Quintuple Bypass Surgery 14 months on

[Drngm]

It's now 14 months since my quintuple bypass surgery and I wanted to briefly share my experience.

To hear that I needed CABGx5 was a shock to say the least - I was a reasonably fit 52 year old male who only new that I had a problem because I felt 'discomfort' in my chest during my 3 or 4 30 minute jogs each week. The indigestion type feeling never caused me to stop running and it often disappeared by the end of the run - nothing major I thought. However, after a few months I plucked up the courage to see an out of hours GP who referred me to a Rapid Access Heart Clinic.

This began a raft of tests that culminated in a visit to a Cath Lab at Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital (LHCH) and a diagnosis of CABGx5. I was told to go home and get my affairs in order and be prepared to come into LHCH in the next couple of days - I was numb and felt that I had been enveloped in a dense fog that blocked out all that was around me.

I had the op and spent 6 days in LHCH before returning home. A scary experience to be discharged and back home within a week but with the help of my wife and family I began my recovery.

After the first week I started with short walks (5 mins) every other day and gradually built this up over the weeks. I then progressed to cardiac rehab and did my best to follow the guidance to the letter - I can't thank and praise the team at the St Catherine's Centre enough!

After my discharge from St Caths I continued to follow the exercise plan provided by the rehab team and after 6 months returned to work.

So far so good I haven't experienced any further cardiac issues and I recently managed a 10km run - feeling stronger and fitter than I have for many years. I am very grateful to the teams of NHS clinicians and support staff who helped me before, during and after my CABGx5 - I will forever be indebted to you.

For those of you facing the same or a similar diagnosis to me I hope that my story is an encouragement to you - listen to the doctors, nurses and other health care professionals and take their advice - it can be a slow road back to normality but it is possible.

[Hidden]

Thanks so much for this post Drngm. I've been through the same thing (5 graft bypass) following a heart attack last September. I was back home in a week after the operation as well - amazing what they can do, isn't it?

I was also pretty fit, in the sense that I was active, gardening, walking, cycling and don't drink or smoke and have a healthy diet..but nevertheless had 5 narrowed arteries without any noticeable symptoms until my heart attack. Thanks to the NHS damage to my heart was minimal.

Great that you're back at work. I'm retired, but also took part in the heart rehab gym here in London - loved it!

[Hidden]

I too had a cabg x5 April 2018 .Had a few problems at the start,but am great now.I am 63 years old and very fit.God bless the NHS x

[thetidders]

I had a CABG x 3 two years ago on Sunday also at Liverpool & then cardiac rehab at St. Caths, I then went on to the next stage at West Kirby. About 2 weeks after discharge from Liverpool I collapsed & was rushed to Arrowe Park with a severe electrolyte imbalance & I spent two weeks in Critical Care. Rehab was delayed because of that as I was very weak & walking with a stick but the team at St. Caths gave me my confidence back & got me going again. I can’t praise them enough.

Jean

[Hidden in reply to thetidders]

Gosh, Jean, such a trauma after having been through a 3 graft CABG! The human body is so complex, isn't it : I remember having umpteen blood tests after my bypass and marvelling at how my body creates all these balances of electrolytes/ minerals/ vitamins etc from me just, vaguely, eating what I regard as a healthy diet. Two weeks in critical care must have been very difficult after the bypass, but it's amazing how we just go through it, with the help of our amazing health service that gets such a battering from political twerps who think they know better 🤔

[thetidders in reply to Hidden]

I don’t remember the first few days after ending up in Critical Care to be honest, due to my collapse. I do remember many delusions probably due to all the drugs they were pumping into me to sort me out & I had hospital induced pneumonia. My husband & daughters were told I might not make it as I was so poorly.

I still take magnesium supplements & other minerals ect to keep me balanced. Potassium was at a critical level when I was admitted & that took a while to stabilise but it’s OK now though when I have the yearly blood test, potassium & magnesium levels are always checked as well.

But as you say we get on with it as best we can, I don’t fancy the alternative just yet. 🤞

Jean

[1043590]

Hi, it's fascinating to hear other people's stories. I had a CABGx4 in February at the Bristol Heart Institute after a heart attack earlier in the month. I'm 58 and have had high blood pressure for many years which was for the most part under control through medication.

