Anxiety 1 year after CABG

[Stump67]

Hi

I had a double CABG July 2018 when I was 50. Initially everything seemed fine afterwards and I had very little pain or discomfort.

Since about February this year I have had more discomfort from my chest and left shoulder. Sometimes I can tell it is muscular but sometimes I have anxiety that it could be something more. I also have moments of tiredness, loss of focus and vague memory that I wonder may be prescription related. I am on 1.25mg of bisoporol and statins along with Amlodipine. My blood pressure also has become erratic. Sometimes fine and sometimes quite high. At these times my fear is the bypass may have failed.

I have gone to A&E a couple of times and ECG and bloods have been okay.

Part of issue may be that I have passed ECG tests including stress ECG in the past and told everything fine. I was later found to have two blocked arteries. I have no faith in GP in this regard.

Due for a stress echo this week. Hopefully that will convince me everything okay and issues are muscular and in my mind.

I just wonder if anyone else has been through similar concerns. Any comments are appreciated.

[bruceDavid]

hello,i had cabg 8 years ago.sometimes tweeking the meds help.i also have bouts of stress i do beleive it is normal after all you have been through.

be well

[Stump67 in reply to bruceDavid]

Hi

Thanks for response. I have since heard that some statins can cause muscle pain. Going to try have a meds review.

bw

[invictaAlec]

Hi Stump67,

I had to write to you since your story is very similar to mine, although what I have to say probably won't help you much.

3xCABG for me in June last year (I'm older than you though, 69).

My recovery seemed straightforward also with little pain or discomfort as you've said.

Months later I too experienced (right) shoulder pains. My GP agreed with me that it was too late for the surgery to have been responsible, so I was sent for scans. I was told "it wasn't too bad and that time would prove my best friend"! Some more months passed and while the shoulder was not as troublesome it still wasn't right. I received a letter inviting me to an annual review and that was my opportunity to have a little moan. I've been promised a little physio course but have heard nothing in the five weeks since.

All figures at the review i.e. blood pressure, cholesterol scores etc. were good (apart from my BMI figure being a little high.) Similar to you I'm on bisoprolol, statins but have asprin also. I'm very often tired and I'd like reassurance that my bypass is working as it should.

I'm very interested to hear how you get on with your stress ECG. Please write back.

Alec.

[Stump67 in reply to invictaAlec]

Hi Alec

Thanks for response. Good to hear from someone with similar story. Sorry for delay in reply, have had technical issues!

I had a Stress Echocardiogram. It went well though did feel a bit bruised after. Have not had full results but cardiologist was positive everything was okay and working with bypass.

Test was in two parts. You do have to abstain from bisoporol for a couple of days so the heart has to work a bit more. An initial echo was taken. They did have to inject some contrast agent as images were not great at first. Then there a treadmill section to put heart under pressure. I was comfortable enough on treadmill and monitored the whole time. This included an ECG so this is effectively a stress ECG too. Once you get to a suitable heart rate level you have to quickly move back to the bed for them to redo the echo. Apparently there is only a small window when they can get a suitable image. Cardiologist then comes in to watch playback of images. It was reassuring when he said everything was working fine.

Think I will make this a regular examination every couple of years just to reassure myself everything is okay.

Have you looked at your meds? Some comments here and other posts have said that statins especially can cause muscle discomfort. My BMI is a little high too, time to do something about it now I have reassurance on exercise etc.

My GP is not great and I think I originally slipped through net for annual review. Cardiologist said that I should be seen annually. Next appointment is in October to go over results and review meds!

Hope you get some resolution for your pains. It is disconcerting when they occur. I kind of felt mine are muscular but they is sometimes that little niggle in the back of my head.

Best wishes.

[invictaAlec in reply to Stump67]

Stump67,

Sounds like all is in order with your bypass. Looking good!

In the year or so of being on this forum I've lost count of the number of posts simply seeking reassurance.

"Is what I'm experiencing normal?".

"Does anyone else have a problem with xyz drug?".

"I'm confused by what I've read....". etc. etc.

Looking back on my recovery the most valuable period was when I was doing my cardiac rehab classes. Yes the twice weekly exercises were good as were the dietary and health awareness lectures but for me more important was the camaraderie within our group. I found chatting with other people who were in the same boat useful and comforting. I think there is a case to include such chats in any therapy session.

