Has anyone else had these symptoms? I had CABGx4 on June 23 (7 weeks ago). Although I feel better, I still get these chest pains usually when I try laying down in bed. It feels somewhat iike my heart attack but less intense and sometimes includes a pain in my right upper arm. I do NOT have nausea, sweating, shortness of breath etc. It's more like my heart is being poked by something. Usually this is relieved by sitting in a recliner and leaning forward (forward my knees). Usually relieved enough that I can sleep in the recliner.
I went to the Emergency Room about a week ago with these same symptoms and the EKG, blood work, etc came back within normal limits. The doctor thought it might be indigestion. But frankly, that's what I thought my heart attack was (indigestion).
I'm concerned. How can I tell the difference between "normal" healing pains and heart attack pains. I don't want to go to the ER every time I get a pain in my chest. Then again, I don't want to ignore pains I should be concerned about. Any suggestions?
I have called my cardiologist but basically got an answer that I was "hyper-sensitive" to any chest pain.
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Healing pains versus heart attack pain
- By MacAttack
- Posted August 11, 2009 at 10:33 am · 13 replies
- In Life after heart bypass surgery
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Exercise Anxiety Beta blockers Surgery Motrin Pain Heart attack Sweating Stress
13 replies
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- By ceebee
- Posted August 11, 2009 at 12:28 pm
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Hi,
I went thru this in 2007 and felt like i was being stabbed in the chest at times. I couldn't lie on my left side... (still have some problems with that). I was so anxious after my surgery that the CABGx3 wasn't successful....that I started hyperventilating and basically just freaked out. I had an echo, stress test, blood work, etc... all came back normal. Some people heal differently. If ur tests were good ... you're most likely fine. After 2 years, I've come to finally realize that this healing process can be very slow at times and unlike any other surgery.
My incision area still cracks and pops and I feel twinges and aches in my rib cage on the left side...and I still wonder if I'm about to have a heart attack. I exercise every day and wear a polar monitor to make sure i'm in the "zone". I think exercise really helps all of this.
The cardiologist told me...if you don't feel chest pains or shortness of breath while exercising or right after... then don't worry about anything else. It can take years to completely heal from this truly invasive surgery.
That's taken a load off my mind. Hope this helps.
- By NewAllie
- Posted August 11, 2009 at 1:23 pm
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Hi and welcome.
The symptoms I expereinced after bypass in Feb. though brushed off by my doctor were indeed symptoms of graft failure. I don't want to scare you, just to encourage you to not to be aftraid to be over deligent, over careful, a nuisance even to your doctor. It's a bit of his time, but it's your life. I'm almost six months post bypass now, and four months post stents (with two remaining new blockages) and finally feeling somewhat confidant in my own discernment of my many aches and pains, but still have frequent episodes when I wonder. I hear it gets better. Part of the healing I suppose is learning to trust an untrustworthy heart again and learning to live well despite that. Blessings to you! Allie
- By MacAttack
- Posted August 11, 2009 at 1:31 pm
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Thanks ceebee. That's very helpful. You are right about the anxiety.
I can't tell the difference between the pains except one is less intense and usually (but not always) relieved by leaning forward. Maybe that's all the difference I'm going to get.
I have my first exercise session of Cardiac Rehab tomorrow. As your cardiologist said... "if you don't feel chest pains or shortness of breath while exercising or right after... then don't worry about anything else."
Guess I'll find out tomorrow.
I also decided to call my cardiologist. He wants to see me tomorrow. I'll let you know what he says.
- By MacAttack
- Posted August 11, 2009 at 1:41 pm
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Thanks NewAllie.
I'm glad I called my cardiologist. You're experience just explains why I'm concerned. Hopefully you are doing better.
- By ceebee
- Posted August 11, 2009 at 3:12 pm
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please keep me postrd. an rcho confirmed that my grafts were good according to my cardiologist. get in rehab...and exercise. I truly believe that and a diet change have helped immensely.
