heart bypass

[E16Pat]

I now have a date for my heart bypass,

Monday 14th November,

Now the anxiety is started bad, I’m so anxious

[Carlg]

It is a worrying time. I remember all those feelings just before mine.

Try to be kind to yourself and do things you enjoy. I spents lots of time reading books, popping to the odd café etc.

Remember you will be in good hands and lots of us have made it through the other side and live to tell the tale.

Also I'd suggest just spending a little bit of time just getting the house ready for when you come home. I remember needing lots of extra pillows to be comfy etc

[E16Pat in reply to Carlg]

thank you Very much, I been worried about it so long it seam I can’t do nothing else

Take care and thank you again

Pat

[Carlg in reply to E16Pat]

One other thing that came to mind whilst I was walking was get an app on your phone like calm or mindspace.

I have calm and they have lots of relaxation and mindfulness also some sleep stories. These helps me lots when I feeling worried. Also they helped at night on the ward when I couldn't sleeps. I would pop my headphones in and listen

Took my mind of all the bleeping etc

[E16Pat in reply to Carlg]

that’s a great idea I will do that so I can listen in the night, I was also thinking about all the noise

Take care

Patrick

[Nannysue1 in reply to Carlg]

I've used the calm app for some years, its fabulous

[Hidden]

sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. Perhaps think about what benefits it will bring once you start to recover? Maybe a list of things you’d like to do that you can’t do now! Anyone that you can spend time with that will distract you? Just to distract you more than anything till the date? But also to focus on the positive it is expected to bring. But yes anyone in your position would be worried and downright scared. Distraction may be key but difficult I appreciate. Take care😊

[E16Pat in reply to Hidden]

that’s good advice, something I can think of while awake at night I do try to think of nice things to take my mind off the anxiety, that’s a good idea thank you take care

Patrick

[Blackcatsooty]

Dear Pat

waiting for the op is by far the worst bit. When I got to the hospital and walked through the doors to the cardiac dept, all the stress melted away.. just think how close you are to some recovery.

Cardiac staff are wonderful. They know exactly what they are doing and they ooze confidence.

Very best wishes

Sooty

[E16Pat in reply to Blackcatsooty]

thank you Blackcatsooty, I have pre op Monday at Barts then in Sunday op Monday

Take care

Patrick

[Hidden]

Hello

I always remember knowing I needed a triple Bypass but having no date and that was a worry sat wondering when and then when I got a date of course I was very anxious so either way I think I just worried from the moment I was told I needed the op !

But when I did get the date I started getting organised , the house cleaned , bills paid , food in freezer for easy meals getting my bag packed and so on and it kept me busy while I was waiting to go into Hospital knowing all was sorted at home and coming back to everything organised and just having to concentrate on my recovery which at first is about as much as you feel like doing

But as much as you feel anxious know this is normal but tell yourself it has to be done and it is for the better it is going to give you plenty more years to come and enjoy

They would not even consider doing this op if they felt that you were not fit enough and you will be in the best hands ever as well as really looked after and before you know it you will be home with a better heart than you have now and this will be all behind you

Keep us updated how you are getting on and if you need to talk we are here to listen x

[E16Pat in reply to Hidden]

thank you very much Bekind28, that’s great advice thank you take care

Patrick

[Hidden in reply to E16Pat]

x

[Heyjude31]

Hello, very easy to say I know but try and distract yourself as much as you can. It is not long although it probably feels like a long time at the moment for you. Remember you will be in expert hands and then after the op you will be on the road to recovery. Take good care and be kind to yourself. Judi

[Hidden]

Dear E16Pat

Hello to you and to your post,

There is nothing that I can say that will help with your anxiety for it is natural to feel this way.

But what I can tell you is that the waiting is without doubt the worst bit, the mind will play every trick in the book on you until you are finely in the ward waiting for your turn.

All-around you you will see how great the NHS can work and even what appears to be complete chaos is really a finally tuned procedure that will soon have your heart in the best condition that it has been for years.

Then you can go on to live your new life

Take care and please if we can help more, just ask.

