Hi all I can’t believe it’s exactly 4 weeks ago at this exact time I went into what turned out to be a 7 hour operation for my quadruple bypass.
I’ve got some 4 week post op questions if that’s ok and you have the time to read them and give me an answer please.
First of all this week I’m feeling so much better and my family say I’m now the right colour, my scars have healed really well in fact to well I’ve said I’m going back in I can’t only have a small scare like that for all I’ve gone through😁.
So here’s a list of things to comment on please.
I’m walking about 3/4 of a mile in the morning and again in the afternoon plus around the house my watch is saying around 4 to 5000 steps a day plus I’m doing the mild exercises shown to me by the hospital. Is this to much or should I do more?
My sternum is still very tender and pulls a lot if I twist or reach.
Im still getting stabbing pains at rest and especially in bed rolling over or if I reach for something, where the veins were took out of my chest, still on pain killers.
My left leg where they took a vein from is still very painful its really numb all down the inside yet on touch it’s very sore in side. They took it with keyhole if I’d have known I would have said no and had normal surgery as I heal really quickly when it comes to scars.
Im still getting sort of breath sometimes, and tiered needing a nap.
I get light headed after standing up which I never got before.
My ECG used to be text book of a 20 year old I no have inverted T waves.
My heart rate at rest used to be 55 it’s now 80 and that’s now on meds.
I nave what feels like a muscular pain in the back right of my neck which has been there since the op I think it must have been a positional thing during the op after all my head may have been in one place for the full 7 hours has anyone else had this?
My mental state is on the downside but I’ve already been in touch with the mental health team at coronary rehab and they are sorting out and they are sorting out som councilling for me. We have action heart locally so I should be ok to see them in about 4-6 weeks to start rehab exercises.
I don’t think I’m doing to bad, thanks for helping out with my question🙏
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Jako999
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I had a similar operation in February. Most of what you say is the same as my experiences.However, I have had no breathlessness or light head and heart rate is below 50.
That all sounds pretty typical. Just a couple of comments,
-Cardio Rehab was a turning point for me and for many others of this forum, it gave us the information and motivation to take responsibility for our own future health and get our life styles in order.
-Walking twice a day and breathing exercises at least five times a day are absolutely critical. Your lungs collapse and stay collapsed throughout open heart surgery. Fully reflating the pockets of micro collapse via exercise is a big job, but it will pay real dividends in the long term.
-Open heart surgery is major, major surgery, your arms get twisted up behind your head and your rib cage gets wrenched apart much wider than it ever experiences from even the deepest breathing. If you've a strong stomach you can find videos of the op on YouTube. Expect there to be plenty of aches and pains for many weeks to come. It's nothing to worry about, it's just the normal healing process.
Good luck!
Hello
Look at you walking about you are doing so much better than I was at 4 weeks
I was talking with a Rehab Nurse today and she told me when exercising been out of breath is ok as long as we can still talk when we feel breathlessness if we can't that means we stop and have a rest
Listen to your body it will tell you when you need to rest do not over do things to much it is early days but keep going as you are doing so well
It has been 11 months for me and my sternum can still feel tender some days so at 4 weeks mine was really hurting still that will take a while it is still healing plus all those nerves in there that have been upset settling down
Normal to get pains and need painkillers in fact my surgeon when I was coming home warned me I would get some feelings like this but not to worry
I had a vein took out of each leg and still near the bottom of both it is still numb but I have asked and been told it might always feel like that which it does not bother me so yours again after 4 weeks will feel that way
Getting breathless normal like I said when you do rest do your breathing exercises
Early days you are still recovering and bit of light headiness I would get well a lot at times
As for your ECG ...not sure what mine is but my Doctor listened to my heart the other day and said that sounds normal for you , I said what do you mean and she explained as I have had Bypasses my heart will not sound like someone's that has not had them but this is the new normal sound mine makes now could be same with your ECG and your heart rate I would not be worried but if you have a Rehab Nurse or can speak with your Doctor just mention it they may tweak your meds a little
As for the muscle pains normal
When you have surgery they have your arms up and imagine they are like that 6 or 7 hours mine hurt for quite a few months after and so have many more that have had this op quite normal take the painkillers for any pain that is what they are there for at this stage
You are so lucky to have that Mental Health support we have none here and 11 months later I am still losing the plot so focus on you are going to get that help as a big life event like this leaves many with anxiety and depression but help is on it's way so that is good
I think you are doing really well indeed and you should be proud of yourself x
Hello Jako999, as our fellow hearties have said everything you are experiencing is very normal. If the breathlessness continues indefinitely then you may want to mention it to your GP as it may be due to meds, however it is very early days. As someone who had a CABG x4 about 10 months ago you are doing incredibly well most certainly with regard to the amount of walking you are doing. With regard to resting I lie on my right side as I find it more comfortable and I think that is what is recommended but you may wish to check it out in case I am wrong. The cardio rehab programme is brilliant and for me has certainly helped me with my confidence. The whole mental health aspect for me is huge in some ways bigger than the physical. Naturally we are all different and cope differently. I send you my sincere good wishes for your ongoing recovery after 4 weeks I think you are doing brilliantly. Take care, Judi
Hello jako. Well done for getting through the first 4 weeks. Everything you describe here sounds very familiar. I had cabgx2 end of March this year and the first month post op was a real challenge. It seems like it lasts forever but for me week on week when I looked back I noticed improvements in what I could do and reduction in pains and twinges in the chest and elsewhere. For ages every time I did anything my sternum would hurt and I’d think I was having another HA. Now a few months later I’m pretty much back to normal. Only long term thing is the nerve damage in my chest from where they took out the artery to use in my heart. Even this is getting better slowly and if it’s the worst thing that happens long term I’m ok with that. I’m recently Back to full time work and getting close to living the active life I was before. Although there will always be some risk and uncertainty I am now believing that if I keep going with the diet and excerise and general lifestyle changes there is a really good chance im going to be fine. Still have the odd freak out about everything but as the weeks go on it’s starting to feel normal. It’s incredible what we can adjust to in time. The light headedness could be medication - beta blockers?. I’m still getting that a little bit even that is starting to go in recent weeks. You’re doing great with the exercise given you’re only 4 weeks in. Keep that up and keep going! It’s a massive thing you’ve been through and it will take a while to adjust emotionally/psychologically. Seeing a psychologist / therapist / counsellor is a great idea. Really helped me put things in perspective and make sense of this crazy thing that’s happened. Best of luck with it!
