Just had CABG, coming out of a fog

[Telboi]

It’s my 2 week anniversary and coming up for air - feeling good but disconnected, I’d love some people to chat to, that have been through, don’t know exactly what about

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! It is two years since my quadruple. My main feeling was that I was happy to be alive, and free from angina and breathlessness! The main issue was that the heatwave of the summer of 2018 held back increasing my walking for weeks on end! There are two tips I will give you; a) practice the breathing exercises and b) lift nothing heavier than half a kettle of water.

Edit: I got interrupted by drugs and breakfast as I am in rehab! If you have any emotional issues others have experienced them and will have plenty of advice.

[Telboi in reply to MichaelJH]

Thank you, I will try hard!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Telboi]

Have added to my initial response...

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

You’ve come to a good place for a chat with other hearties. It’s a hard time, and I know just what you mean about feeling disconnected.

These times are v strange too. I think shielding or being more cautious about human contact has made me feel even more separate. and distant,

It sounds as if you are emerging from something........

[Telboi in reply to Kristin1812]

Thanks for your reply ☀️☀️☀️

[080311]

Hello, welcome

When we have OHS we have to let our brain catch up with what our body as been through so feeling a bit disconnected and in a bit of a fog seems to be something lots of us go through.

I am 4 years on from Aortic valve being replaced and bypass and life is good, so remember now you are home it’s baby steps rest when your body says I am tired gentle walking to start with as Michael said continue with your breathing exercises I called them huffing and puffing remember your lungs have taken a hit as well as your heart.

You are now a member of the mended heart club and someone will always be here to listen or lend a shoulder to lean on.

Good luck with your continued recovery

Best wishes Pauline

[Telboi in reply to 080311]

Thanks so much, this is truly helpful. It’s good to engage with people who have ‘been there’. I hope after a while I will be able to help others too. X

[080311 in reply to Telboi]

You will be able to help others coming up behind you, we all bring our experiences to the forum, that’s the beauty of it we can relate to what each of us is feeling you will be good just takes a little time to build our stamina back up and get use to the meditation. It took me a while I would see the scar and think wow that really did happen to me 😂

Pauline x

[gilreid1]

Welcome to the hearty club. Two weeks you will be starting to feel a little better after my triple bypass I slept a lot but tried to move around the house as much as possible. Remember baby steps are good and never try to lift anything more than a jar of coffee 😂. Please try and stay positive even when you think getting better takes longer than you would like.

Take care and stay safe

[Chappychap]

"feeling good but disconnected"

You've captured the sensation precisely! That time in hospital, having a bypass, and for the few weeks following, were like stepping out of your life for a month or two. Disconnected is exactly the right word.

But you know what, you may feel good now, but in the months to come you'll feel a whole lot better! You'll slowly find yourself rejoining your life, but this time it'll be your life without the dead weight of angina hanging like a mill stone around your neck. You'll feel lighter, more agile, more alert, and full of an energy that you thought you'd left behind years ago.

Right now just focus on your breathing and walking exercises. They're both critical to the recovery process. And start thinking about what life style changes you can make (like exercise, diet, smoking, drinking, weight loss, stress management, better sleep patterns, etc) to slow down as much as humanly possible the (sadly inevitable) process of your atherosclerosis corrupting your brand new arteries.

Good luck!

[Telboi in reply to Chappychap]

A lovely inspiring message - thanks much and the lifestyle changes are a given.

My big challenge is that I didn’t have the burden of angina, was asymptomatic and problem discovered at routine checkup - so no tangible immediate upside, BUT eternally grateful to the doctor who spotted a potential heart attack down the road leading to my Op.

You sound like you are doing well - time is the greatest of healers. Thanks again,

Regards, Terry