CABG looming

[KaduFlyer]

Hi All - just doing some last minute preparation for my heart bypass op on Monday at The Royal Brompton (after 2 cancellations) - any final tips from anyone?

[BeKind28-]

Hello

Stay positive see this as the starts to a new you and that you are in the safest hands possible and how lucky you are to be able to have this operation

Good Luck I know you will be fine and I look forward to reading your updates x

[KaduFlyer in reply to BeKind28-]

Thank you - your right - if I was undiagnosed I’d be a ticking time bomb with a heart attack possible at any time but with the diagnosis, medication and the op I’m in a much better space

[BeKind28- in reply to KaduFlyer]

Hello

I had a triple Bypass 2 years ago and they just caught me in time so yes you are so right and tell yourself how lucky you are when you are going down as you are

You will feel maybe nervous I was a wreck but before you know it you will be back on the ward with a new functioning heart it is a miracle what they do really when you think about it x

[KaduFlyer in reply to BeKind28-]

Thank you - I’m looking at a triple as well. This time next week………..

[BeKind28- in reply to KaduFlyer]

x

[Blearyeyed]

Good luck.I always take in a bottle of sparkling or still water because it can be more refreshing to drink than the jug stuff.

Wet wipes and a little hand held fan , especially in hot weather like this .

Night gown or hoodie .

Make sure you've got your list of medications printed out and your meds. And any other paperwork you should take.

And for when you can eat , get a visitor to bring in some healthy nibbles like fruit chunks or brings in easy to eat snacks to eat while they visit like yoghurt or jelly because the food can be awful and you need something refreshing.

I've also been known to take a good pillow.

Something to read, a colouring book and pens ( believe it or not it's the best gift I ever take to people of both sexes in hospital) , battery charger and something to play music on with noise cancelling headphones.

Take care , Bee

[KaduFlyer in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you - much appreciated.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Blearyeyed]

It's good to have refreshing soft fruit especially in this heat now Bee! Have to admit was glad to get home and eat my food again, home cooked, salads, mild chicken curry, Korma, porridge with banana and blueberries for breakfast with Almond or oats milk! Just sensible food to aid my recovery! I loved kiwis as well 👍 but Melons are nice and soft to eat now especially after a major OP 👍

I like your recommendations and advice you gave KaduFlyer 👍 Very helpful for me also in case I need it 🥰

[Beardie100]

Let them look after you and do the necessities.Prepare to recover well.

[Bishop1]

Good luck for your Bypass surgeryYou're in great hands. Routine for the Dr,s and nurses.

Fantastic care.

Had my double in December 2020.

No visitors allowed at that time

Let's know how it all goes for you

Prayers and hugs for you x

[Bigscar]

I was 31 stories on here somewhere I’m Bigscar,I had one cancellation my blood B Rhesus Negative second rarest was used for a poor lady involved in a road accident. However going for that time made me aware of how efficient the whole process was.

This was 1977 so the quality and efficiency must have improved immensely.Now 77 years old and also A Guinness World Record Holder for the longest surviving triple heart bypass patient (male) don’t think there is a female who beats that either.

So there is light at the end of the tunnel, I was still playing walking football up till a few weeks ago when I may have busted a hamstring got to get that confirmed.

My advice and I hope you have good life insurance because when I went in for op with a wife and two little daughters,I had £1,000 of cover via my employer only.

Depending on my family and in laws to look after them if the worst happened, it didn’t obviously I did get good cover but at a loaded price because of my condition.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Bigscar]

Outsch, you were only 31 years old ❓🫣 That must have been so scary for you and your family then ‼️Well I blame my heart attack on my wrong lifestyle, bad habbits and working hours, night shifts and long day shifts eventually caught up with me all age 62 👍

But so very glad I escaped a by-pass Bigscar as the recovery takes a lot longer 👍

Well you are still alive and keeping yourself fit at 77 years young, right 😁👍😂

Well I retired end of July and life is different now! Trying to exercise, gardening and normal chores, housework 🙄

But looking for new avenues to meet people in my town! I don't like Pubs as it's all about alcohol really and that's a big "No" for me!

