Richard's Journal

Lynne Jeffreys  Hi Richard, Well, my suggestion to you is to make sure everyone around you that will be dealing with your heart surgery be aware that you don't tolerate pain very well. You look like a smaller framed man and I would ask them if they could use maybe a smaller sized tube or even a softer tube. When I had my heart surgery in 2015 I also had a nerve block done around the nerves that would be involved with the surgical area. This stayed in me for 2 -3 days then that was stopped. I can't remember if the chest tube came out before or after the nerve block was stopped. Don't be afraid to tell the doctors and nurses that you are afraid of pain. You may want to speak the the anesthesiologist about the pain and ask him/her what they can do to make it easier for you. We all experience pain differently and there will be some pain with this, BUT if they listen and make sure they LISTEN to you about your concerns they SHOULD be able to provide help. All the Best!! Lynne

Barbara Wood  I had a regular sternotomy & didn't find the chest tubes painful at all. Everyone's different in their perception of pain, but I personally never felt any after my surgery - or maybe it was just managed well!

Gina Fiorentino  Hi Richard, I too am very pain sensitive (with a propensity toward anxiety and panic when afraid). Speaking of tubes (and truth be told, I obsessed about them a bit before surgery), but I was able to relay this to the anesthesiaologist team ahead of time, and was watched carefully with the breathing tube while waking up. I do slightly remember this moment, but did not feel uncomfortable or anxious and in just a few seconds I felt the tube go out- and relaxed.
As far as the chest tube and other lines- I never felt they were "painful"- I just noticed them from time to time, and would describe them as slightly "uncomfortable", but not at all intolerable. Perhaps it was the pain meds working, but I am happy to report I wasn't bothered by it. Nothing that I couldn't handle, and I was told they would be out soon, and so I was content. When I thought about them or saw one, I just said to myself- wow, this tube is doing a very important job, and that I was lucky to be such good hands with the ICU staff. I know there is no way to really prepare, but I hope you can consider my experience- and think it can also help you too.

Steve Farthing  I had MI non-robotic mitral valve repair which only required one 'soft' chest tube. It was not painful but was slightly uncomfortable and glad when it was removed after a day or so. If you are in pain and they say 'that's normal', remember to ask for something to help reduce the pain level. You sometimes have to be specific and ask.

Peggy Whitecotton  actually, I had 3 chest tubes and my surgeon had put in a nerve block inside the sturnum. I had no pain from the tubes not even when they pulled them. I also had pain medication as well. My surgeon told me that pain is a heart surgery patient's worse enemy because it hinders your healing. You need to walk, do your deep breathing and coughing to promote healing. He also told me he would keep me pain free and he did. I had a great surgeon....

Richard Mak  Thank you for all the tips ! Wow this group is amazing.

I am going to talk to the team as suggested before I go in!! Hopefully I won’t freak out when I wake up....

Willie Radl  I had 1 tube in my right peck, there wasn't really too much pain. I had a Blake drainage tube which is apparently a little less rigid than then standard drain tubes.

Darlene Smith  The chest tubes didn't hurt at all while they were in. But when they were pulled out, I thought my insides were coming out with the tubes. Absolutely horrific pain. The good news? It only lasts a couple seconds.

Rose Madura  Uncomfortable but not painful while in. Painful coming out but as Darlene said, it's only for a few seconds.

Bonnie Stone-Hope  Hi,
I had 3 chest tubes and no pain. Do not even remember them at all! Have no recollection of them being removed.

Phyllis Petersen  Dr. Gillinov performed my robotic minimally invasive mitral valve repair 10/13/16. My situation going in was similar, 4+, posterior leaflet, stretched and ruptured chordae. I was very happy with my care and my outcomes. You're very close. If you have anything I can help you with, you can email me at fabphyllis@gmail.com.

Afton Pinkerton  Phyllis, I am getting my surgery done with Dr. Gillinov and I am a candidate for minimally invasive too. How was your experience there and recovery with the minimally invasive?

Phyllis Petersen  My experience was excellent. CC coordinated with my Tucson cardiologist, so I was able to do preliminary testing at home. Then, I had a day and a half of presurgical testing at CC on the two days before my surgery. I had my surgery on Thursday and was released Monday morning. They were wonderful to me. Most important thing to remember: communicate with your care staff and let them know what you think you need. Feel free to email me at fabphyllis@gmail.com.

Afton Pinkerton  @Phyllis Petersen after your repair, do you have to be on any baby aspirin for life? Assuming you have the ring....

Phyllis Petersen  No Afton. I can't take aspirin at all, or most NSAIDs. I was on metoprolol for 2 months and then off. My blood pressure went all over the place for several months and then settled back down to normal.