I am 9 weeks post triple bypass and aged 65. Before I had heart problems I was very fit but for a year before my emergency op I was very unwell and therefore not very fit. That’s just some background which might influence your answer.
At 7 weeks I felt my pain suddenly became so much easier but the last week or so the top of my sternum has become more painful again. I am walking my dogs for an hour a day now and doing around 9000 steps but still have very breathless periods especially in the evening.
Everything I read tells me 8-12 weeks to heal completely but at 9 weeks now I can’t see that being true for me. Any help or advice would be welcome.
thank you
Elaine
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Gemchi20
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hi. I had a similar experience to you with the time to settle down very similar and then a bit of a flare up. In my case though it wasn’t the eternal wound or wires but the epicardial pacing wire the nurse left inside me instead of pulling it out. My cardiologist later said it’s best left alone unless it pokes through or causes infection..
Your words echo mine. Yes, they say 8-12 weeks, but I have yet to meet anyone that lucky! I took about a year! We are all different. Listen to your body, and remember the story of the tortoise and the hare. Good luck with your steady recovery
Hello, I had OHS early October and my sternum had healed by the time of my nine week meeting with the surgeon, confirmed by him. I'm 78, but I've always been a good healer. So now you've met one, sort of...
While many people feel ok after three months it took nearly six months for my body to feel relatively 'normal' again after my bypass.
So I wouldn't be too concerned if you're still feeling uncomfortable right now.
Have a chat with your rehab nurses (my cardiac rehab course and the advice I got from the nurses was invaluable) or your GP. I'm sure they will reassure you.
I wonder if your dogs pull? It takes much longer than a couple of months for the sternum pain to ease and dogs and trying to do too much too early will slow the healing process.
I think 12 weeks is a little optimistic and more like 24 weeks! My advice would be to treat it as a longer term recovery and avoid any stretching of arms etc. You're doing well but must still be cautious.
it’s taken 18 months for mine to settle and I can still get occasional postural discomfort. I was doing chin ups at 12 months though so it has to be something unrelated to the healing process. Age 72 here.
Hello, Gemchi20 (Elaine). I had a triple bypass almost 21 months, ago. I still get discomfort, not in the sternum, itself, but where the left clavicle (=collar bone meets it). Since, the Op, I have had discomfort under the sternum and both sides of it. I have been told that that could be due to the left mammary arter being taken out to make one of the bypass grafts, and because when that Op is done they they have to cut open the percardium that envelopes the heart. They do not usually sew that up, because that could lead to health complications. When you cough and sneeze, it might reduce strain and pain by hugging either yourself or a pillow. Dave.
Hi Elaine, at just nine weeks I'd suggest that things are still healing, but please do have a word with your GP or a rehab nurse if you're concerned about anything and I'm sure they'll put your mind at rest. Each of us is different in terms of our various operations and healing times and can only offer our own experiences.
I'm also a 65yr-old female and had my triple almost three years ago in February 2022 and was very lucky in that my body behaved itself and healed quite quickly. ☺️ They did recommend that if I intended to go out for walks in the cold, that I keep well wrapped up with a scarf in the chest area as extremes of temperature can also affect us a little. Even now, I tend to wear a scarf well tucked in over my chest when I'm out and about in the cold.
When you think about it, your sternum has been broken and wired back together again, and like any broken bone, it's going to take a while to fully heal. Thankfully I've never broken any bones but can't imagine a broken leg or arm would be completely back to normal just 8-12 weeks after being repaired. All the muscles and little nerves involved need time to fully heal too, and then there's having to get used to a new medicine regime as well no doubt! It's also quite usual that medication might need a little 'tweaking' in the months after our ops when things start to settle fully. Although it seems to be regarded as a 'standard' op these days, it's still a big one for us as individuals.
You're doing incredibly well already, but make sure those gorgeous dogs aren't pulling when you're out walking and take time to be kind to yourself as well. We all deserve a little spoiling now and again and slow and steady really does tend to work best.😊
Sending you every best wish for a full and fast recovery - but please do speak with your GP if you've any concerns at all, they really don't mind. Oh, and Happy New Year to everyone too! ☺️ Carol
During my time as a nurse I realised that most doctors actually have very little idea of what recovery means or how long it takes - some of this is because a doctor's definition of recovery is different to the patient's, but also most doctors have never been through whatever condition they are treating and have no idea of what it feels like
During your surgery your sternum and ribs were cut open and wrenched open - this damages the bones as well as all the connecting muscles, tendons, nerves and blood supply - and then there's the stuff they do do your heart before stitching, wiring and/or stapling you back together!
One broken bone takes around 6 weeks just to repair the break with new tissue, this then needs time to build enough strength to work normally and need to be nurtured through this period while the muscles re-attach and rebuild strength along with the muscle - rushing the process can cause damage and delay recovery
Now apply that to your chest and you can begin to understand why you might not be recovering as the doctors predicted
Also, someone else pointed out, your dog walking might be adding extra strain to your repairing chest - I cracked a rib last year, I could hardly move, breath deeply or laugh without pain for 4 weeks before it eased, and it took weeks more before I resumed normal activity (which does not include dog walking or strenuous exercise) - so you might want to consider the effect of dogs pulling your arm, which is connected to and relies on chest muscles to function properly + the effort of walking which makes demands on your heart, lungs and chest muscles (during breathing and exercise)
I know that exercise is important for you and your recovery, but you might want to consider whether or not you are expecting too much too soon🌺
Hi Elaine I am nearly 7 months post triple now and still get nerve discomfort in my chest. As I understand it, the whole 12 weeks thing is the point at which the sternum is fused. This isn't the same as being healed, but does mean your upper torso is more stable, there are still a bunch of other things that are healing as others have so eloquently described.
One thing I have noticed is that as I start using muscles again that I have been carefully avoiding using, it is easy to pull them which can take some time to stop hurting.
If you are concerned, do not hesitate to get medical advice. Hope you continue well on your healing journey.
Hi, I had a triple heart bypass 4years and 4 months ago!!
My chest always gives me a twinge now and again,especially when I think I can pick something up which clearly too heavy. I think I’ve just got used to it. I’ve probably had more issue with my leg where they took the vein out than anything else. I just except it as part of what’s happened I guess. Take care. ( (63)very soon.
Sounds very much like you're overdoing it. You've had surgery and everyone is different regards body healing. It takes some time to get over, in many cases months and months. So listen to your body and don't exert yourself. Steady as you go, no dog walking marathons. Stay as active as your body tells you, but rest more, give yourself time to heal. Speedy recovery. ☺️🙏xx
Hi Elaine, do you feel it more when you walk or move around a lot? I am nearly 8 weeks post mitral valve replacement and 6 weeks post pacemaker fitting and I find that after my daily walks I can feel "the ache" more. But then it does seem to settle down. I don't know if this helps but you doing amazing if you can now do 9000 steps ☺️. Good luck and take care.
Yes after walking it hurts more but also for some reason during the evening even if I am just sitting it becomes uncomfortable again. I guess we’re all different and need to be patient. Thanks for you reply x
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