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.