chest/arm pain

I read a few other posts. I had the replacement surgery a week ago - felt great at first. The last 3 nights I have felt the area - it feels hot. Also, my chest hurts and it radiates down my arm. I know it's not a heart attack - I'm not dead. I think some of it is fear making it worse. I feel skipping once in a while - maybe 3 quick beats - but basically the heart rate is 60 as set. I will call the doctor today. Could this be normal healing?
Thanks.
Ellen

6 Comments

yes

by Tracey_E - 2009-08-21 08:08:05

Yes, you can have chest pain for three days with a heart attack. Ever hear of those guys who fussed about indigestion for three days then keeled over dead? I can pretty much guarantee that if you walk into an emergency room with chest pain, you will not wait around! Chest pain always takes priority, they'll have you in there fast.

Given the timing, I agree it's more likely it's infection or maybe just your new pm needs adjusted. I sure hope it's the latter but we've had some sad stories here of infections that got out of control. A couple of times it was pericarditis rather than infection from the implant (but that was new leads). Either way, you don't want to mess around with it. I'm not trying to scare you, but what you've described is most definitely not normal.

Please check in and let us know how you are.

3 days?

by ellen495 - 2009-08-21 08:08:11

3 days worth of heart attack? Infection sounds more likely. If I go to the emergency room, I'll sit for hours unless I drop. The doctor will be there in an hour - I think I'll just go right there and hope someone will see me...

ER

by Tracey_E - 2009-08-21 08:08:54

Please go to the ER. It could be nothing but why take chances? Just because you're not dead does not mean you can't be having a heart attack. The heat could be an infection. Neither is anything to mess with, please don't wait to be seen.

wow

by ellen495 - 2009-08-22 03:08:07

fingershaped bruises!
Honestly, it's something that should probably be listed on recovery sites - pain in the left arm after "heart surgery," is disconcerting.
Thanks, Tracy, for caring!
Cheers,
Ellen

whew!

by Tracey_E - 2009-08-22 03:08:19

I'm glad to hear you're doing better and it was nothing!!! And yes, they are often rough with us. I had fingerprint shaped bruises all over my chest after my first one.

hi

by ellen495 - 2009-08-22 08:08:02

So if was basically nothing. The doctor said muscle pains are common as they move you around roughly during surgery. He did some kind of (seemingly) chiropractic movement on me (after EKG, etc).

I slept fine last night knowing I didn't have to worry. THANK YOU for the posts!
Ellen

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