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I had an endo-ACAB (robotically assisted bypass) in June and still have significant pain in my breast -- in fact, it seems to be getting worse! Has anyone else had this procedure? For how long is it normal to feel pain? If anyone has experience with this procedure, I'd love to hear about it.
Thanks!
Michelle
Exercise Surgery Aleve Bypass surgery Pericarditis Pain Stress Xanax
Hi Michelle,
Welcome! I think you may be one of the first women to post here after ACAB. As to the pain getting worse.....I'm afraid I don't see how that can be normal. Increasing pain would be my signal to go back to the surgeon to be checked for possible bleed or infection. Sooner is a good thing here. Infections won't go away on their own and you'll want to keep the complications neutralized as much as possible.
When you go in to get checked, don't mimimize your pain in any way. Do not apologize to any doctors for being in pain and needing relief. Keep reciting your symptoms over and over until you get a response that feels 'right' to you. 'Let's wait and see' is medical speak for 'I don't know and am not going to bother checking'.
When I asked a cardio why they don't do scans after a procedure to make sure everything has healed and is working properly, I was told, "Oh, we don't scan unless a patient comes in with severe pain." I think you qualify for a scan now.
I hope other women here in your position will chime in quickly.
take good care,
Jaynie
I did not have ACAB. I had traditional bypass surgery a little over a year and a half ago. I was 42 at the time. When I went back about 2 months later and complained of continued sternum pain that seemed to be getting worse and not better, I was assured I was healing normally. When I went back a month after that still in pain, I was told it must be stress and given a script for Xanax. The next month I went in and stressed my pain was increasing and not decreasing and affecting my ability to perform everyday tasks. my surgeon patted me on the hand and offered to do a CT scan, just for my "peace of mind". Imagine his suprise when he found the top 1/2" of my sternum had never fused properly, a rare occurence but not unheard of. A callous had formed in the gap and that was causing my extreme pain with every movement. There had been a real reason for my pain and I had suffered all those months. No one wanted to give me pain meds, thinking I was exaggerating my symptoms. I was placed on strong anti-inflammatories and a synthetic narcotic pain reliever until my sternum finished fusing, nearly a year after my surgery.
The moral to my story is just what Jaynie said - get it checked and don't minimize your pain at all. Ask about all the possible causes including those rare things that most patients never experience. My doctor assumed since I was young and female, my healing would go quickly without complications. A simple CT scan could have saved me months of severe pain.
Take care and welcome to WomenHeart -
Dianna
Hi Michelle
I had a bypass 3 months ago and I too feel like the pain is worse now than 6 weeks ago. You say that the pain is in your breast. If they used the internal mammary artery, it's possible that you had some numbness immediately post op; now that may be wearing off. Also, your ribs are beneath your breasts. These will have suffered trauma too. My scar is now more tender than 2 months ago. I am told that it's nerve ending pain as the nerves that were cut try to re-fuse. I also have Dresslers syndrome - a kind of pericarditis caused by an auto immune reaction. It's rare, but it's possible you have this also. It is very painful.
Really, we could all hazard a guess at what it might be, but without tests, you will never know.
See your doctor as soon as possible.
Good luck
Gill
Hi, ladies, and thanks for your replies! I took your advice and called the surgeon's office today. They said that the pain from my procedure could last for several months and that it can be exacerbated by physical activity (I just started cardiac rehab a couple of weeks ago). I'm going to try laying off some of the exercises that cause me pain, taking an Aleve before rehab sessions, and learning some chest-friendly stretches from the exercise physiologist. If those steps don't work, I'll definitely ask for a scan!
Thanks so much for your help. It's nice to know you're out there!
All my best,
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
I had a triple bypass 4 year's ago. I too had pain in my left breast and shoulder after surgery. They said it had to do with the mammory artery being used. Sorry to say that it lasted about 6 months then was gone. Good luck.
Barbara
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