Hi everyone my first ever post, feels surreal me posting about my own triple heart bypass. I’ve got loads to say and ask so I really hope I don’t go on too much. Let me know if I do!!!
Thought I would take the usual walk down to the shops on a Sat morning, nice and casual. Got about 10 min away them BAM with in a millisecond huge pressing pain right across my chest. Being a bloke for a second i thought I could shake it off but no. Managed to get back to house and ambulance was called. A few checks then whisked off to hospital. Confirmed I’d had a heart attack but started to feel better.
A couple of days later off to Kings for a Angiogram, now I’m thinking this will give me a really good idea of how everything is. Angiogram lasted around 8 min which I thought was strange, wheeled back out waiting for an answer.
Answer was: right supply to heart was great , left was really really blocked. Not what I was expecting!!!
So 10 days ago I had a triple bypass using veins from my leg. 5 days later I’m coming home, feeling obviously pretty sore but very very grateful.
I’ve loads of questions to ask anyone who’s had exactly the same operation if that’s ok?
I except it going to be a big challenge to full recovery but I’m absolutely focused on that.
Many thanks for taking the time to read my little post and I wish everyone the very best in their own journeys to a full recovery. Everything is possible.
Thanks
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Wishing you well, I’m sure you will get lots of answers from people who have been through the same thing, meanwhile be kind to yourself and don’t try to do too much. 😉
Sudden HA on the London Underground. Total shock at 54 as I thought I was pretty healthy. Angiogram same day to clear plaque in right coronary artery. Life saved but with knowledge that LAD and one branch artery 95% blocked. Double bypass 3 weeks later. Recovery has been eventful but good. I am riding my bike on 10 mile runs 2-3 days a week. In early weeks after op could hardly walk up the stairs.
Made complete change to diet, destressed and got exercising (slowly). Have to get used to barrage of meds and so many weird pains, aches, sensations etc. As a result of latter been to A&E a few times (season ticket holder) as I thought another HA. Every time false alarm. So much is in the head. Medics know what you need and I trust them.
Today a lot more calm. Still get soreness and aches from muscle and nerve recovery. Also got bout of ectopic beats for a few weeks ago which have passed.
Tbh I am probably fitter now than I had been been for last 15 years.
If you can get regular checks. Keep BP monitored etc. Cardio rehab really helpful too. Good luck!
Wishing you all the best in your recovery, I’ve not had a bypass so can’t talk about that but HA at 42 being relatively fit and 4 stents fitted. It’s a mental obstacle course as much as a physical one, and as Ferrari10 said so many aches, pains, twinges and odd sensations.
Hello and welcome to the forum! I am usually off-forum till about 4:00pm as I am in rehab following a below knee amputation.
I had a quadruple in 2018 following 18 months of severe angina. What I would say at this early stage is a) do the breathing exercises and b) lift nothing heavier than a half kettle of water. Ignoring this advice can set you back months.
Fire away with questions. Many of us have been there and got the T-shirt although I prefer my '59 Club' one these days..
Welcome to the forum, haven’t had Heart attack but Aortic valve replaced and bypass. Like many of us here our bodies letting us down comes as a but if a shock.
Recovery is slowly does it listen to your body when it say I am tired rest! As Farrari10 said the odd aches and pains pass, they harvested my mammary artery for my bypass and my left side of my chest was numb for about 6 months when I saw my surgeon for my post op check up was asking about this and he said it would take between 6-8 months so he was spot on, he said when they harvest arteries they rip it out so the nerve endings take a little while to sort themselves out to get connected up again. So you will have lots odd pains. these will go just not straight away. Looking at your diet lots if us now eat a Mediterranean diet recommend by BHF, if you smoke you need to stop😩 and if you drink again something you need to look at. Just reread what I have written sounds no fun doesn’t it? But we have to take care of our mended hearts.
With Covid it doesn’t look like there is any cardio rehab on but make sure you are on the list when it does start again there are cardio rehab on line, but being with others who have been through what you have been through is bonus and I had lots of laughs! Remember your sternum needs to heal like any broken bone, so no lifting anything heavier than half a kettle of water or pulling or push so no mowing the lawn or hoovering!
One more thing what your body as been through is major so let your brain catch up with what as happened, it is still trying to process what as been going on😉
You will get back to living again just slowly does it.
