Struggling

[Madge11]

Hi all. I'm new here. I had a heart attack 2018 and double bypass 2019. I've really struggled with recovery due to pain and discomfort. Had to have sternum wires removed Sept 2020 due to pain...I am really struggling and feel in a really bad place....

[080311]

Hello

So sorry to read your post and that you are struggling with your recovery. Are you still in pain? Or is it more the mental side of things? Going through open heart surgery it a major operation and apart from the physical recovery there is the mental side.

Have you spoken with your GP about how you feel? I know after my surgery it took me a long time to get my head round the thought that someone had held my heart in their hands it really freaked me out but then I came to realise I had been given a gift. My surgery was 4 years ago and I am grateful every day to the medical team that gave me my life back.

Try giving your GP a ring.

Best wishes Pauline

[Madge11 in reply to 080311]

Hi 080311

I had the mi sept 2018 had stent and was told needed a bypass asap...physically after the mi I felt like nothing had happened and was positive I could recover. Mentally it was a bit all over the place (understandably as i was only 48)..but having the bypass has turned everything upside down...i feel so tired have chest pain discomfort, my sternum wound is so uncomfortable, literally feels like my sternum is coming apart!!! I feel so unfit get breathless. I've had 24hr monitor which shows ectopic beats but no advice on how to manage them!! I'm currently taking 2.5mg bisoprolol can't have higher dose cuz my heart rate too slow. The last 2 years my life has been a real struggle, there always seems to be something wrong every day. I'm at that point where I don't know how much more I can cope with and yes I've tried talking to gp and as for cardiologist who I haven't had a follow up with since I had my heart attack...

[080311 in reply to Madge11]

What your going through is hard, have you been discharged from the cardiologist if not try phoning his/her secretary and get an appointment if discharged see your GP get them to refer you back, just reread your post if you haven’t seen the cardiologist since your heart attack then you must be still under them, if your sternum is still uncomfortable then that needs addressing with X-rays or scan. I am sorry can’t help with the ectopic beats I haven’t had those, though plenty on the forum have try a new post about that and I am sure someone will be along to try and help.

Best wishes Pauline

[Thongchuay]

Dear Madge11

May I ask you (in the name of my wife who doesn't speak English) did removing the wires stop the pain?

My wife had a triple bypass a year ago and daily sharp pains in the sternum. Looking at X-rays from after the OP the wires look like someone fitted an old fence in a hurry. A few sharp endings leap out.

I'd like her to try and have the wires removed, but she's avoiding doctors as much as possible.

And if the are any others who had the wires removed please let me know about the outcome, thank you.

Best wishes to all hearties.

[Madge11 in reply to Thongchuay]

Hi Thongchuay

Having the wires removed has stopped the sharp pains. My problem was everytime I bent forward I couldn't stand up straight without pain. The only way I can describe it is when you have a rusty hinge that needs oiling so it can move!! It took 18 months to finally get someone to actually listen...had the surgery September last year where it was discovered 2 of the wires had come undone!! The thing she will need to keep in mind is if she has the surgery the scar tissue increases which is uncomfortable for women due to obvious reasons 😉. For me it was better to have wires removed and hopefully in a few more months I will get use to the scar tissue. Hope this helps.

[Thongchuay in reply to Madge11]

Thank you Madge11 for your encouraging answer.

When my wife asks the doctors about it, they say just wait, the cut nerves need more time for healing. But in fact it does not get better.

Now I have to convince her that removing the wires most likely will help her. As I heard the OP to remove the wires is not a big thing and may be afterwards even her scar will look better than now.

Many greetings to you.

[Madge11 in reply to Thongchuay]

Hi

I had the same conversation with consultant about the wires,some people do take longer to heal. I knew the wires had come undone slightly because I could feel it under the skin and not being able to sit or stand up straight without my sternum feeling stuck. The procedure is relatively quick and straightforward and my scar is looking so much better than the first incision. Only your wife will know if it doesn't feel right and if that's the case she should have that discussion with her gp or consultant.

I wish your wife all the best going forward.

