Feeling of thumping in the chest after taking antihypertensives and retiring to

I am a 50 years old male. In June 2003 I suffered ASMI and within a week I underwent CABG  with grafts LIMA to LAD and RIMA to D2. Previously I however never had problem with my heart  and I was not hypertensive. A routine health check-up earlier did not reveal any abnormalities. After the surgery, I have been on anti-hypertensives, fibrates (to lower triglyceride level) and enteric coated Aspirin.  Some times, after taking the medicine and retiring to bed in the night, I feel as if my heart is thumping. The rhythm appears to be a bit faster.  With sleep, it appears to become normal and I am OK next morning. Also, occasionally I experience a sharp,pricking pain  from the bottom of sternum and traversing upwards. I am a bit worried though it is not severe. The thickening of the scar over the sternum (Dexon suture) also worries me.  Also I would like to know,  is there any possibility of the sternal wires getting loosened and causing any internal injury?

THIRU

[Cleveland Clinic]

thiru,

It is doubtful the sternal wires are causing the thumping problem. While sometimes they can cause problems, it is usually manifest externally by drainage, redness or infection.

However, it is important to figure out what is causing the thumping and making sure it is not any type of arrythmia occuring after your myocardial infarction.  Holter or event monitoring would accomplish this.

good luck

[Emmaj]

Hi Thiru,

Almost two years is a long time for a normal scar to cause pain... You mentioned your scar becoming thicker. I wonder if you have hypertrophic or keloid scarring. If a person is going to have bad scars, evidently the scars are going to be the worst in the chest area. You might want to see a dermatologist for a consult(or painful -- sorry -- steroid shots) or even a plastic surgeon. I had some sternal wires removed by a plastic surgeon because they were painful -- bumping up right under my skin. Also, sometimes people can get small incisional hernias. Good luck!