Chest Discomfort

[Debi]

I am a 48 female who had double by pass surgery June,1999. I did not have a heart attack, they found blockage in left main artery.I was out of hospital in 4 days and doing fine  In Sept of 1999 had an attack of some kind, I couldn't breath for pain. I went to ER, they did Xrays, blood work, sent me home w/pain medication saying it was irratation/inflamation from the bones being separated.  About every 3 months after that it would reoccur but not as bad. Until around May of this year, its a nagging discomfort in the heart/breastbone area and it pretty much stays with me all the time now.  I have been back to my Cardiologist 2 times in last 3 months.  He has me on Celeflex 2 times a day for 3 months now for inflamation (inflammation).  Plus added Prevacid this time for reflux.  I don't believe it has anything to do with a reflux problem from all I can read.  If this is inflamation (inflammation) why is taking so long to get rid of it? How much longer?  And if not what else do they need to be looking for?  Or what are your thoughts.

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

Inflammation can take a long time to settle down, sometimes months. Very rarely, the pain never goes away completely, as may be the case with you. Drugs like Celebrex are usually useful in this situation. The other possibility is that there is a problem with one of your bypass grafts, though they do not typically fail that quickly. This possibility could be evaluated with a stress test.

[Susan]

Debi,
I can relate to what you are feeling in regards to your chest
discomfort.  Although I have never had heart surgery nor do I have coronary heart disease but I am 44-years old and living with
a small, ascending aortic aneurysm.  After, so many tests to check my heart, my heart is fine but my doctors feel the chest
discomfort I experience on exertion is simply, chest wall pain.
I have learned to live with it and take pain medication as
Loratab when my chest discomfort is unbearable, usually from
physical activity or climbing stairs. I have my a cat scan
every year to check my aneurysm and since it has remained small
so far, with no complications, I know my chest wall pain (like
an ache in my breastbone and rib cage) is not serious.  Thank
goodness for pain medication, though and learning to take life
easy!

[John Mc]

Debi I am 45 years old and had double bypass 2 years ago. I also have had the same problem that you are experiencing and it has all the symptoms of angina.

I have been stress tested again and everything is OK. The doctors told me it is inflamation (inflammation) and put me on a drug I believe was called Provocal. This has now happened 3 times and if not treated will stay with me for at least a week at a time. The doctors said that any one who has had bypass are more suseptable to infamation from virus's caused by a common cold or ear ache etc.

Good Luck
John

[Debi]

Thank you Susan and John for the information. its nice to know I'm not the only one who is having difficulty after surgery.  If there is anyone else out there that has had by pass surgery and would like to share anything with me, I'd love to hear from you.

[RON MILLER]

Debi,
    I could write a book on chest discomfort and all the tests I have had.  Check these out since may of 1998 double by-pass, 7 stents, 19 yes 19! angiograms 15 angioplasties, new radiation treatment in a stent, every medicine you can dream of, still have chest pain EVERY DAY, nextb week we are trying the old oriental accupunture oh boy!!  I have about had it with chest pain, but I keep hoping for a miracle.  I even done the Dean Ornish diet no luck ther just more blockages. Oh well

                                                        Ron

E:mail Address  RVM52000 @AOL.COM