Date

[Tiddles1959]

Hiya all

Well phone call today my bypass op date 1st October its hit home properly now nervous aint the word all of a sudden its real

Be safe all

[Smerblue]

Good luck.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Try not to worry! You have to remember this is their day job and they have done OHS (open heart surgeries) many times before. When you go in (probably on Wednesday week) you will be struck by the professionalism of this well oiled machine. You will have various last minute checks like bloods, chest X-ray, ECG, ecbicardiogram and maybe some others. A CovID swab is likely at some stage of the proceedings.

Then it's a case of settle down and wait for the morrow. I was fortunate to have a single room with TV and unfortunate in that my evening meal went AWOL! A kind nurse went and brought me a couple of sandwiches with her own money and would not accept payment for them. So it was a case of coffee and a sandwich with a repeat at 11:30 as it was NIL BY MOUTH after midnight. Morning comes and a while later you wake up in ICU with drips, wires, etc. all around. But it's a case of stay calm as they are soon removed. ICU is followed by HDU and then back to the ward. Depending on progress you should typically be home five to eight days later. Good luck!

[Tiddles1959 in reply to MichaelJH]

Yeah cheers Michael

Came as a shock the call even though I knew it was coming ony found out I needed this 6 weeks ago so its all a shock really am fairly fit and a hgv driver with manual heavy work had some chest pains for a week or so back in February March went to check it out but got knocked back with the lockdown but now its full steam ahead hopefully the risk of a second lockdown won't affect me ive been told to go into isolation as of last night in preparation for the op just kinda realised today that's quite a big thing to me as the lockdown didn't really affect me I was classed as key worker so there been no real change for me since March strange that I have to now lock my self away till next week I feel I need to be sorting stuff for the big day stressing me a bit but am sure everything will fall into place

Thanks for the encouragement

Stay safe

[Dractrek]

Good luck for your op. It will all go fine for you they are great and the best in their field. I’m one year done from a quintuple (5x) bypass and back riding the bike.

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Dractrek]

Thanks Dracktrek

Yeah hopefully this time next year I will be back in the Lake district were am to be found most weekends hillwalking

Stay safe

[Purple1935]

Hi Tiddles

Wishing you all the best for 1st. If it’s an help to you, I have my operation on the 1st as well ( mitral Valve surgery) so I totally understand your anxiety.

Just trying to keep calm & busy at home as in self isolation...

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

Hi purple

Yeah am trying to get my decorating finished for the 1st so its keeping me busy good luck with your operation

I'm getting mine at freemans in Newcastle would be a coincidence if you were as well lol

Best wishes to you

Stay safe

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Tiddles1959]

Not sure if I replied to you twice lol my minds not as sharp at the minute lol

[Purple1935 in reply to Tiddles1959]

Hi Tiddles

How you doing? Feeling abit tearful today... still got to wait for the ok Wednesday for a bed, so can’t feel relieved it will all be over soon until it’s confirmed!

Covid swabs & final blood test tomorrow... have you got this too?

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

Hi purple

Yeah 8 30 in morning pre assessment day they say I be there till mid morning doing all the final checks I guess I only been told to go hospital 16 00 wed night report there for a bed but they did say this is not set in stone yeah my emotions are all over the place at the minute trying to do things ie the decorating my my heads not in it lol the thought of it all is just there most the time but you and I both know we be feeling a lot better this time nxt week roll on thats not stopping me sh****ting myself though

All the best good luck tomorrow and keep u informed of how my day goes stay safe

[Purple1935 in reply to Tiddles1959]

Yeah will do... fingers crossed for the both of us... will thinking about you.

Hope your family are coping ok? My husband has had red eyes today ( says it’s the paint from doing the bathroom! Bless him)

Next week can’t come soon enough!

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

Lol yeah its hard for the family as well I've been told no visiting all the time I'm in hospital so there not happy about that but hopefully its only a week

Keep smiling

[Purple1935 in reply to Tiddles1959]

You too!

Let me know how it’s going Wednesday eve if you get time

Best wishes to you

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

I will best wishes to you

[Purple1935 in reply to Tiddles1959]

How did the pre assessment go?

Mine was a quick blood test/ Covid swabs & on my way!

At least it was a break from the house!

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

Hiya

Yeah blood test covid swab chest xray they did a scan on veins in my neck he didn't like the pulse lol but scan was fine but I have a hiccup though need to get dental check tomorrow at dentist long story but as long as there no infection its a go if there any infection course of antibiotics but they will put the op back not happy so fingers crossed for tomorrow I will let u know the outcome

[Purple1935 in reply to Tiddles1959]

Good luck tomorrow 🤞 all very stressful

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

Thankyou yep he asked if had any chest pains i laughed said I've had nothing but all week since I got my op date lol u gotta laugh

I keep u updated

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

Well dentist cleared me no infection so hospital 1600 tomorrow

Nervous now its real

[080311 in reply to Tiddles1959]

Wishing you the best of luck, it will be ok no where near as bad as you imagine, wishing you a great recovery, and a mended heart, and your life back on track.

[Tiddles1959 in reply to 080311]

Thankyou 080311

I hope its not because the things going through my imagination lol roll on Thursday post op

Thank you

[Purple1935 in reply to Tiddles1959]

Phew, that was close, lucky to have got a dental appointment at such short notice! Thank goodness it was ok 👍

Well here we go, last night in our own beds for a bit.... try & get some sleep & hope tomorrow goes quick.

