Word of Encouragement for those facing surgery

[ponygirlmom]

As I mentioned in my post of one minute ago, I am nine days post-surgery.

Before surgery, one of the things I dreaded most was the pain of a broken sternum. i was really worried about how much it would hurt, and how it would heal, and if I might somehow make it heal "wrong."

Well, I have to report it was definitely not as bad as I feared. Rather than being Major Pain, it's actually major-pain-in-the-butt, as in annoying, not agonizing.

So I hope that makes some of you feel better going into surgery.

 

[njean]

As I mentioned in my post of one minute ago, I am nine days post-surgery.

Before surgery, one of the things I dreaded most was the pain of a broken sternum. i was really worried about how much it would hurt, and how it would heal, and if I might somehow make it heal "wrong."

Well, I have to report it was definitely not as bad as I feared. Rather than being Major Pain, it's actually major-pain-in-the-butt, as in annoying, not agonizing.

So I hope that makes some of you feel better going into surgery.

I'm so glad to hear that you are not in any major discomfort! That will be so encouraging for others facing OHS soon!

And I want to add, that even after undergoing 3 OHS, the pain in my sternum was never that severe either. I actually felt more pain when I had my knee surgery in 2004 than from my chest incision!

Take care & I hope you continue to do well!

 

[Karlynn]

Just an additional tip - if you do feel like you are experiencing pain that can't be tollerated, make sure you are prescribed adequate pain meds - and keep on top of them. Don't let them laps. For example - if the directions say "Take every 6 hours." Don't not take it at 6 hours because the pain isn't all that bad. You don't want the dose to wear off before the next dose can take hold. Of course this is for the first few weeks ( and for some people it's a little long) after surgery. If you're 6 months out and still taking pain meds every 6 hours - something is amiss.

 

[MaryC]

Ponygirlmom,
Glad to hear your surgery went well and that the pain was manageable. This is good information to pass along to folks and my experience was similar.

That's a good point, Karlynn. When my brother had his mitral valve replacement surgery he let himself go too long between pain medication doses once. It was hard to get the pain back under control for a period of time. I learned from his experience and when I had surgery I stayed on top of the pain management, especially during the first few days after surgery.

Chris

 

[WayneGM]

Glad to hear you experience was better than you feared.

 

[Jkm7]

Happy you did not have much pain and wish you a smooth, easy healing.
But, speaking for myself, I was one who had considerable pain in my sternum, both times. I was four years post op when I had my second surgery and my sternum still was sore. NOT like the original pain by any means but I never was pain free. I'm now four 1/2 months post op and am starting to think I might actually have little to no pain when I get more months out from the surgery.

My wonderful MGH surgeon cleaned out all the old wires and whatever it was that could have been causing my pain so fingers crossed. I was happy I mentioned it to him at our pre op visit.

Good luck ponymom..... hope you continue on with your wonderful recovery.

 

[aussigal]

That was also true for me too...I really dreaded the thought of the broken/cut sternum...I did as Karlynn suggests and kept on top of the meds and it worked brilliantly...the worst of my pain was from the pir-tail drain in my lung from the pneumothorax I had.

 

[Smiley2000]

I am now 3 1/2 months post-op after OHS to repair mitral valve.

My biggest fear pre-op was this "zip" on my chest for the rest of my life! Silly, I now know. I have a very nice "zip" and love to show off my new cleavage

Just some advice from my side: If you are in the position to "negotiate" your surgery date, try to avoid OHS during winter. Even more so if you are in your 60's plus. It is normal to sneezing and cough and common to get Bronchitis/Pneumonia during winter-times and this slows down your recovery and makes it so much worse.

Also, be patient with yourself. It sometimes takes a bit longer than 6-8 weeks to fully recover. The pain is not that bad, but post-op hurdles like arrthythmias, tachycardia, infection, etc. is a reality for some and slows down the recovery.

 

[Cooker]

As I mentioned in my post of one minute ago, I am nine days post-surgery.

Before surgery, one of the things I dreaded most was the pain of a broken sternum. i was really worried about how much it would hurt, and how it would heal, and if I might somehow make it heal "wrong."

Well, I have to report it was definitely not as bad as I feared. Rather than being Major Pain, it's actually major-pain-in-the-butt, as in annoying, not agonizing.

So I hope that makes some of you feel better going into surgery.

A very good description that matches my experience exactly as far as the sternum goes.....my back and shoulder were much more problematic but that heals too......

 

[ctyguy]

Welcome Ejonbry....you have found a great place for advice and support. Im 43 and had a mechnical put in 4+ months ago and I feel like Im back to my normal self with the exception that now I can actually run for exercise. Im still pretty tickled by that fact. Im doing distances now that I haven't done in 20 years and its because of the surgery. So keep a positive attitude. Your young and will bounce right back from this.

Best of luck..

Scott

 

[Gypsy]

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate these kinds of posts - it really does help those of us yet to have our surgery.

I also wanted to express a general thank you to all of you who have stuck around long after your surgeries to share your experiences and to help the newbies. I think it is very selfless of you to do that and much appreciated.

Lucy

 

[mixduptransistor]

My father had bypass surgery a few years ago prior to having some veins in his leg repaired. They took veins from his abdomen to fix his leg and he said the incision on his stomach was 100x more painful than when he had his sternum opened for the bypass.

 

[hall]

They told me in the hospital to stay on top of the pain. They did and so did I. I think the thought of the sternum being broken is much worse than actually having it done. In my case, thank God, I did not have any time to think about it. Went in hospital through ER and had AVR. Everyone is right stay ahead of the pain. I am 1 year out. The good news...I love to dance and could not do that before for very long because I would be out of breath and feel like I would pass out. Now I do not feel like that. Take care.

Deb

 

[SHEEPDOG]

9 days out too.

9 days out too.

I had my AVR 9 or 10 dayd ago too. I have cut down to 1 pain pill every 4-6. This is more to stay on top of the general aches, shoulder aches, headache, etc. I do 2 when I go to bed and 1 when I undoubtedly wake up in the middle of the night. I thought I should sleep in the recliner because I didn't think I could sleep on my side. My BUMM is numb! I tried my side the other night and the only problem I found is that i wake up fully to roll over because it takes too much efort. No real sternum discomfort thruoghout the process. Keep up on the pain meds though. I skipped most of the afternoon yesterday and I had a pretty poor attitude by the end of the day.