Sternotomy discomfort / anxiety

[glezz]

I am now coming up to 2 years post CABG and still getting mild non specific discomfort in my chest.

I am regularly walking 10+ miles without any issues. My twinges can come when I am sat down. I can walk up 8 flights of stairs with minimal breathlessness.

Doctors assure me that my discomfort is unlikely to be cardiac.

So my questions are ....

1) is anybody else experiencing discomfort after 2 years.

2) is anyone else suffering from a similar anxiety despite everything else indicating that they are fine.

3) how have others dealt with it.

Thanks in advance. My fears are taking over what should be a happy new life.

[jimmyq]

I had 4 CABGs in one go but it all settled down in a few months. Try to analyze it, i.e. does anything trigger it?

[Deanosbeano]

Most folk that I know that had the cabg or OHS say 9- 12 months for the physical and a while after that for the mental indicators of the op to fade

Like you said and like the surgeon said to me on my follow up , go live your life

And don't look for any signs your op went well .

[Charlie0007]

Hi Glezz

I had bypass November 17 and still get slight discomfort in my chest area, i still have a numbness in part, still get twinges here and there nothing too bad except when i sneeze, but then i do have a strong sneeze. i just put it down to healing differently to others and after what went on there it doesn't surprise me or bother me that much.

perhaps give BHF a ring speak to a nurse just to put your mind at rest.

Many Blessings

Charlie

[McWine]

I have considerable discomfort and sharp pains in my sternum, under horrible keloid scarring. In Jan 2014 I had a new aortic valve and triple bypass.

The pains and sensitivity only arose in early 2017 and persist to this day.

I've had steroid injections, visits to the pain clinic, cardiology, dermatology for 38 allergy tests etc., The surgeons say they can feel the ends of the nickel wires under my scars

A sternotomy seems to be the next step. Has anyone any similar or offer some advice?

Nothing in particular seems to trigger it

[glezz in reply to McWine]

Yes I also have keloid scarring and my wires are also quite prominent.

The pains are only niggles and don't even require paracetamol. They just scare me as much as I try to be rational.

For the last few months I have been wearing a tight latex t-shirt under my clothes and it seems to help. Just stops clothes rubbing.

When I am stripped to the waist I have no issues at all.

Have also been taking CBD with my doctor's blessing. This seems to reduce my anxiety.

[McWine in reply to glezz]

Thank you, though I can't think of much worse than a latex vest.

What strength is your CBD? I did try that, but only for a few days.

[glezz in reply to McWine]

Haha. I suppose latex isn't for everyone.

I take 1 capsule of 10mg CBD

This equals 8 drops if CBD oil 2.75%

Jacob hooy from Holland and Barrett.