pain under ribs

[Charl70]

hI there

I'm 30 days post quad bypass and I have some pain under ribs also at bottom of rib cage ,mostly when get up and move about a bit, seems to ease when I lie down and move about a bit more (when go out for walk )also struggling a bit with waves of anxiety especially at bed time ,any advice would be most welcome ,(I do have the odd herbal sleep tablet are there any good for anxiety which anyone has taken to help

thanks very much

[Hidden]

Hello

I still get pains in my ribs and all over the area they will have had apart it is quite normal especially as these are early days for you

Try and relax it is just the healing which can take a while but will get better x

[Hidden]

Dear Charl70

Well done for getting to your first month after your bypass and a quad one at that.

Like all of us that first month is a roller-coaster of not only pains but some incredible emotions , both of which you and your body are trying to process.

The pain is classic where it is and even though I am not medically trained, I and many others have followed the same path, with similar outcomes.

I would love to tell you that the pain will go off but its more that you will get used to it and like BeKind28 I have just passed my year mark and I still have the odd twinge just to remind me what has happened { and why }

If you could be a fly on the wall during these operations you would be astounded the positions that they move the body in to get to the areas that they need to operate on and its not done softly or slowly as time under general anaesthetic is as critical as the operation itself can be.

Add to all this the damage done to the nerves that need time to knit back together , the wounds themselfs and really is there any wonder that we still have pain?

The anxiety side is so much more difficult to deal with and your first and main lesson is to realise that you are not alone and there is help, but you must ask for it, your Dr/heart team is waiting to help, please ask as you have here.

Wrong sleep pattern is one of the most destructive things to our wellbeing and recovery and as much as I believe in some herbal medication { only to be taken with your Drs say so as a lot can interfere with normal Medication } please don't be frightened to ask for help again with this.

I had sleeping problem that was put back into sync using a very short course of mild prescribe sleeping tablets that really helped { wish I had used them sooner }

You are doing so well, this month will soon turn into another then a year and your new life will begin to flow as this and us become your past history

Please keep us informed.

[080311]

morning Charl70

It’s still very early days since your surgery. Just think about what our body as been through your sternum was cut apart spread out and then we were put back together again. We are in some extreme positions on the table so we have pain in some funny places😂 being anxious is natural our brain is still processing what as happened.

Remember it’s baby steps you will get there, have you been offered cardio rehab? If not get in touch with your GP/cardiologist get on the list it really helps being around others who have been through the same as you is so helpful, it’s as much for our mental health as getting our stamina back.

Don’t expect to much of yourself you will get there. Keep doing your breathing exercises they really help.

Best wishes Pauline

[MountainGoat52]

Hi Charl70,

Reading your post my first thought was that it is early days for you. It will take time for your body to heal and settle down and as has been said, some aches may not go away. In the early stages of recovery I took each day at a time, making small physical improvements such as walking a bit further than the day previous. Focussing on what I was able to achieve (and recording it) was key to remaining positive and relieving anxiety.

I count myself fortunate not to have had any internal pains from my bypass, but my chest area was an issue for several months and even now 4 years on, I have a pad on my car seat belt to help reduce chest muscle aches when on long journeys. Aches, numbness and pains around the two harvest sites are another issue, but I am happy to accept these as part of the new me. I would say that most of the time I don't even think about the changes my body has gone through.

I sincerely hope that in a month you will be able to think back to where you are now and note some significant improvements. Bit by bit you will get back to a more normal life. It just takes time. Keep looking for those positive signs of improvement. 😀

With my best wishes,

Gerald

[Charl70]

thank you