anyone out there with aortobifemoral ... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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anyone out there with aortobifemoral bypass experience?

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hi, I found out in 2020 that i need to have an aortobifemoral bypass graft as my aorta is completely blocked. I suffer from severe claudication in the legs and buttocks and can only walk very short distances without needing to rest. While assessing for the ability to survive this op, i was found to have coronary heart disease and now also need a heart bypass. This was put on hold due to the upcoming surgery and i had 3 stents fitted in november as a temporary measure. I am looking for honest, realistic comments as to what to expect during recovery and what may happen as a result of complications. I would rather not survive the op than come through with major problems like amputation or paralysis

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Sheik23 profile image
Sheik23

Hello people in the group, I'm new here, the cardiologist has prescribed me dapagliflozin and eplerenone and I feel pain in my left arm, strong pains, I went to the doctor and said to continue with the medicine, please does anyone else feel muscle pain when taking these medications? Thanks 😊

nellie237 profile image
nellie237

Hi userbe,

My dad had this operation when I was about 14yrs, and he was about your age. I am now 62. I remember he went from walking with a stick, which he hid in his car so that us kids wouldn't know how ill he was, to throwing it away. I also remember a few months after the op, one of my older brothers proudly telling us how dad had delightedly hopped over a gate. Also, mention of Dacron.

We weren't allowed to visit dad for what seemed like a long time, but was probably a couple of weeks (Dad was the senior engineer in the hospital and we lived in a house in the grounds, so it was a very short walk, that felt very scary). When we did see him he looked very old, but he recovered quite quickly when he got home.

Dad had initially gone to see one of the orthopaedic consultants about his problems with walking, and been admitted to a ward and put in traction. Fortunately, another orthopaedic consultant (who knew dad, and his history) was doing ward rounds, spotted dad and shouted "Get that man out of bed NOW, before you kill him". Seems crazy now.

He died some years later due to the very poor condition his heart was in. He'd had at least 5 heart attacks from age 42, but they didn't have stents then. I think stents and meds that are now available would have substantially extended his life.

I hope somebody comes along with more up-to-date info.

in reply to nellie237

Thanks for the reply. I didn't realize that this op was that old! It's a scary thought, especially after being told I needed to get fitter and build myself up otherwise I would not survive the op. I only found the problem by chance as I had an ultrasound to discover why ii kept being sick all the time. I'm sorry you didn't get more time with your father.

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