Medication

[canihelpu]

My husband had quadruple bypass 27/03/19 was discharged 8 weeks later told everything was fine and to remain on medication. My question is if the operation was successful why does he have to remain on meds. prescribed prior to surgery? This is a question we intend to ask our GP after our holiday in August. Just wondered if anyone has had a similar experience

[MattUK]

It’s all about reducing your risk factors, and the percentages of risk that decrease with some of these drugs is considerable. Some of the drugs help to reduce pressure, thin the blood to lower risk of complications of any surgery and to reduce the risk around plaque etc.

It’s highly possible he will remain on some medication for years to come.

Not unusual although you have not mentioned what drugs.

Remember a bypass doesn’t fix heart disease; it prevents whatever was happening at that time, the risk and disease remains and must be managed to reduce reoccurrence; this is done by lifestyle changes and meds

Hope that helps

[marypw in reply to MattUK]

Great answer!

[Handel in reply to MattUK]

Nice answer Matt. I agree with marypw xxx

[Janma123]

My hubby’s meds were changed and dosages reduced following his surgery and are still being changed 14 months on. The surgery has replaced the faulty plumbing but not removed the cause.

Best wishes to you both.

[Chappychap]

The other posters have already said it, but it's so critical that it stands repeating.

Your husband had heart disease before his operation, but he still has heart disease now. It's incurable, the very best you can hope far is to slow or arrest it's future progress. Medication is part of that, but serious and significant life style changes are the other part.

It's wrong to think of a bypass operation as "fixing" your husband, it's more accurate to think of it as giving him a second chance. What he does with that second chance is basically down to him plus the support and encouragement that you give him.

Has your husband been on the cardio rehab course that most hospitals offer? If so he'll be aware of the main areas that he must address to give himself the best possible chance of a long and active life. Quit smoking, get down to a healthy Body Mass Index with a waist measurement that's less than half his height, complete 150 minutes of aerobic exercise every week, eat a healthy Mediterranean diet, moderate drinking, etc.

Your husband's bypass operation was just the opening act, the real work starts now!

[canihelpu in reply to Chappychap]

Thanks for your informative reply. Unfortunately my husband hasn’t been able to start the rehab course yet as the wound on his leg has not fully healed there a very small section near his ankle which he has been attending appointments at the health centre treatment room on a weekly basis to have assessed and dressed. Once it is healed he can start the course. Where as you say he will gather more information.

[willsie01]

I haven’t had my bypass yet, due next week, but very interested in the answer to this as well.

[thetidders]

I had a bypass in April 18 & as others have said I am still on medication 14 months later. They have been tweaked & Clopidogrel the blood thinner has been stopped but I am still on the rest. It is very important.

Jean

[shopman]

Having had a bypass more than 20 years ago I find my medication being reviewed and adjusted as necessary every so often Usually in conjunction with another event happening - stents, heart failure, more angina etc. It can get you down at times as occasionally I think I should rattle but hey ho I'm still here to tell the tale.

[MattUK in reply to shopman]

That’s the spirit