Everyone of us has become ultra sensative to our bodys since our heart issues. Am I right? Every little feeling becomes a source of terror. Is that my heart? Is this the big one? What was the last thing I said to my loved ones today?
After my triple by-pass I kept getting this aching down the back of both of my arms. After two weeks I called my DR. I expected to get a nurse on the line and suddenly I hear my surgeons voice. It was about 9pm at night so I was surprised. I explained to him what I was feeling and asked did I have anything to worry about? His reply was, "sometimes a feeling is just a feeling?" Now I realize that he is right many times a feeling is just a feeling and by about a year after your surgery you will begin to know the difference. But my response to the doctor on this particular night was," No a feeling is something that comes and goes, when it stays for two weeks, it is either a symptom or a side affect. We never figured it out and within 3 mos the aching completely subsided.
However...
About a month before the one year anniversary of my surgery I started feeling something on my left side almost to the bottom of my rib cage. It was like holding a straw with liquid in it and when you move your finger a little liquid escapes. I was terrified that possibly one of my graphs were failing. Went to the doctor, he just stared at me smiling gave me that passifying pat and said I don't know what it is, but you don't have anything to worry about.
One year to the day of my surgery I ended up in the ER, heart 50 beats a minute faster than normal, couldn't breathe etc.
One of my graphs or veins on the back side of my heart had collapsed. This is when you realize how amazing the body is, because he explained that it was a small vein and that the other veins around it would compensate. It would be a painful proccess but would cure itself.
Sometimes a feeling is not just a feeling, but it takes a while to know the difference.
Thank God for all of you. Had I known about this site I would have come and asked if any of you had these experiences. I would not have felt so alone or needy.
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Sometimes a feeling is just a feeling.
- By Sarcasma40
- Posted January 13, 2009 at 10:16 am · 3 replies
- In Experiences with healthcare professionals
- Shared with the public
3 replies
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- By carmelbabe
- Posted January 13, 2009 at 12:27 pm
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Although my heart issue is relatively mild compared to what you have endured, I can totally relate to what you are saying. Since I was diagnosed with LVH, every little pain, palpitation, etc., that I would have not even given a thought about, now weighs on my mind.....and at times it drives me nuts. I am learning to relax and not over think things, but at the same time, I am learning through sites like this and others that there are certain things that must have attention. Your note in itself has made me feel better. This isn't what we would have chose for our lives, but it is so good to know that we are not alone!! I wish you a healthy and peaceful new year! Thanks for your note!!
- By pclipper
- Posted January 14, 2009 at 8:55 am
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Sure, sometimes a feeling is just a feeling, but sometimes that isn't a particularly helpful response, especially from a heart doctor! According to one Scandinavian study, up to 30 per cent of people recovering from thoracix surgery have arm pain. It is probably either from changes to body mechanics due to scar tissue pulling around the incision or being put in strange positions during surgery.
We only have our feelings to go by and because they are sometimes just a feeling is not a reason to ignore them (or at least, not until medical science has the capability of definitively being able to state, "that feeling is just a feeling!")
- By corby
- Posted January 15, 2009 at 8:40 am
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I know just what you are talking about. Last year I went to the cardio with pain on my left side. The pain came and went and I couldn't relate it to anything in particular. She said sometimes we just have pains. 'Only worry about the pains that stay around for a while not the ones that come and go.' I do notice that around the time of my surgery each year I feel some pain. It has been six years since my surgery this Jan 30th. I think our bodies have memory of the events and let us know that we need to keep on the healthy track. HOwever, I agree we need to check out all those feelings of pain or any discomfort. You never know when it could be a serious issue. Take care and have a healthy new year.
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