Will message tomorrow PM

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

Yeah don't think I sleep much tonight speak with u tomorrow from my hospital bed lol

[Purple1935 in reply to Tiddles1959]

No me neither!

Speak tomorrow

[Purple1935 in reply to Purple1935]

How you doing Tiddles?

Settled into ward, clerked in & hoping to be going 1st on list

Tearful saying good bye to family but glad to be on the next stage

Good luck!

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

Hi purple

Hope u had a comfy night mine was a bit busy sorting stuff out i was down to go first this morning 8 15 they came in at 8 to say am on hold emergency transplant just came in so there rearranging there teams lol I was all sorted need to get back in the zone now hope your OK good luck speak to you in a day or so wen were in recovery

[Purple1935 in reply to Purple1935]

5 mins Togo to surgery & just been cancelled! Back on Monday to go through it all again!!

Hope all went well with you

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

Well am like you back in the house first on list cancelled due to emergencytold me i be later in afternoon afternoon came sent me home penciled in for 14 oct am at home now emotionally and physically wrecked I was all shaved shampoo and in my gown I feel like I've had the op havnt ate or slept right for the past few days so I guess I have to do it all again in 2 weeks that was just a dress rehearsal hope ur feeling OK but I know how you feel roll on Monday

All the best let me know how it goes

[Purple1935 in reply to Tiddles1959]

Oh bless you, it’s awful isn’t it... so stressful leaving the family yesterday & going through all the Pre op prep.. I know we are told it can happen but really messes with your head...

Came home having had 2 hibiscrub showers, stuff up nose & shaved to an inch of my life!!!!

Well we are still in this together...

Keep in touch, keep strong, we will get through this!

[Purple1935 in reply to Tiddles1959]

How you doing Tiddles 1959

Do hope your op finally went a head & you are now home recovering?

I’m 3 weeks post op & doing everything the book says! Not easy walking twice a day when it’s pouring with rain but good to get outside. Pretty sore & exhausted but it all takes time.

Take care

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

Hello

Yeah had the op eventually! Same as you, I'm home now and getting on with recovery.

Glad to hear you're doing well. All over and done with now and the worst is behind us.

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Purple1935]

Hiya

Thinking of you today hope the dont cancel again good luck give me a shout wen ur all done and recovering

[Purple1935 in reply to Tiddles1959]

Thanks Tiddles

Don’t know how I feel today after being cancelled once already... trying to get my head in the right place again & start it all again. 🤞

Hope you are ok & the time goes quick until your op. The waiting surely must be the worst of all this

Take care & I will keep you updated

[Purple1935 in reply to Tiddles1959]

Good luck with your decorating, definitely need to keep busy. Are they wanting you to go in the night before?

😂😂wouldn’t it be a coincidence if we were In the same ward... having mine in Brighton!

[080311]

Hi Good luck try not to get to anxious I know it’s easier said than done but it isn’t as bad as our imagination makes it. You will be well looked after and then you will have a mended heart and you can get your life back on track.

Best wishes Pauline

[Tiddles1959 in reply to 080311]

Thanks Pauline

Yeah I've got a terrible imagination and of course its making me more anxious but as you say its all for the greater good thankyou

Stay safe

[Chappychap]

No need to worry, bypass surgery is a very well proven operation with an overwhelming success rate. The risks are tiny, but the rewards can be absolutely transformational.

The only thing I'd caution you about is that even though you have a date it's subject to more urgent cases arriving at the last minute. Unfortunately it's extremely common for bypass surgery to be delayed at the last minute. In fact I'd guess the majority of people on this forum experienced one delay, quite a few had two delays, and some poor souls get three or more delays.

That can jangle nerves, but try and stay relaxed. Be assured your turn will arrive!

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Tiddles1959 in reply to Chappychap]

Yeah was speaking with the surgeon secretary who touched on that point so its fingers crossed lol

I keep u posted

[shopman]

Good that you have a date, it will be amazing how fast the days will go by before then. In the meantime plan for what you need when you come home. Loose-ish clothing, V Pillow, cushion for the car to help with seatbelt etc - the list can be quite long and am sure others will offer more advice.

[Tiddles1959 in reply to shopman]

Hiya shopman

I like the idea of those v pillows I have to get one good idea about the seatbelt

Thankyou for the tips

[080311]

Hi again

A bit of advice get a nice soft baby blanket and roll it up they gave me a rolled up towel in hospital, son went out and got a soft one it’s to hold against your chest if you need to cough sneeze and when you are doing your breathing exercises. I ended up sleeping with my arms wrapped around it as I am a side sleeper and sleeping on my back didn’t come naturally to me. The family christened it my Teddy where I went it went 😉 used it under the seat belt strap don’t know if that’s against the law! But the seat belt was a bit tight on the sternum incision.

Pauline

[Tiddles1959 in reply to 080311]

Thanks Pauline

All these little tips are good to know lol theres so much going through my mind it all helps me

Thankyou

[Purple1935]

Hi Tiddles

I am now back home & able to reassure you that all is well after my operation ( which finally went ahead on Tuesday)

2.5 days in ITU & 2.5 days in stepdown... completely normal pattern of events.

Staff were marvellous, nothing too much trouble!

I’m now being well looked after at home & relieved it’s now done.

And you too will be writing on this forum Telling everyone that’s all done & dusted!