Open heart surgery

[Chocolateismyfavourite]

Hi - has anyone here had open heart surgery before? If so, how long was it before you weaned yourself of the painkillers and began feeling like yourself again?

I had a tumour removed from my heart on the 9th Feb, be nice to hear from anyone who has gone through similar 🙂 thanks

@Chocolateismyfavourite hi Chocolate.... wondering how you are now? I had a tumour removed 2 weeks ago, sounds like a similar thing to you (Atrial Myxoma?) Have you recovered fully? How long before you felt somewhere near normal? Hope all is good and you're back to full health.

Hi @Thunderpunt how are you getting on. yes I'm fully recovered. I started cardiac rehab classes about 6 weeks after surgery. was only in hospital for 5 days. I think I would say, around10/12 weeks i was feeling pretty good but still having to be carefull with movements, also, I have breast cancer, and it came back in my left side ( had mastectomy ) at about that time, and I have alot of lumps there, so what my normal is, is'nt the same for other normal people out there who have had the op, but I did remember feeling pretty tickety boo up unitl that point. Just remember to take it easy, don't try and do to much to soon, and if you have the option of the rehab classes, do go, they really help.

Thanks so much for your message, so sorry to hear about your breast cancer - what a lot to deal with at one time. I am waiting for the Cardiac Rehab team to get in touch - the hospital who did the surgery referred me over to them, so will definitely do that as you recommend it.

I have to say I clearly had unrealistic expectations on the recovery side of things, I am 5 weeks post surgery today and still having a lot of pain across the whole of the top of my chest and down my breasts. The wound itself is healing well - but clearly the sternum and associated tissue across the top of my chest is going to take longer than I anticpated!
I have also been having really weird irregular heart rhythmns intermittently - like I get an extra beat too quick instead of evenly spaced out. Just waiting on a call back from the GP to check this is normal part of the healing process rather than anything sinister.

I hope you are keeping well and the cancer is being held at bay, you certainly had a double whammy so I wish you lots of strength and good vibes. Thank you once again for taking the time to respond, I don't know any other person who has gone through this so it was reassuring to see your post.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your kind thoughts.

Neither do I! I was like a celeb in the hospital, and it was a special heart hospital too lol.

I cant comment on they sensations down your breasts, but the sternum and the tightness, I would say sounds familiar and the cardiac class will definatley help, and loosens everything up. The pain/discomfort levels did surprise me too and I had to take painkillers for 6/7 weeks, so dont be a hero, take the tablets, its what they're for.

Take care of yourself, always here if you need to chat.