I had bloods taken a months ago and I will check my results, Cholesterol and if I am still borderline diabetic 🤷

All these little things creeping up on you 👍

[Snowdrops_17]

My youngest brother was 50 years old when he experienced suddenly a heart attack! He lived near Munich Germany then, diagnosis; then quadruple heart by-pass! My brother did recover well and he took time out of his busy job for 2 years 👍

The recovery time they do reckon is 1 year Kadu! But try and stay calm somehow before you OP okay 👍🙏It's a big operation and you will feel rough afterwards as your breastbone has to heal, your heart and your scar!

But it's so very amazing what heart consultants can do for us now and save our lives!

I must admit I personally was very lucky to only have had 2 Angioplasties and 3 stents February+March 2019 after my heart attack 👍

But the nurses and consultants looked so well after me, honestly!

They were wonderful 🥰

I really hope all will go well for you in your operation tomorrow! 👍🥰

I shall think of you KaduFlyer 🫂🥰

Let us know soon how you are in a few days please KaduFlyer! 👍🫂

[KaduFlyer in reply to Snowdrops_17]

Thanks - I’ll follow up on this forum after the op

[Cee-Cee1]

Hi KaduFlyer - just want to wish you the very best of luck for Monday, you won't need it though, these surgeons are amazing!. I'd a triple last February, also after a two cancellations, all went really well and I was home only 4/5 days later.

I found unperfumed baby/wet wipes really handy for cooling down my face when the ward was too warm and don't forget your phone charger and a book or some mags. My sister brought me some of those wee individual tubs of Dole mixed fruit in juice (they come in a four-pack I think), they're ambient so, pre-opening, don't need to be refrigerated and you can keep them in your bedside locker drawer - they're really thirst quenchy and pleasant to eat.

Your wound might feel a tiny bit 'stingy' when using soap afterwards and I found Sanex non-perfumed shower gel to be really helpful, M&S do a really good one too. And just one last thing, ask whoever's picking you up afterwards to bring a little cushion, or even a rolled up towel, to tuck under the seatbelt where it meets your chest for the drive home - it can feel a little bumpy.

This time on Tuesday you'll be starting an amazing healing journey after your op, it'll be a little difficult for a few weeks, but just do everything they advise you to do, take your meds, and you'll be "up & at 'em" before you know it! If you have time when you get home, it'd be lovely to hear how you get on. Sending every best wish, Carol 👍🏻😊

[KaduFlyer]

Thank you - I’m prepared for a tough few weeks but I’m a physically fit as I’ve ever been so that should help but I’m pretty relaxed about it - what’s the worst that could happen………

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to KaduFlyer]

I was always reasonably fit pre-op too, Kadu, but 18 months post-op I can genuinely say that I now feel fitter and healthier than I've felt for years. You'll have that to look forward to as well. 👍 I'd been in hospital, after a heart attack, for five weeks pre-op so was also pretty relaxed about the having it, mainly because I couldn't wait to get home for some decent food! 😂

[Fish4Info]

Try to relax ... and go for it :-)! You're in a great place, almost certainly have a great surgeon, anaesthetist and medical team. Some things won't be easy, and there will be ups and downs in your recovery ... but you will be almost certainly a lot better a few months after the op.

I was 47, a single dad, with no previous history of heart disease, when some nagging chest pains got me into hospital. By the very skin of my teeth, I avoided a heart attack, but I had 4 severely blocked arteries.

I needed an urgent CABG×4, which I had (privately, phew) 8 days after arriving at Milton Keynes Hospital on blue lights.

That was 17 years ago ... and I have been relatively fit and well since. 6 months after the op, I climbed Snowdon with 2 of my sons ... proof that I was fitter than I had been for years.

Good luck, this week. 😀

[KaduFlyer]

Thank you - a climb up Snowden in 6 months sounds to me like a great incentive 👍

[Cee-Cee1]

Just popped in, before heading off to work, to wish you all the very best for today, Kadu. Carol👍😀

[KaduFlyer in reply to Cee-Cee1]

Thanks - much appreciated

[QuadroVEINia]

You’re in good hands at the Brompton mate, try to get an early night before day of op and if you can, try to switch off from distractions and focus on your inner calm, some mindfulness, positive thoughts, and you will be out the other end before you know it. I had a quadruple during the pandemic in Nov 2020 and the surgical team were wonderful. We really do have the best surgeons in the world! Good luck.

PS - If you fancy it when you feel ready and able after the op, join the DodgyTickers. Plenty of CABG guys here doing great!

Information about the DodgyTickers.

[KaduFlyer]

Thanks Quadro 👍