Hi everyone, thank you all for your reply’s it’s very comforting to hear from people who have got the T shirts.
I’m feeling pretty good to be honest. Where they have taken the veins from my leg that’s pretty sore.
In fact, first time I put weight on it the pain is massive but then it goes pretty quick and I’m up walking around.
Has anybody else had veins taken from leg?
I’m not expecting every day to go smoothly, but I absolutely appreciate every day.
Never smoked, don’t drink ( except lots of semi- skimmed milk. Done 6 London to Brighton rides for the BHF which feels more special now as I think I was only firing on 3 cylinders!!
Ferrari 10: 10 mile rides sounds impressive to me. How long has that taken you from your op day?
Learning to Relax will be my hardest challenge I think.
Looking back, I was always busy but I realise that needs to change.
Thanks to everyone for your support, and I wish you all a speedy recovery, and chatting in the future.
Started on bike at about 6 months after op and longer rides about 3 months back! Mainly 5 circuits around Battersea Park and to and from home in Balham 3x per week.
Thank you that’s nice to hear. How did your leg feel in the first 3-5 weeks? Mines pretty painful to start with but soon as I get moving with a bit of weight on it it seems to go.
CABGx4 in February following HA. Aged 59. Long scar on my left leg from inner upper thigh to ankle. Leg occasionally sore six months on. Have to wear pyjamas in bed as uncomfortable if naked leg rubs against wound. Used to get regular ankle swelling in first few weeks after surgery but this goes away in time. Recommend you do as much walking as you can. In six months have gone from walking a few yards a day to an average of five to six miles per day. Before HA I walked maybe a mile a day at most. Leg seems to benefit from exercise rather than rest. My feet aren't so keen on all the walking because they haven't had to work so hard in years! Don't be shy about taking pain killers in the early weeks of your recovery. There's no glory in being in pain unnecessarily. I sometimes wake up in the early hours feeling scared and a bit teary to be honest but a good breakfast and a walk sorts me out! I think it takes time to reconcile yourself to the fact that you've had a big operation and that you've got to change how you live. The upside is I'm probably fitter now than I've been for many years. A much healthier diet but still with treats (love a bit of chocolate!) plus much less alcohol - no more than a bottle of wine a week, if that, compared with say four to five bottles a week before my HA. For the first five months after my operation I didn't drink alcohol at all and didn't miss it which really surprised me. A friend's daughter who's about 30 said to me the other day how healthy I looked - and so much younger looking too! Wow, I thought, life goes on after all! Good luck with your recovery. You'll probably have the occasional bad day but they get fewer and fewer I'm sure and you can be positive about the future.
Interesting about leg, because my gut feeling is it wants more and more exercise. It just feels so much better once I’ve walked around the garden a few times. I keep up with the pain killers. Surgeon said 5min a day walking for first couple of weeks. I’m going to do a lot more tomorrow to see how it goes. It’s day 11 tomorrow since opp.
Congratulations on your successful operation, and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
I had a triple bypass in October 2018. I subsequently made a root and branch review of my lifestyle. Started exercising to NHS recommended level (150 minutes plus per week of fairly serious exercise), adopted a Mediterranean diet with a moderate low carb bias, and quickly lost two stones to get back within a healthy BMI.
Bottom line, I now feel twenty years younger. I sleep like a baby and wake up every morning full of energy.
Best thing that ever happened to me was that bypass operation. Seriously, before that I'd been reconciled to a sedentary retirement, where as now I'm as strong and fit as I've ever been.
Blimey, hats off to you. Yeah I will be changing things especially learning to relax and doing more exercise. It’s only because of my past fitness that the surgeon said that’s what really saved me. So I’m forever grateful.
I had a triple. It’s a bit of a haul but take it easy. It’s also an emotional roller coaster so don’t be surprised to have some real changes of mood . I would say though when you are ready post cardio excercises are paramount because they not only get your fitness back but relax you physically and mentally . Don’t keep your worries to yourself and if you need to call - if you feel you have unusual symptoms -the paramedics are brilliant
Thank you very much for your support. Had my first walk up the road with my eldest daughter( ITU Nurse!). Felt amazing. Leg feels good when I keep moving, but I’ve just had a little kip on bed and when I then go to put weight on it it takes my breath away with pain. Get moving and then it starts to disappear.
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