Too many questions in one go!!! I had the same in January and it all sounds the same as me.
The dizziness standing up keep an eye on and go back to the doctor's if you still get it . I had normal surgery and they took veins from my leg and arm believe me your keyhole would have been a blessing.
I still have some numbness in my legs and arm and think it may not disappear altogether. The Sternum pain lasts quite a long time, the centre bone bit the pain has now gone but still tender under the sternum at times. All will be well ☺️
Hi Jako, I only had a replacement valve done, 3 years ago at age 49, so can only really comment on your chest. They say it takes about 8 to 12 weeks for the sternum to heal so at your stage you should still be taking it easy as to what you do with your upper body. It also took a lot longer, easily over a year, before I could bend right over without feeling any discomfort, there's all the muscles etc to sort themselves out too which takes time. My chest 'twitched' occasionally at night when I lay down for a few months, weird rather than painful.
Your list reflects what the majority of us are like at 4 weeks post op. There will be plusses and minuses of course as we are all different. I couldn't sleep on my side until 6 weeks post op, but was walking several miles by then.... that's just how it is (walking is my main exercise anyway).
As for doing a bit more, well a bit more is very much how to go about it. Your body will let you know if you've overdone it and you'll know to back off. Small increases here and there are the way to go, but do take care of that sternum as it won't be healed until 3 months post op.
The numbness where your vein was removed probably will remain. I'm now 4 years post op and the harvest sites (right leg vein and left arm artery) are still numb at the ends where the blood vessels were removed. I also have some thread veins in my foot. The harvest sites do ache occasionally, but respond to a bit of massage.
So keep on doing what you're doing, increase the exercise slowly bit by bit and above all keep positive. Oh, and if you thought you'd have a larger "war wound", kids will still spot you on the beach and stare at you. 😂
Reads like the textbook description of week four, I am just over one year since my cabgx4, and clopy stopped and my Beata blocker cut right down.I did have some very occasional breathless moments but within two days of say by by to clopy they stopped completely.
My vein was a keyhole jobby and the bottom scar is slightly numb when I touch it but not a problem.
You are doing well with the walking,let your body be your guide on how hard to push.
It gets better but seven hours of world class abuse and some really good drugs take time to get over.
Carry on as you are but don't strain that sternum.
I’ve just hit the 2 year anniversary of my quadruple bypass and may have a slightly different take on your concerns.
To be honest, I remember having all of these concerns. I was lucky that I had a good relationship with my GP and was able to discuss many of these at the time.
There was no rehab taking place due to Covid but I do remember having some useful conversations with the rehab nurses.
What I would say is that I eventually realised I’m not going to go back to normal after this major surgery, I will have a new normal and that is something that I had to learn to live with. However, I had the benefits of the surgery. We all have different reasons for having open heart surgery, but ultimately, it is major surgery so there will be implications.
I do remember that it was probably 12 months before everything had settled into their new ‘normal’.
I now have some loss of sensation near my leg scar and also around my chest, but I hardly notice this. I feel lumps and bumps in my chest that are bone and wires and this can be a little uncomfortable when sleeping but if anything it reminds me of the successful operation that I’ve had, as do the scars.
What I would say is that it is important not to overdo it in the first 12 weeks while your sternum is healing, I did and paid the price in pain! I also struggled with a lot of muscular pain in my back and shoulders - don’t be afraid to take whatever pain relief you need. My GP was very understanding and had no issues prescribing what was required and I eventually reduced this over time - but I did continue with pain relief for quite a while.
Take your time, follow the guidance of the medical professionals and if you are concerned then seek help from the appropriate sources.
I think the forum is great for sharing experiences and helps us realise that we’re not the only one going through this experience.
Hope this helps, good luck with the rest of your recovery.
Andy
Had my CABG x4 seven years ago and what you describe barring the leg issue could have been written by me. I walk over 5 miles a day and do cardio exercise afterwards and probably have not been this fit since my 20's. The early days were a bit of a struggle but it just takes time for mental/physical recovery, be kind to yourself if you need to rest/nap do it, all part of the healing process. Best of luck
Thank you all it’s hard to know what’s right or wrong but it sounds like I’m where I should be which is great news. It’s great also how well you are all doing which is a big boost for me in these early days. Thanks again.
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