You bounced back quickly and that was a blessing. My last heart surgery was thru the sternum too and it was just 5 days in the hospital and no pain past those 5 days. Just took tylenol. Exercise if you can every day. Do something to stay fit.

I had an aortic aneurysm in 2005 and it was a tough surgery. Opened around the side, not thru the sternum. The doctors that repaired the aneurysm just recently contacted me and advised I need to be regularly screened for more aneurysms. I'm at risk for more. Guess it is a genetic thing. I sent them my scans last month and expect a report back from them in the next week or so. They are a research hospital: University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston Texas & Memorial Herman Hospital. Don't miss your checkups.

All the best.

Bruce
Texas