How often should i have Follow up appointments after CABG X3 surgery?

[hedintheclouds]

i am 46 had a CABG X3 on 18/07/19 after months of hospitalization, 6 weeks (and 3 hospitals later) after having a ruptured femoral artery following an angioplasty to insert 2 stents (which failed) and emergency vascular surgery to repair my severed artery and 8 units of blood transfused, 2019 really was an awful year for me!

My question is i had a follow up from my CABG X3 on 09/09/19 at Harefield Hospital and haven't had any follow up appointments since and its my year heartiversary this month... is this normal to have not seen a cardiologist in all this time? Please advise me as i feel i have been forgotten about?

[Hidden]

I had 1 follow up with the surgeon and was discharged to Cardiologist & GP, i think if everything is ok this is normal, if all is not ok then i don't know, sorry.

[080311]

Hello, had a check up with the surgeon after my op and then an appointment with the cardiologist, said he was happy and then discharged to my GP, as well as bypass had aortic valve replaced so have echocardiogram yearly to check the valve, if the pressure is ok then that’s it for another year. If not I would be referred back to the cardiologist. It’s nearly 4 years now and so far so good.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Very few people remain under hospitals like Royal Brompton and Harefield, and Papworth unless they have complex needs. I was discharged back to the local cardiology department, had a review six months later and again after a further year. Cardiology would have discharged me back to my GP were in not for the fact I have Type I Diabetes and PAD (peripheral arterial disease).

I suggest in the first instance you ring the person who referred you to Harefield.

[hedintheclouds in reply to MichaelJH]

Thankyou I’ve spoken to the cardiologist secretary as my letter from my surgeon discharged me to his long term care and I was under the impression I’d be reviewed and meds tweaked, and very least have ecg and echo. So il await a response and see what they say

Thankyou for replying

[d4dave]

I had my triple CABG in January 2014. I was discharged 3 months later with AF and two regurgitating valves..They classed it as mild so they would monitor it. I don't know how they are monitoring it because I have not been called back or spoken to anyone about it since. I am working on the basis of whilst it is still ticking leave it alone!

Mind you, in about 1950 my mother took me to see our doctor because I was having frequent sore throats. He said he would put my name on the list to have my tonsils removed. I am still waiting 70 years later! I wonder of 70 years on an NHS waiting list is a record?

I am considering telling them not to bother now, and let the next person on the list take my place.

[hedintheclouds in reply to d4dave]

Oh dear I’d def would leave the tonsils now! On some Facebook forums I’m told people have check ups 3 or 6 monthly? I’ve rang my cardiologists secretary who is going to look into this but I’m

Pretty sure at my 8 week check I was told I’d been seen yearly and have my meds tweaked? I’ve some

Minor concerns and would like peace of. Ind mainly.

I hope your keeping well and Thankyou for replying

[080311 in reply to hedintheclouds]

Everyone I know with bypass is overseen by GP, meds tweaked by them. Once you have had your op they class you as heart mended. If you were told you would have a yearly check by the cardiologist you are very lucky. I have a yearly echo as have aortic valve replaced, as well as my bypass, the echo is just for the valve to check the pressure. If it’s ok that’s it for another year if not than I would have to go back to the clinic to go back under the cardiologist. I am nearly 4 years on and so far so good. My bypass unless I get symptoms of it not working or failing there isn’t any checks. I would have to go to my GP and he would have to refer me back to my cardiologist. Have had my meds tweaked by my GP, and all my blood tests go through the surgery.

Keep safe best wishes Pauline

[Chappychap]

Once you're discharged by the hospital that's it, unless there are problems you won't see the cardiologist ever again.

However, at least in my area of the country, the norm is for an annual review with either your GP or the practise nurse.

I'm fortunate in having a GP who is particularly pro-active, so that gets stepped up to six monthly check ups and blood tests. In particular my GP identified the very early stages of type 2 diabetes as the key likely risk factor behind my heart problems. Consequently diet, exercise, and weight loss were all critical alongside the medication. Happily a programme of regular exercise, a Mediterranean diet, and losing a couple of stone, saw my diabetes metrics reverse, and I'm now well back in the safe zone.

