Mended Hearts Open Forum

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have to go back for an ultrasound to get a pressure baseline). 

Anyway, my question is about healing... my chest incision has been having way more feeling... random sensations, sort of a pulling sensation across my chest, sensations like it's waking up also, like when your hand has gone to sleep and is waking up. As I'm writing this it kind of sounds like "well yeah". But at the same time, I have paranoia about all the feelings I feel in my chest and "is it just healing" or what? Ontop of that there's the slight depression of feeling like I'm not getting better, increased emotions, feeling like I'm being depressing toward my wife (I'm typically pretty positive). etc. 

Is all of this usual?

Mike 

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have to go back for an ultrasound to get a pressure baseline). 

Anyway, my question is about healing... my chest incision has been having way more feeling... random sensations, sort of a pulling sensation across my chest, sensations like it's waking up also, like when your hand has gone to sleep and is waking up. As I'm writing this it kind of sounds like "well yeah". But at the same time, I have paranoia about all the feelings I feel in my chest and "is it just healing" or what? Ontop of that there's the slight depression of feeling like I'm not getting better, increased emotions, feeling like I'm being depressing toward my wife (I'm typically pretty positive). etc. 

Is all of this usual?

Mike 

Hey Mike.  The emotional feelings you are having can happen.  Please speak to your cardiologist or primary care physician about them.  I went through the same thing.  It was months before I got help because I just did not know.

You went through a life altering event.  Sounds like your are doing great physically!  It is a lot process emotionally.  You are not alone on this. 

Mike Kennedy
Fort Worth, TX

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have to go back for an ultrasound to get a pressure baseline). 

Anyway, my question is about healing... my chest incision has been having way more feeling... random sensations, sort of a pulling sensation across my chest, sensations like it's waking up also, like when your hand has gone to sleep and is waking up. As I'm writing this it kind of sounds like "well yeah". But at the same time, I have paranoia about all the feelings I feel in my chest and "is it just healing" or what? Ontop of that there's the slight depression of feeling like I'm not getting better, increased emotions, feeling like I'm being depressing toward my wife (I'm typically pretty positive). etc. 

Is all of this usual?

Mike 

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have to go back for an ultrasound to get a pressure baseline). 

Anyway, my question is about healing... my chest incision has been having way more feeling... random sensations, sort of a pulling sensation across my chest, sensations like it's waking up also, like when your hand has gone to sleep and is waking up. As I'm writing this it kind of sounds like "well yeah". But at the same time, I have paranoia about all the feelings I feel in my chest and "is it just healing" or what? Ontop of that there's the slight depression of feeling like I'm not getting better, increased emotions, feeling like I'm being depressing toward my wife (I'm typically pretty positive). etc. 

Is all of this usual?

Mike 

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have to go back for an ultrasound to get a pressure baseline). 

Anyway, my question is about healing... my chest incision has been having way more feeling... random sensations, sort of a pulling sensation across my chest, sensations like it's waking up also, like when your hand has gone to sleep and is waking up. As I'm writing this it kind of sounds like "well yeah". But at the same time, I have paranoia about all the feelings I feel in my chest and "is it just healing" or what? Ontop of that there's the slight depression of feeling like I'm not getting better, increased emotions, feeling like I'm being depressing toward my wife (I'm typically pretty positive). etc. 

Is all of this usual?

Mike 

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have to go back for an ultrasound to get a pressure baseline). 

Anyway, my question is about healing... my chest incision has been having way more feeling... random sensations, sort of a pulling sensation across my chest, sensations like it's waking up also, like when your hand has gone to sleep and is waking up. As I'm writing this it kind of sounds like "well yeah". But at the same time, I have paranoia about all the feelings I feel in my chest and "is it just healing" or what? Ontop of that there's the slight depression of feeling like I'm not getting better, increased emotions, feeling like I'm being depressing toward my wife (I'm typically pretty positive). etc. 

Is all of this usual?

Mike 

Hi Mike 

I had a similar procedure 16 months ago, along with a Mitral valve replacement.  From my experience, and many questions I asked of my medical team along the way, it sounds like your symptoms are normal.  The impulses you're feeling are nerve endings that have been cut, along with the healing of the arteries they took from your chest wall to use on your bypass.  They probably took one or two from your leg(s) too. 

It takes time for all those nerves to settle down.  For me, it took about a year. 

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have to go back for an ultrasound to get a pressure baseline). 