If I can help with any questions on this please feel free to ask.

Take care

[MountainGoat52]

Hi Madge11,,

I am very sorry to hear of your experience and ongoing issues. I agree with Pauline, you need to contact the cardiology team to get this resolved.

I had more or less the same route through to surgery as yourself, but a year prior to you. At the time of my HA in 2017, I had stents inserted, after which I was referred to Papworth for a triple bypass. Everything went well for me and I was discharged 3 months after surgery. An x-ray was taken of my sternum (which I was shown - all neat and tidy) and I had a full physical check before being discharged to the care of my local hospital. I then had further tests to check my heart and the pathology department also carried out tests to determine the cause of my HA. The only minor issues I have are nerve damage at the blood vessel harvest sites and some muscular pain in my chest which responds to massage. I accept these issues knowing what my body has gone through.

All in all, three separate hospitals provided me with an excellent service. Hearing about your experience has me wondering why all hospitals cannot provide the high standard of service that I received.

I do hope that you get the pain and discomfort resolved soon.

Kindest regards,

Gerald

[Madge11 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Hi Gerald

Thank you for replying. It really is difficult to get someone to listen unfortunately. I felt I could recover from ha and stent being put in,physically felt ok. But then had double bypass and I've gone downhill. I feel generally unwell every day with pain discomfort palpitations which I never had before. Just trying to get an understanding of why this is is really hard. You ask questions but no one seems to know the answer. 2 years on from the op I still can't lie on my left side,the feeling left side is really uncomfortable and feels like I have an extra pulse it's quite disturbing. When I asked the consultant about it he said I've never heard of that before and then walked out the room!! When I asked my consultant he said we didn't go near the left side,to which I said but something isn't right and with that he shrugged his shoulders,end of chat!!. As for the cardiologist well that's a joke!! Can't get anywhere near him! Just don't understand why it's so hard to get someone to explain these things. I'm pleased to hear your doing well and the care you've received has been really good.

Kind Regards

Nicki

[MountainGoat52 in reply to Madge11]

Hi Nicki,

Well if I had been treated the way you have, I would write to the consultant / cardiologist and complain. Surgery is undertaken to make you feel better and prolong your life, not make you feel unwell and miserable.

I know the NHS can be both good and bad and it needs to be taken to account when it is bad. I had really good care and wrote to each hospital to say thank you at each stage of my treatment. I even wrote to the ambulance service as they had been brilliant. I know these thank you letters are appreciated. I was in business myself for almost 30 years and really appreciated a client saying thank you, well done. Had I failed, I would equally have expected to have received a complaint.

Bypass surgery when done well can be life changing. I opted for surgery as the benefit for me was that I would not need further interventions long term. At 69 I am still climbing mountains in Scotland and with a reasonable backpack as well, so the NHS can perform!

Kindest regards,

Gerald

[Puzzlelover in reply to MountainGoat52]

Hello, I'm fairly new to the site, I have read much more than I have written in the few weeks since finding it as I don't yet have the experience to qualify passing anything on. However, I think I could have chosen a better day to continue my search for hints and tips. I am so sad to hear of Madge 11's painful experience. I am 83 in April and am having a triple bypass on Wednesday GULP, I've picked up lots of very useful tips and thank everyone for sharing. Watch this space I too may have something useful

to say. I'm encouraged by your words Gerald. My team, those I have met over the past few weeks, have been very thorough, approachable and encouraging, I hope to be able to say they were on the day, as well as talented people in their respective fields! Madge 11 you have some excellent advice as well as lots of sympathy from the site regulars here today, I hope you're able to speak to your specialist and GP and get the help and comfort you really deserve and need. Best wishes and regards, Brenda

[080311 in reply to Puzzlelover]

Hello Puzzleover

Just read your post and wanted to wish you lots of luck for your operation. I had Aortic valve replaced and bypass done 4 years ago at the age of 69. Here I am living my life grateful every day to the medical team that gave me my life back.

You will be fine, just follow all the instructions you will be given rest when your body says I am tired. It’s baby steps. You will be given breathing exercises in hospital carry on doing them when you get home I found they really helped.

