I had an Aortic valve replacement, Pulmonary valve replacement and a repair of a pulmonary artery anurysm in August of 2001. I still have a lot of pain. I never had any prior to surgery. Has anyone else had this problem ???
How long after surgery does it take to not have pain
- Thread starter lcwhitney
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Ross
Well-known member
By now, you shouldn't be having any pain. I suppose you've talked this over with your physician?
Yes I have discussed this with my family doctor. The person here who pretends to be a cardiologist thinks I waste his time. He even told me this before i had surgery. I will probably have to go back to Houston to see my surgeon to get an answer.
lettitia
lettitia
hensylee
Well-known member
Tisn't that far - go to Houston. If your dr thinks you are wasting his time, then he is surely wasting yours. There are such fine heart specialists in Houston and they will surely find the problem. Can't understand why there's still pain. Others will be along to discuss, too. God bless
Ross
Well-known member
I'd say it's time to fire his or her tail and find a great Doc. Things certainly need to be looked into if the pain is persisting.
J
John Cochran
lettitia,
I am sorry to hear you are still having pain; this is definitely not normal. A doctor who dismisses your concerns should absolutely be fired, as Ross said. There is a certain arrogance among some physicians that is absolutely unacceptable, and sadly it is too common (there is even a name for it in the psychology literature). Get to another doctor who understands that pain is an indicator of something not right, one who will listen to you and treat your concerns with respect.
You didn't specify what kind of pain you are having. Did you have any kind of rehab program after surgery? Do you get daily exercise? Sometimes, the deconditioning of the body after surgery can cause aches and pains that can be remedied by physical therapy...but we are not doctors here, and you really need to get this evaluated by a good clinician.
Best of luck,
John
I am sorry to hear you are still having pain; this is definitely not normal. A doctor who dismisses your concerns should absolutely be fired, as Ross said. There is a certain arrogance among some physicians that is absolutely unacceptable, and sadly it is too common (there is even a name for it in the psychology literature). Get to another doctor who understands that pain is an indicator of something not right, one who will listen to you and treat your concerns with respect.
You didn't specify what kind of pain you are having. Did you have any kind of rehab program after surgery? Do you get daily exercise? Sometimes, the deconditioning of the body after surgery can cause aches and pains that can be remedied by physical therapy...but we are not doctors here, and you really need to get this evaluated by a good clinician.
Best of luck,
John
Nancy
Well-known member
Hi Lettitia-
First of all welcome to the site. As you've already found out, there are so many wonderful folks here. And as a group, there is an absolute ton of information.
Let's see now-- your cardiologist who is in the business of taking care of people with heart problems says you are wasting his time when you go to him with a potential heart problem. Well, seems like that bad boy needs to find another profession. What is his time 'posed to be for anyway? When you study long and hard to become something, and then you don't want to help someone who needs help for the very problems you went into business for to begin with, I'd say that professional "burn out" is lurking about.
Make an appointment with another doctor who will try to help you.
My husband has had 3 heart surgeries and hasn't had that kind of lingering pain. It shouldn't go without a dx. Pain means something you need to find out what it is.
Good luck.
First of all welcome to the site. As you've already found out, there are so many wonderful folks here. And as a group, there is an absolute ton of information.
Let's see now-- your cardiologist who is in the business of taking care of people with heart problems says you are wasting his time when you go to him with a potential heart problem. Well, seems like that bad boy needs to find another profession. What is his time 'posed to be for anyway? When you study long and hard to become something, and then you don't want to help someone who needs help for the very problems you went into business for to begin with, I'd say that professional "burn out" is lurking about.
Make an appointment with another doctor who will try to help you.
My husband has had 3 heart surgeries and hasn't had that kind of lingering pain. It shouldn't go without a dx. Pain means something you need to find out what it is.
Good luck.
hensylee
Well-known member
Hey John - it's called the God complex - I know from personal experience. I was married to one of these jokers for about 30 yrs - he told me people treat drs like God, so they eventually believe it themselves. Now, ain't that pore? (means awful in Southern).
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
I just wanted to thank everybody for your support. I did not think I was crazy because I am still having pain, but I know the pretend cardiologist here thinks I am. I spoke with Dr Coselli's office in Houston this morning and I will be seeing the cardiologist he works with on Monday. I just dread a six hour drive.
Lettitia
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
I just wanted to thank everybody for your support. I did not think I was crazy because I am still having pain, but I know the pretend cardiologist here thinks I am. I spoke with Dr Coselli's office in Houston this morning and I will be seeing the cardiologist he works with on Monday. I just dread a six hour drive.
Lettitia
hensylee
Well-known member
I know you hate that drive but Houston has some of the world's finest cardiologists. My nurse cousin, who looked after me after my quad surg, worked many yrs in Houston's cardiology unit in the hospital where Dr Debakey was during his younger years. She has nothing but the greatest praise for cardiology in Houston so I am confident that you will be in good hands. Think I have heard of your dr through her. We even have a VR member from England who traveled to Houston for his valve replacement.
Incidentally, Dr Debakey spoke at my ex's award dinner at Med school graduation year - my ex, being an overworked student, kept falling asleep (and he snores) because Dr Debakey speaks in a monotone that would cause sleep (!). I had to keep poking the ex to wake him up - he was getting noisy. It was a very dry subject for tired students (heart) as they had not got far enough in their educations to know much about cardiology anyway. Have to look back all those years and chuckle.
I feel you have made a good decision - so hang in and let us know. God bless
Incidentally, Dr Debakey spoke at my ex's award dinner at Med school graduation year - my ex, being an overworked student, kept falling asleep (and he snores) because Dr Debakey speaks in a monotone that would cause sleep (!). I had to keep poking the ex to wake him up - he was getting noisy. It was a very dry subject for tired students (heart) as they had not got far enough in their educations to know much about cardiology anyway. Have to look back all those years and chuckle.
I feel you have made a good decision - so hang in and let us know. God bless
If you know who Dr Debakey is then you know who trained my surgeon. Dr Coselli was Dr. Debakey's partner until he retired. I was really surprised when I went into his office and found an autographed picture of Arnold Swartzenegger hanging on the wall. He did his valve replacement a few years ago.
My mother and I will leave tonight. I hope to get the answers I need and be back in time to return to school next week. I have 145 kids waiting for me.
My mother and I will leave tonight. I hope to get the answers I need and be back in time to return to school next week. I have 145 kids waiting for me.
lcwhitney,
Ah! So you're a teacher too? Not only do we share a profession, but I also had my surgery in Houston (though it was at the children's hospital). I have actually had five of my seven heart surgeries in Houston. Three at Texas Children's, and two at St. Luke's. The two at St. Lukes were when I was a kid though. Go figure. Now that I'm an adult I'm seen by all kid doctors. Hey! Does this mean I'm a "kid at HEART". (okay, I can hear the groans from here). I couldn't resist.
Good luck in Houston!
Ah! So you're a teacher too? Not only do we share a profession, but I also had my surgery in Houston (though it was at the children's hospital). I have actually had five of my seven heart surgeries in Houston. Three at Texas Children's, and two at St. Luke's. The two at St. Lukes were when I was a kid though. Go figure. Now that I'm an adult I'm seen by all kid doctors.
Hey! Does this mean I'm a "kid at HEART". (okay, I can hear the groans from here). I couldn't resist.Good luck in Houston!