Anyway, my question is about healing... my chest incision has been having way more feeling... random sensations, sort of a pulling sensation across my chest, sensations like it's waking up also, like when your hand has gone to sleep and is waking up. As I'm writing this it kind of sounds like "well yeah". But at the same time, I have paranoia about all the feelings I feel in my chest and "is it just healing" or what? Ontop of that there's the slight depression of feeling like I'm not getting better, increased emotions, feeling like I'm being depressing toward my wife (I'm typically pretty positive). etc. 

Is all of this usual?

Mike 

my husband had cabg3 about 6 weeks ago.  He went in for an angiogram & came home with a triple bypass.  He's 77 &  Due to several issues, including the artery clips coming off one valve the first night & almost bleeding to death, he ended up in ICU for a week.  Some days he feels like his recovery will take forever, but I tell him, don't look at how you were yesterday, look at how much you've gained in a week.  that took on a whole new perspective for him.  He's out walking twice a day now, & will start cardiac rehab next week.  Last night he said something about he felt really bad about how all this has affected my life.  I told him, I'm fine & very happy to still have him with me.  I do think tho, that he is having some depression & he's going to talk to a therapist about it.  Hopefully that will help.

I can see how anyone going thru that would be depressed from time to time, so as sort of an outsider, I say, get some help if you feel the need.

Hi Mike 

I had a similar procedure 16 months ago, along with a Mitral valve replacement.  From my experience, and many questions I asked of my medical team along the way, it sounds like your symptoms are normal.  The impulses you're feeling are nerve endings that have been cut, along with the healing of the arteries they took from your chest wall to use on your bypass.  They probably took one or two from your leg(s) too. 

It takes time for all those nerves to settle down.  For me, it took about a year. 

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have to go back for an ultrasound to get a pressure baseline). 

Anyway, my question is about healing... my chest incision has been having way more feeling... random sensations, sort of a pulling sensation across my chest, sensations like it's waking up also, like when your hand has gone to sleep and is waking up. As I'm writing this it kind of sounds like "well yeah". But at the same time, I have paranoia about all the feelings I feel in my chest and "is it just healing" or what? Ontop of that there's the slight depression of feeling like I'm not getting better, increased emotions, feeling like I'm being depressing toward my wife (I'm typically pretty positive). etc. 

Is all of this usual?

Mike 

my husband had cabg3 about 6 weeks ago.  He went in for an angiogram & came home with a triple bypass.  He's 77 &  Due to several issues, including the artery clips coming off one valve the first night & almost bleeding to death, he ended up in ICU for a week.  Some days he feels like his recovery will take forever, but I tell him, don't look at how you were yesterday, look at how much you've gained in a week.  that took on a whole new perspective for him.  He's out walking twice a day now, & will start cardiac rehab next week.  Last night he said something about he felt really bad about how all this has affected my life.  I told him, I'm fine & very happy to still have him with me.  I do think tho, that he is having some depression & he's going to talk to a therapist about it.  Hopefully that will help.

I can see how anyone going thru that would be depressed from time to time, so as sort of an outsider, I say, get some help if you feel the need.

Hi Mike 

I had a similar procedure 16 months ago, along with a Mitral valve replacement.  From my experience, and many questions I asked of my medical team along the way, it sounds like your symptoms are normal.  The impulses you're feeling are nerve endings that have been cut, along with the healing of the arteries they took from your chest wall to use on your bypass.  They probably took one or two from your leg(s) too. 

It takes time for all those nerves to settle down.  For me, it took about a year. 

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have to go back for an ultrasound to get a pressure baseline). 

Anyway, my question is about healing... my chest incision has been having way more feeling... random sensations, sort of a pulling sensation across my chest, sensations like it's waking up also, like when your hand has gone to sleep and is waking up. As I'm writing this it kind of sounds like "well yeah". But at the same time, I have paranoia about all the feelings I feel in my chest and "is it just healing" or what? Ontop of that there's the slight depression of feeling like I'm not getting better, increased emotions, feeling like I'm being depressing toward my wife (I'm typically pretty positive). etc. 

Is all of this usual?

Mike 

He had PTSD so is already on a antidepressant, but maybe DR will want to increase for awhile.  he has a video appt tomorrow.   And You're right, the Dr never mentioned a thing about depression, or really a lot of things he probably should have.  Thanks for your support.

my husband had cabg3 about 6 weeks ago.  He went in for an angiogram & came home with a triple bypass.  He's 77 &  Due to several issues, including the artery clips coming off one valve the first night & almost bleeding to death, he ended up in ICU for a week.  Some days he feels like his recovery will take forever, but I tell him, don't look at how you were yesterday, look at how much you've gained in a week.  that took on a whole new perspective for him.  He's out walking twice a day now, & will start cardiac rehab next week.  Last night he said something about he felt really bad about how all this has affected my life.  I told him, I'm fine & very happy to still have him with me.  I do think tho, that he is having some depression & he's going to talk to a therapist about it.  Hopefully that will help.

