Message for Ann McCrae
HI Ann, If you have time and if you know, could you post a brief outline of what a female can expect in respect to pain, soreness, abilities etc. between 3 and 6 months post-op from a 3 x CABG surgery using both a vein from the leg and a mammary artery. I am not due to see my doctor until Feb. 2004. Many thanks.
Whiskers, at 3 months I had chest, neck, back and shoulder pain. When I saw the doctor at 6 months I still had that pain and I asked about it. He told me at that time that it was just part of the healing process and I just needed to be more patient. I also had depression and took fluxotine for that. I went to a psychiatrist that specializes in treating the elderly with complications from major surgery. He was really very and his listening to me and the medication helped. At one year I still had the pain and the doctor decided it was Dressler syndrome and not just healing. Now I have pain medication "nabumetone" which helps with the pain and you only use it as needed. It is similar to celebrex, I think as it helps with my arthritis pain also. I am 61 and was 60 when I had the quadruple bypass. My leg that had the vein removed is numb and swells at the ankle and about half way between the ankle and knee. The doctors are of the opinion its just the result of nerves being cut during surgery. My chest where the mammary artery was swung around and used to bypass two of the blockages I had is also numb and just doesn't feel like it used to. Not really painful just strange. Maybe your experience will be better than mine. Hope so anyway. Ann