Coping with a triple bypass .

[Bitez]

Hi I had a triple bypass 8 weeks ago .

I am new on here , just wondered how other people are feeling after this procedure.

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hello bitez, welcome to the forum.

At eight weeks you're still going to be feeling pretty battered, probably suffering lack of sleep as you can't get comfortable. The wound is still extremely tender, bruised and your leg is swollen, numb and aching. Maybe feeling down, wondering why you, sometimes angry but also exhausted after what seems like every little exertion.

You are recovering, it's slow but you'll get there. You'll hopefully get invited to do cardio rehab classes, I cannot stress how much these help. You'll learn so much about what your body is capable of doing plus the endorphins released by the exercise really do give you a great high.

Walking, doubtless you've been told to walk, get yourself moving. It really feels like you will never get very far without tiring feeling breathless, maybe you are even experiencing ghost angina, it passes, down go too mad you'll feel it the following day or days. Set goals, quarter mile, half mile etc. We al have been guilty of overdoing it, then exhausted the following day. Learn to listen to your body, it takes time but the rehab helps.

Mentally, talk to your family and friends, tell them how you feel they feel as nervous as you, open up, if it hurts tell them, if you feel good tell them.

The forum, most of the members are just like you, with the lovely exception of our BHF volunteer nurses. We're here to share experiences, praise recovery and generally have a matter.

Get well soon

Mark

[Bitez in reply to skid112]

Thank you , you have made me realise, that everything I am feeling is normal !

I was starting to feel like , maybe there was something wrong !

I suppose it’s just time and effort , that’s needed :-))

Thank you once again .

[skid112 Heart Star in reply to Bitez]

No problem, happy to help. Time and effort yes. Take your time with your recovery, slow and steady is the key

[Heather1957]

I had a singe bypass in June and have had lots of ups and downs.

Just reading my posts back on here reminds me that there were times when it felt like 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

I was initially very well lots of my physical problems started after the first 6 weeks.

Emotionally, in the early days, I did go through it a bit, felt depressed and several times wished I hadn't had the op (even though common sense told me it was life saving)

Anyway lots of ups and downs along the way but here I am nearly 5 months later, having a bit of scar discomfort but generally doing very well. I started back doing some work (not physical) about a month ago and while tiring (it always was mentally before) suffering no pain and going on my first holiday abroad in 2 years on 30th October (yay!!)

As I said I was lucky that mine was just a single bypass but while you will get ups and downs probably emotionally as well as physically there is light at the end of the tunnel - take your time, do as you are told and you'll get where you want to be.

Take it easy!

[Bitez in reply to Heather1957]

Thank you for that , one day at a time isn’t it

[Heather1957 in reply to Bitez]

Very much and don't expect too much to soon AND just because you have a run of good days you may well have a few bad days following. Eventually the good days will outnumber the bad ones. Just look after yourself.

[Twobells]

Hi,

I had a triple in April this year totally out of the blue, I like Heather, Mark and others have had ups and downs, but I also had a few setbacks a couple of weeks after I came home. I can remember reading after 12 weeks you will be able to do.... and I'll be back to my old self! Nonsense lol. It's slow, but slow is good. This is major surgery. I felt physically 'fixed' but mentally and psychologically battered. Some days I still get depressed, but they are less frequent than even a couple of months ago. I have now turned a corner, joined a gym, started an old hobby and recently did a holiday where I walked for miles with no problems. The only thing I find is I get fatigued if I've done too much. But this forum has helped enormously, I have made some great friends and shared stories. I log on most days seeing if I can help or just reading people's post to see how they're doing. Also learning about other heart conditions as well as my own. So keep on with the forum as there is always someone to share with. It helps you get through.

[Bitez]

Thank you for your response , I fully expected to be back at work after 6 weeks lol . It’s good to know that isn’t the case , and recovery takes a little longer , not just for me , but everybody .

[Heather1957 in reply to Bitez]

I think some are back at work after 6 weeks, I was discharged by the surgeon after 6 weeks I felt very well at that stage but when I started driving again I had a lot of pain, now I associated it with driving but who knows. All my pain and discomfort was to do with the healing process not the heart but as already been said, this is a major op. You have to be guided by YOUR recovery and not what the books say.

