My surgeon says it is damage to the ulnar nerve caused by compression of the nerves in my chest during surgery. I biked 40-50 miles a week. Though his cardiologist seems to be satisfied with his progress, were aware that he (my husband) is just another patient, and so the details of his progress (or lack thereof) is really only important to us! Everything that has been said here in the comments all tie up as the normal healing process so I suppose we all have to be very patient and look after ourselves just a tad better than pre-op days Good luck everyone its not easy BUT I really dont relish the alternative Maz, I am at my 1 year anniversary and I am back to working out 5 days a week, however sometimes I still feel a discomfort in my chest, and that scares me sometimes, when to the emergency room last month, but God is good and everything cane out good. I also have familial high triglycerides and have had 2 stents since 2014. So just checking with you guys and share your experience too. Everything I eat matters. I hope so cause I never want to go they this again!! Am hoping another cpl good nights rest will alleviate that.. Did a little walking today bit didnt come close to the past week of 1-1/2 lie a day My mind is telling g me, this is just a minor setbackand things will once again improve. Have been to many doctors and all told the same thing "Nerves take time to heal if ever". Yes we may never be the same again we all of us appreciate life a lot more. I had a pump placed in my Heart during the Cath and they discovered I needed By-pass. Im now getting ready to have surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm invasive that I just dont feel Im ready for anything else yet. Mo money, mo money! Is it possible for Barbara to not have any scar from the top of her sternum down to her cleavage within 7 months of her surgery? It is a long recovery but you are not alone and I cant tell you that it will totally subside but I can tell you that it will significantly subside but it can take a year. Now being 59 may have a little to do with that, but the week in the hospital and even this moment as I type all feel really difficult, physically and mentally. Im 39 years old, former military, current contractor. -Tightness/discomfort in the middle & left side of my chest -almost complete lack of sleep & restlessness all night -Pain, sensitivity, cold, numbness in both feet. I had a plural effusion and went back to the hospital to ave it drained. I am a 39 year old male, who had an aortic aneurysm (aortic root was replaced with dacron graft) and underwent a maze procedure for AFib (supposedly more effective for open heart patients). I too take one day at a time. They just seem horribly difficult right now. Most episodes of nerve damage after surgery last for a few weeks to a few months. I was referred to a cardiologist who then advised me that it would be a case of when, not if Id need to have a valve replacement. God bless you all. This was at the time described as trivial and was monitored by the hospital for 5 years when it became a severe mitral regurgitation. Anesth Prog. I am generally a positive happy person and am very thankful for each day God gives me. Im happy to read your stories. I feel I am recovered like normal before But off-late suddenly I feel little bit of short of breathing (May be PsychologicalLike when you think of breathing then you try to breath faster)..Just around 15 mins I have this feeling in a day or sometimes when I turn towards my left side and sleep. I underwent ohs on 11th june 2018. Also my br. Everyone tells me how much better I look but I sure dont feel like that inside. The first steps were the hardest I ever took in my life. Taking several medications including Carvidilol that do cause dizzy spells but cant seem to get a consistent diagnoses and plan for the future. I look forward to be normal and be productive. My kidneys were OK before CABG. Finally convinced my family doctor that I am very aware of what my body was capable of, and that I was running at half speed. 2008;33(5):404415. I think diet is extreamly important to heal well. This will restore pain free movement. I just cant seem to get with the program and am very scared I will not be able to. So just around 4 months now. Im 51 and had OHS almost 6months ago. There will be days where you may not have those side effects & suddenly, one day, you can feel every side effect from your meds if they persist, you should mention it to your cardiologist, I just read vitamin D helps after heart surgery, Thanks for all your comments. I still have to stop and breathe when climbing stairs. All of this is very good right? After a week, at home I called my surgeon and was told they had no, idea what it could be. I am walking 25-30 miles per week, but I still get out of breath a lot, especially going up stairs. This is solely a personal account that might or might not offer some insight on what to expect when diagnosed with this condition. God bless you all, as Im very sure Hes blessing me, each breath and each step I take and each night I make it through! But, no.it feels to be another week of the same. 1 Started having angina and soon went to my cardiologist. I am 4 months post OHS for aortic valve replacement and 1 bypass. Good luck xx, I am 7 months after surgery and found that I was having pain under my left nipple towards the sternum Like many of you I find that depression and an impatience are my biggest issues. Two days ago my GP cleared me to go back to the Gym. Changes in the weather appear to make it worse. I know in time, things will feel better. In order to completely recover and indulge in strenuous activities, it may take around six months to a year depending on the progress of the recovery. I wont have it done again even if its needed. Be kind to yourself and remember full recovery can take 12 weeks. Then my heart was beating 240 bpm and they stopped and started it six times to get rhythm BUT I need beta blockers to maintain it, if I stop beta blockers it climbs back up fast, I was so sick, I mean deaths door and couldnt be discharged, they flew me to my local hospital for aftercare. Struggling keeping the weight off. 2011 Jul 20;93(14):1288-93. doi:10.2106/JBJS.J.00369, (7) Khambati FA, Shetty VP, Ghate SD, Capadia GD. Some days I just want to cry cause I feel like crap and discouraged. Hi Teresa, If you think your genetics is also causing high cholesterol, we are here to help! Ive had no swelling in my legs or anywhere. Surgery is a major cause for blood clots (" deep vein thrombosis "). I think Im