Hi all. I had triple CABG almost 4 months ago and im fine, getting good exercise. I have no problems but feel bit bad for not eating as well as i could all the time. Most of time im good, but not perfect. My question is how quick could arteries clog up again if you dont get your butt in gear? Thanks.
After CABG how long before blocking... - British Heart Fou...
After CABG how long before blocking could reoccur?
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56 Replies
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Strange attitude for someone who has went thru a life saving procedure. My advice is get your as you say butt in gear and the question becomes irrelevant.
• in reply togilreid1
Not really a strange attitude and not really a helpful answer. Im trying to see if me worrying about not having a perfect diet is unwarranted. Going forward i can eat perfectly but it doesnt undo not being perfect all the time in the last month.
gilreid1• in reply to
I think you have answered your own question. We ALL have to make lifestyle changes after any heart problems. If not back to square one. I am not trying to be unhelpful but giving you the stark reality
Congratulations for such a poor response.
Before stating what you did, perhaps you could have found out more as to what, they were eating, as someone has said Heart nurses never say stop, (mine told me yes you can still have a portion of chips just don't add salt).
From what the person says having 'the odd fizzy drink, crisps, or biscuits'. As long it is the odd one (but how do you define odd) I doubt my nurses would object!
Following my heart failure, I read up and tweaked my diet accordingly, however to say I succeed all the time I would be kidding myself.
I had my annual blood test last week, and I did think of posting about it, but have changed my mind because I do not need sanctimonious comments of the likes of you.
• in reply to
I often find gilreid1 ’s posts “challenging” but it’s probably because he’s usually hit a nerve 😉 you’ve had a not so perfect month rather than think if the impact think of why it happened, what were the triggers and how to avoid them / manage them. Boredom, convenience, emotional eating or just sheer indulgence? Because they’ll happen again and no one can be perfect all the time. BHF nurses don’t tell you to make drastic changes (they never last) but make small changes and they will soon collectively build up to be lots of good habits. The nurse who looked after me after my angiogram didn’t tell me to stop eating junk, she said to drink more water and walk more and eat more veg it was what she was trying to do and just sounded doable. I’m eating more fruit, more veg, upped the water but still a lot more I can do, struggling with walking as angina comes in straight away. But please don’t think I’ve got this sorted, he’s hit my nerve too 😂
Hello 
All I can say is take you meds , change your lifestyle if needed and diet which no one has a perfect diet maybe but we all know what is good for us and not so good and you can go on to live a long and happy life x
• in reply to
Hi thanks, my concern is have i already caused any build up, or is it far too early for that? Thats what's been on my mind, guilt for not being as good as i could have been. Going forward im not concerned.
• in reply to
What exactly have you been eating and how long for ?
If it has not been long and I am not a Doctor but I cannot see you will have caused any build up already and do not feel guilty we can all slip up but you have realised and now ready to start again so that is good
My Rehab Nurse I was talking to her one day and said how I liked a bag of crisps and her reply the odd treat will do you no harm but look for the sensible ones so if you like crisps and fancy a bag now and again French Fries or quavers are a better option
Please do not worry you will be ok x
• in reply to
First 3 months was perfect, all the stuff they advise for good cholestorol, and im vegan anyway, but recently the odd fizzy drink, biscuits or crisps. Drinking alcohol but not more than the 14 units a week. Its eaay to slip into bad habits.
• in reply to
Yes it is easier to slip back into bad habits than stick with the new
But fizzy pop is full of sugar and biscuits fat as well as sugar and alcohol again full of sugar so you have a lot of sugar going on there
You did the first 3 months so just look at this as a slip and go back to what you were doing you will get used to it and now and again you can have an odd treat but everything in moderation x
I asked this question to a member of my surgeon's team. He said that it took over 50 years for my original arteries to block, so I should be good for another 50 years.
• in reply toChoochSiesta
Well hope you make it to 100
That's my theory too. Just a bit of sense and restraint in the diet
Great reply
"He said that it took over 50 years for my original arteries to block, so I should be good for another 50 years."
With respect, I think that's dangerously misleading advice. The professional medical advice I've received, including the advice by the BHF who sponsor this forum, is consistently different.
Heart disease is incurable and progressive. That means if we continue as before then our heart disease will only get worse, and actually that deterioration accelerates radically with age, so we absolutely do not have another fifty years.
We only have two tools to keep ourselves healthy; life style changes and medication. If we're to live reasonably long lives free from ill health then we have to use both those tools.
Some people may choose to ignore life style changes (indeed some choose to ignore medication), that's their personal choice and I totally respect that. We're all free to live our lives any way we like...as long as we accept the consequences of our decisions.
