Quadruple Bipass. Really scared.

[MrPDA]

Two days I had an angiogram and was told I will need a quadruple bypass. I haven’t been given a date yet but I know it will be done at Papworth Hospital Cambridgeshire. I don’t think that I’m too worried about the actual operation but I’m terrified now that I’ll drop down with a heart attack before the operation. I would love to have some sort of reassurance from someone with experience of this operation; their fears and anxieties and perhaps thoughts about the operation itself and the recovery period. Many thanks

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Rest assured if they had any serious concerns you would have been admitted on the spot. A friend had an exercise ECG stopped a few minutes in, was admitted on the spot and transferred to Papworth for a triple bypass. The bypass was done five days after the ECG. You may well have been given medication such as BP tablets, statins and anti-anginals to further help keep you safe. Recovery times varies tremendously between individuals as there are so many variables. Typically you should be driving again within 4 - 6 weeks and back to work around 12 weeks depending on your job. I had a quadruple last June and estimate it was around four to five months before it felt all systems go!

Do check out the BHF literature but avoid the Doc Google carp! You have been warned!

[MrPDA in reply to MichaelJH]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comments. I guess that it’s just fear of the unknown and if anything should go wrong. I spoke to a cardiac nurse from the BHF today and that really helped too. I’m delighted that you are now well. My op cant come soon enough.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to MrPDA]

I felt the same as angina and breathlessness had brought life to a near standstill. When I came round u felt like I had suffered a Big Daddy splash but was free of angina.

A few more hints; try and build up your core strength as you cannot use your arms to get up out of a chair for quite a few weeks post op and post op do the breathing exercises you will be given as they help both recovery and healing.

Any queries just ask or PM me as I have the T-shirt!

[MrPDA in reply to MichaelJH]

Indeed again thank you.

[Deanosbeano]

Hiya

I waited a year for mine I was 90 % in 3 , just keep fit and manage your cholesterol and use your spray . I carried on biking in the forest and gardening whilst waiting , I had to stop regularly but never over did it , the consultant who did the angiogram said stop everything immediately , I'm glad I didn't and when I saw the consultant 6 months later he said carry on ,your no worse than you were before diagnosis , keeping as fit as you can for the op is the best thing as long as you are careful .

Operation is easy you just sleep

Good luck with yours

[ILowe in reply to Deanosbeano]

Before you rush into the operation, have you ever looked at the evidence that most operations are not needed? This is reviewed in "Doctoring Data" by Dr Malcolm Kendrick. See chapter eight, which is not a difficult read. Basically,

1/ The heart naturally grows other additional blood vessels to get around the blockages. This is called collateral circulation.

2/ The risks of the operation and subsequent serious problems are high (3-5%)

3/ The risks of letting the body self-correct through developing "collateral circulation" are low.

Surgeons frequently underestimate risk. Personally I would refuse an angiopathy because of the stroke risk. Then there is the operation mortality of 2-5% (I write as a survivor of open heart surgery to replace a failed heart valve -- in this case the operation risks we balanced against the 100% risk, certain death without an operation). Subsequent risks including small and large brain damage are also high.

[Deanosbeano in reply to ILowe]

Consultants may over egg the risks but surgeons wont .

I had elective surgery and had a year to way up the pros and cons , my advice to anybody with angina is have the operation of you still have an active life to live , if your sedentary and no longer need to earn a salary then definitely have a serious think and do research .

The consultant who did the angiogram said stop everything , the surgeon said carry on with biking and don't do more than you have been , you are no worse than you were when you walked in the GP surgery just slightly fitter and better BMI

[Red_Baron in reply to Deanosbeano]

Interesting reading this - used to run marathons and triathlons and was told to step everything immediately. 6 months later was told to exercise again. My op is in three weeks and I’ve been running again everyday to get as fit as possible for the operation.

[MrPDA in reply to Red_Baron]

Thank you. Good luck. Everyone says to exercise to gain strength for the op

[shopman]

Good memories of my quad bypass was when I came round I knew everything had worked as I could breathe with struggling. I felt completely different as had weighed everything up beforehand knowing the benefits would outweigh the risks. Did I also say this was more than 20 years ago - had a few issues since but I'm still here.