Dad's 5 Days Post Triple Heart Bypass Surgery - Advice Please :)

[Phil_88]

Hello All!

Just a quick thank you to those who have posted on this site, regarding their op experiences etc - It has been a great way to educate ourselves, as opposed to using "Dr Google".... 🤣

My Dad, who's 67 years old, had a check up a couple weeks ago at the hospital, due to Angina, where it was decided he needed a triple heart bypass!

After a week's stay at GWH Swindon, he was transferred to Oxford for surgery, which took place on Friday 👍

He has been in ICU for 5 days, which is "longer than usual" as such, but it's due to stabilising his oxygen levels throughout his body. All other signs are very good and he's been up and about a bit 👍

Has anyone else experienced this, whereby they're essentially waiting for their oxygen levels to stabilise around 100 (his has been stuck around 94, so he's consistent!) and what was done to achieve this?

He's had a bout of hallucinations, as expected. At one stage he "saw a Subaru Impreza across the ward..." To which he then said "But how many Impretza's do you see in a hospital?" 🤣🤣

With this, he's also had a few minor panic attacks, where he feels he isn't getting enough oxygen into his lungs and he begins to panic - His vital signs are spot on, (oxygen level aside) which the nurse tells him to reassure him - Has anyone else experienced this at all, and how did you combat it please?

Sorry about the essay! But thank you again to all the posters who have shared their stories - The news came from out of the blue for us, but reading this forum really helped us understand, so thank you!

Cheers,

Phil

[gilreid1]

Phil

All seems pretty normal ok it is a longer time in ICU but this could be many things I am sure they will fix. My own experience was I was longer in HDU to clear my chest which also affected oxygen levels but all good in the end. Keep him cheerful especially with the weird dreams I also had and my family had a great time explaining 👍😂

[gibbo66]

I had panic attacks for over a week after my bypass. I would wake up hyperventilating and take a few minutes to settle my breathing. I did have hallucinations on my first day in intensive care but non since then.

[Beith]

Phil - I was 68 when I had a triple bypass last year. Apart from an episode of AF the day after the op, I was OK. If my experience is anything to go by, he'll be very well looked after and will be 'released' only when the medical team are happy. With regard to the hallucinations - I didn't suffer from these and that may be because I didn't take any of the patient-controlled analgesia. The staff were concerned about pain management and actively encouraged the use of the PCA . I normally do what I'm told but I knew that the drugs could cause sickness constipation and possibly hallucinations so I didn't take any. I didn't have any real pain - there was discomfort and awkwardness because of all the tubes and cannulas etc but nothing that warranted pain relief. If your dad's self administering drugs, he might try stopping that to see if he's OK without them and that may stop the panic attacks.

[Chappychap]

As has been pointed out, the hallucinations are almost certainly due to the morphine, which will likely also cause a serious bout of constipation and, as your father won't be discharged until he's had a bowel movement, it's worth getting off morphine as soon as possible. Obviously if the patient is in real pain then stay with it, but your father might be surprised at how quickly it's often possible to move on from morphine and just take paracetamol.

The other crucial thing about recovering from open heart surgery is the breathing and walking exercises.

It's not really explained to patients, but the lungs have no muscles of their own. The lungs work because the ribs expand and contract, and they fill and discharge air accordingly. But as soon as the chest cavity is punctured by the surgeon's scalpel both lungs collapse. Fully reflating the lungs is a big job, and it's made far worse because the rib cage and chest muscles have been hacked around and traumatised.

A very experienced cardiac nurse told me that most people's assessment of their recovery from open heart surgery is primarily based on how well they are regaining their lung capacity. They're often not conscious of the link, but the health care professionals see those patients who apply themselves to the breathing and walking exercises are the ones that report stronger and faster recoveries.

Consequently it's absolutely critical that your father really makes a big effort with his breathing and walking exercises, both in hospital and then back at home after discharge. These exercises can be uncomfortable verging on the painful, but unless your father pushes through and gets on top of them, then his recovery will be much slower.

I had a triple bypass at the end of 2018. The road back to health had a few bumps in it. But now that it's done, and now that I've made the significant lifestyle changes needed to reduce the risk of further problems, I can honestly say that the bypass was the best thing that could have happened. Today I feel twenty years younger, with a massive increase in my vitality and energy levels.

With some effort and application your father will hopefully experience the same positive outcome.

Good luck!

[gilreid1 in reply to Chappychap]

Not sure what hospital you were in. But from the second day in HDU Aberdeen Royal Infirmary I was helped and instructed by doctors,nurses and physiotherapist on breathing exercise and how to expand my chest.

[Phil_88]

Hi All,

Thank you all very much for your replies!

He was released from ICU today and back up on to the regular ward!

He hasn't been hallucinating for a couple days now, nor has he been administering his own morphine for roughly 3 or 4 days.

He's been eating well and going to the toilet, so all's good in that department.

He's still having minor panic moments, but nowhere near like they were yesterday. I assume it has a lot to do with not being pumped with meds now?

He got a really good night's sleep last night, which is the first since the op last Friday, so that's great news. Here's to another full night's sleep tonight!

Any further advice is very much appreciated, so please feel free to fire away.

I have and will continue to read the advice provided on other posts 👍

Cheers,

Phil

[Gail1967]

Hi- I had my bypass last year at 51- was in icu for extra due to an opioid allergy- who knew!!! So then could only take mild pain killers but that helped me find other ways to ease pain- relaxation etc. I think everyone’s experience differs but we all get out the other side to then pass on our experiences to help others. Good luck to your dad as he recovers.

[coral2222]

i am 66 and am 18 days post quad bypass. that was the same reason i spent 6 days in icu the o2. i am 95% at home without o2 probably because i smoked for 50 years.

[coral2222]

you cannot get better information about how to deal with these problems then these forum groups. i have done the same with spinal surgery forums they are very very good sources for helping each other .

[Charl70]

Hi phil

I also had issue with blood oxygen getting low and felt the same as your dad i was give a blood transfusion which really helped,then had oxygen for just over 24hrs which really helped,doing the breathing exercises is essential deep breath in hold for 2/3second blow out of mouth this will help raise oxygen levels i did 10 breaths every hour ,i wish hour dad all the best

Pat

[tonysmithpi]

What your dad is experiencing is not unusual. The hallucinations are weird but you kind of get used to them, waterfalls on curtain, patterns moving on the floor etc etc, Getting his oxygen levels back can sometimes take a bit but dont worry, itll come good