Anemia post CABG?

[sampaloc0624]

I had my 3x bypass last october 2021, via minimally invasive surgery and was able to get fit to work last January 2022. I have been on strict diet per my dietician advise. Last month i had a cbc and revealed anemia, it is still under observation, i hd another cbc last week and there is a slight improvement on the numbers. Is anemia an after effect of my bypass?

[Hidden]

Dear sampaloc0624

Hello to you first please let me explain that I am not medically trained so can only tell you of my experiences.

Before all my heart thing happened I had {born with} Alfa thalassemia during tests after my bypass my anemia markers were sky high and I ended up having blood transfusions {6} to bring the level down.

Now the levels have slowly {7 months} crept back up so I ended up having a bone marrow biopsy to find out what was going on.

The specialist said that the level was raised {will always have Alfa thalassemia} above my usual readings because of the shock of what my body has gone through, he said that this was a normal reaction after such surgery, but remember this is me.

I have more blood tests to be done over another 3 months if the level does not drop then I have been advised to go onto Erythropoietin analogues injections.

Hope any of this has been a help to you.

Take care

[sampaloc0624 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks and hope all goes well with you too! What i am confused is anemia started 4-5 months after surgery. Anyway, its with my medical team already, hoping they fix me up. Thanks

[Hidden in reply to sampaloc0624]

Were they looking for it before you started to show signs?

[Gail1967]

Hi- I definitely had anaemia post bypass but it did improve, interested in the surgery you had - minimally invasive- is that a different way to the normal open heart surgery?

[sampaloc0624 in reply to Gail1967]

Yes, rather than cutting open your chest they cut an access hole between left side ribs, no bones to cut, faster recovery. I was out of the hospital on day 8 and cleared for work after 3 months. They have explanations on youtube

[Gail1967]

Interesting - I’ll look it up- would loved to have avoided the zipper scar!! Hopefully I won’t need another but worth knowing!

[Clerkenweller]

Hi. I started to suffer from low Haemoglobin levels after 2 years on high dosages of Clopidogrel and Edoxaban amongst other drugs(!). Two symptoms are of note muscle fatigue (which I put down to aging) and more significantly constipation and darkening stools. This developed over months. Otherwise I felt well. The cause was discovered to be slow bleeds in the atrium caused by the drugs. Blood transfusions got me back to good levels and then I had the ‘bleeds’ dealt with. My GP was very slow to accept my concerns about the medications. The possible side effects are listed. As a result I had internal examinations to check for bowel cancer. 🙁 I am now very well!

[Buddybeamer24]

hi,

I have just had the monimally invasive LAD surgery 6 weeks ago.

Was told I would be well within 3 weeks which wasnt. Breathless alot and painfull back of left ribs when yawning, coughi h etc ... is this what you experienced at all ?

I have had little support or advuce to be honest.

[sampaloc0624 in reply to Buddybeamer24]

yes, but not totally recovered as you may have expected. Therapy should be tolerable, i was on the threadmill and bike on day 10. Three months to complete phase 1 and 2 of cardiac therapy should put you on METS 6 (normal).

How it was explained to me was a comparison on physical capacity. What you can lift pre ops, you can lift after 3 weeks with minimally invasive procedure, with traditional one, you can lift same weight after sternum heals (which is about 3 months).

Healing the rest depends on how your body responds to therapy and medications. Be patient, you will get there. Listen to your body and let it heal! Wishing you well!