Post op anxiety

[Mapleleaf28]

Hi I had a double bypass ten days ago 18/12/20 is there anyone on here that cans advise me please?

I can deal with the pain it’s my foggy mind n anxious I’m not myself xx

[QuadroVEINia]

Hi, I had a quad bypass 42 days ago. Your body has gone through a massive procedure and your mind is adjusting. 10 days in I expect your body is still recalibrating in terms of being pumped with lots of meds and you will still be on strong painkillers, takes a while for your system to purge itself. You will feel fatigued all the time as your body heals itself, that is normal. You should just rest and relax and when you are ready take little short walks to start building yourself up. Follow all the advice from the hospital and especially the cardiac rehab team. From your note I am unclear if you had an elective or emergency bypass, if the latter you won’t have had time to adjust or mentally prepare let alone process. Just be kind to yourself and try not to worry... this group is great for support and if I can I am happy to answer any specific questions you might have. Good luck and again... take lots of rest and naps!

[Blackcatsooty]

Welcome to this lovely forum. Foggy brain is to be expected. Dont fight it, roll with it and it should ease away in a few weeks.Anxiety is high with this pandemic etc. please try to use relaxation techniques to keep the levels of anxiety down. I worked hard at getting good sleep.. extra pillows, different mattress, different room, sleep with the light on. Whatever gives you decent sleep. And i took paracetamol before sleep, for a few weeks.

Good sleep eased anxiety.

Best wishes

Colin

[gilreid1]

Find a way to relax more and get as comfortable as possible. I know it is not easy and a mixture of the medication you are on and the trauma of the procedure will get better with time. It took me about three weeks to settle into some sort of resting

Take care

Gil

[080311]

Hello Mapleleaf28,

Welcome to the forum, not somewhere you thought you would ever be joining.

Open heart surgery is a huge operation, and we can be on the table for quite a few hours so we have a large dose of anesthetiser, this tends to take sometime to work it’s way out of our system. The feeling of being a bit foggy is quite normal, the other thing is you have to let your brain catch up with what your body as been through, it’s thinking at the moment what on earth as happened here😂

Carry on doing your breathing exercises and your coughing one, remember your lungs have taken a hit as well as your heart, they were collapsed when we were on bypass and now they need a bit of care to get those little pockets filled out again.

Listen to your body when it says I am tired rest, it takes time but you will get there, I am 4 years down the road from my Aortic valve replaced and bypass.

Hope your recovery continues to well for you, just follow the instructions you have been given.

Pauline

[Gail1967]

I really just have 1 word & that’s time. Take each day as it comes, be kind to yourself- things get easier, your mind becomes unfogged & over time you will feel more normal - good luck

[Smudgebuttonjessie]

Hi, you have great responses on here already, your body has been through a lot, feeling foggy is normal and so is the emotional feelings you will have. Listen to your body, rest when you need to, sleep when you need to, if you feel something isn’t right seek medical advice. Wishing you well with your recovery, shout out on here as there is great support on here. Don’t forget to use the blanket roll or similar, helps loads, sleep as upright as possible with loads of pillows, a V-shaped is the best for support and take your laxatives

Time is the best healer and this forum is best support, take care xx

[Thanksnhs]

Hi, it will lift, it just takes time, sleep when you need it, nothing wrong with an afternoon nap when the body says you need it, also take your pain killers my cardiologist says if you keep the pain at bay you can do more and will be much comfier especially in the beginning to make sure you get enough sleep, at first I was a bit scared to go out by myself and just went to the corner and back then I realised I was going further without thinking about it as the body healed, I am now 5 months post surgery, sternum has healed but still twinges at times, my meds cause me more bother 🙄I wish you a speedy recovery take care char

[Runningman55]

Hi, as everyone is saying it will get better, it just takes time. I am 3 months post double bypass and am feeling much better, going back to work in new year. Take it a day at a time. The fog will clear. Keep well.

[Mollhon]

Hello,

Great and helpful advice from everyone.

I don’t really have any more to add, it’s all been covered.

Mine was an emergency triple bypass, 6 years on I’m fine, but still remember the weird spaced out feeling and lack of confidence I felt back then.

Get well soon, wishing you a happy and healthy New Year. 😊

[BimblinginBG]

Hi, You and I were on the table at around the same time, and while I'm not sure it will be any consolation, you're not alone in your anxiety. I'm finding that as I overcome the smaller anxieties, like fear of sleeping, for instance, my mind is becoming more able to deal with the ones that follow. I've mostly used distraction techniques, mainly music, to take my mind away from the thoughts that cause anxiety. We and so many others have been through some major trauma here my friend, but we've survived and are better for it. We will overcome. Good luck with your recovery

[Bishop1]

Hello Mapleleaf28. Just been reading your posts. I had double bypass surgery on Dec 14. I wonder how you are now. I'm feeling great now. Back to normal again. It's only with weeks I'm able to bend down on my chest to get into fridge. If I feel tired I go for a sleep. Good luck with the rest of your recovery and it would be nice to hear from you. Stay safe and take care x