My Mum had triple bypass surgery on the 27th Jan, surgery seemed to go well but recovery had complications with wound being infected, being told she had broken ribs, then being told she didn’t. She’s been in horrendous pain but was discharged from the hospital on the 24th Feb 4 weeks after surgery.
She’s at home but still in horrendous amounts of pain, she’s on a complete cocktail of tablets but nothing seems to be helping, she’s been back and forth to the doctors. She’s very tired and sleeps a lot but the pain is getting to her mentally she’s very low and depressed and fed up of being in so much pain constantly.
I guess what I’m asking is, has anyone else had triple bypass surgery and experienced this amount of pain? How was your recovery and any tips I can give her to lift her mood?
Thank you
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Bien1310
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Is your mum on painkillers? I had incredible upper back & chest pain after my surgery and was given strong opiates in hospital and milder opiates for a week when I came home and then just over the counter painkillers every 4 hours for about a further 3-4 weeks. I was advised to wear a not too tight soft gym bra 24/7 which did help. I was surrounded by cushions and pillows and slept half sitting up. for a few weeks The more I walked the better I got and when my wounds had no more scabs I went to the swimming pool and swam back stroke and walked up and down...hey presto the pain went so I guess at that point I had a trapped nerve or twisted muscle causing the back pain. I was told the initial agony was due to the sternum being cut and the ribs being moved aside putting pressure on the back ribs and the position I was in for the long operation. Ask your doctor for better pain relief and if the pain is still unbearable then contact the cardiologist in the hospital or go to A&E. It does get better. Being home for me was overwhelming and that is when it hit me mentally. I made a huge effort to go outside for a little walk every day and as soon as the scabs were gone I went to the swimming pool everyday for an hour to walk up and down and float on my back. After 4 months I was swimming again like before. It's been 7 months since my op and I'm feeling great with just a slight ache on my chest after being in bed all night or is I have been carrying heavy shopping. I still have a lot of numbness on my left chest area.
Your mum will be offered weekly heart rehab which will give her the opportunity to meet people with similar or the same condition and she'll be given gentle exercises etc.
I'm very sorry to hear about the pain that your mother is suffering. I had a triple bypass exactly one year ago today. I was 70 years old then. Fortunately, I had no complications afterwards and I was discharged from hospital 4 days later on 22nd March.
I had relatively little pain to deal after I was discharged. Hence I find it alarming that your mother is in severe pain. I strongly recommend that you get professional advice today regarding your mum's condition if she is still experiencing horrendous pain.
If you can't talk with your mum's GP or someone on her cardiology team, then contact the BHF nurses via their helpline:
Although people respond very differently to open heart surgery, intense pain is always an alarm call.
Here are the notes I made about my own progress during the 13 weeks after I was discharged. You will see the contrast with your mother's situation:
In Weeks 1-2, there were some irregularities in my heart rate - none of which lasted more than 30 secs or involved powerful sensations. I had no pain apart from the surgical wounds on my skin.
I took codeine painkillers to help me sleep until 26/3. Then I switched to paracetamol until 30/3 when I was able to get to sleep without painkillers.
End of Week 4, my surface skin wounds had healed and the scabs had fallen off.
Week 6: walking 4-5 km a day and feeling comfortable. New cuts/grazes heal more rapidly than in the decade prior my operation. (I had assumed the slower healing in my 60's was due to old age. Now I assume it was due to poor circulation due to coronary artery disease).
Week 8: Following post-discharge checks with Mr ********, I began cycling and continued walking a minimum of 2-3 km per day. In Week 9, I began an 8-week cardiac rehabilitation programme. In Week 13, I began running regularly.
You didn't say where the pain is coming from. I left hospital 2 weeks post op with severe pain in my left shoulder. The hospital were happy that my heart was ok and advised I see my Dr. I couldn't sleep properly for days and when I saw my Dr I was given morphine which did at least let me get some sleep. After a couple more weeks I saw a wonderful osteopath who done some manipulation on my shoulder and gave had no problems since. Apparently it can happen during surgery because of the position you are in. Hope your mum continues to improve.
