Triple bypass

[Letitia12345]

I had triple bypass 2 years ago this Sunday February 2023. Every time I cough or sneeze I gave to hold left side of my scar. It feels like a stich pain. I am struggling to bend over and put my socks on because it hurts. And I have to keep pulling my jumper and shirt away from my left side of my chest, it's so uncomfortable. GP told me 6 months ago it sounds like nerve damage and should get better. Well it hasn't. I am 68 years old and feel good apart from this. Does anyone else suffer with this. Many thanks...

[Vegart]

Hello, Letitia13345. Sorry to read that you are still having great discomfort in the chest area, a couple of years after your CABG. I, myself, still get discomfort, there, 22 month after my Triple CABG Op, but not when bending over. Nevertheless, the left side of my chest still feels tender, with, at times, a brief pain. For several momths after the Op, at times, below my chest wall it felt like I had chicken wire, there, and swollen. I still get pulling feelings or clicking, especially when violently sneezing or coughing, where the left clavicle meets the sternum. At my post-op follow up with the heart surgeon, I was told that the clicking was alright. During the op they cut open the Pericardium covering the heart, but do not sew it up, afterwards. My sternum scar took a few weeks to heal, on the lower half, and is still swollen. Up until recently, clothing did seem to grate on my scar, and also I had to adjust how the seatbelt lay on my chest. A physiotherapist might be able to help you ease your chest, and an occupational therapist might be able to recommend equipment that avoids the need to bend down.

[Letitia12345 in reply to Vegart]

Thanks for your reply 👍

[Brht]

I had the same operation in March 23. I do have to be careful moving heavy things and can't do the exercises I used to but you seem to be experiencing more pain. Can you see your heart specialist? From reading the posts on this site it seems we all have slightly different experiences.

[Letitia12345 in reply to Brht]

Thank u for replying. Can't get to see cardiologist until June. It's unbelievable.

[OK10]

Hi. I had my ohs about 5 months ago and wound looks healed from the outside but I am still getting pains on my left. Some areas feel numb. The pain feels like stretching and sometimes stinging. It is there a lot of the time. Cardiac nurses said it could take 6 months to a year for the pain to go away because of muscle and nerve damage. In bed i can't lie on my left for too long. I have to be careful when bending down to tie my laces. When i need to caugh or sneeze i try to cross my arms like huging my self. At the beginning i used to use a rolled up towel or a small pillow. Also when i started driving after the operation i used to a towel around the seat belt. My main worry now is this pain on my left, which makes me very anxious, and that it turns makes me feel tired.

I hope you get better soon.

[Letitia12345 in reply to OK10]

Thanks for your message. I have the same symptoms as you and its 2 years on Sunday I had cab.x3. Can't see cardiologist till June.

[OK10 in reply to Letitia12345]

I just had one telephone call from someone from my surgeon's team 6 weeks after my operation, which lasted about 5 mins. That was it. Then they discharged me.

[Letitia12345 in reply to OK10]

It really is unbelievable. Such a stressful time. All I need is a bit of reassurance. My GP which is a lottery to get hold of is not the person I wish to discuss my situation with. Not being disrespectful but it's the cardiologist I want to see.Many thanks for your message..

[Cabgx2]

I had a double bypass in July 2023 and I still have tenderness and numbness if I touch my left hand side. If I twist suddenly I still get some pain from my Sternum. It definitely feels different from my angina. I was told that nerve damage can take more years than we have left in this world which is unfortunate. My leg scars are still raised in my leg at the top and in part of my chest.

As for my heart that's all good and I do vigorous excercise daily on my bike with no side effects.

[Letitia12345 in reply to Cabgx2]

Appreciate your message thanks