Post thoracotomy chest wall pain

Every day I wake up in pain. I guess when I sleep I don't move much but the entire chest wall pain when I breathe is not easy to deal with, I had 2 surgeries, The first on June 8th to install the BiV/ICD and they couldn't get the 3rd lead through the sinus vein (?) so 6 days later I had to have a thoracotomy to install the 3rd lead to my heart. It was definitely the worst surgery I have ever had, and I have had many. But this problem of chest wall pain when waking up is really bothering me. I take hydrocodone for fibromyalgia and it help with this but again I'm concerned that this keeps happening.

1 Comments

thoracotomy

by mereiriz - 2012-08-11 10:08:42

Yes, thoracotomy is very painful! I had mine two years ago and it also was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. The days in intensive care were awful, the deflated lung and the drains bothered me so much! After going home it took a few months to feel like myself again, breathe normally and sleep. I also used Hydrocodone for a while and had no problems with it whatsoever. I wish your recovery goes faster than mine. Take care!

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I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.