Soreness during recovery

[Reuben52]

Ozaki procedure and double bypass on 26/02/2020. Soreness and “tightness” rather than pain around heart area over the past few weeks. Just after reassurance really that this is nothing unusual. Thanks.

[Chappychap]

Hello Reuben,

congratulations on your successful operation!

Some soreness is quite normal, furthermore it can last for quite a long time. The normal medical advice about returning to work after 6-8 weeks post bypass tends to give patients a somewhat optimistic view of the true recovery period. Yes, you're usually fit for work within two months, but that's not the same thing as a "full recovery", which for many people can take up to a year.

There's a huge amount of trauma to the chest (for example the rib cage is forced apart way beyond anything that happens with normal breathing in order to give the surgeon access to the heart) and this takes a long time to completely repair. In addition it's important to realise that the lungs have no internal muscles or structure for breathing, they depend on the rise and fall of the rib cage to pump air in and out, so during the bypass operation the lungs collapse, and reflating them fully takes many months of diligent exercise.

So don't be overly concerned about the odd twinge here and there, even if these persist for many months. Instead focus on your daily walks and your breathing exercise. The cardio rehab courses were really valued by most people, but I understand physical classes have been suspended, however I've read on the forum about plans for on-line versions. If you can find one it would really help speed your recovery.

And as the weeks turn into months you'll begin to appreciate that you're now truly free of the ghastly symptoms of angina, and you'll get a new lease of life with far more vigour and energy than you had before. Keeping yourself in that happy condition for many years to come will require serious changes to your life style as well as just taking the medication, but once you experience that surge of new energy I'm sure you'll conclude that major life style changes are absolutely, 100% worth the effort!

Good luck!

[Reuben52 in reply to Chappychap]

Thanks very much, Chappychap.

I’m up to about 10k steps a day and continue to do my breathing exercises: oximeter readings usually about 95, so it looks like I’m doing the right things and my lung problem has improved.

The chest soreness is there more often than not and I had been wondering if it was due to strain on muscles other than the heart. Maybe I have lifted something too heavy? Your comments are reassuring.

Will act on the online rehab possibilities. As you say, the physical version has been cancelled.

Thanks again.