Charlene's Posts

Congrats on making a fine recovery, Charlene! I hope they can find the source of your muscle issues, so you can get relief. I couldn't sleep in my bed for many weeks. Then had some real struggles with what I initially thought was left shoulder and shoulder blade pain. PT early in the year made things worst and inflamed the right side also. After a few weeks the phys therapist thought my issues were instead in my first rib, spine and upper neck (it hurts front and back). Still wake up very sore a bit higher up than your issues when I sleep on my sides. Gonna seek a spine specialist soon.

Very common, my cardiologist said it is because the upper back muscles support the chest and using the retractor to hold the chest open doing surgery puts a strain on them. Also we tend to slump our shoulders in a rounded position due to surgery on the sternum as we are healing. I was given a muscle relaxer and told to do stretching exercises.

Welcome to the other side Charlene! Having to be in the hospital longer can be tough, but you want to be ready for the best recovery outcomes. Hopefully, they'll figure out the stabbing pain. I've had an array of odd pains, but thankfully none that sent me running to the doctor. They put so many tubes and equipment in there, maybe it's to be expected. Praying that you get out soon and have a speedy and uneventful recovery.

Hi Kathy Blank... My mitral valve was repaired with open heart (sternotomy) As the days went on after surgery, I realized there were more internal pains. After 10 days in the hospital and then going to my regular cardiologist, she explained it was probably from the tubes they pulled out. Sometimes the area gets inflamed but she said it should all go away. Can't complain about too much more and I see big improvements each and every day. Good luck with your recovery!

Hi Charlene, Just thought I would drop you a note, since we are both EI residents, My wife has had 2 OHS surgeries over the past 4 years, 1st at St Francis, 2nd at Good Sam, I can tell you the doctors and nurses at both are Fantastic !!! I am sure the surgery will be fine, if you need to talk to someone who has been thru it or if your family has questions after the surgery, please feel free to drop me a note and I will send you our cell phone numbers Rich & Sharon