CABG3, Three weeks on.

[ChoochSiesta]

The worst thing now is the chest sensitivity. It's like the worst sun burn you have ever had. When does this ease off? Paracetamol does nowt!

[Hidden]

Hello

That sounds like broad Derbyshire nowt

O it is early days yet and 6 months on and mine can still be tender and sore but does get better

Have you tried Bio oil that can help and refrain from soap for now where it is sore and use just water

Make sure you pat it dry and don't rub when you bathe

Wear loose clothing your shirt or dressing gown open with the heating on of course so you do not get cold

If it is still unbearable then ask your Doctor if they could give you anything stronger than paracetamol

It will ease though give it time x

[ChoochSiesta in reply to Hidden]

Nowt is one of many strange phrases my grandmother used to say who grew up in Osset Yorkshire. This rotten heart disease robbed her of her husband when he was only 53, she survived another 40 years but never remarried. Good shout on loose clothing, so glad I bought my first ever dressing gown ready for all this, tend to keep it on all day if I am not going out.

[Hidden in reply to ChoochSiesta]

Hello

So many times I come out with strange sayings and realise that was what my Grandma would say

I am sorry to hear about how she lost her Husband and so young to

Yes loose clothing , shirts open indoors and so on and it is easier for you men to do this

See if it helps x

[Steve_G]

Nerves are damaged when they rip away the left internal mammary artery to bypass the LAD artery. The sensitivity and numbness is then on the skin over the left side of the chest. This slowly improves with time but 3+ years on from CABGx3 I’m still not completely back to normal.

[Hidden]

Dear ChoochSiesta

Well done for getting to your three week mark as that folds into your forth, fifth, sixth { I think you can guess where this is going }

everything will still ache and be telling you what has happened to your body and how amazing it is that you are here to feel those pains and aches.

You need stronger pain killers to help get you through these first few months. I’m entering my eighth month and my chest still feels odd and not my own.

Take care you amazing survivor, I for one are glad that you are here and asking questions

[El-Tel1990]

I’m now 14 months post CABG X4, it does get easier. Bio oil in my opinion is brilliant in assisting the healing process. Oversized t-shirts can be comfortable when walking around the home. Try to walk every day . You’ll get there , remember you are not the only one and keep coming to this forum for reassurance!Take care

[Rogo23]

I had a 4 last July, and felt the same way.My next door neighbor's little boy heard me complain about the complete ineffectiveness of paracetamol, I think that I might have used slightly different wording probably something like *"""""" #@£&#£+8** paracetamol,and like any obnoxious 8year old said well stop talking it then.

And like the stupid 57year old pillok that I am, I thought he has a point, so I gave it up, duh.

Within 24 hours I came to the conclusion that paracetamol actually did help, a lot.

It will get better, I still have some discomfort but it is definitely lessening with time.

You can call your doctor about getting something with a bit more authority if it is really bad.

Try bio oil, and although it's not comfortable make a real effort not to favour your chest. We all do it hunching over to keep our clothes from touching the scar, that actually makes desensitizing the area take longer, and at least in my case gave me a backache to sort of balance out the front ache.

One suggestion that I was given and will pass on, when you start to travel in cars again, get one of those seatbelt pads it makes a real difference.

Give it some time, you are on the mend.

[july2020]

I was discharged with Tramadol as well as Paracetamol, it is an opiate so is controlled, but talk to your doctor. I was told you need to control the pain to help your body heal. It really helped me in first couple of months. The other thing I was told was to take them regularly, not just when the pain got bad. I alternated the two types every 4 hours, even at night as pain used to wake me up.

For me, I think I finished taking regular paracetamol after about 5 months, but I overstretched my self in week two and that damage took the longest time to heal.

[LilLondon]

I’m 4 month post cabg & still have an uncomfortable feeling across my chest. Feels like the skin is sticking to my bones. I do use bio oil to keep it well moisturised & take amitriptyline when it’s bad but has been a contrast now for months 😞