Still having pains 5 weeks from AVR 4 weeks from Paracardial drain

[scott x94x]

Hey,

I'm just wondering from some of you with more experience, im still having headaches pretty much every morning but they go away some time during the day. I've been taking pain killers moderately still and im just wondering if thats the right thing to be doing considering my mother took away my Percocet for fear that i would get addicted although i only take them once a day. Without any medication, the past few nights have been very troublesome in the sleep department (i take my medication at night) and i have a lot of trouble turning in bed and a sharp pain on the right side of my chest that comes and goes.

Is it wrong to still be on pain killers or what? my mom thinks its all in my head and i feel thats completely ridiculous since im the one that is going through this ordeal and not her (She's on this website btw, Queen Victoria).

She's also criticizing how much i've been walking although she basically refuses to walk with me and give me any encouragment other than saying how much better other people on this website are doing than i am. I walk every day now around the block and some more.

Any advice from wise elders?

Thanks a Lot,
Scott

 

[ann47]

Hi Scott,
Everyone has their own story on recovery, it takes time. Go at your own pace giving yourself a push. Could the pain killers be giving you the headache? Mine made me sick and I didn't take any after 6 days. I preferred pain to puking. Hang in there, at six weeks you should start to feel like you are turning a corner.
Best to you,
Ann

 

[Phyllis]

Scott, you are only 5 weeks out and having difficulty sleeping is not uncommon. Dick's surgeon did not believe in pain killers and sent him home with only Tylenol PM which did help as well as back massages. Walking is important- try to keep it up and increase it daily, but you are still early in the recovery and I'm sure you will be feeling much better in a month or so.

 

[scott x94x]

Hi Scott,
Everyone has their own story on recovery, it takes time. Go at your own pace giving yourself a push. Could the pain killers be giving you the headache? Mine made me sick and I didn't take any after 6 days. I preferred pain to puking. Hang in there, at six weeks you should start to feel like you are turning a corner.
Best to you,
Ann

I'm quite sure the headaches arent from the PKers because i only take them around 11-12 at night and i'll wake up with them or they'll reoccur during the day, it could be my recent diet which hasnt been so good considering ive been somewhat ignored by my mother who has prepared a lot of the food up to this time. I sympathize with you, although i'm a Champion puking artist (ahhahaha) and i'd rather puke than be in pain, thats terrible you couldnt take anything to help you out.

I've been pushing myself more and more lately but i'm still wondering if its normal to be taking the PKers this late in the game?

 

[scott x94x]

Scott, you are only 5 weeks out and having difficulty sleeping is not uncommon. Dick's surgeon did not believe in pain killers and sent him home with only Tylenol PM which did help as well as back massages. Walking is important- try to keep it up and increase it daily, but you are still early in the recovery and I'm sure you will be feeling much better in a month or so.

Oh boy, Dick must have not been a very happy camper, to not perscribe an OHS patient pain killers would make me consider going to another surgeon considering that's just inhumane in my opinion. He must be one tough cookie. Recovery is just very slow and arduous and it's very hard every day.

I also have kind of a lump under my skin at the very top of my chest a few inches above my incision, my mother suggested that it could be the top of the wire where they tied it together, any suggestions on what it could be?

 

[Philip B]

Pain & Lumps

Pain & Lumps

Hi Scott,

The post which indicated that everyone's experience with pain during the recovery period is probably very accurate. Pain issues related to lying in bed after surgery are not uncommon either. Personally, I found it more comfortable to sleep on the couch, propped up on pillows, than to sleep in bed. My prefered sleeping position is on my side rather than on my back. Rolling on my side while sleeping caused extreme sternum pain. The good news is that these issues tend to get better as your sternum heals.

Pain meds are an interesting subject. At six weeks post-op, I had a meeting with my surgeon and he asked me how I was doing with pain issues. I told him that I still hurt, but was concerned about becoming addicted to vicodin. That seemed to amuse him as he wrote me another prescription for vicodin and told me to take it if I needed it. After my meeting with the surgeon I only took a couple of the pills to help me sleep.

At twelve weeks post-op, my chest still gets sore from the stress and strain of engaging in physical activity. Again, the pain issues vary from individual to individual.

Some of the most common advice given by members of this forum to those who are in the recovery period is to exercise. Walking is probably one of the best activities you can do. Another piece of sound advice is to avoid over doing - listen to your body as it will tell you what you can tolerate. You have to be committed and motivated. It helps if family members support and push you, but in the end, you have to make yourself do the exercise.

