bypass surgery next week

[Buddybeamer24]

hi all, can anyone me give me advise for surgery next week.I am very frightened and don't know what to expect. Need the truth really.

thanks

[Heather1957]

I accept mine might be the exception rather than the norm but I sailed through my surgery.

I only had a single bypass so they used the mammary artery so they didn't have to cut any out from my leg. I was scheduled for surgery as second down on the Wednesday, I was scrubbed clean and had taken the pre-meds when they told me that the first down had over run so I was being cancelled.

I stayed in and was eventually taken first down on the Friday so just 2 days later, and last I remember was being on the bed outside the anaesthesia room, next I remember was being in ITU all hooked up to a catheter, morphine and other drips. I was told that when the green light came on I could push the button for more morphine and whether I was in pain or not every time the light came on I pushed that button!!

Saturday I had the catheter and drips removed and was sat on the chair next to the bed. On Tuesday they wanted/needed my ITU bed so was discharged from there. All I had to do was go to the local wound clinic for the drainage stitches to come out.

It took some time to heal and that is another story but I can honestly say that as someone who has only had minor exploratory exams under general previously, it went so much better than I would have thought.

As I said I am sure others will have had a completely different experience and I am sure they will tell you about them, but they are not all dreadful, of course they are not pleasant but my experience wasn't anywhere near as bad as I expected!!

[Buddybeamer24 in reply to Heather1957]

Thanks for your prompt reply Heather.I have never been under general before and worry about the pipes down my throat, they have told me that I will have them taken out once safe two days after op but will I feel like I am choking, such a fear of mine as experienced a friend doing this a few years ago and it has left me very anxious.

Can you advise at all as your have experienced this?

[Heather1957 in reply to Buddybeamer24]

I don't even remember them taking them out and TBH they must have removed them when I was taken back to ITU so the same day as the op. I don't think there is any reason for them staying in once the op is over so doubt very much they will be in for 2 days. I do remember them bringing someone onto ITU and I heard them asking the patient to cough as they removed the tubes.

I suspect you will still be 'away with the fairies' when you are brought to ITU and they will remove the tubes once on the ward.

Hopefully people will post their experiences too so you will get a cross section of stories.

Previously to this I was put under general to have a polyps removed from my nose and a second time to have a gynae check, so nothing serious and I doubt they would have intubated me for these minor surgeries.

I KNOW not everyone will have had as easy a time as I did, but I will say the anticipation can be far worse that the real thing!!

[Buddybeamer24 in reply to Heather1957]

Thank you, this has helped me calm a little. Much appreciated.How long before you started to do normal everyday things again?

I am told I will experience short term memory loss too, not ideal for returning to work and really need my memory skills.

How are you feeling now?

[Heather1957 in reply to Buddybeamer24]

5 years later and 2 more stents (which were far more unpleasant) and I am fine.

I had no memory loss (that I can remember LOL) What I did find funny was how some people reacted to coming around after the anaesthetic, one guy was quite aggressive initially but was mortified when he was told about it later and another guy was chatting to the Sister about seeing Extra Terrestrials, now listening to that was hilarious.

I couldn't drive for 6 weeks but went on walks 3 x a week (accompanied) I slept in a recliner for a few weeks as it was better than lying in bed. I had some bad days when I wished (stupidly) I never had the op, I often felt it was 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

Ultimately you will feel the good days are better than the bad days and take whatever rehab you are offered as that will help, I had 2 stents fitted last October, I have finished the 6 free weekly sessions and have now started on the 16 sessions I can have for £2 a session.

I am self employed having retired from full time work so I could pick and choose how long I work, I started back to work 4 months after the op, I would only work for about a week a month and it was classroom based, nothing physical.

My mantra was then as it is now 'listen to your body, no-one knows you better than you'.

Of course you are going to be worried and want to know as much as you can about what will happen that is only natural. The good thing is that the sooner it is done the sooner you can start healing and living again. Hx

[Larneybuds in reply to Buddybeamer24]

I am waiting for surgery after two cancellations and one of the biggest fear factors for me along the way has been the ventilation tube!! The fear of the unknown can bring terrors to us and we start thinking all sorts about things we have no idea about!! I feel totally reassured by people on this forum who have more or less all said.....you know nothing or don't remember anything about it. The nurses and staff are there to make you as comfortable as possible and the last thing they want you to be is frightened. I am putting my faith now in people and not my own ability to overthink. Yes,...you will hear the odd unpleasant experience but I would rather listen to all the positives. You have to keep in mind that even if there is some unpleasantness around the operation that if it isn't carried out things will be a whole lot more unpleasant. Stuck with the positive stories....don't over read or overthink and I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery x

[Qualipop in reply to Buddybeamer24]

i can't help you except to say you are not alone with fear about tubes down your throat. That's my one and only dread.

