Hi All. Am now 16 weeks post double CABG and doing well, still got issues sleeping and upperbody aches and pains but getting stronger everyday and feeling good.
However, due to Covid I have had no cardiac rehab sessions and little contact with Dr's other than a couple of phone appointments.
So, I was wondering what (if anything) happens longterm? Do I need to go in for annual or bi-annual checkups? Am I now left alone unless I actively make appointments? Any advice on what happens long term would be appreciated.
No advice I’m afraid but my fiancé is in same position.
He had his CABG Jan 27th and apart has seen the cardiac nurses twice (once at home in the week after discharge and once just before the lockdown in March..)
He’s had a phone appointment with the cardiologist, where they mentioned putting him back on bisoporol (that the surgeon took him off immediately after bypass) as he’d had several episodes of AFib in hospital??
We are unsure what happens now like you. I was certainly expecting aftercare to involve routine check ups and maybe the odd ecg or X-ray too.
Hi. Hope you and your fiancé are well. Yeah, I have no idea what happens longer term. As you say, an ECG? Am still having to take a lot of paracetamol at 16weeks post op and don't know if that's normal, due to me overdoing exercising or some other issue.
That sounds a bit odd about the bisolprolol? I had no issues with afib but was on bisoprolol until 12 weeks post op.
To be honest (and I know/appreciate there’s a lot going on in the world!) I think the aftercare received has been shockingly bad after such a huge operation...
I’m not sure about the paracetamol as my fiancé is only taking them occasionally - at night or if he does too much, but he’s not back at work yet so has been able to relax and repair.
The surgeon took him off the bisoprolol immediately after surgery but he was put on amiodrone for his AFib. Then taken off those at approx 6 weeks. But now a different consultant is saying he should be taking bisoprolol because he’s had AFib...but he’s not another ecg.
I know how you feel. I was signed off by my surgeon at 5 weeks then prevented from attending cardio rehab due to lockdown. I contacted the hospital when I had some concerns at 11 weeks but they were preparing to receive Covid-19 patients and told me to contact the cardiologist. It turned out my cardiologist had Covid-19 and then a further bacterial infection so I didn't get to speak to him until a couple of weeks ago. I start work (working from home) on Monday so the cardiologist suggested I have another call with him in a couple of weeks to see how I'm getting on. But I haven't any real understanding of what sort of follow up there will be going forward. If I find out more when I speak to my cardiologist again I'll let you know, but as long as I can call him or speak to my GP, I think I'm OK. Everything is going to be upside down at hospitals and GP surgeries for some time to come so I guess we just have to make sure we shout up if we need help. Take care.
Thanks Tilymint, would be interesting to know if their is any structured follow up program. Good luck returning to work. I started working from home on a phased return a few ago with regular phone appointments with works OH department. Found having to concentrate on work more tiring initially than I thought it would be.
Had my cabg 2 years ago .Cardiologist appointment after 6 weeks.Told me I'm now fixed,just have annual bloods done with GP and get on with living my life.x
Hi, had bypass and AVR , check up with my surgeon at 6 weeks appointment with my cardiologist 6 months after surgery, told my heart was mended, and he wouldn’t see me again unless I have a problem. I have a echocardiogram yearly to check the pressure of my valve, so far pressure as been fine so no need to go back to the clinic. Everything else blood tests and drugs review I see my GP. I live in Scotland maybe things are a bit different here.
Hi has 080311 Says they don't normally see you again if they believe their work is done !!
If you have ongoing problems it is up to your GP to put you back into the system, or write to your Cardiologist, The surgeon I believe will only see you the once for a routine check up. You revert automatically back to the care of the Cardiologist who put you to surgery.
If you are diagnosed with Heart failure you ( may ) be referred to a Heart Failure Nurse/Clinic who will titrate your Meds to whatever the Cardiologist recommends, then once again it's your GP.
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