Sleeping 12 weeks after CABG x 4

[Tillymint1971]

For the last four nights I have really struggled to get to sleep and felt unwell during the day. My husband says I do sleep for much of the night but I can't get comfortable when going to bed. I feel itchy all over, my nightwear rides up and I rearrange my pillows. I feel cold and shivery and most distressing I have jumpy legs and arms which is extremely unpleasant. I toss and turn, get up, put another layer on, take two Rennie, rearrange my pillows again and eventually get to sleep.

Sleeping on my back makes me feel like everything is shifting as I lie down. I hug a pillow to sleep on my side but often wake up with painful sternum.

The last few days I have woken up with sternum pain and felt unwell during the day, fatigued. I have had a heavy chest and when I breathe in it hurts. I'm sure this is all part of recovering from a major op but has anyone experienced same.

[keithsaunders77]

Hi Tillymint1971, I also had a CABG at Derryford on 13 Feb. I haven't slept a full night and have lots of chest pains day and night. I spoke with the surgeon yesterday on a video call. He told me to give it another 2 months and be kind to myself. It's a really big op and its going to take more time to be free from pain.

Stay strong and ease back on the exercise is the advice from my rehab nurse.

[Tillymint1971 in reply to keithsaunders77]

Thanks, yes, my op was 10th Feb. You are lucky to have contact with surgeon. I was cut loose at 6 weeks so this is my only support. Reassuring you have similar sleep issues. Takeaway is I need to not overdo it I guess.

[keithsaunders77 in reply to Tillymint1971]

Sorry to hear that you have no support. I'm in North Devon and normally I would be attending a rehab course at the hospital but the rehab team here have been a great support and contact me to make sure I'm alright and have helped me in many ways.

Do you not have a rehab team you can phone in your area?.

[Healthyheart1]

I think that you should get in touch with your doctor at least This may be a bit over the top but could you possibly have caught covid 19. Sorry if I'm talking out of turn but in the current climate I think that you should look at all alternatives.

Regards Sheena x

[Tillymint1971 in reply to Healthyheart1]

I have been at home for 12 weeks. My husband goes out to food shop but is very careful going when there are no queues. I wash my hands after touching the mail/deliveries. But you are right it’s not outside the realms of possibility. I will monitor carefully.

[Hidden]

The normal time it takes for a sports muscle tear to heal is at least 12 weeks and that is for an athlete. A CABG is much worse than that. I've had a 5 way (2006) and a 3 way (2017) and both times it took a long time to heal and I was only 48 and a very fit athlete the first time. My wife bought me a big maternity pillow (long, squishy) after my last bypass and that helped a lot. There are also pillows women buy to support them when feeding a baby and our daughter swears by those. Putting a pillow behind your back can also help stop rolling onto your back. It's good you checked with your surgeon. If you didn't get to cardiac rehab have a check in by phone with a rehab nurse of exercise professional if you can. There are exercises that help mobile the joints and muscles after CABG. Good luck.

[Tillymint1971]

Thanks for this - you have obviously been through it. I haven’t been able to talk to surgeon or cardiologist for 6 weeks now which is why I posted. Pillow is good shout - I have hugged a pillow last couple of nights with decent results. When did you start work again after your first bypass? (I am same age but not mega fit)