I can see how anyone going thru that would be depressed from time to time, so as sort of an outsider, I say, get some help if you feel the need.

Hi Mike 

I had a similar procedure 16 months ago, along with a Mitral valve replacement.  From my experience, and many questions I asked of my medical team along the way, it sounds like your symptoms are normal.  The impulses you're feeling are nerve endings that have been cut, along with the healing of the arteries they took from your chest wall to use on your bypass.  They probably took one or two from your leg(s) too. 

It takes time for all those nerves to settle down.  For me, it took about a year. 

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have to go back for an ultrasound to get a pressure baseline). 

Anyway, my question is about healing... my chest incision has been having way more feeling... random sensations, sort of a pulling sensation across my chest, sensations like it's waking up also, like when your hand has gone to sleep and is waking up. As I'm writing this it kind of sounds like "well yeah". But at the same time, I have paranoia about all the feelings I feel in my chest and "is it just healing" or what? Ontop of that there's the slight depression of feeling like I'm not getting better, increased emotions, feeling like I'm being depressing toward my wife (I'm typically pretty positive). etc. 

Is all of this usual?

Mike 

Hello Karen,

I'm sorry to hear that your husband is experiencing mental heath struggles following his surgery. Mike is right that the mental health aspects of recovery from open-heart surgery are often not thoroughly discussed or prepared for. I've been a heart patient all my life and had my first heart procedure-a catheterization-when I was 11. Even though it was a relatively minor procedure, it was terrifying for me as a child, and I don't recall any discussion from my medical team about the mental aspects of recovery.

When I was 24, I had my first open-heart surgery to replace a valve. Due to complications, I also received a pacemaker and was told I would be 100% dependent on it. I wasn't informed about how this would impact my life or mental health. Now, at 61, I've worn out six pacemakers and had two more open-heart surgeries to replace the same valve. The physical recovery from these surgeries was much easier than dealing with my mental health struggles. For years, I didn't realize I was experiencing major depressive episodes, often triggered by traumatic events related to my heart condition and congestive heart failure.

I've been on depression medication for 25 years, and after being diagnosed with PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, I've spent the last two years in intense therapy. I'm deeply grateful for the freedom I've found through therapy. I've learned to take my life one heartbeat at a time and to find gratitude in each beat. As my mentor once told me, "Die on the day you are supposed to die and live on the day you are supposed to live."

What your husband is going through is normal, and his reactions to the recovery process are also normal. Recovery from heart failure and surgery should be approached holistically-addressing the body, mind, and spirit. As a caregiver, it's important for you to also take care of yourself, as the surgery affects your life too.

I don't wish people luck but hope and pray for effort. Recovery is a challenging journey that requires physical, mental, and spiritual work. While we're often advised on exercise and diet, processing the experience mentally is just as crucial. PTSD and major depression can be subtle foes if not treated properly.

Warm regards,

OneHeartBeatTalks

He had PTSD so is already on a antidepressant, but maybe DR will want to increase for awhile.  he has a video appt tomorrow.   And You're right, the Dr never mentioned a thing about depression, or really a lot of things he probably should have.  Thanks for your support.

my husband had cabg3 about 6 weeks ago.  He went in for an angiogram & came home with a triple bypass.  He's 77 &  Due to several issues, including the artery clips coming off one valve the first night & almost bleeding to death, he ended up in ICU for a week.  Some days he feels like his recovery will take forever, but I tell him, don't look at how you were yesterday, look at how much you've gained in a week.  that took on a whole new perspective for him.  He's out walking twice a day now, & will start cardiac rehab next week.  Last night he said something about he felt really bad about how all this has affected my life.  I told him, I'm fine & very happy to still have him with me.  I do think tho, that he is having some depression & he's going to talk to a therapist about it.  Hopefully that will help.

I can see how anyone going thru that would be depressed from time to time, so as sort of an outsider, I say, get some help if you feel the need.

Hi Mike 

I had a similar procedure 16 months ago, along with a Mitral valve replacement.  From my experience, and many questions I asked of my medical team along the way, it sounds like your symptoms are normal.  The impulses you're feeling are nerve endings that have been cut, along with the healing of the arteries they took from your chest wall to use on your bypass.  They probably took one or two from your leg(s) too. 

It takes time for all those nerves to settle down.  For me, it took about a year. 

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have to go back for an ultrasound to get a pressure baseline). 