What I don't respect is those people making poor life style choices who are in denial and try to persuade themselves and others that everything's going to be fine, so have another cigarette, glass of wine, slice of cake, snooze on the sofa, etc.
I wouldn't disagree with you. However, the surgeon was the professional and I wasn't going to start disagreeing with him. Touch Wood, his team seem to have sorted me out very well.
Never really thought of it that way, but yeah your right. I did have another artery block after having 2 stents fitted so needed another, and like you say things in moderation when it comes to food. Did my walking every day but my cholesterol level was high on the LDL side even though the overall level was average, but my father had heart disease and they said its hereditary so just keep on doing what I am doing and keep on taking your meds.
I think your reply is wonderful! 👏👏👏
My understanding is that when they do a CABG, they bypass the blockages in your arteries with veins taken from elsewhere in your body.
Why aren't those veins calcified? Well veins aren't exposed to the same sort of stresses as arteries, and hence are much less prone to the inflammation and damage that leads to calcification. Unfortunately veins aren't as strong as arteries because they don't need to be. Because of this, my understanding is the CABG can fur up quicker than the original arteries, but this can be mitigated with lifestyle changes and/or medication.
My surgeon advised that the veins used for bypass purposes have to "learn" to be arteries and this would take a while. I had an artery harvested from my left arm which was the main bypass vessel, but I also had a vein harvested from my right leg which was used to bypass my right coronary artery which had been stented 11 months previous. Obviously bypassing a vessel that had been "fixed" was less onerous.
Dear Xoralundra
Your big first to do is see if what you were eating contributed to your original problem.
Your second thing is to except that people are trying to answer, { what many of us regard as a bit of an insulting question } which is why you already have had some blunt answers.
Its your life/ your body but do you honestly think that after going through such an incredible life saving operation that you don’t want to do the most you can to stop it happening again?
Maybe not, but what about thinking about your loved ones or all the professionals that ran around you { and still are } to keep you alive.
Reading between the lines of your post I think that you maybe in denial of what you have gone through or in the worst possible taste, its a joke post.
Please respect not only yourself but the huge amount of people on here that have { and many continue to do so } suffered to basically see another day.
So I will use the words of gilreid1 “Strange attitude for someone who has went thru a life saving procedure” and also stand by them.
Its time to wake up, grab the new life given to you and your loved ones, and get rid of your old one, it didn’t sound like it helped you much, health wise anyway.
Take care
I recently found out that 2 of my 3 bypass grafts are blocked, this is 21.5 years from my CABG operation but I’ve been seeing changes in my abilities and stamina for a couple of years.
I asked a similar question to the rehab team many years ago, I asked “if I keep to a good diet and regular exercise are the grafts likely to last longer” they said “yes”
At that time (September 2000) people were coming back in having lasted 15 years, so whilst i only have 1 graft functioning I still have flow and I’m approaching 22 years, the easiest answer to your question is “it’s all about your choices” it isn’t about becoming a monk, I have a takeaway at the weekend and couple of beers but I eat healthy 6 days a week and exercise 5 days a week.
Well done and a great answer . I stick to low fat and always have. I also avoid as much sugar as I can. I did all this before my hereditary by pass at 77. If not I could have died much earlier like my brother at 49 and my sister had her heart attack at 70 I’m not short of having the odd Magnum or party chocolate cake but eventually if you stick to a healthy your brain , I find, will remind you . But exercise is so important at 79 I still play tennis twice a week and walk every day a mile
Sadly it seems we have lost yet another member, no doubt from some of the responses.
I thought it was a reasonable question and all the poster wanted was some reasonable responses rather than the criticism they got.
Not all of us manage to turn our lives completely around after this life saving surgery although we try our best.
I hope the starter manages to find a place they can go to get answers and not the judgements they got on here.
Given he was only 4 months post op sounds like he’d a bit of a binge and just needed to be reassured that surely in that time scale the blockage won’t have built up , and encouragement to get back on the right track - we all have been given the information as to what might happen if we don’t - I hope he manages to get back on track.
What information was he /she given? The poster was responded to like a naughty school child so how informative was that?
I don't think that's right. There is a lot of very useful information posted in this thread. Yes, you'll get abuse too, but it goes with the territory. It's the internet innit? You have to pick the gold nuggets out of the piles of the other stuff.
You are entitled to disagree, it is the internet 'innit'!!!! However you cannot dispute the thread starter has now left the site and personally I can see why 'innit'!!
But if they came back and looked now there is a lot of useful information. That's how forums works. Mainly well meaning folks along with a couple of narkies.
I don't think we should accept the 'narkies', but there we go!
