forward across the scar point. It’s gradually becoming more bearable but some nights go onto my back again. Good luck

[Pouchielou1972]

I slept sitting up for the first few weeks after my ICD implant with a V pillow and 2 more pillows to prop me up. I would say it was about 12 weeks until I felt comfortable laying on my side. But even now I tend to mainly sleep on my back with my V pillow which I never did prior to surgery, but this is just because I've gotten used to sleeping this way now.

[Mollydex]

hi. I kept a pillow at my left side for about 10 days , just cos I found it more comfortable. After that no problems.

[Buddy00]

There’s no medical reason to not sleep on your side from day 1. I couldn’t sleep on my pm side for quite a while while everything healed. Fortunately I didn’t need any special pillows.

[Thaifan]

I found once the scar had healed it was again comfortable to sleep on side. I think a lot depends on how much natural padding you have in that area. My pacemaker is very prominent as I have no fat in that area and occasionally it is uncomfortable on that side.

[DilatedAortaRunner]

after 2 weeks I am sleeping on my right hand side and it’s far more comfortable than sleeping on my back. Started to move on to left 4 weeks after heart surgery and 2 1/2 weeks after pacemaker but it’s only usually for around 20-30 mins at a time as it is very prominent under my skin as I’m a bit of a thinny. Still a little sore on that side and can lead to a dead arm if not careful ! Hope that helps and best of luck with your recovery !

[samui4611]

Had a pacemaker for many years, and have always slept on my side, who advised

otherwise.

[Knavesmire27 in reply to samui4611]

That's good to know, thanks. It was the physician who did the implant that mentioned it but from reading all the comments I think I will be ok now to do it. Thanks again.

[samui4611 in reply to Knavesmire27]

Pleased to hear your mind is at rest, had my first pacemaker ,at Hammersmith Hospital,,there was no mention of sleep position.

[iansHealth1]

I’m due my ICD implant on Friday and had the ‘pre-op’ chat last Thursday and nothing was mentioned about sleeping on sides.

Until I read this thread, it hadn’t occurred to me either.

After my first couple of HA’s I couldn’t sleep lying down and used to pack pillows all round me so I could sleep sitting up. When I gravitated to sleeping in bed, I couldn’t sleep on my left side for ages.

These days, I’m conscious of my heart beat when I’m on my left side, but I ignore it.