Feeling fine after quadruple bypass

[joy14232]

Hello all. My story starts nearly 2years ago while on holiday in Italy. I'd been fit and well. never a day's illness, and been looking forward to my week in Italy. Two days after my arrival I began to feel odd - no pain no sickness just an odd feeling that I couldn't explain and I was glad when it was time to return home. By 4am next morning I felt worse and long story short I went to hospital. ended up having a quadruple bypass and a 5 week stay in the hospital. Apparently I'd had several heart attacks - that's what those weird feelings were! Nearly 2 years on I am really well apart from a lack of confidence sometimes which I am gradually getting over by making myself do stuff instead of giving in and saying I can't. Joy x

[Heather1957]

This sounds a very positive story. It also shows that having a heart attack is not always obvious.

I can imagine the lack of confidence issue, my bypass was only 3 weeks ago and my mind goes into overdrive whenever I get a twinge.

I hope you have continued with your holidays as I need to believe that life goes on!

GOOD LUCK.

[joy14232 in reply to Heather1957]

Hi Heather. I had very good care in hospital, the nurses and staff were wonderful and as I'm elderly they all made a fuss of me the whole five weeks - like I was their granny ! But after I was home there was nothing. I expected to be monitored and maybe attend an outpatients clinic and it was several weeks after that I was sent an appointment for the hospital. I just wanted to know that everything was proceeding as it should, and I expected to see the surgeon who had performed the op. However, I saw a nurse who took my blood pressure, looked at my scars and that was it - in and out in a matter of minutes. I guess that what is a traumatic experience for us is just routine to them, but I wish I could have known that the feelings of dread and anxiety and as you say each little twinge,or fast heartbeat,were the aftermath of the op, not another heart attack. I am loads better now and am going on holiday to the Greek Islands this year. I feel really well and look better than I did before the heart attack.My confidence is returning and although I was worried I walked into Town and caught the bus back on my own, which I hadn't done for 2 years. Joy x

[Twobells in reply to Heather1957]

I had triple bypass 10 weeks ago, but doing well physically. I have days where I feel really low, but they are getting less. I found the first few weeks tough and like you felt very anxious every time I got even a hint of a twinge. As the weeks pass you should start rehab which puts you back in the loop of health practitioners. Keep going and take things very slowly one day at a time.