- By ceebee
- Posted August 11, 2009 at 9:21 pm
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my bad...big old typo. my surgery was in May 08...not 07.
- By MacAttack
- Posted August 12, 2009 at 2:33 pm
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Great news! Cardiac rehab went OK and without a hitch. I actually felt pretty good during the entire time. Broke out into a light sweat so I know I was doing some work. I even pushed myself to walk and pedal the bike the last minute or so of each just to push it some. I thought if I'm going to have a problem I might as well have it there (at the hospital).
Also saw my cardiologist today. Had an Echo done and all is good. That's a BIG relief. Doctor put me on Motrin for a few days just to take any inflammation away.
For me, the cardiac rehab gave me the most confidence that my heart can handle a little work without me having any pain or heart attack.
Thanks ceebee and Allie for your insights and sharing your experiences. It really is nice to know that others have had the same experiences and have some advice (which is usually correct).
- By celeritas
- Posted August 12, 2009 at 3:24 pm
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Hey Mac, and everyone. I'm glad of the outcome of your rehab visit. I'm up to 2 miles (in about 32 mins) of walking. I took my heart rate up to 117 on my last lap today.
I have a variety of pains going on all the time, and I can't lay on my left side either. I have inflamation around one or more ribs, and meat behind my sternum apparently gets hooked up on a sternal-wire or two.
One thing that has helped me in regard to coping with all these conditions is being able to talk to an MD in a relaxed non-professional environment. When legal issues are not present, they (the MD) are much more willing to tell you what they think the probable causes might be, rather than saying nothing until after all the test results are in.
edwin
- By Tracey7
- Posted November 16, 2009 at 6:11 pm
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Hi - can you tell me what tests are performed to establish whether a bypass has worked? Like a lot of comments i've read on this site - i too feel my bypass hasn't worked and it terrifies me - i have a really strong pain thresh-hold, but this operation knocked me for 6 - i have never experienced pain like it and don't think i could go through it again - although - again, don't think its worked. it has been 8 months since my bypass (double) and i am incredibly breathless - can't walk up one flight of stairs and i still get chest pain - not all the time and generally only when i lie down at night (which was the same before the bypass) pain is in the middle of my chest - like a chip has stuck in my breast bone. I'm too scared to go back to the doctors to get this checked out. it doesn't help that i live in turkey and had my bypass here and have had no aftercare whatsoever .....
- By Tracey7
- Posted November 16, 2009 at 6:15 pm
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hi sorry what do you mean about "meat" getting stuck??
- By celeritas
- Posted November 17, 2009 at 7:51 am
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Tracey,
This much is for sure, if you are having chest pain, if your are breathless and it feels like someone is sitting on your chest, you need to see your doctor right away.
Are you taking any medications? Any beta blockers? Apparently you are concerned about the treatment your getting in Turkey. Could you get your employer to send you home for say 6 months for aftercare and rehab?
For myself, not much has changed in 3 months in regard to my post, except I'm stronger now. My rib & 'hooked-meat' behind the sternum issues are still issues, just not as painful. The "meat" getting stuck, is the best I can describe the feeling. When I cough or clear my throat my sternum moves up and down. It 'feels' like sternum wires are pulling against something (meat). My cardio says if I feel this after 12-months post-op then I may feel it for the rest of my life.
Bypass is major surgery. I don't think any of us ever get completely over it. The best we can hope for is less than 10 things that remind us, and 5 things that slow us down.
...let me know...
- By NewAllie
- Posted November 17, 2009 at 6:41 pm
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Hi Tracey,
The graft failure I had was suspected during a stress test and confirmed by a cath. The cath is the only way to tell for sure, but the stress test seems to be a good indicator. Please go ahead and get it checked out. Even if you do have new blockages or failure, perhaps all could be helped with stents. The recovery from that is nothing like bypass. Having no aftercare must be terrifying. Blessings, Allie
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