Why do I still have pains in my ribs/breastbone?

[sandrann]

Hi everyone I'm a newbie on this site and looking forwards to reading your stories as well as sharing mine. Four months ago I had my life saved by the wonderful medical team at Basildon Cardiothoracic Hospital..I had a double bypass with complications and needed a further surgical procedure 4 days later. I'm recovering slowly and so grateful for the breath of life I've been granted..however I've one little query and wondered if anyone else on here has or is experiencing the same thing..extreme sharp pain in my ribs and breastbone especially when turning over in bed or on sitting up after a night's sleep? Looking forward to your replies.

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hello Sandrann, welcome to the forum. I had my rehab at Basildon!

Anyhow, its because your breastbone hasn't quite knitted together and the wires used to tie t back are still settling in with the surrounding tissue and muscle now beginning to get the nerve endings working again, it will settle down, if its very uncomfortable go and see your gp for some advice. Mine after 13 months is still tender and I have lumps where I can feel the wires and still have the occasional very sharp pain

regards

Mark

[sandrann in reply to skid112]

Hi there Mark, thank you for your reply.

What you've said makes so much sense..it's so easy to let one's mind run away with silly thoughts when you have folk tell you they were back to work after 2 months, pain free.

I've since made a firm decision to only mix with folk who are of positive attitude and recognise we are all different in our way of healing.

I appreciate your input.

Regards

Sandra

[skid112 Heart Star in reply to sandrann]

Hi Sandra

Don't be scared of using the pain relief available, its a major operation and your chest and surrounding area took a battering, I understand the reluctance as I was the same, maybe just before bed so you can relax and rest

[Makmum in reply to skid112]

Reading your's make me feel at ease because I'm on the 18 days on recovery timelime after my 3x CABG.Just now I felt pain a little bit on the right side when I thightened my Chest Protector myself which I normally does with no problem.Hopefully it will goes away

[Bitez]

Hug 🤗 a cushion , I do , and it really helps ....

[sandrann in reply to Bitez]

Hi there Bitez, thank you for your reply and your suggestion, I will give it a try.

regards,

Sandra

[Lisa4]

Hiya Sandrann

Welcome to the forum I joined two months ago and this lovely bunch of people have helped so much during my recovery.

I think we are all different in our healing as I used to get anxious hearing people had no pain who were in a similar position to me.

Be assured I wake up most mornings with pain thinking something has gone wrong overnight. By the time I’m up and moving around it calms down. By the time it’s late afternoon the uncomfortable feeling comes back. Are you still taking pain relief? Perhaps a chat with your GP might help to ease your mind.

Take care

Lisa

[Makmum in reply to Lisa4]

Hi..in certain culture foods that we take "perceive" as something that effect our body especially during healing process.I always check compatibility of a certain medicine with food before take it

[sandrann]

Hi there Lisa4, thank you for your reply and reassuring me.

Regards pain relief, well no, I'm not using any..as I'm taking 7 drugs a day I don't really want to use any more chemicals if I can avoid it..and before the operation I never used to take any medication, it's a completely different way of living for me, as I guess it is for several folk using this forum.

In hospital once off morphine I was given pain killers and managed to reduce them down to none over the first two weeks being home..but I didn't have the pains I'm now experiencing. As my deep breathing exercises are not assisting me with the pain it looks like I may have to consider using pain relief again.

I have several replies to do on this forum, and as you say they are a lovely bunch and I'm pleased I joined.

Sending you hugs

Sandra