Heart Pain?

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ajay_22_86

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
78
Location
London, England
I don't know how normal this is but since yesterday I've noticed a different feeling with my heart. It doesn't feel like a big concern but just wanted to double check with other patients here. I had my surgery in May and recovered pretty fully. Yesterday I was more aware of my heart. I wouldn't describe it as 'pain' but just aware. I noticed that when I took a deep breath in I felt a light pain (extremely light but noticeable). Today that's gone but I'm still aware of my heart. I'm not in pain and I don't know how to describe it. I've felt like this before, prior to surgery and my cardiologist said it was normal. I've spoken to friends who haven't got heart conditions and say they sometimes feel like that.

But it's hard for me to what's normal and what's to be concerned about....
 
Ajay,

I had my surgery Feb 2008. I still get little aches and pains at times. It comes and goes. I told my cardio, and he says it is normal for some people. His words "some people never complelety are rid of all their little aches and pains. My echos and stress test are normal. Everything as of two months ago was fine.
 
Sometimes it's very hard to differentiate between Coronary Pain, Sternum Pain, Muscle Pain, and Pain from the esophagus (due to Reflux).

After getting everything checked out, you should have a better 'feel' for what aches and pains are 'normal' for YOU and feel more at ease 'taking it in stride'. The KEY Words in this are "getting everything checked out".
 
It's a good idea to check when in doubt, but after my surgery there have been several times I felt much more aware of my heart beats, that's for sure. In fact, I am probably consciously aware of it most days, I think partly because the heart is getting and beating stronger with daily exercise, so there are actual physical and noticeable changes.

Early on I went in for a check-up when I felt physical pressure and pain (and measured very high pulse and BP), but that turned out to be just anxiety. Another example was I woke up one morning I felt my heart beating like crazy, after a dream of climbing a hill in deep snow... Lying there thinking about it just made it worse, but it got back to normal after I got up and took my Carvedilol (beta-blocker). In hindsight, it was never really beating "like crazy", just a little faster and pronounced than other times, and I have found that it does this every morning, probably because the BP is highest in the morning. So now it doesn't bother me anymore, even though I am aware of and notice it.

I still feel some pain when breathing in fully. and due to the extra pressure the expanded lungs puts on the heart and chest, the heart beat then becomes very pronounced.

Karl.
 
A couple of months ago I was reaching for something and I felt a "twang" and some pain. Please see the thread on wire problems. When I take a deep breath I feel a twinge and a tinly "pop". I think I did something to a wire. I will get it checked out.

On the other hand, as a rather anxiety-prone person, I can get get worked up listening to my valve. At those times I need to concentrate on something more important.
 
I read somewhere that patients that has valve-issues also have sensitive autonomic nerve systems and that is why we notice our heart rates and are so much aware of our hearts.

It is good to monitor your heart rate and changes and you HAVE to be your own CEO of your health - but unfortunately adrenalin makes your heart beat so much faster and makes everything worse!

I agree with getting everything checked out and if you get the all clear then you know you don't have to worry and then it become easier to just live with some aches and pains. So, at least get a holter ECG done and maybe even Gastroscopy, because Hiatus hernias can mimic heart pains and with a broken sternum you are sure to have pains and aches.
 
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