Let us know how you go, again best wishes to you.

Pauline

[Puzzlelover in reply to 080311]

Thanks Pauline, I've been really positive until today and wondered if I'm doing the right thing when I feel so well and am stronger and fitter than my sister who are both younger. Also I've never been hospitalised or been ill before, didn't have children, nothing, just recently breathless and put it down to my age, I will be back and tell you how much better I feel with less risk of heart attacks or stroke, really appreciate your connection and encouragement 😍😍😍

[080311 in reply to Puzzlelover]

I can understand how you feel, I too was breathless when they told me what was wrong I was so shocked. Like you never been ill before couldn’t understand how this had happened 😂 but here I am mended heart and feeling fine. 5 weeks after my op my husband had a stroke and I became his carer, so maybe it was meant to be so I was fit enough to take care of him.

Let me know how you get on.

Best wishes Pauline

[-007- in reply to Puzzlelover]

All the best for Wednesday.

It’s scary isn’t it and I can’t say it’s easy but it gave me a new lease of life. I couldn’t walk up a slight incline and talk at the same time before the op.

For us it’s a big operation but for the surgeons it’s an everyday occurrence. They’re so used to it now they could do it with their eyes closed. Ahah thank god they don’t though.

At your age all those nurses will be catering to your every need where us spring chickens at the age of 66 had to fend for ourselves. 😂

Let us all know how you get on👍

[MountainGoat52 in reply to Puzzlelover]

Hi Brenda,

As has been said many a time here, bypass surgery is the cardiac team's day job. It is truly a wonderful procedure, but they do it day in, day out. The team that did my bypass were so skilled that I didn't need any top up of the red liquid. 😀 Now if that isn't sheer professionalism, what is?

My best wishes for your operation. I'm sure you will be back on form very soon. Thankfully the kind of issues highlighted by this thread are rather rare which makes it all the more annoying when they happen.

Gerald

[Madge11 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Hi Brenda

Please don't take my post as the norm because it isn't, everyone is different in the time it takes to recover. I'm one of those people that struggle with pain anyway and I'm not easy to manage due to allergies to opiate medication. My gp calls me unique and special (in a good way haha)... the guys at the heart institute are really good at what they do,they do these operations day in and day out they know what they're doing and will take great care of you.

Wish you well for Wednesday and a speedy recovery.

Nicki

[Puzzlelover in reply to Madge11]

Nicki, I'm afraid I've turned into a wimp temporarily, how can I not be really positively encouraged with all these lovely words coming in my direction. I feel for you and it makes me cross with myself when you can be so kind to me when you have your own problems. I bless the day I stumbled across this site and warmly appreciate the comfort I've had tonight, Take care, will be back to tell you I was fine! Bless you Brenda

[Madge11 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Hi Gerald

Thank you.

The problem I have is that the surgeon who did my surgery left a few months after my op so my follow up was a bit delayed but I was still having problems with my chest and an effusion that wasn't getting easier and I ended up in a n e on 3 occasions because of it and admitted. So I was transferred back to heart institute for 10 days where they were going to take wires out but a professor looked at ct scan and said the op the surgeon was going to do was too risky due to the graf being under the sternum..I broke down in tears cuz the op was cancelled, I just wanted it sorted but after calming down I understood why...I was discharged with a follow up while they decided what to do. This is when my consultant left and here is when the fun begins...in the following 12 months I saw 9 different consultants or registrars who for whatever reason could not agree what to do....

[MountainGoat52 in reply to Madge11]

Wow, that's amazing..... not in a good way! My surgeon went to the States a month or so after my op, but his replacement was on the ball. I think he was a protégé of the surgeon that did my op. The handover was lined up before my op.

I'd definitely want answers if I was in your position. 😯

[-007-]

Hi Madge,Hope this helps you a little...

I had a heart heart attack followed by five stents. Two years later I had a quintuple (5) bypass or CABG. That was in March 2019.

They wanted to do six graphs but I was told that a stent caused a problem and they could only do five.

