Brenda Green - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

1600 days ago

I had mitral valve repair in June 2020. I was healing on track with no pain for several month now. However, sadly I just lost both parents to Covid-19 this ...Read more

I had mitral valve repair in June 2020. I was healing on track with no pain for several month now. However, sadly I just lost both parents to Covid-19 this month. I came Toronto to be near them and care for my sister who also had Covid. I have had both doses of Pifzer. About 7 days ago I started to get a sharp stabbing pain when bending over to pick something up. For a few days the pain started to come more often. I called my HMO in the USA and was told to go to the ER. The hospital did many tests (ECG, chest x-ray, ultrasound, listen to my heart, and bloodwork). The ER doctor said he did not see anything urgent or abnormal. But now 4 days later, the pain is worse. I get it with many movements, not just bending over. I thought maybe I pulled a muscle or damaged a bone when caring for my disabled mother. Or, it could the non-stop stress of watching this illness take my family. Have anyone experienced this type of sharp pain many months post sternotomy? At first it felt like a wire was poking me on the inside. Now it still feels like that with a tearing pain. Thoughts?

Kendal Zinn I experienced the worst back/ shoulder pain for a couple weeks after my first AVR. I believe it was f ... Read more

Kendal Zinn I experienced the worst back/ shoulder pain for a couple weeks after my first AVR. I believe it was from the forcing of my chest bone open. Stretching the muscles in my back. Sharp pain almost hard to breathe at times.
Todd

Susan Hill I had the same problem. Practically no pain from the incision, just excruciating back spasms. Si ... Read more

Susan Hill I had the same problem. Practically no pain from the incision, just excruciating back spasms. Since they are SO conservative with pain medication it took what seemed like forever to get it under control.

Shannon Gray Did they rule out pericarditis? Something to check for and can happen months out from surgery.

Susan Lynn Sincerest sympathy on the loss of your parents. I hope your sister has recovered.
You should proba ... Read more

Susan Lynn Sincerest sympathy on the loss of your parents. I hope your sister has recovered.
You should probably call your surgeons office to report your symptoms. Sometimes regeneration of nerves can cause sensations and pain for years after surgery.
Wishing you the best of luck.

Brenda, my sincere sympathy on the loss of your parents and hoping your sister is on the mends. As Su ... Read more

Brenda, my sincere sympathy on the loss of your parents and hoping your sister is on the mends. As Susan Lynn said, are you able to speak with your surgeon team or assistant? Do you have a cardiologist you can talk to about your pain? I do hope you find an answer and will pray for you to find a solution. May God comforts you in the loss of your love ones and bless you.

Cheryl Mann I am so sorry for your loss. A life change so significant this soon after heart surgery can most sur ... Read more

Cheryl Mann I am so sorry for your loss. A life change so significant this soon after heart surgery can most surely affect the healing process. Pain is pain - both emotional and physical- a grief this profound is bound to alter the course of your recovery. Give yourself permission to grieve and to feel the pain and that it is ok to not be ok with all that has happened. Be kind to yourself and take the time that you need to take care of you. Draw on all of your available resources to help you through it. My thoughts and prayers are with you.