I am 8 weeks out from triple CABG and my lungs still are not giving me full breaths. When I breathe I can't take a full breath without some discomfort and when I walk up hills I have a hard time taking full breaths because it causes coughing.
Can anyone normalize this for me?
I understand that being on a heart/lung machine not only stops the heart but stops the lungs and they collapse. Evidently it takes quite a while to recover. I'm impatient.
All the support from my friends here on HealthUnlocked is deeply appreciated.
~ Chuck
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A very kind nurse took the time to explain it all to me in great detail following my CABG operation. Our lungs have no muscles or skeletal structure of their own, they are simply empty bags that depend on the movement of the rib cage to inhale and exhale. As soon as the rib cage is punctured our lungs collapse, and then remain collapsed for the seven or eight hours of a typical operation. The function of oxygenating our blood is performed during this period by a heart/lung pump, our lungs and heart are completely still throughout.
This results in lungs which are full of pockets of micro collapse, and reflating them takes time and it takes effort. Which is why your breathing exercises (at least five times per day) and walking exercises (at least once per day) are so critical. It may be uncomfortable, and at times verging on the painful, but you've got to dig deep and stick with it.
We'll all respond differently, personally it was somewhere in the third or fourth month that I suddenly realised I wasn't just breathing as well as I did before, actually I was breathing far, far better than I did before the operation. I felt stronger and more resilient, I was sleeping better and waking full of energy with a real zest for life.
Stick with your breathing/coughing/walking exercises and you'll soon be feeling the upside too.
You just gave me a much better explanation than I have seen anywhere. I really appreciate your thoroughness and also giving me a bit of a time frame. I've been told 6-8 weeks for sternum healing; 3-6 months to relative normal; and, a full year to full recovery. Now I can hold my lung healing in this 3-6 month timeframe.
I'll carry on with my exercises - walking, breathing, coughing. Your reply has inspired me.
It takes time. For me it's been about 20 weeks, I am back in work not yet normal.
My breathing is OK, I still occasionally get breathless but it is (slowly as far as I am concerned) getting better.
Chappy chap gave you the perfect explanation and advice so all I can add is encouragement, you will improve but it is hard waiting for it to happen.
Just keep on plugging away and take each little improvement, because they start to add up.
I have just spent a week rebuilding a dry stone wall for a local landowner.
Ok before my bypass it would have been a three day job,but 20 weeks ago today I was in the intensive care unit, and with just a little bit of luck in another few weeks, a similar job will be a four day one.
Like I said before, you will be hauling that bag of chicken feed.
Just give your self time.
I was wondering how you were getting on, so it's good to see your post.
Hi Dan — so good to hear from you. Thanks again for your reply. I got through my sternum clicking, am feeling much better though still lots of fatigue. I can’t get through a day without a nap or two. I’m now up to 1.5 or 2 miles of walking most days.
My breathing has been of most concern so it’s great to hear the details for you and others. Jeez … I had no forewarning from my docs on this long progression of healing.
You've already already had great advice from ChappyChap. Just want to comment on your coughing : what you experience is normal and a good thing. ChappyChap has explained that your lungs collapse during the operation. They often also get mucous/fluid inside as a reaction to being collapsed. It usually settles at the bottom of your left lung (not sure why). The hospital will have checked your lungs with an X-ray or two before they allow you home but it's likely that there will still be some "goo" inside. So they should have given you breathing exercises to further inflate your lungs and get rid of the goo. Take these exercises seriously. It's important and takes time. Walking is also a great exercise for the lungs (as well as the rest of your body) and your cough also helps shift the goo....so this is a good thing. Just listen to your body and don't overdo it. I too was impatient after my bypass so I understand! Keep at it and the coughing should gradually improve.
Hi Mart25 — this is super helpful! I’ve imagined what you described about goo in my lungs but had seen nothing written on it. I was starting to get annoyed by my cough and will now appreciate it— I will keep at it!
Chappychap as given you a perfect reply I sometimes think that after our surgery our lungs take longer to recover than out hearts. They seem to take the bigger hit.
You will get there, not as quickly as we think we should but it does happen. Keep doing your huffing and puffing ( breathing exercises)
Pauline - so good to hear from you again. Your words are comforting. Yes, fortunately my heart is doing great (after some initial AFib). I’m still on Coumadin but expect to be off by end of Dec.
Before surgery I had no idea that it would be my lungs needing healing. It feels a bit negligent to not have had all this explained by my docs. I, of course, was told to do my huffing and puffing but not why!
It is such a relief to now understand why! It gives me motivation and patience to hear from you and my other Health Unlocked friends 🙏
Here is an update: I just passed 4-months post triple CABG and I'm doing very well. I'm back to running, full time at work without needing a nap, and my leg muscles are strengthening well. Jumping rope 2-3 x /day has really helped. A month a go I got my jumprope and could barely sustain it due to leg muscles still being weak; now I can do several sets of 50 rapid jumps without loss of breath - Yay.
I do, however, still have weakness in my lungs. I have no problem running, but at resting I still don't have full easy breathing. Doing deep breathing exercise invariably brings on a cough or two. It's a little frustrating, but I'm taking it in stride and trust I'll get those deep pockets in my lungs fully functioning with time.
Wishing you all well who are on this journey ... I hope for anyone just starting the process of recovery, this will give you hope and also normalize that healing does take time.
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