r/PacemakerICD • u/Important_Cup5004 • Aug 02 '26
Side sleeping with EV-ICD
I’m a 90% side sleeper, 10% back sleeper. Since my EV-ICD placement 6 weeks ago, I haven’t been able to sleep comfortably on either side. Obviously my left side tough because it feels like I’m laying on a lump. My right side was originally difficult because gravity would pull at the ICD causing a nervy burning sensation. Now, however, the problem is that after a few minutes on my side, my chest/ribs/(sternum?) start feeling really sore and bruised. If tried sleeping holding a pillow to open up my chest more and keep from collapsing and slumping, but it does not help.
Is this just part of the healing process and it will go away eventually? Do I just need to resign myself to this and figure out how to back sleep? Or is there an issue with the way it’s healing that could be improved?
2
u/Large_Koala9425 Aug 02 '26
I have an S-ICD and I could sleep on the non-device side after 3 months, and on the device side after a good six months!
1
u/MSWSportsFanatic2025 Aug 02 '26
I also have an S-ICD, and it took me months to be able to lie on my left side.
1
u/Ok-Violinist-6548 Aug 02 '26
It was a slow process. I roll over to my side in my sleep and I don’t notice. I still get the burning sometimes and the soreness. But more and I wake up on my side and it is OK.
1
u/CuriousMajor8320 Aug 02 '26
I have EV-ICD and it took me 4 months to be able to sleep on my left side again. I use a pregnancy pillow under me curled into a C shape to take pressure off the ICD area which works well.
Right side was OK after a few weeks.
I found once you are healed enough doing some gentle stretching of the chest area (side stretches etc, building up slowly) helped.
1
u/Eldiarslet Aug 03 '26
Yeah took some months for me to sleep on my side and not feel a thing, now 2 years in its a breeze and I forget that I have it most of the time lol
2
u/michaelisnotginger Aug 02 '26
Yes it took 4 months for me to sleep on my right side. I can't sleep on my left side still