post operation 6 week appointment

[Richard52]

Hi

I am due for my 6 week post operation check following bypass surgery x2, can anyone tell me what tests/checks are carried out if any?

[ChoochSiesta]

Mine was a 5 minute phone call. Basically asking if I felt ok. Then discharged to GP.

[BlindRef]

Hi Richard -like you had my 6 week appointment ( last week ) - literally to the day - weight / blood pressure / then literally 5 minutes with doctor !Listened to my heart / asked me to cough / checked movement of head so no clicking from sternum - advised to commence driving ( after being asked)- then discharged - any or a see GP

Having said this , Iam eternally grateful for all their help .

[BlindRef]

Any problems see my GP

[Chappychap]

Is this appointment with the hospital that performed the surgery, or is it with your GP?

If it's with the hospital then, assuming that your surgery went broadly to plan, it's little more than a box ticking exercise. You'll most likely have a five minute chat with a fairly junior registrar, exchange a few polite pleasantries, if any questions occur then ask but you'll probably get just get a bland and non-committal answer. After that you're formally discharged back to the care of your GP. There aren't usually any tests, or even much in the way of an examination beyond a quick look at how your scars are healing. That sounds like I'm being dismissive, but I'm not. As long as your bypass went well then nothing more from the hospital is really necessary .

If on the other hand the appointment is with your GP, then it's a much more important event.

As a recovering heart patient you should be offered an annual check up with your GP, or with a specialist cardiac nurse at the practise. You'll be weighed, have a life style and medication discussion, an ECG, you'll have your blood tested and your blood pressure measured. You can (and should) request a copy of all these results, or if you're on-line with your GP then it will all be accessible via your records.

The reason it's so important is these are the base line results for an annual series of tests which will provide a real insight into your future. If you can keep these metrics within the healthy zone then you will massively reduce the risk of a future heart "event". Your life style choices, together with your medication, will substantially determine how these critical measures will track over the coming years.

The key measurements/life style factors that you should be following are, weight/BMI, blood pressure, exercise, nicotine/drugs/alcohol, diet, lipid levels, and HbA1c levels. Control these and the prospects are pretty good. If one of these is out of whack are drifting in the wrong direction then you'll know where to focus your efforts.

This annual cardio check-up, in conjunction with the skills and knowledge you'll be given on your Cardio Rehab course, are critical for your future well being.

Good luck!

[Heather1957]

Like others have said mine was an office based appointment with one of the surgeons staff she gave me the all clear to drive again (after asking a few questions) she also gave me the go ahead for sex (which was unnecessary 😂) and then discharged me from the surgeons list.

A few weeks later I saw my cardiologist (not the surgeon) and I had an ECG and scan which were okay, he shook my hand and I was discharged completely.