After chest pain when heart rate goes up, had a ton of tests with nothing wrong, had angiagram thursday with showed a blockage too long for stent so told i need a bypass, i am 50 yrs old male, insulin dependant, high bp, i was assumed to have a tia or ministroke in july but they are not certain as couldnt find any damage, ive never been in hospital for more than a couple of day visits, i have a jcc? Appointment monday and dont know what questions i should ask, if anyone could tell me the important things to ask please? I feel like im about to drop dead at any second and im imagining a constant slight pain in chest, my dad died suddenly of heart attack at 67 and i need to survive long enough to provide security for my wife and daughters (old teenagers) thanks for reading, im sorry im terrible at writing, just a thick builder my whole life
Any advice or even a slap round the face would be appreciated, thanks
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I have some questions i figured id ask to see if anyone out there can answer, if no one can then it might help to write them down anyway...
1. Stopped smoking 10 years ago but still vaping, i really dont want to give up, especially now with all this extra worry, is it going to affect operation much in your oppinion?
2.ive read exercise is good, can i walk up to the point of pain? Say walk the dog but stop and rest when chest hurts or better to just rest?
3.this is going to sound insane but after the bypass op will i have to go to the toilet in a bed pan? Im probly more worried about the embarrassedment of this than the op, also dont want bed bath if thats a thing?
4.have my own company for pst 20 years so can pretty much just sit in office doing quotes etc, ive read 6 weeks before returning to work, will that be shorter if i can do very little exercise? I really cant not be there that long
These are stupid questions id be embarrassed to ask the doctor calling me monday sorry
'...stupid questions...', I don't think so, those are brilliant questions. Very practical (I'm a lady and would rather crawl to the convenience rather than use a bed pan!), especially the one about your work being low-physical stress so can you go back earlier than someone with a more physically demanding workplace.
ETA: I also vape, gave up 'real' cigarettes in 2013. I know just what you mean about not wanting to have to give that up, especially now while you're under such horrible stress.
1. Well done on getting off smoking and moving to caping, but get off that too for sake of your health and recovery.
2. Exercise pre Op fantastic and post up very important, but never till pain, only until a bit breathless, your body should tell you ‘enough’.
3. Not insane at all, no you can go to toilet day after on your own, constipation is actually biggest issue and will be probably a few days before you even need to go, caused by the drugs.
4. Six weeks is too short. All work is stressful even if you don’t feel it is, you’ve got to be kind to your body to let it rest and heal. 9-12 weeks is when I’m going back and I think more reasonable.
No question is stupid mate, take care and try to stay as calm as you can in current circumstance.
Hiya, welcome to the group. We have many members here who've been exactly where you are right now and they'll be along sometime today to give you all sorts of tips to help you form questions for your consult tomorrow.
I have multiple heart conditions - all well controlled with meds and lifestyle adjustments and have 'normal coronaries' so haven't needed stents or bypass. But again, we have several members here who are bypass vets and they'll be along soonish to give you some very helpful and practical support.
Meanwhile, are you on any medications?
'They' seem to be moving you along quickly so it is possible your bypass will happen quite soon. As every single member here can attest, the waiting is the very worst part so you've already got that bagged.
When the very reasonable anxieties try to rear up, take slow deep breaths and tell yourself you've been very intelligent about getting medical attention started when your symptoms began, your angiogram showed what and where medical intervention is needed, and it was all done before you had a heart attack and woke up in CICU post-op after an emergency intervention. That's a very good thing, a very very good thing, so you're already ahead on that as well.
Hi, following some mild chest pains when exercising I suffered a mild heart attack 2 years ago followed by a Tripple heart bypass. I’m not sure what questions you should ask being insulin dependent but I can offer the following:-
I had my graft at Glenfield Leicester, all concerned wore absolutely wonderful, and so the operation seemed no big deal. By 8am next morning I was eating breakfast and drinking tea, by 11am I was up on my feet. I attended the Cardiac Rehab sessions provided by Kings Mill hospital Mansfield and strongly recommend them. The scars on my leg and chest are now barely visible.
Hello Mate, welcome to this group that can give you lots of support along the way. You are feeling exactly what would be expected after such a shock. Numb, vulnerable, scared, angry (why me).
What I would say to you is that will all pass, and you are getting this done to hopefully give you many happy years of life afterwards.
