Question about Chest pain

[Sean L]

I had my surgery to replace the aortic valve about 15 days ago. Last night I woke up with a throbbing pain in my chest that I had never felt to that degree. It was pulsating with my hearbeat and was very uncomfortable although not unbearable. It was made worse by any activity. My wife was worried and called the ambulance in the middle of the night. They monitored me in the hospital, did a CT scan and EKG and found nothing wrong and sent me home. They concluded it was probably regular pain from scar tissue. I felt stupid for having the ambulance come.

Is it normal to feel pain in the heart like that two weeks after surgery? I guess I had been fortunate so far because I have not had much pain and only had to take pain medication for two days after the operation. However, last night was very frightening.

Sean L

 

[Cooker]

You will experience many different aches and pains for sometime to come...the healing process is not a short on....12 weeks or so for the sternum and really about a year to completely recover....I woke up one night with a hell of a pain, sat straight up in bed (which didn't help )....my wife said I had been rolling from laying on my back to my side in my sleep....my sternum did not like it ....

It is normal to panic at first with every bump in the night...some do so more than others....it is better to call and ease your mind than to put yourself through a panic attack.

 

[ctyguy]

I had two trips to the ER post surgery. One for pain in my shoulder that got to be really severe stabbing pains. That turned out to be mild to moderate Pericardial Effussion. Two weeks later I had pain in the same shoulder but also in my rib cage, back to the ER and this time they said I had Plurisy which is fluid around the lung. Within a few days of each event I was feeling better.

Aches and pains are normal, how/where you sleep will definitely impact how you feel. I tried my bed a few times but always ended up back in the recliner. Its just in the last two weeks that I've been able to sleep in my bed and not be uncomfortable.

Hang in there, Im sure what your feeling is normal and part of your recovery. The fact that you went to the ER is wise in my opinion. Honestly it sounds familiar to me as when I had the Plurisy diagnosis my pain was also a pulsing type of pain, however it was primarily in my shoulder.

 

[Sean L]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for the information Cooker and Cityguy.

 

[Philip B]

ER Visit

ER Visit

Don't feel dumb for using the EMS folks and making a trip to the ER. You're much better off getting a potential problem checked out than ignoring something that might put you at risk.

I felt pretty stupid for making a trip to the ER for a really nasty finger cut about a year and a half ago. That trip to the ER probably saved my life as it resulted in a trip to a cardiologist and identification of an aortic aneurysm which could've killed me. I refer to my kitchen accident as stupidity with a steak knife; my wife refers to it as divine intervention.

Things happen for a reason.

-Philip

 

[geebee]

Sean,

I used to work for a fire department and paramedics are much happier to take people to the ER for no reason than to have to transport those who wait too long for something life threatening. Never feel badly about calling them; just like the doctors, they are there to help.

It is virtually impossible to tell if pain is serious or not until it is checked. Anything you feel is out of the realm of what you were told to expect needs to be addressed.

Glad things were okay and I hope things are smooth for you moving forward.

 

[Donnchadh]

Divine intervention for me, or my own stupidity, was ending up in hospital ER with alchoholic poisoning after a Big New Years Bash which resulted in AF. This resulted in the eventual discovery of my aneurysm.
Never feel stupid for using the ER.

 

[DebbyA]

Sean,
what's normal about OHS recovery? Every system has been assaulted, and sometimes the reactions are meaningful, sometimes they're not. But most of us don't know enough to sort it out.
I know how you feel, I felt that all 4 times I went to ER in the years before surgery. However, my cardiologist assured me, "no one is keeping score".

Your surgeon's office may have telephone support after hours and weekends. Calling is better than worrying.

Glad you checked out ok!

 

[HeartPart2]

The only way you can feel stupid by that move is NOT calling for medical attention. I have had many things happen that I was so unsure about and always asked the VR Family, they always have great advice, but when push comes to shove all of us here would've called the ambulance with your wife.
Good luck on the healing brother.

 

[upchurch131]

Sean,

My son is a firefighter/paramedic in my local district. He told me that following surgery, I am going to the E.R. for ANY ache or pain. The comments are absolutely correct. The medical professionals are here for exactly that reason and we shouldn't be taking any chances.

I tend to take advantage of the fact that I am a patient of certain individuals and I don't feel bad about calling them, paging them or getting answers to my questions when I need questions answered. I guess I can be called a pain in the butt. But I don't lose any sleep over it.

I'm also hoping that when I am post-op like you, I will continue to find the great support system here on this forum. There are so many great, supportive and caring people here. I am lucky to have found this group.

 

[Mary]

Sean,
Once my pain went away post-op, I never had any occasion to experience pain like you describe. If I had, I would have gone immediately to the ER. You did the right thing.