Mended Hearts Open Forum

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  • 1.  Chest pains and fear

    Posted 11-13-2025 08:23

    Hi my name is Tifani and I had open heart surgery last November.  I am currently still having chest pains. Back in April I was hospitalized for inflammation around my heart. My family if I should be back to normal and doing things I was doing before I got sick..All my doctors said that's not true. I am also afraid that I'm going get back sick again or die. Is it normal to have these feelings and have inflammation around your heart after open heart surgery? (I had a valve replacement)



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    Tifani Brown
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  • 2.  RE: Chest pains and fear

    Posted 11-13-2025 10:19

    Tifani

    I believe its perfectly normal to have thoughts and fears about relapse. In fact for me, I had a 3X bypass graft in September. Recovery was progressing for the first 2 weeks, then regressed. I felt worse than ever. I told my surgeon and he kind of said it'll be ok in a few weeks. But after 2 more weeks I demanded a CTA scan of the heart, and it found that one graft had failed. I was then taken in 2 days ago for another catheterization at which time 2 stents were inserted.

    The reason for the story is that you need to trust what your body is telling you, and you need to be your own advocate. Do not take no for an answer!

    More surgery is not the end of the world but the alternative may be...

    Good luck and peace. 



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    Earl Timmons
    Wilmington Delaware
    CABGx3 September 2025
    Johns Hopkins Hospital
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  • 3.  RE: Chest pains and fear

    Posted 01-13-2026 08:46

    Hi, I am very interested to know what symptoms you had if your graft failed. I had a 3x bypass 2 months ago and am doing ok, but still having some symptoms that seem like they could be angina. I do not know if this is normal When I bring this up  to my providers (including one trip to the ER at 6 weeks post) it is generally dismissed as muscle pain from healing. I don't want to be overly anxious but i feel there are a lot of unknowns and I get different info. So, if you are able to share (on or off-list) i would appreciate it. Thank you!



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    Rai Sue Sussman
    San Francisco CA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Chest pains and fear

    Posted 01-14-2026 03:05
    Rai Sue,

    It's relatively rare for a graft to fail 2 months after surgery but, as Earl has told us, it can and does happen. If the problem persists, then insist, don't ask, to be tested. I was directed to have a nuclear stress test 3 years after CABG to investigate a heartbeat rhythm issue and they found that my grafts were "clean as a whistle." It was a noninvasive test, other than the radioactive dye, and a morning in the hospital, but I walked away with a clean bill of health.

    Ira


    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Chest pains and fear

    Posted 11-17-2025 09:10

    Hi Tifani, thank you for sharing something so personal - what you've been through is incredibly tough, and it's completely understandable to feel scared or unsure during recovery. Open-heart surgery, especially a valve replacement, is a major procedure, and everyone heals at a different pace. Many people continue to experience emotions like fear, anxiety and worry about setbacks long after the physical surgery is over. Those feelings don't make you weak - they make you human.

    Sending you strength, comfort and encouragement - from all of us here at Tapron Ireland, wishing you healing, peace of mind and much better days ahead.



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    TAPRON IRELAND
    TAPRON
    Dublin
    899528354
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  • 6.  RE: Chest pains and fear

    Posted 11-18-2025 19:37

    Tifani,

    Fear and anxiety are very common before and after open-heart surgery, and with heart failure in general.  Probably a lot more so than patients or doctors care to admit.  I had mitral valve repair in 2013, and I was pretty convinced that I would not return from the hospital.  The anxiety I had was responsible for the worst of my physical symptoms.  At one point I ended up in the emergency room for what was diagnosed as a panic attack.  After that, my PCP decided it was time to treat my anxiety with drugs.  This was extremely effective in my case, and I wished I had it treated earlier.  Trust me; living with that anxiety was pretty bad.  I thought the symptoms I had were from my heart, but they were actually from the anxiety.  I was lucky in that my PCP was familiar with anxiety and its treatment, though I'm sure many are today.  You might consider having a candid discussion with a doctor who is familiar with anxiety and with your heart history and see what is recommended.  After recovering and discussion my experience with other heart patients, I was shocked at how common it is for OHS patients to be affected by anxiety.  Don't let it get worse before seeking treatment.  Best of luck in your recovery.



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    Ed M
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