[Hidden in reply to Buddybeamer24]

Hi Buddy, I was anxious about the breathing tube too before my bypass but as others have said, I don't remember them removing it. My memories of being on the intensive care ward are very hazy and the first proper memory I have is being told ai was going to have a suppository inserted!

I was also worried about memory loss but, again, I don't seem to have had any issues in that area.

All the best for your op and fingers crossed for a speedy and healthy recovery.

[MarmiteB in reply to Buddybeamer24]

Hey!My BIGGEST fear was the tube thing but honestly, barely remember it!! I remember briefly waking up and opening my eyes…they asked me “Are you awake Rosie, can we take your tube?” I think I nodded and it was out. I don’t remember any sensation or fear around it. They don’t keep it in for two days, just while your unconscious after your op. As soon as your awake it will come out and I’d be surprised if you remember any details.

I’m the same as Buddy, I absolutely sailed through my op. It was a double and they took my vein from my leg but I didn’t have one big cut - 4 little ones. These occasionally give me jip now (6 months on) but by jip, I mean that they twinge a bit. My chest scar has healed very nicely. I was surprised by the thin width of the initially wound (1mm wide) compared to now, it’s about 1cm at the top at the widest part. It’s healed completely flat though. I added a photo so you can see

The one surprise that they do warn you about (but I didn’t listen to) was them taking about “blue days”. I cried a lot after I got home from hospital which is really out of character for me! But, like everything else, that passed to after about 3 weeks or so.

If you want to chat, just message me and we can talk online or on the phone if you like

My chest scar, 6 months on.

[Hidden]

Hello

Try and think like this as I am such an anxious person I never thought I would be able to go through with having my Bypasses done but I did because you have to tell yourself as frightening as this is and I know exactly how you will be feeling it needs to be done and then you will be on the road to recovery and feel a lot better

Don't go on Google reading up about it I did and I can assure you it did not help especially for the frightened patients like I am and you feel now I came on here instead

When you get there other people will either be waiting to have the op done or already had it done so you all have that in common which in a way is reassuring

The Nurses they are fantastic they nurse Bypass patients everyday and know exactly how to reassure us , let them know how you feel though as they will do all they can to put you at ease

Sometimes it works a bit different depending how Hospitals work but later in the day they will come round and shave your legs , under your arms as well as any hairs on your arms I know you are female but we still can have some light ones everyone does

I am not sure if I should say this but I did mine before I went and they went O you don't need it doing

Ask for a sleeping pill or sedative if you feel you need one

Either the evening or the Morning again depending when you have your op you shower with this sterile liquid , smells quite nice

Then before long they will be there ready to take you down

I remember feeling afraid but the next minute I must have been put to sleep

Waking up in ICU I thought I was in a spaceship but they give you so many drugs so you feel no pain you can start to feel like you have had a few bottles of whisky !

I never even knew I had a tube down my throat and I never even felt or was aware they had taken it out that was something I was afraid of yet if no one had told me that happened I would not have a clue it did so please do not worry about that

A few days in ICU having one to one Nursing and you will be back on the ward and on the road to recovery

Honestly I am a wreck by nature and I do not say this just to make you feel better but if I can have a triple Bypass and say it was not all that bad then anyone can do it and you will

Keep asking any questions you want to know and we will do our best to answer them and I hope you will let us know when you are on the road to recovery x

[080311]

Hello Buddybeamer24

The thought of open heart surgery is frightening but the thoughts are so much worse than the actual fact. 6 years ago I had bypass surgery along with Aortic valve replaced. Now have a tissue valve (pigs) and the same as Heather1957 they harvested my mammary artery so didn’t have any incision in my leg.

Before my surgery I was in hospital for 7 weeks, very sick they had to get the excess fluid from my body. From the minute I opened my eyes in ICU I felt so much better! The journey we each have to make following the instructions we are give after surgery can seem hard going but believe me it works.

There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t thank the very clever medical team that gave me my life back.

Remember being scared is normal we wouldn’t be human if we weren’t, but please believe me it’s not as bad as you are imagining.

