Hi John - sorry to hear that you're having a rought time with this - let's hope that it does actually give you some relief in the long term.
I'm due to see my GP again this week to discuss the X-ray results - my suspicion is that they will prove/disprove absolutely nothing which will mean that I just accept the situation and live with it - which, let's face it, is what we're all doing. I think the bottom line here is that the doctors/surgeons/consultants simply do not appreciate that a lot of patients have to significantly change the way they do things in order to keep the discomfort to a minimum. In my own experience I was merely told by my surgeon on my discharge from hospital to eat just fish for the rest of my life (which I don't!!) - no advice on what physically to do/not do, or what to expect medium to long term. It seems we have to learn what each of our own individual limkits are and then adjust - but seeing that this procedure is now one of ther most commonly performed you would think that the amount of post-operative data they have at their disposal is enormous??
Anyway - my best wishes for a speedy recovery - will post again when I know more.
After a days' delay,I had the sternal wire removed yesterday.I got home today about 4pm.Its gonna be awhile until I can tell anything cause I'm hurting so bad right now I had to take some Percocet.I was up all last nite at the hospital,sick from the anestesia.And I thought the scar was ugly the first time........goin to bed now..........JHH
You sound like I want to BE.............feeling fit.But after a day at my physically tiring job,I just feel like sitting down and resting.Also I;ve tried several statins but they all make my muscles hurt badly.Amen to the unpleasant and WEARING pain.Everytime I think it is gone for good......here it comes again.I'll let you know how I feel after I have the wire out, Lord willing. JHH
Thanks for the reply John - I have this week finally gone for chest X-Rays as I did go back to my GP and ask that they be taken - if only to give peace of mind that I'm not going to fall apart one day! I will know results in a week or so and will post again when I've seen the Dr for his comments. Cycling is great - it gives you a really good cardio-vascular work-out without any impact stress. I've done a few challenging sportif rides in the last 9 months and plan to fo a few of the Alpine climbs later this year - Alpe D'huez, Col de Telegraph etc. I cannot recommend it enough - and I also use riding (with heart monitor) to basically do my own stress testing. I figure that while I can get the heart rate up to around 170 at peak, and average 145 for 4 or 5 hours then the arteries must still be keeping relatively clear !!!
I too have this problem.I had my bypass (cabgX3) in June 2007.In fact;I could have written your post.My pain is exactly as you describe.Next Wednesday my surgeon is going to remove the 8 stainless wires around my sternum although he doesn't feel that they are causing the problem. I feel like every time that I lift anything heavy or even shoot one of my rifles;there is this pulling of flesh against wire in my chest.I've been going to a pain clinic but so far only marginal success.I am afraid to exercise much because every time I do I hurt.I like your idea of cycling.It's been some time since your post so I don't know if you will read this.............Doc Holliday