[E16Pat in reply to Hidden]

thank you Blue1958

For you very kind words, now thus coming week will seam like a month

Take care

Patrick

[ChoochSiesta]

When I got to your stage I was looking forward to it, I was just so peed off with life being on hold, just wanted to get on with it and recover. The worst thing was the fear of it being cancelled.

[E16Pat in reply to ChoochSiesta]

that’s exactly how I feel, been looking at the calendar thinking I should be home the, and sadly anxious that it’s cancelled

Thank you ChoochSiesta

Take care

[devonian186]

You are the same age as me when I had my quarduple bypass in May. I don't think you need worry about the operation itself it is 'routine' and carried out thousands of times a day all over the world. You will be in very good hands.

I think you need to prepare yourself for when you come home (generally after 4 days from the actual operation) as you will be able to do very little and will likely be emotional. If you click on my name you should see a post I wrote recently suggesting the preparations for home coming, from books, to meals, to Comfortable seats, to preferably sleeping by yourself as you will likely be restless.

[Pollypuss]

I had mine three years ago at 78 . Post op takes time and patience . You may feel the odd bumps which disappear to total recovery . However I really advise taking post op exercises as I think they are paramount to getting your confidence back as well as fitness. Well I played tennis yesterday with people quite a few years younger than me if that is any help as to how post bypass feels. Think to the future now and how much better you are going to feel

[Theteddygirl]

Hello 👋 I would like to wish you all the very best for your operation. Understandably you must be nervous and feeling anxious, I would be too!! I think you have been given great advice, and being prepared for when you get home is really good advice. The main thing is you take care of yourself and don't over do it when your back home. Very best wishes.

[E16Pat in reply to Theteddygirl]

Thank you Theteddygirl,

I am very anxious but I’m not alone

You take care

Patrick

[E16Pat in reply to Theteddygirl]

thank you, I’m am really anxious, I had a bit of a cry earlier which was a suprise that what your mind can do, making a 71 year old Ex scaffolder cry I would not have believed it

[Swalecliffe88]

Hello E16 Pat. Anxiousness is so perfectly normal. All very good advice from Hearty friends already. I, like most spent my time preparing for my triple by pass, for the weeks following as it seemed logical because I couldn’t think of anything else so used the time constructively to make life easier for family who were going to be looking after me for those first couple of weeks. Good luck for the 14th. We will all be here to help you with your recovery even if it is just a word of encouragement to pick you up on a down day.

[Arthur2015]

My husband had his bypass this morning at Barts and we cant say enough about them. He was admitted on Wednesday. Everyone we have met has been wonderful. Feel free to see my posts for updates but good luck x

[E16Pat in reply to Arthur2015]

so glad it’s been done, I’m very very anxious I have to go into Barts tomorrow for bypass on Monday, my anxiety is through the roof

Take care

Patrick

[Arthur2015]

having got this far, I would honestly say that the anxiety pre op was the worst. Once he was settled in the hospital he was just in ‘lets get it done’ mode and seemed really cheery. I have spoken to him this morning and he said he is fine, sitting in his chair eating breakfast. I will be thinking about you and might even see you on the ward. x

[E16Pat in reply to Arthur2015]

Hi Arthur2015

How you doing, making good progress I hope, I have been waking around the house for 5/10 minutes everyday I knew this would be difficult as I was so activ before the bypass, I really struggling eating but I think that’s par for the course,

You take care

Patrick

[E16Pat]

Thank you very much,

You both take care

Patrick

[HHH2017]

wishing you all the very best for Mondays op and a smoothe recovery. Bodyshop sell some lovely calming things like a lavender eye mask & pillow spray, and a range called breathe which is really calming & relaxing - might help you relax. Look forward to hearing how you are next week, this is the start of things getting better ❤️‍🩹

[E16Pat in reply to HHH2017]

thank you very much

Take care

Patrick

[Arthur2015]

Good luck for tomorrow! Will be thinking of you x

[E16Pat in reply to Arthur2015]

thank you xxx

[Dingledaw]

Wishing you a successful op, and and don't forget you're probably the 376th patient your operating team has sorted already this year. For them it's just another rerun of a familiar set of steps.

