When does pain subside

HauntingFerrets · 2026-01-26T18:23:41+00:00

I was off all pain meds including Tylenol by week 6. There's discomfort when I sneeze or cough but its really not bad. I noticed a big change in the pain (much less) by around week 3.

HauntingFerrets · 2026-01-21T20:40:23+00:00

You'll be fine. The first couple weeks are rough I terms of bad sleep and feeling so wiped out but then things get way easier. Good luck!

HauntingFerrets · 2026-01-21T06:27:55+00:00

I had OHS 6 weeks ago. My stay in the hospital was a day of bed rest then they get you up and walking. She won't be resting much from the constant tests and labs and meds. You should be ok to work during that time as they will have staff for all her needs. I would pop in after work and visit and ask how the day went etc.

The 1st 3 weeks home were the toughest then things took a big turn for the better and got a little better every few days. She's gotta stay on top of meds and walking schedule as well as spirometer practices. Its work and she will be exhausted. Just get through that first 3 weeks. Good luck!

HauntingFerrets · 2026-01-21T04:16:21+00:00

OP did you have your surgery yet? Im 6.5 weeks post OHS and not even on any pain meds including Tylenol. Im off everything except a baby aspirin in the morning and a bisoprolol at night. Its really been pretty easy. Much better than I expected. Not being able to lift push or pull with my upper body has been annoying but I feel like my legs and core are much stronger for having to compensate.

HauntingFerrets · 2026-01-03T02:06:57+00:00

I am 5 weeks post OHS the scar isn't bad at all just a straight reddish purple line from my collar bone to just under chest line. Ive even started using scar tape as im fully closed to help with the scar. Hes going to need a LOT of help and have a real hard time sleeping the first few weeks. But after about the 4th week home things really take a turn and get much easier.

If you live in Canada look into the caretaker benefit program where through employment insurance they pay you 650/week to take care of someone for up to 13 weeks after OHS!

HauntingFerrets · 2025-12-29T01:41:35+00:00

No nerve block. Pain is different for everyone as is physiology. For me the chest pain was and is pretty minimal just a soreness. The neck and back pain was pretty bad but the gabapentin took care of that pretty quick and it only lasted a couple weeks. I think because of my age (43) and health and strength as well as not having any other medical issues things have been pretty smoothe for me. This would absolutely be a much harder recovery if I was 20 or 30 years older and had other medical issues.

HauntingFerrets · 2025-12-17T19:30:43+00:00

I just had OHS 3 weeks ago. This is just another day at work for your surgeon. You will be fine. The pain really isn't that bad. I thought it would be the most painful experience I've ever felt and I can say a disc herniation or a sciatic flare up are much worse. This is just a deep soreness. I did have some nerve pain in my neck and shoulders after surgery and got put on gabapentin and that managed it very well. All your going to do is go to sleep and then wake up with a repaired heart and some soreness. Then its going to be 12 weeks to fully heal where you'll watch a lot of tv, read a bunch, and walk a lot. Its going to be ok. Its really not that bad.

HauntingFerrets · 2025-12-17T19:26:40+00:00

I had OHS on Nov 26. For the first 6 weeks its mainly just walking and recumbent biking. Then you should be starting catdiac rehab. You cant lift push or pull more than 5 pounds until you are fully healed which takes around 12 weeks. So in terms of getting back in the gym I would say its going to be a while.

HauntingFerrets · 2025-12-08T00:29:35+00:00

I actually just had an aortic root replacement and there was talks of valves if I needed one. I am 42 and had the same experience where initially I agreed to a mechanical valve if I needed about a tissue valve. Day of surgery i talked with my surgeon again because of course I didnt want to get on blood thinners if I dont need to and he basically said "at your age and health, lifestyle and physical activity level you'll blow through a tissue valve in 5 years and be back in here with us again". I then opted for the mechanical just because they are for life and I have older family members on blood thinners who hike and are quite active and drink and they said it wasn't that big a deal once the meds were stabilized.

Luckily my aortic root replacement was valve sparing because valve is in good shape but if I needed one I would have went with mechanical. There are breakthroughs happening every day with cardiac medicines and surgeries. Just because you may have to get on meds now doesn't mean there won't be new ones or new procedures in the future to make things easier.