• in reply toRailRover
Hello
I am sorry but I have to totally disagree with you about it is the internet and you have to expect it
Why should you ?
This is a Community with people going through life threatening things , we have so much in common when it comes to our health , we are all supposed to be adults which should make us wiser and more aware how are replies could affect people
This is not Facebook where you no doubt can expect it
When we go on about diet which is important , stress and anxiety is just as important and the effect it can have on the heart which abuse will not help as you call it in your reply to Heather1957 neither is it acceptable
It is easy to hide behind a keyboard and be insensitive , abusive and outspoken
Usually these kind of people do it over the internet because they have no control in the real world so come on Forums to feel they have and in a way I feel sad for them as well
We teach our Children hopefully not to be abusive and hopefully to be careful how they treat others yet seems like some adults have yet to teach themselves
There are lots of gold nuggets on here and yes if you can pick those out I agree how helpful that is but when someone is struggling or full of fear they cannot always spot them as everything seems so dark when you feel that way
It also amazes me how posts that turn so negative get more attention than posts where people are asking for help and hardly get any replies
I shall leave this post now as I am sure others might need a kind listening ear who are struggling or feeling self doubt and fear
I hope you are feeling good and you have a lovely day x
RailRover• in reply to
Hello.
From the name I can see where you are coming from, and in a perfect world that's how it would be. Who would argue? However, it's not a perfect world so we have to work with what we have. It's just reality, and people need to understand that they might get a bit of nonsense but good things will surely follow.
I'm not bad for an old wreck, thanks. I hope you are well too! 😇
• in reply toRailRover
Nothing is ever going to be perfect but if we all tried and it costs nothing to do so then it could get close to it
Glad you are not doing bad for an old wreck as you put it x
Heather1957• in reply to
Sadly this place is no longer the place it was when I first joined in 2017 after my bypass. I hope this isn't a sign of the times.I had (and still do) have great support from some people on here, some still here and some long gone, long may that continue.
• in reply toHeather1957
Hello
It has been a great support to me to Heather and I have not been a member as long as you have
I have had some great support , some real caring people that have literally carried me at times with their kindness you included
I hope it does not change selfishly for me but for all the others I know that are already here or will come along in the future needing help and maybe need to be carried till they can stand in their own two feet x
• in reply toHeather1957
Hello Heather
I have just noticed this to and felt the same way and if people looked closer they would see this member was not coping and needed support and was vulnerable and abrupt replies could send them away which they have !
You can say something in a kind way especially when you do not know all the circumstances someone maybe going through
Could they have more issues than what we read if we took the time to look closer ?
I could not agree with your reply more !
Hope you are keeping well x
My surgeon told me that I might need further intervention in 25 years time, which given I was 65 at the time seemed a good deal. I have always been one of the "all things in moderation" people, never smoked and alcohol has never been consumed in any quantity. No obsession on dieting, but one meal each day is mainly of salad.
The root cause of my problem was stress (work) in combination with an hereditary factor. I am now retired, more laid back and receiving the benefits of medication. Keeping active is essential and I try not to lose any sleep over the recalcification of my blood vessels. Worrying could do more harm than good.
Incidentally, I have a friend who had a bypass op over 40 years ago and he is still fit and well. He is a keen walker and tries to be out and about for at least an hour every day.
So...I have a bit of a different perspective rather than "get your butt in gear right now!" I suffered cardiac arrest and HA shortly after being stented up following near total LAD blockage and being told "you're good to go, just take your meds, exercise and eat right." Well, I did. And I still nearly died. Not trying to scare anyone, just offering my experience.
I've talked to a few cardiologists who are friends/acquaintances. They both said that medications will have the most effect, followed by exercise/diet/weight loss etc. In fact one of them said that diet (unless you're eating nothing but cheese and chips) won't have much of effect on restenosis / further blockages. What does seem to make a difference is high doses of statins, which can change the composition of plaque from "soft" to "hard and stable" somewhat.
My personal opinion: I think if you eat a "pretty good" diet, exercise at least moderately and take your medication and stay on top of follow up appointments, you're doing the right things. I have yet to see convincing evidence that eating like a monk will turn the tables on coronary artery disease. Ofc it can't hurt.
In 2019 I was diagnosed with a stomach tumor and then checked out for my operability before the removal of the tumor. The check included cardiac investigation andI was told the I had a calcium score of 1829 ( yes 1829). I was whizzed to Papworth, had a vein moved from my leg to my heart and was released in 5 days. I have generally had an active life and not too much junk food. I smoked cigars not cigarettes, drunk regular but not excessive alcohol and was not too heavy for my height. Now I do a little cycling most days, try to remember my pills, and have a generally healthy diet. When I went back for a review in 2021 I asked the same questions and got no definative answer at all !! I am 79 and feel fine living in ignorance, but do realise that my wife has a right too more information about my health than I can get so far.
