Angina after triple bypass

[AShaw]

I had a triple bypass a year ago. Was feeling well until I felt the same old arm ache and pressure in my chest. Went to ER and was kept in until I had an angiogram to see if my graphs were holding. All showed ok but my beta blocker and BP meds doubled. I couldn’t take the increase. Went to cardiologist who said go back to original dose and added Ranexa. One month on same old arm ache and chest heaviness. Back to ER after all tests increased Ranexa and sent me home. Feeling VERY tired all the time. Anyone any insights. Thank you.

[Chappychap]

Sorry to hear that. After your bypass have you made any lifestyle changes? What is your weight, diet, level of exercise? Do you smoke or drink? Have you taken any steps to control your stress or improve your sleep patterns?

I guess what I'm saying is that heart surgery on its own can't cure our heart disease, all it can do is give is a second chance to adopt a healthier lifestyle that, along with medication, might hopefully slow down or even arrest the progress of this terrible disease.

On a more positive note, there have been some very sad cases on this forum where bypass operations have failed, and the bypass arteries have started to become blocked again. However, this seems to happen very quickly after the operation, within a few months or even weeks, I understand (although if course I'm not a doctor!) that if you're a year past your operation then that's unlikely to be the cause.

Good luck!

[AShaw in reply to Chappychap]

Really appreciate your comments. I’m scheduled for a CT scan next week to do some further checking. It seems like I’ve come to a full stop, energywise, and can’t seem to get started again. I was doing reasonably well for a while and it’s so very disappointing to have lost the progress. I don’t smoke, never have, don’t use alcohol, never have. I am carrying some weight which I’m working on but With all the meds I think my system is all mixed up right now. I’m looking forward to the scan so I can move on. I’m quite hesitant about exercise until I get the scan. Thanks again.

[Ianc2 in reply to AShaw]

Were you offered a rehab program after your operation? Did you manage to complete it? Can you manage gentle exercise on a flat path on a daily basis? 20 minutes to half an hour every day perhaps? In my experience trying to lose weight is very difficult, if not impossible, if there is no exercise going on. Exercise calorie burn has to balance food intake. If there is no exercise going on you have to eat a very small amount of food to lose any weight.

It took me a long time to separate being hungry from craving sugary food. For me, avoiding bread, biscuits and cakes is vital. I have a weight watchers (WW) weighing machine which tells me how much body fat I am carrying and what my BMI is doing.

I wear a belt every day and any scoffing naughty food gives me instant feedback. I try and maintain my waist size at half my height and I have a fitbit that tells me how many calories I have burnt and how many steps I have taken.

Seven years ago I had my valves fixed. On recovery one the doctors told me that my arteries were clear, which I think has to be down to what I eat. I have friends who have angina and I can see some of them slowly but surely getting worse with weight problems and losing the capability to walk very far without having to stop.

You are in the fight of your life . Your enemy is cunning and insidious and has lodged itself as a little sugar devil in the back of your head. "I can't live on rabbit food" and "I will be good later" or "Just one cake will not hurt". It is not easy and just one relapse will set off the whole craving process again. Determination to stay alive is the key. Stay strong.

[AShaw in reply to Ianc2]

Thank you very much.