Looking back, there were several episodes where my heart was struggling but I just put it down to general unfitness. The heart attack was still a shock. I have struggled a bit to come to terms with the surgery and can't help seeing myself as damaged goods, especially with the quite noticeable scars in my leg and chest. The first few weeks after surgery were tough as I hate not being to look after myself. Eleven weeks on and I'm physically much better and stronger - driving again and walking between two to three miles a day.

The staff at the BHI were lovely. I owe them a great deal.

The cardiac rehab classes have been cancelled because of covid-19. I hope I won't lose out on them all together as I would love to meet fellow cabbagers and hear about their own experiences!

[Hidden in reply to 1043590]

Thanks for sharing this 1043590. My heart attack was also a real shock and so difficult to grasp: it just didn't fit in with my perception of who I thought I was. I still struggle with believing it really happened, to be honest.

I hope you get a chance to attend the heart rehab gym : I found mine here in London really therapeutic. Heart patients seem such a nice breed of humans, if my bunch were anything to go by😊

It's great you are walking 2-3 miles a day. My rehab gym emphasised exercise as a major factor in recovering from coronary heart disease, especially choosing something I enjoy doing (cycling and gardening in my case), but making sure I stay within the recommended levels of exertion👍

[1043590 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for such a great post. I'm now five months post surgery and much more at ease with myself. My wounds are gradually healing although I still have a sensation of heaviness on the left hand side of my chest and I find it uncomfortable to sleep on my front. Any other position and I sleep like a log! I feel more and more that life is going back to normal. My walking has increased to between four and five miles a day - weather permitting and the occasional don't-fancy-walking-today days! I hope I'll get some cardiac rehab sessions as I would love to meet fellow 'hearties'. They're the only ones who truly understand how heart surgery affects you as a person.

One plus side is that I haven't drunk a drop of alcohol since 7 February! Before then I was drinking three to four bottles of wine a week. I tend now to drink Diet Coke and diluted fruit juice with a shed load of ice. My liver probably appreciates it. My bank balance certainly does! 👍

[Zzr93 in reply to 1043590]

Hi it’s really good reading your posts!!!! I had a triple heart bypass in Aug 2020. Did come as a shock, thought I was going to have a stent or two then go home!!!! No chance!! Had a lot of issues with my donor leg, especially with the nerve. Could not even walk on it for a week because of the pain. Anyway been taking Gabapentin for that which seems to work so it’s been12 weeks and I have been doing 2 miles a day walking. I do have a problem with the leg still around the ankle which I think could be the internal knot stitches. I will find out more in 2 weeks when I get a full check up.seems lots of people have no problems with their leg but as you said everyone is having different recoveries.Chest wise started of really good then got a bit more sore as I think I did more!! My fault. Like yourself my rehab was cancelled but hopefully will start next week. Overall I’m really happy to still be here and EVERY day is a lovely day. Just got to stop eating!!!! I don’t drink, or smoke, done 6 London to Brighton’s for the BHF, so yeah was a bit shocked to start with but you just have stay focused and enjoy yourself and your family.

Good luck in your recovery.

[1043590 in reply to Zzr93]

Hi, many thanks for your reply. I'm glad you've enjoyed my posts. Like you, I'd hoped to be stented but this wasn't possible. I'm not entirely sure why. I think I was told by a consultant but I was a bit dazed and didn't really take in what he was saying. I'm nine months on from my bypass and I'm now at the stage of it not dominating my thoughts. I still have some soreness from the wound in my left leg and my chest wound can be itchy but overall I feel fit and healthy - and slimmer according to friends!

For me and I think for many other hearties, the key to a good recovery is a healthy diet, a positive attitude and regular exercise. I've cut out a lot of sugar from my diet (not easy as I have a very sweet tooth!) but I still enjoy things like chocolate - instead of five bars a week, it'll be just one or two. I'm much more physically active walking around 25 miles a week. I think regular exercise is absolutely essential!!

You sound well on the way to a full recovery. I'm sure there'll be some days when you feel as if you're going backwards but that's normal.

I don't fear my scars like I used to. I've learned to live with them and they're just part of me now. The leg scar is noticeably lighter further down the leg you go. I'm still in one piece overall and the way I see it one key component became faulty but has now been repaired and (fingers crossed!) will give many more years of service provided the owner looks after it!

All the best for your long-term recovery!