[E16Pat]

waited all day been canceled until first thing

Wednesday morning, they told me at 3 pm after going all day with food or water

Very upset

At least they have not sent me home

[Arthur2015 in reply to E16Pat]

sorry to hear that! x

[E16Pat in reply to Arthur2015]

done Wednesday I’m a little sore but sitting in the chair for meals, got canceled Monday and Tuesday promised me number 1 for Wednesday which he did drains out today very sore now thank you for all your support and good wishes

[ChoochSiesta in reply to E16Pat]

Hope you avoided the post op sickness, for me, that was the worst bit 😬

[Arthur2015 in reply to E16Pat]

Brilliant news! I had been thinking of you when I had been visiting St Barts. We left today and are heading back to Cornwall. Xx

[E16Pat in reply to Arthur2015]

that’s great news, I should be you transferred floor 4 , going in the right direction take care e x

[Arthur2015]

Hi, hope you are still recovering well x

[Yumz199725]

Hi so glad you have a date for your heart bypass or should I say had a date for your bypass as it is the 21st as I'm reading this hope everything went well. ❤️. November is special month for me because on the 26th it will be 12 years since I had my heart procedure.Keep safe and well and wish you a very speedy recovery.

[E16Pat in reply to Yumz199725]

all done I am home now after being canceled for two days which made everything two days late,

I still have a dressing on my cut is this normal they discharged me from the high dependency ward because is was so busy, should I take this dressing off and have a shower my wife tried to phone the number on the discharged letter but it said it was unavailable

Any advice please

Pat

[Arthur2015]

Hi

Chris was discharged from St Barts on Friday and still has the dressing on. We changed it yesterday but they advised he keeps it on. He had his op on 11th. We did change it after his shower yesterday and put a fresh one on but he kept it on for the shower.

Glad you are home now xx

[E16Pat in reply to Arthur2015]

I’m trying to do a little walking in the house each day plus breathing excersice, still can’t eat much,

I suppose this is going to be a long job

[Arthur2015]

Hi Pat

How are you getting on? My husband is doing well and getting stronger but is just really bored doing the same things each day

Carlie

[E16Pat]

I’m making slow progress, you are right about the boredom, but it has to be done, I’m still in a bit of pain and not eating as I would like but that will come back, two weeks yesterday I have my op I think your husband is a week previous or may be more, I know it’s wishing your life away but looking forward to the new year when we both should be well on the mend

Thank you

Very best wishes

Pat 👍🏻

[Arthur2015 in reply to E16Pat]

Hi,

Good to hear you are heading in the right direction. Chris had his op three weeks ago today so we are still steadily improving (with the odd harder day). We are trying to laugh our way through it as much as we can ☺️

[E16Pat in reply to Arthur2015]

Glad Chris is making progress, I’m still very very tiered, and don’t seam to be making any progress but I would I am it’s just very slow going

You both take care

Pat👍🏻

[Arthur2015 in reply to E16Pat]

yes Chris is very tired too. He is bored but if we try to do something he gets tired so its a vicious circle.

You have both had such big ops, it will take time xx

[E16Pat in reply to Arthur2015]

it’s the tiredness and being bored I totally agree I’m still in a bit of pain, you want to to do something but you so tired, I look at lots of stories on here and it’s the tiredness everyone seams to mention, think I would not be to bad if it was summer,

Best wishes Chris

Pat👍🏻

[Charl70]

Hi pat Wishing you well in your recovery ,I'm now 11 weeks post heart bypass and I know how your feeling ,your appertite will improve eat loads of small meals also keep doing your breathing as so important I found that was one of the biggest things along with walking as much as you can once you hit 6/7 weeks the improvement is so noticeable just take your time your get there ,anxiety is a side effect that will get better once you start to go out and start rehab classes

Keep strong

[E16Pat in reply to Charl70]

Thank you so much, for that it’s only week 2 I have been doing the breathing everyday, and I have had little walks outside with my wife, I’m managing the stairs we live in a town house, just slowly, still in a bit of pain especially in the mornings and the boredom and tieredness I’m used to being out walking every morning, but I know I must take it steady it will come back eventually

Thank you once again

My very best wishes to you

Pat