Hi guys, I'm now at week 11 after double heart bypass surgery. Surgery went well, but very bad wound infection and had to be rehospitalized. After all the infection hoo ha, I'm doing well and generally feeling good.
My chest area currently feels really tight, and whilst it doesn't hurt to breathe in and out, I can feel the 'tightness' inside. I don't have any symptons or signs of anything untoward, just this feeling that my chest is clamped in a vice!
Your experiences would be greatly appreciated. ❤️
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SFH1802
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9 months on from double CABG and I still have chest tightness, aches and pains. This morning it feels like someone is sticking pins under the left side of my chest. 😐
I am glad you are doing so well except for the infection you had
I had a small infection at the bottom of my wound had the Nurses out every day till it cleared so reading your post I am glad it was not any worse
The feeling you are getting in your chest could be down to the operation and now the healing process as we all tend to get some discomfort I know I did and 18 months on still get the odd twinge here and there but if you are unsure as we are not Doctors asking your Rehab Nurses or your Doctor as well as you could phone the BHF Nurses just to check might be a good idea
Let us know how you get on x
👋 Hi , come March, it will be 5 calendar 📅 months since my double Bypass Surgery (LAD & Diagonal) . Fortunately, I did not suffer any wound infection, and I started playing 🎾 tennis at 10 weeks post Bypass.
However, I did get the colley wobbles when I posted that I'd started playing and I'd experienced discomfort pain and weird feelings in and around my Bypass scars. I was besieged with dire warnings like having to have my chest rewired etc.
I confess I did lose some sleep over this .
At my next Cardio Rehabilitation assessment 11 weeks post op I brought up my concerns and I was pretty much reassured that your chest at week 11 is pretty much kneaded together, phew!
So, my advice would be to speak to a medical professional I did and as soon as I was reassured that there was nothing wrong it worked wonders for me.
Hope you get to the bottom of what's causing your symptoms.
I'm 16 months on from triple bypass and incision is still very sore, I think partly because I had to go down to theatre twice (leak). First couple of inches a nice white line but thereafter red and lumpy. Just a long waiting game
Tweaks twinges discomfort. The nerves are trying to reconnect and are not always succeeding. I get slight pain, slight numbness at times from the sternum area.
I think that there is probably something not only activity related but weather related. Sunshine, rain, wind, cold, warmth, high humidity, are likely to have an impact just as they do with deep tooth fillings.
Hi I’m 14 weeks post triple bypass and still getting some pain/discomfort in that area. Greatly improved but some way to go. Think maybe you should get this checked for your own peace of mind. Good luck X
Hi, not to worry. I had triple bypass 18 months ago and nearly every day I experience some discomfort. I monitored the pain and noted that out of a maximum pain being 10 and no pain being 0 it has dropped from about 3 to 0.5 now, but it is still there. Often when I make a movement I can feel nerve damage pain as my skin is stretched over the metalwork in my sternum, it's pretty normal I guess. Watch out for any redness, having in mind you had a bad infection, otherwise try to relax, it's just a reminder how good it is to be alive, cheers SFH1802👍
Eight months on from triple CABG and the sternum is still slightly sore when pressed, but don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about. All wounds bar one leg, healed rapidly. I attribute that to the supplement routine I adopted pre surgery. They told me to stop taking probiotic supplements when I was admitted, but I’m convinced I was in good shape prior to admission.
Your body will take time to recover, make sure to get plenty of exercise.
Hi, Im early days, only 4 weeks post op from double bypass tomorrow. I have like a neuralgia ache at either side of my scar, and have been told its just all the nerves trying to knit back together again. I have followed the instructions from my surgeon, cardiologist and cardio rehab nurse in not placing any stress whatsoever on the sternum area. The booklet I got on discharge says you should make a full recovery in 12 weeks!!! according to ALL the health care professionals I have spoken to, they say its more realistic to say a year!! you can return to work after 12 weeks depending on the job you do, or drive, as long as you have a towel or cushion between your chest and the seatbelt!!! when people encourage you to take plenty exercise, remember it is at YOUR pace, and when you get tired or out of breath, then you stop and rest. I think it is just taking one day at a time and baby steps. I was taking oxycodone 10ml 4 times a day and was beginning to feel and be sick? I knew it was the morphine so my GP is working with me in gradually weaning me off it. I am still taking oxycodone slow release tablets, one am and one pm, but will come of them too. Rest, relax, and take each day as it comes. you will get there in your own time at your own pace
I support BeKind's suggestion about contacting people for advice
but to expand on the wound issue: we all heal at different rates but having an infection slows the healing process - it also adds to the general inflammation in the area, which takes time to resolve - also although the repair is good, there is often stiffening of the scar tissue at this stage, which should ease if you continue to move around gently and keep the area mobile without overstretching
also remember that the surgeons cut through your chest cage - bone prefers to be kept still while healing, but here it can't because it moves when you breathe - the initial repair on bone is often bulkier and is refined back down gradually, rebuilding it's strength during this process - this can also add to the general tightness in the area because repair tissue often lacks the suppleness of normal tissue (even in bone)
the exercises you should have been shown as part of the post-op rehab are partly aimed at keeping the bones, muscle and other tissue moving gently while they repair, this helps you return to your fullest range of movement after healing - so try to avoid seizing up and reducing movement, do your breathing exercises to keep your chest moving gently and maintain good lung expansion
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