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65 Year Old, Had Triple Bypass Surgery, Still Having Chest Pain. Need Help ?

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Posted on Fri, 5 Oct 2012
Question: I am a 65 year old female, 5', 168 lbs. I had triple bypass surgery 3 weeks ago today and still have a lot of chest pain, but the doctor refuses to prescribe anything. He had prescribed Percoset 5 mg, one every 6 hours, that lasted a week after my release tow weeks ago. However, I still have pain, but he said I do not need anything further. Is this reasonable? I hate being in pain and frankly, the medication did not help all that much.
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Answered by Dr. Joan F. Tryzelaar (59 minutes later)
Hi XXXXXXX,

Post-operative pain after bypass surgery is very variable and can range from almost none to severe. Percocet (codeine) is usually adequate treatment, but some patients don't do well with codeine like analgesics. However, I would never tell patients they don't "need anything", but rather work to find a solution by switching to a different pain medication, and above all, by making sure nothing else is wrong. Else a pain medicine specialist can be of help to you if your doctor has tried everything.

Local pain can be caused by a painful wire that was placed to put your breast bone back together (usually 4-5), an infection and a variety of other disorders, including a "post-cardiotomy syndrome".

If you want to read general information about this, you may want to read at these links:
WWW.WWWW.WW WWW.WWWW.WW
Hope this helps,

Dr T
Note: click here to Consult a cardiac surgeon online. to know the best treatment option for your heart-related issues

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Joan F. Tryzelaar

Cardiac Surgeon

Practicing since :1972

Answered : 9 Questions

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65 Year Old, Had Triple Bypass Surgery, Still Having Chest Pain. Need Help ?

Hi XXXXXXX,

Post-operative pain after bypass surgery is very variable and can range from almost none to severe. Percocet (codeine) is usually adequate treatment, but some patients don't do well with codeine like analgesics. However, I would never tell patients they don't "need anything", but rather work to find a solution by switching to a different pain medication, and above all, by making sure nothing else is wrong. Else a pain medicine specialist can be of help to you if your doctor has tried everything.

Local pain can be caused by a painful wire that was placed to put your breast bone back together (usually 4-5), an infection and a variety of other disorders, including a "post-cardiotomy syndrome".

If you want to read general information about this, you may want to read at these links:
WWW.WWWW.WW WWW.WWWW.WW
Hope this helps,

Dr T