I muster enough courage for an angiogram. Thanks for all the encouragements from this forum. It surely helps!
I was Hoping that a stent or balloon can do! But I was now smacked with Triple Bypass!!!
I'm so afraid of needles, pain and had white coat syndrome. My bp shot to 200/100 while in hospital. At home was 130/75.
I can't think straight. I'm really afraid of this major surgery!
Worried sick
St03
Hi St03
So sorry you have this to face, but I am here to tell you it will be ok. I had aortic valve replaced and bypass nearly 4 years ago and it is ok. You have very little pain they make sure of that, follow all the advice you are given do all the exercises breathing I called it huffing and puffing! No arms above your head no lifting anything heavier than than half a kettle of water, for 6-8 weeks, doing cardio rehab when the time is right, take baby steps and be kind to yourself.
It is a step into the unknown for us and a scary place we look into but remember your medical team do this as their day job. Once you have had your op you will be on the mended heart road along with lots of us here on the forum.
If you need any more information or just need to vent just post and someone will be along to listen and offer support.
Try not to worry I know easier said than done! It really will be ok.
Stay safe best wishes Pauline
Appreciate Pauline. Frankly still at a state of confusion
It will pass try to take in as much information as you can, this is all strange to all of us something we never expected, a new language to learn medical terms we have no idea what is being said but ask questions if you don’t understand. Just always keep in the back of your head that you will have a mended heart and your life will be back on track.
Hi St03
You can do this! I know it's hard - my wife suffers with anxiety, and saying "calm down" does not help!
But you can do this! The operation won't harm you - but not having the operation surely will.
Try to think about perspective and relative risks. The risk of the surgery is significantly less than the risk of not having it.
Hospital staff are super at helping with anxiety - but you must tell them! They will do everything possible to make you comfortable and reduce the stress and pain.
Find a safe place in your mind and go there when you need to distract yourself from the situation.
Whenever your mind ponders on the negatives - positively distract yourself by thinking of things that are good, comfortable, loving, caring, praiseworthy and rewarding.
You'll do OK! You can do this!
Thank you for your encouragement! I will try to accept
Hi its is frightening in worse anziety . I got diazapan to keep me oky . And it works I was same as you but really youl b fine it thought if it . They are so good to you please try stay calm mine was triple to .. xxxx
Make sure they give you something to help with the anxiety. They shouldn't let you suffer unnecessarily with it. They gave me valium on demand in hospital. I'm also on a low dose of an antidepressant for the anxiety, and that really helps too. Sending good wishes xx
Hi St03,
It's completely normal to feel like this . You will get so much more support from people on here who know how you feel over the next few weeks or months- or for as long as you need it.
Please feel free to ring the Heart Helpline to speak to one of the cardiac nurses who will be able to talk you through what to expect and how it all works.Being equipped with the information of what to expect does make a difference both before and afterwards. There is someone to talk to every day- Monday- Friday 9am-7pm and weekends and bank holidays 10 am-4 pm. The number is 0300-330-3311.
I hope I've helped.
Take care.
Philippa
Many thanks! But in fact I'm currently in asia and will be hvg my bypass in asia. Hence not able to call helpline
Hi St03
I’ve had two open heart AVR ops and came through both with no problems. I found the wait for the op once I knew I had to have it was actually worse than the surgery itself. Your hospital will be used to dealing with people who are anxious about the surgery, and certainly the hospital I had my surgeries at, Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, went through everything with me and wanted me to ask questions rather than worry about anything.
After the op they will have you on painkillers and they want you to take as many as you need to stay out of pain, otherwise you won’t move about comfortably. They’ll send you home with painkillers too and you can then gradually reduce how many you take as you get more comfortable. I think it took me a couple of weeks at home before I managed to reduce my painkillers down to first thing in the morning, to get moving, and at bedtime, to get to sleep. I only occasionally needed to take any during the day.
I hope everything goes okay and there are plenty of us on here who have been through surgery, so any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.
Take care.
Wendy
Nice picture. Mine was on the back of an envelope. I also went for an angiogram and angioplasty and they stopped the procedure to tell me I needed surgery. They told me the same afternoon I needed a quadruple heart bypass and that they could do it on 10th February - just one week away. I think having so little time to think about it was good because I just focussed on this being the only way through and then got on with the practicalities of making arrangements for my husband and two girls, handing over at work and yes, updating my will.
It's not a breeze, but the surgeon I had does 250+ of these a year and the staff don't want you to suffer so take good care of you especially in ICU/high dependency unit. It will take some determination to get up and out of bed at the speed they want you to but you will be surprised how much you improve day on day - your body is amazing.
My advice:
Do whatever research you need to do to feel happy about the surgery but don't spend too much time thinking about it.
Make sure you have suitable sleepwear (to accommodate catheter and drains), an iPad or something for passive entertainment and some snacks in case you don't fancy the hospital food ('cos you need to eat)
Remember when you get home, you'll feel OK then not, then OK and there will be some pain in areas where you don't expect it because of what they have disrupted underneath (particularly with a LIMA)
I had 100% and 95% blockages, I am quite young and this all happened very quickly. You will feel better than you do now, so if you can, make a decision to be strong and see it through - and (notwithstanding a few wobbles) you will. Best wishes.
Yes I am 43yo female. I am totally unprepared. Still at a loss. Is the recovery state tough? How soon can u manage on ur own?
I just started a reply and somehow lost it! I think It was pretty much....you need help for 2 weeks when you get home - just take it easy, go really slow, after that 6 weeks is when you will feel more independent and 8 weeks is when sternum should be healed. I am going to start work on 1st June which will be 16 weeks but despite exercising everyday, cooking meals and being fairly active I am definitely not 100% and posts on here indicate some pain for over a year. I am 49 years so I know you can do it. Check out my earlier posts and others on here, lots of good stuff.
Hi St03
Which bit of Asia are you in ??
With regards to the bypass have they told you what they will use for the repairs ?? I have had it done in 2015 and I don't even give it a thought anymore as I am not aware of any discomfort, it is all totally 100% healed
Stay Alert Stay Well
I had an as appointment with my surgeon. He told me he will.do a CABG x 5 , off pump. I'm diabetic, controlled cholesterol and blood pressure.
My test results says TVD BUT after meet up with surgeon he says he will do EVH on my hand, leg, left chest. How am I gonna recover with bruises all over me?
I am worried sick about my recovery stage. Can anyone tell me what should I be expecting for my different stages of recovery?
Waking up with so many tubes , I heard about drain tubes for blood? I'm just so confused
Hi there I had a bypass op 11 years ago and like you suffered terrible anxiety please try to be calm I know it’s hard but just put yourself in the surgical teams hand and if they say that you’ll be fine try and believe them I wish you all the best once it’s done you’ll be fine !!
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