I promise you it is not as bad as it sounds. You will have ache and soreness, but no pain. I was intensive care 5 days with 4 Tylenol every 4 hours. I came home to an empty house (I live alone) and it was fine. You just cannot lift, twist or bend for awhile. My shoulder surgery was 10x worse. Just cook some meals ahead of time and be prepared to rest. Good luck!

Hi @lindalee, I ha ve to tell you that there was surprisingly little pain, way less than with knee surgery to repair severed ligaments. They did give me a heart shaped pillow after surgery to hold close to my chest when I moved to support my cracked and rewired sternum.
The main feelings I remember were my heart beating fast after surgery.
I did get pain meds when they tried to drain the fluid, but it wasn't constant. I really don't remember needing pain meds.

First, I wish you all the best and hope it all goes well for you.
When you come off the anesthesia, you may still be intubated (they want to make sure you can breathe on your own before they remove the tube) and as a warning, your wrists may be loosely tied down. This is to keep you from pulling out the tube. I woke up still intubated, which was uncomfortable, but not real painful. The nurses should be there to assure you. I was told I wasn't ready for them to remove the tube yet, then fell asleep again until I was ready.
I had minimally invasive surgery so can't tell you about a sternotomy, but was told that going in between the ribs healed faster, but was more painful. I was on pain meds for a week or so.
Hope that's helpful.