Hi, this will probably illustrate the wide variety in recovery post CABG, I had CABG x 4 on a Tuesday last year and returned home 4 days later. I felt rather battered and bruised but only took one of the painkillers prescribed the following day and the occasional paracetamol for a couple of weeks. Sleeping on my back was difficult for 3 to 4 weeks until I woke up one morning on my front, no idea how I got there but from then on it got much easier. For a couple of weeks I dropped off occasionally particularly in the afternoon but embraced it. I walked every day and was doing 12k steps after a couple of weeks. At week 3 my wife allowed me to walk the dogs (they were off the lead) on my own and do my grandchildren s school run (1k walk each way.) At week 12 I started a 12 week rehab which was useful if only to give me an indication of how I was progressing physically ( I have never had any mental concerns but know many do suffer with it.)It is a shame your mother hasn't enjoyed the same progress. I would strongly recommend trying to do most things but stop if it is too painful but I found walking to be invaluable. She could set herself some simple specific, measurable and most importantly achievable targets, it is quite motivating when you achieve them.) Mine were, making my own cup of tea, going out for coffee, walking 6k steps then 12k, driving, mowing the lawn, cycling and racing my 5 year old grandson up a footbridge (he won!)
If she is still in that much pain that she can do little activity you need professional medical advice. Try the BHF or the rehab team who should have been in touch by now. Alternatively, speak to GP again or referring cardiologist if you can.
I wish your mother well and hope she finds some improvement soon.
Thank you everyone for the time you’ve taken to reply it’s been most helpful and much appreciated.
The pain she is experiencing is across her chest and in her left shoulder, she says it’s not heart pain but feels muscular.
Mum has a curve of the spine which she’s had from a little girl which has declined as she has got older. We are wondering if this maybe causing some of the pain where they wired the bones and perhaps haven’t taken into consideration the position of her spine possibly?
Hi, I'm 3 weeks post CABG x 3 surgery and for weeks 1&2, I had that very same shoulder pain, which is incredibly uncomfortable and stopped me sleeping.I was advised that this can be caused by the position taken during lengthy surgery ( mine was 5 hours). It actually felt the same as when I dislocated my shoulder about 20 years ago.
I started to do some very low level shoulder exercises a few times a day, like shrugging my shoulders and rolling them in circular motions, forward and then backwards direction, alternately, assuming that its comfortable to do that, without putting any pressure on your mums chest.
By doing the above, 3/4 times a day , for just 5 mins at a time, the shoulder pain has completely gone. I hope the same can be true for you mum.
I would not wait for the appointment on 31st if your mum is in so much pain. Phone the GP today and ask for stronger painkillers now and on the 31st you can discuss with the cardiologist.
After my husband had by pass surgery he was in a lot of pain with fluid on the lung. When he left hospital he was only on paracetamol so we went back and they gave him something stronger until his lung cleared up. Whilst he was in hospital they told him his pain level should be no more than a 3 (out of 10) so I would be persistent with the doctor or hospital.