suffering from some depression. The worst part for me is still the numbness, burning of my chest incision, I suppose. To view original post visit: https://livingwithfh.blogspot.com/2016/07/life-at-five-months-after-open-heart.html. Alsoyou say you made it 14 yearshow much warning / degradation did you have & for how long, prior to this 2nd surgery? This burning sensation worsens at night and it keeps me up for hours. Most of my life I have always felt like the toughest man to walk the earth. I hope to feel better every day. I have also changed my diet and yes mine is also hereditary. The early days were traumatizing. There has been some huge progress since the surgery but it seems like there is a long way to go. I wish you the best, I would like to email you and help you through it, speak to your GP bout Renal Failure and Meds, go through every tablet and Google them. I took them OFF my menu, as they kept prolonging a mess in my head. I did have 2 stents put in 12.5 years ago when I was 47 and that felt devastating to me at the time, but yeah, it was really nothing by comparison! My L leg which was pretty much eviscerated from Ankle to crotch is still somewhat sore and swollen, although the swelling has receded. I still miss smoking and I am sure I always will. I have been told get used to it that is what often happens after open heart surgery. Ann N Y Acad Sci. The prognosis following heart bypass surgery is both good and has improved over the past three decades. com or text or call him on +(234) 9063230051. Ive been reading comment after comment. I felt the rib/chest pain was getting better but about a week ago it felt worst and seems to feel tighter day by day. I just wondered whether you or anyone else on this site experienced any similar post-surgery mood changes and did they last for long? Sorry for jumping right in, and so. Steadily decreasing pain as recovery continues. So he must want you here for a purpose, if not for nothing else but to realize all anyone of us have is today. It was diagnosed as Costachondritis which is basically inflammation from the cartilage between the ribs and the pain radiates from under the breast to shooting pains in the breast. Now, straight armed and slowly lift your arms in front of you to shoulder height. This test can determine if the nerve size shows swelling and/or constriction. Ten days later I had a pacemaker put in. The skin there is partially numb, so when I kneel down my brain doesn't trust that the knee is down and safe, so it doesn't want me to put weight on it. Be there for Bob, let him talk when he can, but dont put any pressure on him. Please give me some advice Thanks. In addition, the nerve is surrounded by a fatty sheath (myelin) that acts like an insulator covering a wire. Two days later I had complete renal failure and died, they debated whether to revive me, and I guess they tossed a coin but gave away all my compression stockings and some personal stuff when everyone thought I would not be back, they decided to jump start me. I was in hospital 4 days only. I developed Pneumonia and a mess of other problems during that time. I tried melatonin, but it seems to aggregate my light headed and dizziness. I appreciate he has been through a major ordeal, both physically and mentally, and it is so unfortunate that it has happened bang in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis when life is in a turmoil for everyone. My scars are good except for the area i got staph nfection but no one can see it. Feeling good the only thing bothering me is left hand still numb and very uncomfortable to wear a shirt. I had a pig mitral valve in mid febohs. Four months I thought Id be better. 2018;6(5):2325967118771535. doi:10.1177/2325967118771535, Kuponiyi O, Alleemudder DI, Latunde-Dada A, Eedarapalli P. Nerve injuries associated with gynaecological surgery. 2019;11(4):620627. Im feeling great. The concern I have is that I have a persistent sharp pain on the left side of my chest which feels like it's coming from my heart or my lungs. Please share the advice to me if it is normally to feel that tired after surgery for 2 months already? All rights reserved. In fact, one leg swelling is worse than two swollen legs . BILL. The good and less good days, the long term pain, the fears, the sleeplessness, the pushing through it all to get to enjoy what modern medecine can do, the slow but very real progress and improvements in quality of life even slightly, are all things I felt very alone in. I am 5 months now since the surgery, doing cardiac rehab which is almost over and overall so much better. I can't lay down or sit in one place long. Its frustrating because the pain in my chest is sometimes scary I dont know if it is sore muscles, healing or a heart attack. Not sure why, but the doctor did 3 separate, distict incisions on my leg to remove veins (not sure why just one long one) but those are still healing, but are doing ok. What if I died? It may help to think of numbness and tingling as natural side effects of surgery. I provided some thoughts for Sean below, but Im curious to know if you experienced this heart surgery complication. She no longer wears the brace, has gotten sensation back, and has limited pain. I myself remember basically nothing about the experience and during the first 2 weeks in the hospital I apparently became confused did not know where. However, that information will still be included in details such as numbers of replies. Many patients will experience some amount of numbness and tingling as part of the recovery process. Ive never been religious but God has his finger on every aspect of my life the last 6 weeks. It's normal . All the doctors want to do is feed my anti-depressants. I had my aortic valve replaced exactly 4 months ago today and have some questions and concerns to see if I am the only one. I knew I was being poisoned but did not know which of the 13 tablets was killing me? Thing bothering me is still the numbness, burning of my life i have always felt like the man. And be productive kind to yourself and remember full recovery can take 12 weeks shows... And did they last for a few weeks to a few weeks to a few weeks to a few to! Normally to feel tighter day by day God has his finger on every aspect of my life last. Take 12 weeks here to help nerve damage after surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm that. Was at the time described as trivial and was told they had no swelling in legs. Aneurysm invasive that i just want to cry cause i feel like that.... 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