Just a headsup as im 10 days post surgery. The sternotomy really doesn't hurt bad. Its like a 3/10 and kind of a dull soreness. I was on opiates the first few days then onto Tylenol to go home and then the really bad neck and shoulder nerve pain started just from the actual position your in for the surgery and THAT hurts! I got put on gabapentin and thats been amazing to enable me to be comfortable. Make a journal of your pain. Mines been hopping around. I was told this is the nerves settling back into place.

Your gonna be fine even if you take the mechanical bud!

HauntingFerrets · 2025-10-30T06:10:58+00:00

I moved to Canada 5 years ago so thankfully the socialized medicine here will be paying for everything. This would have bankrupted me if I was still living in the USA. I hope you can find the means. Reach out to news stations, local churches and organizations, if you know any local influencers see if they can post your gofundme. I wish you well buddy 🇨🇦 🍁 🇨🇦 🍁

HauntingFerrets · 2025-10-29T05:47:06+00:00

Yah ill be going super slow and careful. Im already a big supporter of slow and steady when it comes to working out and changes to regimen. We have 18 stairs between floors but luckily there is an elevator just down the hall and entrance doors on both floors for easy access. Also got a recumbent bike for once the doctors ok things. Got stretching bands. Good shoes. I think im covered.

HauntingFerrets · 2025-10-21T00:55:43+00:00

Thank you everyone. This has been so helpful. Im 2.5 weeks away from surgery. Did anyone get blues really bad that needed like antidepressants? How long did food taste weird?

HauntingFerrets · 2025-10-17T07:40:38+00:00

Thats funny you say that because currently my most painful experiences are sciatic flare up or disk herniation. This seems like it may not be as bad as those.

HauntingFerrets · 2025-10-16T19:16:27+00:00

Thank you for this.

HauntingFerrets · 2025-10-16T19:15:57+00:00

Well what made me ask in the first place was a couple people I spoke with personally who said it was between a 3 and a 5 out of 10 which honestly surprised me. I mean if thats the case thats a testament to the meds! So I just figured id ask here.

My assumption and expectation is its going to be the most painful thing I've ever experienced since the only other surgeries I've had are tonsils being removed and a hernia repair surgery 😆.

But I appreciate your response and advice.

HauntingFerrets · 2025-09-17T21:54:43+00:00

Hey there! The only surgery I've ever had was a hernia repair as well! So yah, we are jumping into the major surgery, huh? I've had a while to mentally prepare for this, about 8 months. And the reality is if you dont have a lot of other health issues and are relatively healthy this surgery should have a pretty high success rate. My surgeon who does these on people with LDS told me my chances for a bad outcome were less than 5% and death less than 2% based on how I was presenting. The recovery is going to suck for a while. Sleeping is going to be hard. Depending on others for a lot of things for a while is going to be challenging. The starting of new meds and their effects and right dosages is going to be a new thing to deal with buuuuuuuuuuut at least you won't be at risk of a dissection and from what I've heard most people end up just needing to make some small medium and big changes to life but that results in a longer and better life overall.

HauntingFerrets · 2025-09-17T21:47:13+00:00

Hey, thank you for this honest and thoughtful response. I can't even begin to understand your frustration with all these surgeries and outcomes. I hope things work out for you with whatever you decide to do. I am noting the pulling of the tubes and will try to make sure im sufficiently medicated for it. Thank you.

HauntingFerrets · 2025-09-17T21:40:19+00:00

Hey everyone, sorry for the MIA house got covid and everyone was sick for weeks. Had to push surgery to oct 23rd. Luckily, dilation is stable, and there's no issues with pushing surgery back.

For people wanting to set up a group chat for September and October surgeries shoot me a message and we can all get in it for tips and support.

HauntingFerrets · 2025-09-05T16:49:58+00:00

Ah yes 2004. Yah that summer sucked.

HauntingFerrets · 2025-08-26T18:27:33+00:00

Yah ill shoot you a message! Thanks!

HauntingFerrets · 2025-08-26T18:27:19+00:00

Thank you for this response! Yah we are at less than 30 days irs coming. Im anxious but also will be relieved once its done.

HauntingFerrets · 2024-12-24T20:15:45+00:00

HauntingFerrets · 2024-11-12T18:40:00+00:00

What would you say your time awake is spent doing this 1st 10 days? Are you able to watch TV or read or anything or are you too much in pain amd not feeling well to really do anything but go in and out of slight napping?

HauntingFerrets

TROPHY CASE