Awful Chafing After Coronary Bypass Surgery

I had quadruple bypass surgery five weeks ago, and my recovery is going nicely except for one thing:  There's an awful chafing about four inches on either side of my incision... makes it almost impossible to wear a shirt.  It feels like painful tickling.  The hair on my chest hasn't completely grown back yet, and I'm wondering if that has something to do with it.  I have tried Lanacaine, Neutrogena skin cream which is supposed to prevent chafing, and other things... but nothing works.  I've had a fair amount of abdominal surgery in the past, and have never had this problem.. and although I know this question is not directly heart-related, it is a post-surgery factor which is making me miserable.  When I go out, I have to hold my shirt away from my chest... and I cannot stand having the seatbelt go across my chest in the car.

Further, I'm supposed to start a 12-week cardiac rehab course next week, and this will make that activity very very uncomfortable.  Is there anything I can do to alleviate this discomfort?

Thanks!

[CCF HeartMD6]

Unfortunately, it is impossible to make a true diagnosis just over the internet. There are a number of conditions that this could represent -- including irritation from scar formation (benign) to something more serious such as a post-procedural/operation complication.  If you are having this much discomfort and is persistent, I would follow-up with your surgeon to ensure this is not something serious.