Upper Abdomen and sub-sternal discomfort

[kilingtonskier]

Back in March 1972, I had a single jump of the right coronary artery. My sternum was wrapped with Teflon coated nylon which did not work well. It stretched. My surgeon (Pascal  Spagna from Episcopal Hosp in Phila) later told me it was something they experimented with a found did not work.
It is (if you add the numbers) almost 40 years later. I had weird feelings in my sternal area while recovering, and after almost 40 years, 13 grandkids, 4 wives and a career with plenty of activities which still includes skiing off 13,000 ft Mtns and 36 years in Respiratory Care, I still get weird stuff happening. It usually occurs after a long hard day. I get electrical like impulses that will run from just below my sternum and rocket up across my upper chest, sometimes with such force that will have me bounce up off the bed. The impulses will sometimes run across my clavicle area. I get no dysrhythmias from these episodes. If you have ever heard or experienced this from anyone you or your colleagues have care for, please touch bases with me.
I am probably the longest living bypass surgery recipient---I was only 33 when I had a heart attack--hence my continued activities at 72 years of age.

[kilingtonskier]

I ski off 13,000 ft mountains and had 80 days of skiing this past winter. I also hike, bike, swim etc. This would eliminate cardiac or pulmonary problems. I am thinking it may be diet along with the sternum's peculiar wrapping. It is definitely a neurological response with the electrical, rolling, spasm like feelings I get.  I am also a retired RT with 37 years of cardio-pulmonary experience. I was hoping someone out there had experienced or seen something like what I describe.

[CCF HeartMD5]

Hello. Thank you for the question. It's not quite clear who you get 'electrical like' impulses below your sternum to your upper chest, 40 years after open heart surgery. I wonder if your have some residual nerve damage related to the surgical incisions, but that is pure speculation. Unfortunately there are not too many physicians that would be familar with the Teflon coated nylon wrap that you describe, since it was done nearly 40 year ago. Your best bet may be to discuss with your physician so that we can make sure that there are no problems with your heart or lungs that warrant further attention.