Anyway, my question is about healing... my chest incision has been having way more feeling... random sensations, sort of a pulling sensation across my chest, sensations like it's waking up also, like when your hand has gone to sleep and is waking up. As I'm writing this it kind of sounds like "well yeah". But at the same time, I have paranoia about all the feelings I feel in my chest and "is it just healing" or what? Ontop of that there's the slight depression of feeling like I'm not getting better, increased emotions, feeling like I'm being depressing toward my wife (I'm typically pretty positive). etc. 

Is all of this usual?

Mike 

Wow.  You've had a long road of it.  I'm happy you've found therapy helping.  I think my husband will find it useful too.  I do agree that Drs should pay a little more attention to just the physical part of how their surgery affects the patient & explain it could cause depression & to consider talking to someone about it.  And yes, it definitely affects the caregiver.  Everyone says I'm a strong person, but they don't realize the stress it causes on us.  I said something last night about my stress level & my husband so casually asks, why would you be stressed!!!  Oh well, as you said so well, live one heartbeat at a time.  The best of everything to you.

Hello Karen,

I'm sorry to hear that your husband is experiencing mental heath struggles following his surgery. Mike is right that the mental health aspects of recovery from open-heart surgery are often not thoroughly discussed or prepared for. I've been a heart patient all my life and had my first heart procedure-a catheterization-when I was 11. Even though it was a relatively minor procedure, it was terrifying for me as a child, and I don't recall any discussion from my medical team about the mental aspects of recovery.

When I was 24, I had my first open-heart surgery to replace a valve. Due to complications, I also received a pacemaker and was told I would be 100% dependent on it. I wasn't informed about how this would impact my life or mental health. Now, at 61, I've worn out six pacemakers and had two more open-heart surgeries to replace the same valve. The physical recovery from these surgeries was much easier than dealing with my mental health struggles. For years, I didn't realize I was experiencing major depressive episodes, often triggered by traumatic events related to my heart condition and congestive heart failure.

I've been on depression medication for 25 years, and after being diagnosed with PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, I've spent the last two years in intense therapy. I'm deeply grateful for the freedom I've found through therapy. I've learned to take my life one heartbeat at a time and to find gratitude in each beat. As my mentor once told me, "Die on the day you are supposed to die and live on the day you are supposed to live."

What your husband is going through is normal, and his reactions to the recovery process are also normal. Recovery from heart failure and surgery should be approached holistically-addressing the body, mind, and spirit. As a caregiver, it's important for you to also take care of yourself, as the surgery affects your life too.

I don't wish people luck but hope and pray for effort. Recovery is a challenging journey that requires physical, mental, and spiritual work. While we're often advised on exercise and diet, processing the experience mentally is just as crucial. PTSD and major depression can be subtle foes if not treated properly.

Warm regards,

OneHeartBeatTalks

He had PTSD so is already on a antidepressant, but maybe DR will want to increase for awhile.  he has a video appt tomorrow.   And You're right, the Dr never mentioned a thing about depression, or really a lot of things he probably should have.  Thanks for your support.

my husband had cabg3 about 6 weeks ago.  He went in for an angiogram & came home with a triple bypass.  He's 77 &  Due to several issues, including the artery clips coming off one valve the first night & almost bleeding to death, he ended up in ICU for a week.  Some days he feels like his recovery will take forever, but I tell him, don't look at how you were yesterday, look at how much you've gained in a week.  that took on a whole new perspective for him.  He's out walking twice a day now, & will start cardiac rehab next week.  Last night he said something about he felt really bad about how all this has affected my life.  I told him, I'm fine & very happy to still have him with me.  I do think tho, that he is having some depression & he's going to talk to a therapist about it.  Hopefully that will help.

I can see how anyone going thru that would be depressed from time to time, so as sort of an outsider, I say, get some help if you feel the need.

Hi Mike 

I had a similar procedure 16 months ago, along with a Mitral valve replacement.  From my experience, and many questions I asked of my medical team along the way, it sounds like your symptoms are normal.  The impulses you're feeling are nerve endings that have been cut, along with the healing of the arteries they took from your chest wall to use on your bypass.  They probably took one or two from your leg(s) too. 

It takes time for all those nerves to settle down.  For me, it took about a year. 

Hi, so I had CABG4 on June 20. I'm 55, was in decent shape... started having what felt like really bad heart burn, then my got to where it was pounding, etc. Went to the ER, they did an angiogram, determined I had a 99%, 95%, 80 & 70 % blockage. Within 12 hours I was going under for CABG4. Recovery has gone well so far. Walking a mile daily, working part time. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks from surgery now. Last week I had follow up with Cardiologist and he said everything looks great, see you in a year (I do have t