Good morning....As you can see, people's recovery from OHS is all different but also you must take into account that some of us have different pain thresholds. Personally, I cope with pain quite well and though I had complications and a wound infection that took ages to heal, I actually didn't think the pain from the operation was as horrendous as I thought it was going to be. I spent 4 weeks in hospital initially because of infection so that added to everything like your mum. We all cope differently but it does sound like your Mum needs to be checked over. Is she exercising , because that is such a big part of the recovery and even when you feel so much like not doing it, you have to push yourself. Being immobile in itself can make pain feel worse. I would definitely try to speak with her GP at least again....perhaps push for an x-ray but if she isn't coping mentally either, that needs addressing too as that in itself will make her feel unmotivated and miserable on top of the pain she's in. I really hope you get advice and answers so that she can get on the path to a good recovery. Xx
I had a quadruple bypass last March. Yes the pain of the broken ribs in the chest is horrendous on movement. My husband highered my seat in the lounge, ensured I could put my feet up and also highered my bed to make it easier and put a seat in the shower . All these things helped immensely but what helped the most was following the guidance from the National Heart Foundation by gradually increasing my movement. I got an old tracksuit on and my husband helped me walk part the way down the road and back and gradually we increased it day by day. My doctor referred me to a cardiac rehabilitation program and speaking to the people on the course and doing the exercises together further helped . This helps both medically and psychologically. I was then referred to the next level and after 12 weeks could go swimming. I know go to the gym 3 times a week and do Aquafit and swimming. This is now a year on and I’m fitter than I have ever been and I’m 69. You just have to stay positive and keep moving . Your mental health is key and getting outside even if just for a 10 min walk is the start of recovery. Good luck
No advice but I hope your mum gets her pain sorted out soon. Us non medical people don't think they have had their chest cut open and organs moved around etc. It's a big operation one of the most major. It's awful watching a parent go through something like that and our hands are tied because we don't know how to help
Thank you for your kind words 💕 it’s horrible seeing her in so much pain but don’t know how to help. Hopefully some answers on the 31st when she sees the cardiologist 🤞🏻
My dad was deemed too old to have CABG surgery and I am glad he was. He had 3 stents instead and then he had a pacemaker because his heart rate was too slow so he used to fall over and I couldn't get him up on my own so he had a pendant to press for help and he didn't want me to let them in!
I'm so so sorry your Mum is un so much pain. I guess if they have ruled out broken ribs then it must be sternum pain. Was she given an ex ray ?? I've had this surgery 2 years ago and the sternum.is painful and tender for some time If you feel this pain is something other than that , then perhaps a call to the doctor might be in order. I do hope your Mum feels better soon
As a fellow CABGx3, I was initially a little surprised that your mum was in a lot of pain. I only took paracetamol after leaving hospital. However, there are a couple of things which might be contributing to intense pain, neither directly heart-related.
There are a lot of nerves in the chest area and they will get damaged by cutting through the sternum and surrounding tissue. I still get some discomfort from clothes touching my chest 9 months on, although it is not all the time, it's not painful and is gradually receding as I exercise and increase muscle tone. As you will have noticed, every hearty has a different journey with regard to pain.
During the operation, the left arm is moved to a rather unnatural position to increase access to the heart and since the operation goes on for a number of hours, this can cause damage to ligaments, muscles and soft tissue. How much damage will depend on how flexible the patient is before the operation. I was fortunate in that I swum a lot before the op, so I had good arm flexibility and didn't have any pain in my arm.
You mention that your mum has a curvature of the spine. I suppose it is possible that the sternum wiring hasn't taken this into account, but I would have thought that, unless there is some internal contact going on, it isn't the most likely cause of pain. Worth mentioning it at the next consultation, if only to put your mind at rest.
Lastly, pain has a habit of creating more pain as we tend to tense up, thereby causing whatever is painful to be put under more tension. It's very hard, but if it's muscular, finding ways of relaxing the bits that hurt can reduce the pain levels, although won't stop the pain completely. It's likely that your mum may understandably have a lot of tension in her shoulders, causing them to rise up and push the chest together. Trying to relax the shoulders so they sink down may be beneficial.
It's easy to say, but I think most hearties would agree, it gets better, this isn't it. At the moment, your mum will have to take our word for it, as at less than two months post-op, it can look and feel pretty bad at times. There's a lot of people on here rooting for you both.
hi. I'm so sorry that your mum is in pain. I had 2 open heart surgeries within 4 months and was on slow release morphine tablets after the first one for a few weeks as I was in agony. The levels of pain were different after both ops for some reason and I found the second surgery easier and without using heavy duty painkillers. Our pain levels are all different but there's no need for your mum to suffer. Encourage her to be persistent with her GP to try and get this sorted. Regarding mental health, your mum has had a traumatic experience and it's bound to take its toll. I was referred to psychology by the cardiac nurses and had counselling. Maybe ask the cardiac team to refer your mum or her Gp? Also antidepressants might be appropriate? I wish you the best of luck. X
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