Posts: 14
12/4/11 8:17 A

My bypass was 11 1/2 years ago and I still experience some pain. It took several years before I could lay on my stomach, the pressure on my chest just hurt too bad. Because my sleeping positions have changed to more side sleeping I get pain in my shoulders and neck. It isn't too bad considering the alternative. I now use pillows in different ways to try to relieve the pressure when I sleep on my side(s). I also do more stretching exercises to keept my arms, neck, and shoulder area more limber.

Posts: 32
12/4/11 12:00 A

I wanted to check this out about "pain". I had a pretty difficult time, tolerating the pain after the bypass surgery....and I was given a prescription for pain pills lasting just the first week out.

After about 10 weeks, I started to feel better, and I judged myself for taking so long to recover.
But, I went back to work, and luckily have felt great...

except for..the pain in my sternum, and collarbone. I also have bad headaches, and the muscles in my neck, and upper back are always knotted. I attribute it to the surgery; and hate feeling like a whiner, but i'm just wondering if anyone else had problems with this. I can feel those wired around my breast bone, and it is so irritating. Any complaints during a doctor's visit are usually minimized...like I may be making it up, or I'm worried, anxious, etc..
what I would ideally like is for my insurance to compensate me for getting regular massages to help me cope with this. I paid for them the first year out, but I see this feels like it won't go away. I'm so grateful for the successful surgery, but I'm having some muscular/skeletal pain, anyone else??

If so, what works for you to cope?

Posts: 174
6/21/09 12:18 A

Yes, your blood pressure is under good control, Ronnie. But, there are problems, particularly with meds sometimes, that can bring someone's blood pressure down too low. That's why Sarah needs to get hers checked out.
I'm so sorry you're in pain all the time, though.
Michelle

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6/20/09 7:38 P

MICHELLE I HAVE MY BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN TO 110/68 AND THAT IS GOOD ACCORDING TO MY CARDIOLIGEST AND THAT IS WHERE HE WANTS MY TO STAY. I KNOW THAT 140/90 IS NOW COUNTED AS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND 12068 IS NORMAL PRESSURE . I HOPE WE ALL CAN KEEP OUR BLOOD PRESURES DOWN
RATDAR1/RONNIE P.S I AM IN PAIN ALL THE TIME

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Posts: 174
6/12/09 2:21 P

That low blood pressure reading definitely needs to be reported to your doctor....
Michelle

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6/12/09 12:43 P

Well my normal bp is usually 149/90 I take lisinopril and coreg and it just freaked me out. I have told my doctor about the pain and I don't seem to have anyone taking me serious. It's been 6 years since my last surgery so I want to know when does the pain stop?

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6/11/09 6:39 P

Have you had your pain checked out with your family doctor? I wake up every morning feeling like I got run over by a train. Regarding the 86/64 blood pressure.... is that your normal or is that new? It is low for most but some have naturally low blood pressure. That can make you feel very tired all the time. That, you also should get checked out by your family doctor. Give him/her a call tomorrow to get an appointment as soon as possible.

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Posts: 174
6/11/09 6:35 P

I think it's important that you report those low blood pressure readings to your cardiologist.
Michelle

Posts: 174
6/11/09 6:34 P

I have seen quite a wide range in pain tolerance over the 15 years I've been a nurse. I believe that it's learned, as a child. I believe that pain tolerance is a direct result of the meaning that an individual assigns to the pain.
In Labor & Delivery I see women all the time who have no idea that labor is supposed to hurt. They come in with the impression that if they're in pain then the medical people are not doing what they're supposed to be doing for them. I also teach prepared childbirth classes, and we talk alot about pain.
Michelle

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6/11/09 5:39 P

What if you don't have to do anything for the pain to start. Like wake up and why does it hurt to lay down. Is it normal to have a blood pressure of 86/64?

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6/11/09 2:07 P

Well, if I remember right after ALL these years (36 since my daughter was born) labor hurt like h*ll. Well, until I got the saddle block. But now women get an epidural so having a baby is more of a breeze than it used to be. I think if they let these under age 'mothers' go through natural childbirth then they wouldn't tell their friends how 'easy' it is to have a baby so the friends want to do it too.

I work as a unit secretary in the ER so I see all kinds of 'pain'. We get a large number of 'seekers' whose pain is always soooooooo bad. Strange how our staff can have a migraine, back pain, etc and keep working and these people can't stand even a little ache. They rush to ER because they stubbed their toe and it hurts! There are some who think you should go through life without any type of pain or discomfort.

I know that everyone has a different pain tolerance and perceive pain differently. When I had my heart attack I had been living with the pain for almost a year off and on and just assumed it was my regular chronic back pain (after numerous cardiac tests all came back normal) and I was taking Motrin and Tylenol for it while working. The pain would come and go and was the type of pain that totally takes your breath away but the last time it wouldn't stop. Luckily I work in ER or I likely would have died.

I think there needs to be public service education that talks about pain vs discomfort.

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6/11/09 8:34 A

Sorry to understate. I'm a Labor & Delivery nurse, so we're kind of programmed to refer to pain as "discomfort"

Michelle

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6/11/09 3:20 A

Discomfort. heck! It can down right HURT!!!

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6/10/09 4:48 P

The body does have amazing capabilities! I didn't realize that formation of collateral circulation involved discomfort... very interesting!
Michelle

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6/10/09 3:47 P

My cardiologist told me that the pain is caused by the 'collateral' arteries growing. Evidently the heart has the ability to grow arteries that help to compensate for the blood to areas that are bypassed. Isn't that amazing! As you continue to build up and grow the collaterals, the pain should get less and less and the short of breath should improve. That is what happened in my case anyway. A lot of time if I have some pain, if I take a few deep breaths, it goes away. I very seldom take nitro. My cardiologist did put me on Ranexa last fall. A miracle drug in my opinion. They don't know why it works to stop angina but believe it works wonders! Talk to your cardiologist about any pain you have and what you were doing when it started.

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5/21/09 12:12 A

Posts: 562
5/20/09 8:06 P

Its great you quit smoking. Definitely talk about rehab to your doctor. Just as soon as i was able my cardiologist sent me to rehab.

Posts: 174
5/20/09 2:54 P

Wow -- you've been through alot for a person your age. It definitely sounds like you need to ask your cardiologist about going to cardiac rehab. It's usually the first step after heart surgery as far as safely introducing exercise (back) into your life.
Good for you quitting smoking!
Michelle

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5/20/09 2:08 P

It's been almost 6 years since the last one. I was never told about cardiac rehab. I have had 4 open hearts. The first one was a Ross Procedure about 2 months after that I developed an anyerism and needed a repair. It was probably about 6 months later I had another one where the stitches didn't stay in my tissue. I had got another one so they put a mechanical valve in. I was told recently that I had another anyerism but it's not that big. It all started cause I was born with a leaky valve. I was really wondering if anyone else has an almost constant heavy feeling in the center of there chest sometimes feels like a sharp pinching. Enough of about that I'm 24 I really want to be able to work again someday. So I'm doing some strength training and toning up the rest. Do you know some cardio that might help build my endurance? Cause right now carrying my laundry basket with clothes about 50 to 60 feet makes m have to sit down for a min before I can do anything else. I quit smoking 2 weeks ago and still no improvement.

Posts: 174
5/20/09 8:26 A

Welcome!
How long has it been since your surgery? Have you been to cardiac rehab? Perhaps you'd like to tell us a bit about yourself, your surgery and your goals?
Michelle, Co-leader

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5/20/09 12:26 A

I was wondering does anyone still have Pain and Discomfort, shortness of breathe, not able to do much activity without being tired or anything else?