How to Know If Bypass Surgery Is Painful

If you are a candidate for bypass surgery, you should know how much pain you'll feel after the procedure so you can better cope with it. Follow these steps to find out what to expect.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Get firsthand accounts of recovery from heart bypass surgery patients. Several new techniques involved in bypass surgeries reduce pain and recovery time, such as the minimally invasive bypass surgery, which uses small incisions. Ask your surgeon to recommend some patients who would be willing to share their experiences.
2. Research the techniques your doctor will use during your surgery. The Internet is a great place to do this, with Web sites like Everyday Health (see Resources below) that explain terms like "off-pump bypass surgery" in ways that nonprofessionals can understand.
3. Communicate your concerns about recovery time and pain to your doctor with questions you gathered from your personal research.
4. Ask your doctor for pain management recommendations before the surgery. Your doctor can devise a strategy based on the medications you can tolerate. Allergies or other medical problems might limit your pain reduction options.
5. Investigate hospitals that have cardiac care units that have been given good reviews by the American Medical Association. Often these clinics offer advances in medical technique that reduce patients' pain.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are in pain, don’t wait until it is unbearable to take your pain medication. You will respond to the medication better if there is less pain to conquer. It will also put less stress on your heart.
• Be wary of doctors who try to brush the pain issue aside. Stress that it is an important aspect of your care and that you are concerned about it.