Clicking in Chest after triple bypass

[shoultsp]

Since Late January 2022 I had a triple heart bypass and a stent fitted but after a couple of months later I’m starting to get a coughing and clicking from my Sternum And it’s a cause for concern.

I have been back to the Cardiac outpatients and the Consultant was going to send me for a CT scan but a day later they called me to cancel it, even tho they did have a X-ray of my chest. I have also been to see a Chest Consultant at the same Hospital that my GP sent me to, but he wants me to go and I have recently had that CT scan.

Waiting for CT results ,and I want is to hopefully get back to normal and hoping I can get any info in what to do .

[Max1019]

The clicking is normal after a bypass as is the swelling at the top if the sternum. It does go away eventually. We all heal at different rates and it’s learning to take one day at a time.No experience of the coughing though so can’t comment on that. Keep pushing for answers.

[Markp7119]

Had a cabgx4 last year and had clicking noise from sternum It does go away eventually in my case about 4 months

[CyclingTime]

I was lucky and didn't get the clicking, had ip in January like yourself. They told me if I did they would just do scan and if needed they would remove the titanium wires. They said it was a simple one day procedure

[Barb6374]

Hi , just had CARB x2 last September and I still get clicking. I keep saying to Dr and nurse but no one says anything. I'm trying to get an appointment with my cardiologist who I haven't seen since having a heart attack 18 months ago.It will be interesting to hear your results

[shoultsp in reply to Barb6374]

I’m close to my retiring age of 66yrs and been very lucky with my employers who have been paying my wages over the 20 weeks they give us . I want to keep working and my job is mainly heavy work but this heart attack has come at the wrong time and don’t want to sponge of the state and also retire.I live in London and trips to the park to walk around every day for most of the day, but having problem in jogging as I’m out of breath when I jog for awhile .I struggle in breathing and sit on park bench till I get my breath back.

I’ve been lucky that the hospital Cardiac team have offered a recovery program once a week to “hopefully” get back to normal.

But it’s that constant clicking I’m concerned about and hearing people on here saying it goes after a few months doesn’t help me ,as I’ve still got mine after nearly 6 months.

[Hidden]

Dear shoultsp

Welcome to the clicking chest club, you are not alone and I for one have the badge and T-shirt.

So what is going on? Well with me they haven’t {so far} got a clue but its quite a sort of “pop” with no pain. {personally I think mine is something to do with the sternum wires as I can feel them under my skin}

I think that even though I mention it every time I see someone, I have things more important to be getting on with first.

But I will be following your post with interest, I understand how important it is to you and your concerns.

I really hope that you find the answer soon, it is one “club” that I could very easily leave.

Take care

[HeartaFlutter]

It's 11 wks post triple bypass for me and first few weeks my clavicle would click, n my whole rib cage would shift. Doing the light exercises the PT had me do really helped, like neck roll s, shoulders raise up and down. Find more n gently work your sternum. My diaphragm now hurts when I bend down to pk up stuff, I feel my sternum (wires) push into my stomach and I feel nauseous.

[RailRover]

Similar experience. Was OK for a few weeks and then started getting the clicking, and a clunking feeling when I moved. I thought I had somehow dislodged the repair work they had done on the bones, but it did pass. My only problem a year on is a still irritated red section of skin at the lower end of the incision scar.

[Hidden]

I'm nearly 2 and half years post bypass and I get clicking when I cough occasionally. It's seems to be painless unlike the rest of my chest which still has patches which are painful and patches which are numb!