Awhile back, someone posted a question about that bump you have at the top of your chest. Again, exeriences seem to vary. My bump disappeared around 5-6 weeks post-op; others reported keeping their bump longer.

One of the best pieces of "old timer" advice I can give you is to make a real effort to keep a positive relationship going with your mother. Keep that commucation stuff going.

Good luck!

-Philip

 

[briansmom]

Our docs said the pain is much worse for younger people. After my son's first surgery he took painkillers every night for 9 months. He blamed it on the heart pump that was inside him. After this last surgery (3 months ago), I took his painkillers away from him at 6 weeks. I had the same concerns as your mom. He was on Norcos which are not as strong as percocet - of course he only weighs 130 lbs right now. He still complains daily about pain, but he seems to be surviving. I don't think that it is all in your head, but I think that at some point soon the dangers/downside of the percocet will outweigh the benefits. He also doesn't exercise enough, but is in cardiac rehab now which is helping. PM me if you want his cell number - you guys can commiserate together.

 

[tenndon]

It has been a little more than 3 months since my radical sternectomy, nearly 4 months since my Ross Procedure and pain is still a part of my life daily. It is not a debilitating pain just a nagging ache at the end of the day. More some days than others. Like last week when I drove a church van every evening for VBS. About once a week the pain is bad enough that I will take a couple extra strenght Tylenol.
The most important thing I have learned so far though is that if I am active during the day the pain is less with each passing day. Like today, I got out and worked in some of my flower beds for the first time all season. My chest is hurting like crazy but it is the hurt of use and not that dull ache of a lazy day. I hope that makes sense, it is kinda hard to explain what I mean.
Hang in there Scott. If a lazy old man like me can get better so can a young man like you!

Peace of Christ,
Don

 

[hensylee]

Scott, how's your blood pressure? It can bring on headaches if it is high.

The bump - not to worry. It will go down one of these days.

Food - appetites come back, too. So will your weight if you lost any in the hospital. If you aren't crazy about what mom makes, maybe you can cook some yourself? It's really easy and all guys should know how anyway. Start with canned soup and eggs/toast.

Sleep - grab it when you can. It can be illusive to some of us, but it ought to straighten itself out as soon as you are no longer sore.

Sneezes - don't. It hurts like crazy.

doing your daily small exercises and walking might help you with some of your discomfort.

Pain pills - I took mine til they ran out and then quit. Made it but was sore. Still have tender sternum and I'm seven years out. You are young and you may not ever have any twinges once you are healed.

Sorry you are having a slow recovery but if you hang in you will feel better each day. When you visit your dr, ask questions - make a list and your dr should ease your mind.

 

[WayneGM]

I pretty much echo what's been said. Everyone's recovery is different. Although, I have to say that my observation from this forum is that the younger people (i.e. younger than me...I'm 52) who are physically active seem to bounce back faster. Just my observation.

Like you, I had additional surgery for fluid drain, but at 3 weeks post-op, so I know how that set-back feels. In fact, I thought that ordeal was worse than the OHS itself....I went into conjestive heart failure and got to ride an ambulance to the OR, complete with the siren and flashing red lights.

I found that the more exercise you do, the more you'll "loosen up" and the pain will subside. I always felt the worst first thing in the morning but after I was up and moving around I would feel much better. However, avoid overdoing it so you've got to find the right balance. I was home alone during my recovery as my wife worked and my kids were in school, so I walked alone....me and my Walkman. It's not so bad. In fact, I still do it today when I can I got so used to it. Get some good tunes and go walking....and more than around the block (unless you are talking a very big block). However, don't stop at walking, you'll also need to do stretches. For ages it felt like they sewed me up too tight. Stretching helps.

By 5 weeks I was off Oxycocet (similar to Percocet) completely, despite the additional surgery at week 3, and took Tylonol 3 or ES when I needed pain relief. After week 8, I was off pain meds completely, except the very occasional Tylonol Arthritis formula, mostly due to the muscle aches (neck and shoulders mostly) which I still get, but not as often. Nobody warned me you can get whiplash from OHS At week 12, I was back at work part-time and riding my 800 lb Harley. Life will get back to normal.

Now, I'm a year and a half post-op and my body still reminds me I had OHS. It gets better but it is slow. It goes in spurts. I notice changes month-to-month. Don't try to measure day-to-day or even week-to-week, it'll be frustrating as it fluctuates (good days, bad days, etc). Be patient, and don't let it run your life. Just take it one day at a time. Good luck and best wishes.

 

[marky]

Echoing all that was said..
Pain is very personal..... I wouldnt' thing that taking a pain pill for bed and better sleeping would be an issue at this point?
..
I didn't take any narcotics from the onset b/c of an allergy to them.. so I used advil.. but do remember the frist month or so of restless nights..

