Recovery

[AH31]

Has anyone else had previous open heart surgery and had burning pain and discomfort in left side of ribs, back and sharp pains in chest?

I know this is all part of the healing process but the burning pain and discomfort has started in the past week, which is my third/forth week after surgery. I expected it to be from day one, also previously had infection in scar which is still being treated but no antibiotics as of yet.

[DodgyTickerMum]

Hiya AH31,

Sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. I would either contact the ward for advice, one of the Rehab Nurses or back to your G.P. That’s what they’re there for, if you have any concerns. Hopefully they can then put your mind at rest. I hope you get some answers. ❤️‍🩹

[Lindor23]

hello, It was the same for me. I had surgery at the end of November and although quite text book & not having to many pains to start with I too worried when pain started to appear in my ribs, back & arms. I called the BHF helpline who were lovely & later a cardiac nurse. Sadly this is part of the healing process as different parts of the body heal at different times so try not to worry. Do give the BHF helpline a call to talk through your concerns with a cardiac nurse if pains still a concern . Take care

[TriumphLover]

hi.

I'm at 7 months post OHS, initially everything seems linear healing wise and I was thinking 3 months 🤣

I'm at the end of the cardio health program and its now clear ( and advised by nurses ) that should expect 6-8 months for normal healing with the real goal being a year, as using muscles etc a lot more.

To my mind what I didn't realise is that as you reduce the meds you also use the muscles more so it drags out. Stay on the meds as long as need to ( I'm still on paracetamol full dose with the odd tramadol ) and keep the movement / walks going. I didn't notice the little improvements, eh yesterday I climbed 4 sets of stairs and wasn't winded at the top, this came gradually.

Yesterday I had a massage and they worked on my chest, today it's aching and few weird pains. The worry gets a little less as time goes on. Trust the process unless it feels like the ald ticker obvs!!

Colin

[Montana77 in reply to TriumphLover]

Hello, Where do you live? I live in OHIO and voted for Trump. Hope you are well.

[chrisboxall]

still waiting for heart surgery.

[Montana77]

Hello, I had open heart Oct 2022. I am a female and my pains were in the middle due to the scar. Burning pains. Dr said it was from the nerve pain and the nerves trying to grow back.

I do get pains on my left side of Chest. I had the LIMA to my LAD. Went in on Monday afternoon out Friday Morning. they did not stop my heart but steadied it why doing surgery. they put a metal item on my heart called octopus or star fish that steadies it why they do the surgery. I woke up in icu as they were wheeling me into the icu room

Only issues I have had is I cannot drink a lot of caffeine not much at all. Maybe half a cup. it was causing my heart to skip and was eating lots of spicy stuff. So they put a monitor on my chest for 7 days and found it is not afib and it as normal sinus heart beat.

Keep moving!!!