All the best.

Alec.

[wiltsgirl]

Hi there. I had a triple bypass in March 2018 and within 6 months I was taken off of bisoporol as it was making me extremely tired and lowering my BP too much. I am still on Ramapril but only 1.25mg. I can understand how you feel in that the trust is taken away if people make assumptions. I've been lucky that the only thing that bothers me is my scar which has keloid, my chest sometimes feels sore too. I did have a problem about a month ago when my right arm was very sore and then I went on to get some chest pain. I rang 111 and they sent an ambulance. ECG was fine, blood sugars and BP fine too. Its difficult not to see any pain or niggle as something bigger. I just have to say that I am glad that I am alive and try to stay positive at this. I wonder if you need to talk to someone about your fears? Did you have cardio rehab? Best of luck with your treatment xx

[Stump67 in reply to wiltsgirl]

Hi wiltsgirl

Thanks for response. I think issue is anxiety and paranoia when I do get chest pains and I do sometimes ruminate about those concerns. Have not had full results yet but recent stress echo seemed to be positive.

I did have cardio rehab phase 3 and enjoyed it but have sometimes found it hard to be consistent with exercise since. The local phase 4 rehab is during day when I am at work. I aim to be exercise more regularly now I have passed the stress echo.

[jimmyq]

I am taking part in a study about the development of dementia and related diseases. I took a Cognitive Function Test in 2017 and scored 36. The average score for my age group is 38-43. I took the 2018 test and scored 54. Why the improvement?

I have been on a Whole Food Plant Based diet since March 2018. It looks as though my diet has improved my Cognitive Function as well as my heart health. I am also off the statins and beta blockers. Look at their leaflets, mental problems are in the side effects.

[Stump67]

Hi jimmyq

Thanks for response. Interesting stuff about the study and Cognitive Function test. I cannot see myself going over to a completely WFPB diet but do not eat as much meat and aim to make it an occasional treat (dinner parties, restaurants etc).

Would be interested in completing cognitive test myself. Do you know if this is something GP could arrange or if can be done privately?

[CelticGenesis]

Hi, i hope you are well. i had a 3 x bypass in nov 2019, recovery was steady but then started with chest pain after 5 months which caused insomnia,panic attacks and very bad nightmares. im receiving support now for PTSD. ive been to A & E on 3 occasions with chest pains but all tests came back ok. ive just had a stress test/ecg and again it came back ok. still experiencing chest pains and feeling uwell, im so scared.....Paul

[Stump67 in reply to CelticGenesis]

Hi Paul

I’m good thanks. Sorry for your situation though. It does sound similar to mine though it sounds like your experience is more extreme. I did not suffer panic attacks or nightmares but I am sure I had anxiety due to concerns over my heart. ECGs and Stress ECGs did not convince me that there was not something wrong. In the end my cardiologist did send me for an echo stress test which came back clear and I also had an MRI for an unrelated condition that also covered the heart area and showed it was clear and there had been no events. That level of investigation did go a long way to helping with my anxiety. I found that slowly anxiety levels dropped. I think I will still occasionally get moments or flashes of it in the future but in some ways that is natural from what our bodies have been through.

I’m glad you’re receiving support for your PTSD. I now think the initial euphoria and relief we feel after the CABG procedure covers up the trauma the body experiences and the stresses and fears the mind suppresses from the operation and the time before it. It takes a while for the body to heal properly and as it does so the mind starts to process what the body actually experienced.

I would recommend having some further investigation just to reassure you. I did not suffer panic attacks at this time but have had one in past and know how debilitating they can be. Anxiety and panic attacks can mimic the symptoms of a heart condition. I’ve been to a&e since my CABG believing there was something wrong when it may have actually been high levels of anxiety. In the end it is always better to go if you feel there is something wrong.

Hope this has helped in some way. Let me know if any other queries etc

Take care.

[CelticGenesis]

Sorry for the delay in responding. ive finally got an appointment with the cardiologists on the 26/03/21 so i will update you.....thank you, paul

[Pollypuss]

Have you managed any post op exercises because I found they are designed to help. I had my bypass a year ago and was lucky enough to attend the local group until lockdown . However there are lots of regulated exercises on utube especially for post heart op. I used to be concerned about the same as you until I attended the group which gave me confidence