And yes it’s tough.

I cannot comment on the wires because mine seems to be fine.

Although I do still get the occasional pain, tenderness, "strange tingly feeling" in my chest.

For over a year I could not get my left arm up my back any further than just above my waist. But gently, gently I moved my arm a little higher and now I can get it to the middle of my back (whoopee).

I have a scar from my left ankle to my groin where they harvested enough vein to do the graphs and for a while that gave me some discomfort but that’s fine now, a little strange feeling here and there but fine.

Yes, I do get down days, But they’re getting less and less.

Since the operation I’ve gained an award from the Triumph Owners Club for a distance motorbike ride. I’ve owned and ridden a Kawasaki 1500 cc Meanstreak Trike (now sold) and I currently drive a 3 litre convertible sports car (lots of fun).

I’ve seen my step-son get married and had my granddaughter call me granddad (that gives me another sensation in my heart/chest).

I play guitar at my local U3A guitar group and I sing in a local choir for charity (good for my breathing).

The point is...

Where you are now might not be a good place but hang on in there, it gets better.

Right, now the sun is shining I’ve got to get out and dig the garden. At 67 years old you’d think I’d get someone to do it for me 😂

Update... Having read the comments from other members and replies.

Wow, you can’t lay on your left side after two years! I think I’d be camping in my cardiologist office till I get something done.

5 days after surgery I was home having steak and wine.

12 weeks after surgery I was riding my 900 cc motorbike.

Yes I still get a little pain, shortness of breath, feeing lightheaded sometimes and so on, but generally I’m ok.

Hope you get it sorted. Best of luck.

[Madge11 in reply to -007-]

Hi 007

Thank you for replying. Wow you really have done amazing and yes I would definitely get someone to do gardening 😂😂 simply cuz I hate gardening 😉.

Some days are harder than others for me,it just seems having the surgery has had a negative impact,I've gone from being relatively fit and quite active and somebody who needs to be doing to struggling with day to day stuff that I guess we would normally take for granted in being able to do. When you get told the surgery will give you a new lease of life and with a reasonable amount of time for recovery you'll be back to 95% of what you were. But I guess it's different for each of us. It's just hard to get your head around...I get tired really quickly get breathless and pain in my chest just randomly out of nowhere and it's quite scary cuz you just don't know if it's your heart again 😥...being in lockdown thou doesn't help either. Just got to try and stay positive.

Nicki

[-007- in reply to Madge11]

Good morning Nicki,

Your right, it is different for each of us. And each of us can only talk about our own experiences.

It may appear that I’ve done really well after the operation, and I suppose I have, I guess. But there have been times when I’ve sat on the end of the bed in tears, anger, frustration and a whole list of other emotions because I cannot do the things I used to be able to do, or it takes me much longer to do them.

I can’t lift heavy things like I used to do, I now have to ask for help.

But my father died from a heart attack aged 53 (I was 17 yrs old). My brother died from a heart attack aged 62 (nearly 20 years ago)

So I thank god that, due to the progress they’ve made with treatment and surgery that I’m still here at the age of 67.

The thing is, we all get good and bad days, be kind to yourself on the bad days and be even kinder to yourself on the good days. 😇

Now back to the garden... I don’t like gardening either but you can’t get good veg in the shops since COVID arrived! (Or is it Brexit. Arrrggg not going there 😂)

[Honeybee1961]

Hi Nicki, I just want to say that I can really appreciate where you are coming from in what you say about your experiences of your heart attack, bypass surgery and how you feel about it since. You have been treated appallingly by certain medical professionals, and as others have said you deserve to get all your ongoing issues looked into. Perhaps you could ask your GP to refer you back, or even to a different hospital to see what might help your recovery? I think that one thing that is often overlooked is that women’s anatomy can cause complications for recovery from this type of surgery, I know that it certainly has done for me. The majority of people who have this type of surgery are men, and they just don’t have the same issues that we face because their bodies are designed differently. I am sure this is an important factor in continued chest pain and discomfort for women. I hope it might help a little to know that you are not alone with this.