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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Post Open Heart Surgery chest pains
Answered by
Cleveland Clinic - Heart
Cleveland - OH
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Post Open Heart Surgery chest pains
by JonJustice, Sep 21, 2009 12:50PM
I'm 37 years old. Back in Feb 09 I had open heart surgery to correct a bicuspid valve and ascending aortic aneurysm. I now have a titanium aortic valve and a graph replacement for the aortic aneurysm. I suffered two heart attacks due to what the doctors believed were blood clots being thrown from my bad valve. My arteries were all clear.
On at least 3 occasions now I have had moderate chest pain episodes that seem to coincide with high blood pressure. I am currently on coumadin, coreg and lipitor. In one case I did go to the ER and everything checked out, blood test was fine, nothing on my CT. Just this weekend it happened again, I was doing moderate work around the house, my chest started to hurt, my blood pressure was running between 95-100 on the low end. It did clam down to about 125-130 over 85-86 (it doesn't feel like sternum pain, but more a kin to when I had my first and second heart attacks before the surgery). It lasted longer than before so I called over the local EMT and they ran an EKG which was fine. I do have some sternum pain at the moment due to the work around the house I am sure, but my blood pressure still seems to be high even when I got up this morning.
One more quick note. I have not been eating as well as I should. I had been feeling so good that while I have not slipped into my old habits of fast food all the time, I certainly have not been paying as close attention to my salt, sugar and caffeine intake. I was doing much better for the first few months after the surgery.
I am going to be seeing my cardiologist in the next few days. Just hoping to get some thoughts if this is normal or not?
Thanks
Jon
On at least 3 occasions now I have had moderate chest pain episodes that seem to coincide with high blood pressure. I am currently on coumadin, coreg and lipitor. In one case I did go to the ER and everything checked out, blood test was fine, nothing on my CT. Just this weekend it happened again, I was doing moderate work around the house, my chest started to hurt, my blood pressure was running between 95-100 on the low end. It did clam down to about 125-130 over 85-86 (it doesn't feel like sternum pain, but more a kin to when I had my first and second heart attacks before the surgery). It lasted longer than before so I called over the local EMT and they ran an EKG which was fine. I do have some sternum pain at the moment due to the work around the house I am sure, but my blood pressure still seems to be high even when I got up this morning.
One more quick note. I have not been eating as well as I should. I had been feeling so good that while I have not slipped into my old habits of fast food all the time, I certainly have not been paying as close attention to my salt, sugar and caffeine intake. I was doing much better for the first few months after the surgery.
I am going to be seeing my cardiologist in the next few days. Just hoping to get some thoughts if this is normal or not?
Thanks
Jon
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Sep 24, 2009 08:49PM
, Sep 24, 2009 08:49PM
It is most likely not normal to have chest pain similar to that experienced during a heart attack following surgery. Just because you have recent grafts and native arteries were clear does not mean you cannot form or rupture a denovo lesion. I would advise you to see your cardiologist who may perform a stress test, possibly an echocardiogram to look at the valve, and how well seated it is and the gradients across it. I would not wait long before seeking his advise.