I wish everyone had such an enlightened and energetic GP, but judging form the comments on this forum that's sadly not the case.

Good luck!

[hedintheclouds in reply to Chappychap]

Thanks for your reply I just want peace of mind and I have some minor concerns I want to discuss also I was told my meds would be tweaked after a year?

I’ve not had any echos or ecgs since last sept

[Chappychap in reply to hedintheclouds]

On an ongoing basis it's your GP who prescribes and adjusts your meds.

Most people get one follow up meeting with the cardiologist (actually it's more commonly with the cardiologist's assistant, the registrar), at that point you're normally formally discharged or signed off, and have no further contact with the hospital.

[hedintheclouds in reply to Chappychap]

Oh that’s not what my letter from surgeon said l, he said he had discharged me over to cardiologist for long term care?

[Jimcw]

I had a heart attack at 45 and open heart surgery and I would see my cardiologist every six months and at least once every two years he would do a nuclear cardiology study to check perfusion. I am now 77 so I have 30 years and still see my cardiologist approximately every six months. We still do a nuclear study every two years. I’ve had lots of procedures over that period of time including several stents and an experimental procedure but I see my cardiologist who is fairly aggressive in treatment. I think he has kept me going. I remember when I had my surgery I always wondered how long I would be able to live and I think thanks to my cardiologist that I’ve extended that some. Hope it helps

[080311 in reply to Jimcw]

You are lucky seeing your cardiologist so often but living in the States things are obviously different to here in the UK.

[Jimcw in reply to 080311]

Yeah I guess so. My insurance allows me to go whenever and as often as I want which is a good thing because after a while those of us with chronic disease is get to know our bodies better than our physicians I think in many ways. Take care

[080311 in reply to Jimcw]

I have family in the States 2 nephews are Doctors so am aware of how things work there. And you being able to see your cardiologist whenever you want to is great. As I said things here are a bit different unless you go private. Or have private medical insurance. Though our beautiful NHS is wonderful, and gave me my life back. My husband had a big stroke 5 weeks after my heart surgery and over the pandemic he as had a few problems, our GP has been amazing we have had video appointments with the GP had an hospital appointment and today the district nurse came to the house to take bloods. So as you can guess very happy with the care we have had.

You to take care stay safe Pauline

[hedintheclouds in reply to Jimcw]

That’s good Jim at least he’s keeping on top of it! Which hospital are you under?

I just turned 46 when I had my cabg x3 after ALOT of complications 6 weeks previously and 2 failed stents and ruptured femoral artery during the angioplasty at the L&D hospital where I lost every bit of blood in my body so I was w complex case from the start that’s why I am so anxious to be checked a year later

[080311 in reply to hedintheclouds]

Can understand why you nervous After so much trauma you are bound to feel uneasy. I was in hospital for 7 weeks before my surgery where they stabilised me, and then moved to a specialist heart hospital where I was was for another week post op. It’s scary I know, I think Jim lives in the USA so his after care is different to ours.

[hedintheclouds in reply to 080311]

Yes I was in harefield last June 6 weeks prior to my op and a week at the L&D before that then before that a month In March April Im over anxious 🙈

[Chickenlou]

My fiancé had CABG x 3 in January 2020 and hasn’t seen a cardiologist since being discharged (he has had one telephone appointment) and has now been discharged to GP care.

I was bit shocked by the aftercare to be honest (tho appreciate everything’s changed due to Covid) and posted on here asking about it. My fiancé has had no ecg or X-ray or anything since discharge even tho he had AFib in hospital.

[hedintheclouds in reply to Chickenlou]

Wow I had my follow up 8 weeks later, ecg, Echo and X-ray plus consultation with my surgeon I know covid has changed a lot of things as I e now been told it’s all video consultations now which I do understand but not through enough if you ask me