Walking is good..as long as you pace yourself.. sounds like you are about on target with the healing process..
Hang in there... It does get better.

 

[scott x94x]

Thank you for all your helpful replies and encouragement, it really helps to know that im not just one person complaining of pain for no reason and theres many others out there. After a long convorsation with my mother she gave me 5 pills and told me to use them at my discretion and i have taken one every night since, which is the thing that i feel i should be doing. For some reason, lately ive been sneezing a whole lot and that has been absolutely no fun whatsoever, for anyone who knows how it feels, it's just miserable. I've taken my pill for the night now and im in a great mood so i felt i should come check on my thread as im not on the internet as much as i was before because of this game i got, which is a completely different story.

Again, Thank you all for your helpful posts it's really appreciated.

 

[geebee]

Although you should be in less pain everyday, it is not uncommon to have pain at 4-5 weeks. If you only need pain killers to help you sleep - it should not be an issue. Also, if you have a good doctor, he/she will not give you more pain killers than is safe - they can lose their license over that.

There are also milder pain meds that might work for you at this point. You can also try taking 1/2 of a Percocet. I am on Percocet right now for pericarditis and I never take more than 1/2 pill at a time (and sometimes only 1/4) but I am very sensitive to pain meds.

Hope things continue to improve.

 

[linda d.]

Scott,]

I took a pill every night for 8 weeks just so I could sleep somewhat comfortably. Look, you just had your chest cut open .....why do our caregivers think they know when to quit the medication and how much we should be walking? You'll know when you start to feel better and how much you can tolerate walking. It takes a long time and patience is hard to come by sometimes.

Best wishes to you. Hang in there. It will get easier...

LindaD.

 

[Lynlw]

Scott, i'm sorry you are still having so much pain. I was wonderring since it is mainly a headaches that you mention being the pain every morning, how the rest of you is doing pain wise. I have back problems, and I know sometimes as my pain meds ar wering off i will get a brutal headache, so wondrring if that could be related to taking the pain meds at night and having the headaches when you are waking up. Could you try taking tylenol PM or any other of the night time meds like that 1 night and see if thatis enough to help you sleep and how you feel when you wake up? I always have trouble sleeping and maybe you could find out if it would be ok to take melatonin or some of the natural things like chamomile tea at night beside the tylenol or what ever pm med you try.
I'm glad you are walking that should really help with feeling better faster. All the doctors were really surprised at how well Justin was doing, especially since it was his 5th open heart surgery so all his bones and muscles have been cut and had to heal many times already, but they told him, it probably had alot do do with the fact, he was doing laps around the floor so often.
Is there anything you really want to do soon? I think it helps Justin at least when there is something you really want to feel better to do, like his trip in a month.
As for pain pills, as everyone said each person and each doctor is different. When they were ready to discharge Justin, I ended up getting into a disagreement w/ the resident, when I realized they only wrote for enough pain meds to get him thru to Monday morning, I told her we were not leaving until they gave him at least enough for a few more days, since it wouldn't even be 1 week post op until Tuesday, she argued ,I argued, she left in a huff, but the nurse brought back a script for a couple more days. We were told they genrally give enough for 5 days home(and of course if they say every 4-6 hours, they count by every 6 hours not 4) and if you need more than that you really should be going back to your doc. NOW I do NOT agree with that, especially if you are home a couple days post op, and I mentioned part of the reason he was able to walk so often and do his breathing so often, was because his ain was being managed and i didn't want to lose his progress because they were acting stupid about meds. but I'm just saying that is the hospitals way of thinking.
as for food is there things you really like that come in microwave meals? maybe you could ask your mom to stock up on things you could just put in the microwave,
I hope you feel better soon and thanks for the nice post on Justin's thread, Lyn

 

[geebee]

I am not sure how scientific this is but I had a cardio when I lived in NJ (during my first and second OHS) who told me it was his experience if patients took just enough pain meds to still have a little pain, they never got addicted to the meds. I have taken percocet on and off for years since I have had regular pericarditis. I never take enough to block the pain entirely because I like to gauge if it is still there. Once the pain is tolerable, I stop the percocet and I have never had an addiction problem. The percocet sits in my cupboard until the next time I need it (usually 6 -8 months later).

I think the problem comes when you take the medicine not just because it helps the pain but also because it makes you feel good. Not that the good feelings are a bad side effect if you need the meds but I think we all know where that line in. It is important to be honest with yourself about where you are on that line.