Well what about people like me who can’t tolerate Statins . Do they have an answer to that?
Statins aren't a miracle drug, but the do appear to give you a better shot at avoiding further issues. that said, from my limited experience (including my father), if you are particularly susceptible to CAD (we men in my family all have elevated Lipoprotein A markers), there is only so much you can do. Some people will go 30 years after a HA or stent/bypass with no issues; others it's a lifelong struggle...
"medications will have the most effect, followed by exercise/diet/weight loss etc"
With respect I've received different advice.
For some people medication may be the more effective part of the treatment plan.
But for most people life style changes will be the more important element.
The best evidence is that there are communities of people, who are genetically almost identical to ourselves, but who have much lower levels of heart disease. They have different life styles which have been effective in protecting them from the ravages of our 21st century, western life styles.
I agree. It's like 4-dimensional chess. I think that if you have a really un-heart-healthy lifestyle, then yes, stopping smoking, cutting down on saturated fats, losing weight and excercising will make a huge difference. But many of us are laboring under genetic predispositions so benefit hugely from medications.
The longer I live with coronary artery disease, the less I think I know sometimes...
This is an excellent question
That's very interesting, thanks.
Problem is we only get one of those! So all the other grafts are the much more vulnerable veinous grafts.
I believe the answer to your question is how long is a piece of string. After having had my CABG I was told average timescale before further intervention was some 7 years - I managed 16 years before I had to ask for help and have some stents put in. There is no one size that fits all but am sure how you you behave will have a good or detrimental effect.
I have to agree, I had a single bypass in 2017 so they knew how all my arteries were doing after the angiogram yet last year (October) only 4 1/2 years later I had bouts of angina that led to 2 stents having to be fitted and the arteries were so clogged up they had to be drilled. The doctor told me this was unusual.
My cholesterol levels were good but after the stents they upped my statins to 80 mgs and I also have to take an enhancer so it is even lower now.
Of course our choices can make an impact but family genetics can also lend a hand.
If you've had a set back then time to dust yourself off and get back with the programme. None of us are perfect it's how we react to the falls is what matters.
I appreciate the author has left but wanted to answer for the benefit of someone else who may have the same question.
I had a left stent inserted no H/A and my cardiologist when asked what diet I should follow replied (you are not carrying weight, exercise frequently so just eat as normal). I do of course watch my fats and sugar alcohol intakes of course but I have the same outlook that at 72 it took that long to block the artery and as I am not expecting to hit the 174yr mark I do not worry too much about it. No point living a miserable existance as just a small piece of plaque from a mildly blocked artery can finish you off easily. Reply was far to self rightous and rude.
I'm seven years along and still doing fine, did change my diet and exercise daily but still have the occasional treat. Once you get use to any new routines diet/exercise it becomes second nature. Don't fall in to the guilt trap it's a downward spiral, good luck.
Hello
Actually one member has not been a member very long
I will say no more on that one
But some of us struggle with diet , some of us panic if we feel we have overdone it I sometimes have because I am human and words of encouragement is what is needed that is all some of us need to hear as well as been so mindful we never know what state someone is in when they are posting or replying even if they come across ok they could be broken for all we know
Just a little encouragement a kind word costs nothing but can go a long way rather than been abrupt
But just my opinion but so sad when we lose a member that I have a feeling needed help to stay on the right track
Hope you are keeping well x
The only thing I was going to add for anyone who likes crisps is to try the BAKED ones rather than fried. Much lower fat content. I've had them for a few years, and now if I eat a traditional fat fried one it feels like I've put a lump of dripping in my mouth. Taste the grease! Yuck!
Other than that, I would reiterate what someone else said that artery disease is progressive. There is no cure, and you will have disease building up at the same sites and other sites. CABG is a palliative operation so treat it with respect to preserve it for as long as possible.
Hello, I am sorry if you have left and do not read some of the helpful responses given. I like others don’t have the answers, as we are all very different, and there are no magic formulas to tell us what will guarantee longevity, I think all things in moderation be that food, drink etc. a suggestion might be to check in with your doc, get you cholesterol readings and any other data that might help you and then really try to adapt where you need to. I was a bit concerned and spoke to a dietician as I am type 1 diabetic and was keen to find out what else I could do to help my self. Take good care of yourself. Judi
I had a triple three months ago, n it's anywhere from,5 yrs, to 15. You have to really be careful bc the leg artery that replaced our heart arteries are diff, the leg ones could clog up faster than the heart bc those arteries were not meant to hold, pass cholesterol.
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