9 days since CABG

[PhilipH]

It is now nine days since my CABG at St Thomas’s. I’m 69 and now do manage to sleep through the nights waking up 2 or 3 times and have an afternoon nap that helps. I still feel like I’ve been in a car crash but feeling a little better most days with the odd bad day.

Yesterday I had a call from the local cardiac rehabilitation nurse that was very helpful.

I’ve got a Fitbit and am increasing the steps I take each day. But can’t go outside until the swelling in my left ankle goes down and I can get a sock on.

I know i will improve but I’m not a patient person, guess I need to change.

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi Philip, glad to hear you are doing well. Stick to indoors for the moment, you are doing just fine. I'm the same with the impatience and you will overdo it a few times and suffer, like the rest of us, the following day or two.

The sleep thing, issue for a lot of us, make the most of the daytime naps and the sleep you get at night, all helps the healing process.

The rehab classes are a fantastic way to find out what your body is capable of even after such a huge event, I would encourage you to attend.

As for the fitbit, Laura, one of the heart stars, has set up a group, you can find the details here healthunlocked.com/bhf/post..., good encouragement for when you get properly going

Take care

Mark

[happycardio]

Hi Philip,

I had a CABGx4 a year ago, also at St Thomas’s by Mr Sabetai. I was in Doulton ward and found all the nursing staff excellent, only fault was the food. Hope you took advantage to use the cinema in the hospital, when the staff asked me if I would like to see ‘The Girl on a Train’ at the cinema I thought they were joking, never knew they had a large cinema in the hospital.

I strongly recommend the rehabilitation course, they will tell you all you need to know about what you can and cannot do, and also about the emotional effects after your operation, I went once a week for 6 weeks and enjoyed it, so much that I now go to a gym a couple of times a week. I think I have been lucky as I have not suffered any problems after my operation except for my leg scar which was sore for a couple of weeks and I had to walk around holding my shirt away from my chest as the buttons would irritate my scar.

Just take it slow for the time being.

Dave

[PhilipH]

Dave,

I had Mr Sabetai also and the fabulous cardiac nurses. Oh, the food, I couldn’t eat some of it. I’ll do rehab at the Gym centre in Tunbridge Wells run by the local hospital, they’ve already called.

I had no clue about the cinema unfortunately. My leg scar is still quite painful hope it heals up soon.

[Heather1957]

Hi Philip, luckily I only had a single bypass but like you had ups and downs. For about 6 weeks I was really well then I had a couple of weeks I felt like cr@p!! I felt ill, I couldn't sit back as I had such pain that meant trying to lie on my back was painful. I also had loads of pain in my shoulder (frozen shoulder) At one time I felt that it was 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

Here I am nearly 5 months later feeling just fine! I have been working for the last month although my job is not physical I have found it mentally tiring but saying that I always feel like that (lots of concentration)

You have to give yourself a good talking to every now and again and stop expecting too much from yourself. The body has to heal and it will do so in its own time.

Set backs have no rhyme or reason all seems to be going well them BAM you feel like you have been hit by a bus.

I know this is an old cliche but you do have to listen to your body. You have had a big procedure so don't expect too much too soon.

You will get there but maybe not as quickly as you'd like.

[Heather1957 in reply to Heather1957]

PS I wish I had told myself this when I first had the op!

[PhilipH]

First day out walking today as I could get trainers on. Was OK and I actually enjoyed it. Only 10 miniutes but it’s a start. Taking a short nap each afternoon has helped. But some of the scars are itching like mad at night, hope that stops soon. But feeling like I’m getting somewhere at last.

[Heather1957 in reply to PhilipH]

A good start, you may feel it tomorrow but it is to be expected. When I first started walking I really felt it in all the muscles but as long as you're expecting it you'll be fine.