When you get home, do your exercises follow the instructions no lifting anything heavier than half a kettle of water, no arms above your head no pushing or pulling movements you have to let your sternum heal 8-10 weeks. Listen to your body if it says I am tired rest. Get on the cardio rehab it’s really worth it.

I wish you lots of luck, you will soon be on the heart mended road, and looking at the rest of your life with a mended heart.

Best wishes Pauline

[Hidden]

Dear Buddybeamer24

So sorry that you are so anxious over your upcoming operation and rightly so, it is a major life saving incredible thing, that will appear very routine to you but behind the scenes please know that its not.

We all get through this in our own individual way and I know that sounds an easy escape answer but its true and it will be so hard to know how you will be personally.

I found the whole thing completely fascinating and wanted to know everything that I could about it, some like very little information as I said we are all so very different.

I had a pre-med and it left me relaxed as I was pushed into the outer room { anaesthetic ? } where everything other than a good nights kiss was given me, very smooth, very professional as I was moved down the bus of oblivion.

Waking up was disorienting and it took a while { many hours } for this dream like world to come into focus, and into focus did it come, with a crash.

Lying there you begin to understand the vast undertaking that you are a part of and the way the staff move in to help with your every need. tubes are removed and bits tidied up then back to the ward you go and the beginning of your recovery.

Eat everything, drink everything pass as much as possible and follow their instructions and rules, you will soon be home wondering what the bloody hell has just hit you.

Thats where we come into your life again { if you want us } and we all begin to share recovery techniques, most will help, some will annoy you, some will make you laugh and cry, but all will be with love, I promise.

Take care you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[CyclingTime]

I had a quad bypass in January.

The pipes down the throat you mention I only had in for a couple of hours after I was brought up from the initial ICU. Like you I didn't like it at all but it wasn't too long.

I had veins taken from both my leg and arms. Apart from some swelling of my leg there was nothing really painful with them.

Your chest takes longer to get back to normal. Make sure you perfect the rolling out if bed technique as it saves a lot of potential issues.

I'm 6 months past it now and I'm in good health, my lower sternum is a little sore now and again but nothing I need pain killers for at all. Bio Oil has reduced the scars nicely.

One thing to be prepared for which was the biggest shock to me was the lack of care once discharged. 6 days in hospital for the operation under constant observations and then when discharged. No nurse visits, no consultant calls, no doctors visit or particular interest it seemed. That part can be worrying so make sure you have good family support

[Bargod1958]

Hi,firstly good luck for you op. I had a triple bypass last December and have made a full recovery. My hospital stay went something like this. Admission midday Thursday, form filling and chat with Dr and the surgeon doing my op. I was first on the list Friday morning, quick chat with anaesthetist and off to sleep I went. I woke up in ICU and as soon as I could wiggle my toes and squeeze the nurses hand the intubation tube was removed. I managed to FaceTime my wife a little later( but I don’t remember). Next day I was taken to HDU where I spent the next 3 days before going back out to the ward that I was admitted to. All the tubes, catheter and drains were removed in HDU. In total I was in hospital for 6 days. We were encouraged to be up and about as soon as possible. Before being discharged we had to show we could walk up some stairs and back down. Recovery at home took several weeks/months but you will be given advice on what to do on discharge. Take it easy to begin with and your strength will return as the weeks pass. The only blip I had was some Atrial fibrillation which settled after after about 6 weeks. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate. All the best Steve.

[Markp7119]

Hi I had a quad last June 2020Clearly very scary as most of us never expected to have such an operation

Good news is that you are as years ago this type of operation would not have happened

You won’t know anything about the operation and when I came round in CCU I was in no pain

Left hospital after 5 days did have a fib whilst in hospital so had cardiac version

Then recovery. Main issue is scars healing and being careful when lifting and coughing is uncomfortable due to the sternum being wired

You will be fine and just take it easy

Take care

Best wishes

Mark

[gilreid1]

Buddy. Where to begin. Firstly as someone else said do not google anything. Everyone is different and there experience may not be yours. My OWN experience. After surgery I was in ICU. As for the removal of breathing tubes ( 10 hours after surgery)don’t remember much other than nurse asking my name if I knew where I was and squeezed both hands. 10 hours later arrived HDU where the healing journey begins. Most unpleasant thing is the catheter in your neck where they administer medication. In the sitting position the first task you are encouraged to do is deep breath’s six every hour. This is to inflate your lungs back to normal as lungs are deflated during surgery. Because of this you have two chest drains inserted I think that what you mean will be removed two days later. The first real painful experience is the nurse will encourage you to cough deep now I would not hide the fact this is extremely painful first time, nurse rolled up a towel held together with tape and showed me how to hold tightly to my chest and squeeze when coughing. You need to be brave and do this to help remove all the glut that can settle in the lungs. After two days they will remove the chest drains if all is clear. You are given gas and air to help this procedure, it is more discomfort than painful. The next few days are all about pain management and slowly getting used too being slightly disoriented

I hope this explains part of the process and do remember this is my experience yours may not be the same but all and all similar

My advice listen and learn from the nurses.

