I had mitral valve surgery one year ago yesterday, and I still have some pain in my chest when I cough or sneeze... mostly on my right side. It has been growing less and less over the months, but it does take a long time for the muscles to recover from having ones chest (sternum) split open.
Your description seems to suggest that your sleeping position is putting stress on the muscles. That should continue to improve, pain reduction. Try sleeping on your back or other side, something different. Otherwise, suggest you talk with your doctor.
As long as the pain is getting less, it is going the right direction. It is basically a year long recovery process after an open heart surgery. IT takes longer the older a person is. If you find it is getting WORSE, talk to your surgeon. Maybe some physical therapy would help some. Good luck.
I had triple bypass open heart surgery April 1, 2010.
I progressed nicely and incision looks good. BUT I have discomfort on the left side of
my chest and the more I move around now the more pressure I get. Is this just a muscle
problem.
I still cannot lay on my stomach due to discomfort in my chest/incision.
Does anyone else out there experience any chest pressure/pain or discomfort after almost 7 months?
My husband had a quadruple bypass in April 2009. When he does some things, like pulling, pushing, lifting...it causes pain in his chest. He has told his doctor, had a stress test done and it seems it's just residual pain from the surgery. His though has been since day 1, it's not something that came on later. If you are having pain and you haven't had it all along, I think I would talk to the cardiologist.
As I said over a year ago, it took a long time (a year +) before I was truly pain free. Now that it is come up to 3 yeas next month, I can say I have no residual pain... as far as my chest is concerned, nothing has happened other than getting older (old).