[Charlie0007]

Hi

Many thanks for all the comments, i have found this helpful and enlightening as i await a triple bypass. i think i am going to find the post op recovery hard especially as i dont feel ill, even when i had my heart attack in April 16 it was not the classic signs, i just had a strange feeling around the heart area so to feel fine pre op to battered and bruised post op will come as a real shock to me but this has helped prepare me for what is to come. My Consultant at the Brompton when asked how long i would need off work replied 6 weeks, which from the sounds of it is way off the mark especially as i have an active job, so thank you for the enlightenment even if it does sound a long and winding road.

I live in Basingstoke in Hampshire i dont know if there are others out there in this area that would like to meet up.

Thanks again and God bless you all.

Charlie

[Twobells in reply to Charlie0007]

If you are in an active / drinking it much longer than 6 weeks. It something that you will know when your ready.

[Bitez]

Hi 6 weeks is a joke !

I am fit and active especially before the op , didn’t even realise I was ill !

So like you I was bowled over when I was told I needed a triple bypass .

It is 8 weeks since I had mine , there have not been any complications that I know off .I am still very battered and bruised though and breathless after exertiion .I am hoping after another 4 weeks , fingers crossed I can start work again .

Just takes time , but it’s worth it .

[Heather1957]

I think these replies say it all, 6 weeks may be a guideline but we are all different. Like the 2 posts above, I had very little pain or discomfort before the op but the driver was that my blockage was in such a location that if could be fatal, so no choice really.

This was probably the reason I asked myself 'WHY' several times after the operation!!

As I said earlier at 6 weeks I was feeling great and was told I could drive and fly again - 2 big deals to me.

Before the 7th week was up I felt ill, had terrible pains in my back, my left arm and shoulder and just could not sit in any comfort at all and I was back on the co-codomol! I would drive for a few miles and then not be able to drive for a week or more.

I had agreed to doing a week of work on the 4th September but still wasn't feeling too good and as I am an independent consultant I was able to cancel. I put work off until the 23rd Sept and felt I was firing on all cylinders then and ready to get back to some normality.

Oddly enough my wires were never a consideration for me, as I always felt they were very secure from the moment I woke up from the op - though sneezing in the early days was a worry.

I say this a lot but really do mean it. We all recover at different speeds and in different ways so listen to your body. If you need to take a few days out and just chill then do that, no point in pushing yourself if it is going to set you back (as I learned from experience )

Honestly if you have any concerns or worries please ask as there is every chance someone on here will have an answer or at least guide you in the right way.

I certainly am still asking questions and I am a good few months ahead of you in my recovery.

It is a frightening experience but worth it for most of us in the long term!

[SteveJesse]

Hi Bitez. I had triple by pass on Jan 2nd and am doing exceptionally well. I was lucky in that I went into the operation pretty fit and healthy ( it is a mystery to most people how I had a diseased heart in the first place as I tick none of the boxes, but I guess sh1t happens). I was determined to regain fitness as quickly as possible after the operation ( the surgeon said there is no reason now I am rewired that I cannot be as fit or fitter than before). Therefore, I started walking within days of returning home, initially in 5, 10 minute blocks in the house before progressing to walking outdoors. It is amazing how 'far' you can walk indoors, I was soon averaging between 5 to 6k (about 7500 steps) a day. I also started Cardio Rehab 4 weeks ago,. I was sceptical what it may offer me but have to say it has been excellent and I would highly recommend it to everyone. In addition to the exercise I do there, I am getting to the gym 2 or 3 times a week doing 20 to 30 mins of cardio and some light weight work, increasing as the sternum knits. Apart from a sensitive wound, I really cannot complaiun. I realize I am very lucky, I went into the operation very fit and have taken fitness seriously all my life ( I am 56). I would say the human body is amazing and you are capable of much more the you imagine, so I recommend listening to your body and trying to get into some daily routine ( I know this is difficult as life, work etc can get in the way). Now we have fresh arteries, I guess our hearts are in better condition than they have been for years, so if you try to look after yourself as recommended by BHF and Cardio Rehab, I see no reason you cannot ultimately feel stronger and fitter than ever and just be left with an impressive scar and have some stories to tell!

Good luck.

Steve