Another tip if the night before you are anxious tell the nurses and they will arrange a sedative to help you relax.

Good luck and safe journey back to health

[Anon2023]

Hi. It’s normal to be worried but you will be in safe hands. I remember going to the theatre and having the anaesthetic administered then waking up in itu after my heart surgery. I was in itu for 2 days and I think I hallucinated my way through it. I was absolutely away with the fairies and can’t remember them removing tubes etc. I do recall the physios coming and walking me up the ward and putting me in a chair and the itu nurses being absolutely amazing. The pain isn’t as bad as you might imagine, mostly you are on heavy duty painkillers at first. You will feel very tired for a while so take your time to recover. Moving about is important and they won’t let you go home until you’ve shown that you can walk and climb a flight of stairs. The fear of it all is worse than the actual event, you will be fine. 😊

[Bingo88]

All I Can say Buddybeamer24 is I hope everything goes well for you. I can certainly understand your fears. And I have never had a major operation. Will be thinking of you and let us know how you are when you feel well enough. Brian

[Jako999]

Pretty much like everyone else, the tube only stays in your throat till your lungs have reinflated enough and your heart is working well enough this is only a few hours post op. I can’t Swollow and I choke on lots of thing, I remember choking and trying to pull the tube out and them saying it’s got to stay in a bit longer Martin, they must have but me back to sleep because there is no way I would have stood it and I remember it three times. My quadruple took 7 hours but I wasn’t woken properly for a further 3 hours hence the fact I’m sure they kept knocking me out. I remember a few bits of icu but the two days there felt more like hours, you are so drugged up, I remember the bed bath and being fed because I couldn’t sit up, the worst thing I remember was the drain and I had 4 coming out but even that wasn’t that bad. Then step down to HDU it’s still a bit of a blur to start with really, I remember trying to push and carry a catheter half full, a pacing machine and a drip stand to the loo and thinking any second now I’m going to drop 5 grands worth of kit down the toilet😁 but they all soon came out one by one, my catheter nearly came out when my wife stood on it.

Yes it’s really scary and yes there’s pain and tears but it’s soon forgotten some of the things I remember the most are simple THE FANTASTIC STAFF who know what your going through and we’re even there with a hug and a tissue ( I let the side down as a 55 year old male but I don’t care have a good cry). The other thing was the other people on the ward or the ones you met doing their walking, all male in my case all with their tops open showing of their new zip scars every one asking how everyone was doing after all we had all just dodged death and that’s something to party about👍

You will be fine and good luck but you don’t need it❤️

[HeartaFlutter]

I'm still recovering from mine three months ago, mine was really, really tough n painful sorry to say. I was in ICU for 10 days, I was very critical, the pain meds were causing hallocinations n delirium, ",let me die", I screamed. But then I was alone I had no one with me. I'm still in pain, n exhausted but getting there. I have pumphead look it up. My leg really hurts from artery removed. This is not a surgery that is get up n go my cardiologist said up to a year, I'll feel better. Just pray and be prepared, you could be the great ones. God bless you

[MarmiteB in reply to HeartaFlutter]

Oh crikey, sounds like you had a really hard time of it Flutter. Thankfully, your the first person I have read on here having had such a rubbish time. Don’t worry Buddy, this is not the norm!!

[HeartaFlutter in reply to MarmiteB]

Oh no I don't believe its the norm but oh my it can happen and it's awful. You will read on here how some have feelings of a "let down, traumatized", it's true for me. But may God be with you. I'm praying for you.

[shopman]

I think you have some great comments here and please remember when all is over we are still all here to help if necessary.

The only additions I would say is to try and prevent coming to see you whilst in ICU as the sight of so many tubes and wires can be off putting to some. As to whether it worked then all I can say is that I knew as soon as I woke up everything had worked because for the first time in a long time I could breathe properly.

Good Luck and we will all be thinking of you.