surgery isn't terrible in terms of pain, the chest takes around 6 months to be somewhat normal and about a year to feel "normal"; deep breaths will fill odd for a about 8 months (feels like its flicking the inside of your chest) mostly due to they puncture a fluid sack aroundf the heart that takes a while to heal. a little thing most people wont talk about is sometimes you will get a post surgery depression I had a bout with it as well, just know it is normal. Even robin williams had to battle with it so you know it is very normal thing. chicagonow.com/open-heart/2014/08/robin-williams-death-open-heart-surgery-and-depression/