I’m 7 weeks post double-bypass, I was asymptomatic, no pain, fighting fit 67 years old when a blockage was found. I like you was all at sea. Today, I can tell you I feel amazing, with little discomfort and scar healing very nicely. Only thing that can’t be done is lifting and that might be a concern for you if you are in building trade. I’m keen golfer and can’t get back to any of that until next year.
It is tough couple of weeks after, but hopefully we will be back fighting fit three months later. Don’t RUSH it, your chest takes time to heal.
Your surgeon and heart team will take loads of time to answer every question you have and advise you. Remember they do this thing thousands of times a day all over the world, so you will be fine and smiling again soon.
Thankyou so much for replies! Choked me to be honest, i dont know why, good that my wife is still in bed, shes so worried and wouldnt want her to see me like this, maybe just the thought that im not alone? My head is gone
Being choked and having an occasional bawl is a fantastic release pal, I’m macho Scotsman, kids and grandkids and ‘the big daddy’ and ‘had a good greet’ a few times - you are very brave lad and have earned it pal and remember, you are going to be just fine, Terry
I’ve been told on here there’s no such thing as a stupid question .... and there really isn’t, I’ve asked questions and had nothing but support emotionally and practical help and kindness.
There’s nothing wrong with being a builder, you need to know what you’re doing with skill and knowledge, something to be proud of, don’t put yourself down.
It’s perfectly understandable feeling and thinking the way you are, I think most people on here have thought that way at some point, I know I have!!
Dr’s like facts I’ve been told by one, how you feel etc is very important but he said he wants facts first, what’s happening to you? Symptoms, side effects etc, just what he liked to know first.
I go in babbling away even crying, before during and after the appointment 🥺🥺
I’m sorry I cannot message anything about your condition as I’ve something different.
All I can say is you’re in good hands in hospital and 100% on here, let us know how you get on !!
Welcome The place you are looking into is a very scary place but believe me it’s not anything like your imagination is making out. I had Aortic valve replaced and bypass 4 years ago, and my life is back on track.
You ask about time scale you will have to be careful for 8-10 weeks no lifting anything heavier than half a kettle of water, no lifting your arms above your head. No pulling or pushing movements so no ironing hoovering or mowing the lawn 😂 Like any bone after a break you have to let your sternum heal. Your sternum is wired but you don’t want to do to much and they move.
Walking before and after is great, remember when you get home it’s baby steps, and when your body says hey I am tired you rest. The other thing I would say is let your brain catch up with what your body as gone through. It’s trying to understand what as gone on. I found myself not quite believing what I had been through.
You ask about going to the toilet, no bed pans😉 you will have a catheter put in in theatre and that’s removed or mine was in HDU, you will be up on your feet the day after your op in ICU so you will be able to go on your own once you are in HDU. 😂 hurrah.
Don’t be surprised if you get emotional, it happens to most of us. Just remember your medical team do this as their day job, they are very clever at what they do.
4 years on and I thank the medical team who gave me my life back every day.
You are now part of this heart family and soon you will be on the mended heart road with us, and helping others coming up behind you. We are here to answer any questions to listen if you feel overwhelmed or give you a shoulder to lean on.
Thankyou all for your replies, it genuinely felt like a was falling down a black hole and your replies were a stretched out hand, means so much
As an update, I had my phone call from the doctor/consultant clever dude, very short, just to say as discussed they will be doing a something graft bypass, and to make sure i was happy to go ahead, it will be at St Georges Hospital, I am on a 3 month waiting list, im very happy with that as it gives me time to get my head round things and get through our busy christmas rush at work.
I will be trying my very best to do the right thing and take things as easy as possible, it also gives me time to kick the vaping habit, i will be buying some zero nicotene juice tommorow and expect to be vape free within a fortnight (my only vice )
Thankyou so much again and in advance of my future not silly questions, i hope one day i can pay your kindness forward.
You are making good choices and taking care of yourself that’s something to be proud of, your days ahead will be brighter and brighter. That kinda sounds like a fortune cookie lol but it’s the truth
If you are overweight as in 'insulin dependant ' you might want to try and bring your weight down a bit if you can by knocking down the fast food / cakes/ pizzas etc. If you can find a flat path you can try get in a daily mile of nonstop walking to get your fitness (as against your strength ) up . Should take a maximum of about half an hour. If it starts to cause difficulty stop and have a blow.
Great to hear you are stopping smoking - nicotine makes your blood sticky and sticky blood clogs up arteries.
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