Back and Shoulder following triple by pass

[whoorah8]

My husband had a Widow Maker heart attack January 20, 2010. Had 2 stents placed to repair the blow out left artery. Then February 4th, he has triple by pass surgery. His recovery has been very slow. We do not have insurance so he was not able to go to the rehab classes. He now sufferes from shoulder and mid level back pain. Its not there all the time, but more than 50% of his day there is pain. He has been back in the hospital 3x's so far.  First 2x's were for chest and arm pain. Last one being dizzy and lightheaded and it turned out to be a reaction to a BP med. His doc is treating is pain in back and shoulders as if its angina. Has anyone had problems with pain like this 5 months after surgery?

[Shuckapeafarms]

I have 3 stents and had a heart attack and again in need of either more stenting or bypass.
Let me say this, no one can tell you what you should feel or not feel regarding heart issues! Yes, they have guidelines which are helpful however, everyone reacts differently to the condition. When I had my heart attack I had nausea which never rang a bell I was having a heart attack! My father died at age 45 with a massive coronary infarction and never knew what hit him! So use the guidelines but if you have any inclination you may be having a heart issue you need to get to the closest emergency room STAT!
As for the stents vs bypass, I wrote my story here months ago explaining that the answer lies within who you ask---a cardiologist or a thorasic surgeon! It all comes down to the almighty----DOLLARS and CENTS--unfortunately!
My research has indicated that bypass has the best long term results with DES (Drug Eluting Stents) still under scrutiny and possibly over hyped by the drug companies!
The whole subject all comes back to $$$$$$! We all know they have the cure for cancer and have had such for quite some time but do they admit to it? NO! Because too many people are making hoards of money working the system just the way it stands! And so be it, the same applies to the cardio business!
It's an unfortunate situation that we have a society that has come to this point and hopefully, at some point, we again come to our senses and put priorities on other things that the "LOVE OF MONEY"!!

[ed34]

I was told by my cardiac surgeon that after three months there would be no more discomfort and I would be able to return to a normal quality of life. Nine months later I was still waiting. I had aches in my ribs, my back and my shoulders. If I stayed in bed, the pains would subside, but when relaxing after any form of exertion they would appear and with a vengeance. After 12 months they all totally stopped. I think everyone recovers at different rates. My bypass vessels only lasted three months, and I can tell you that shortness of breath was the giveaway. I would gasp for breath much more than I ever did and that's how I knew the bypass was failed. Don't let the failure of my bypass worry you in any way, it's a long story, but to cut it short the surgeon didn't do a very good job.