My husband had a heart attack in August 2023. When stenting his artery, surgeons said another artery needed attention. They tried to stent 5 days later but couldn't and he was put on the waiting list for a bypass. This is scheduled for mid February. He's only 65, fit - but a Type 1 diabetic. He's terrified of complications and of the long recovery time. I'm also terrified, but want to know how best to support him, before and after the operation. If anyone else has been through this, words of wisdom much appreciated.
Support for husband having triple hea... - British Heart Fou...
Support for husband having triple heart bypass in February 2024
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Positivepants2022
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I think you both need to say positive he has been assessed and is in the hands of professional medics .it's very hard to have to wait for surgery but without the op things would only get worse ,so try to be strong and look to the future with lots of hope and good times to come.
and try to have a happy new year 😍👍👍
Thank you so much for your encouragement and positivity. A good way to look at it. Thank you.
Hello 
The thoughts of a Bypass I think terrifies most of us and when I was told I needed a triple Bypass as I could not have stents I was so anxious
The surgeons though that do these Bypasses are fantastic at what they do and they are so used to doing Bypasses on people that are diabetic along with other medical conditions they will have everything under control
As for the thoughts of complications with anything having a tooth out there is a small chance of complications but they are very rare and you both the best you can have to try and stay positive after all if we are told we need a Bypass what choice do we have but to go ahead as it will give your Husband a new lease of life
How you can support him best is by staying positive and I know you are worried but come on here or if you have friends and family vent to them but when with your Husband talk about and make plans what you are going to do when he has had his op make plans for the future as here will be a bright future waiting for you both
After the op encourage him and support him with his recover breathing exercises they will strongly advise he does , small walks etc and be there to listen to him as sometimes the physical side heals quicker than the mental side of this procedure that affects some of us
Any questions just come on and ask and we will do our best to answer see this as a good thing they have caught the problem and now there is something they can do
Let us know how you get on x
Thank you, thank you. Just reading your encouragement has helped me to breathe a little better. I'm staying very calm and positive with him, even having some therapy/counselling in secret for anxiety. Friends and family are amazing. I just want to do everything I can to support him...he's in a dark place. Making concrete plans for afterwards is a great idea. Not just words but actual plans. Really appreciate your reply. 🙏
Hello
I am really pleased you are getting some support with your anxiety and friends and family are supporting you as you need it to I know how much it affected my Husband but never realised till after
I suppose having a stent and then been told you need a Bypass must have been a blow I was just told it was Bypasses I think it would have made me feel worse if I had gone through stents and then still told I needed a Bypass
Keep reminding him that they do this all the time and how many of us have it done I think the waiting can be the worse and talking about how he feels if he will open up that would be great keeping it bottled up does us no good
Yes start looking to the future set maybe goals for you both something to focus on
He will be ok I am a really anxious person and if you had told me I could go through a triple Bypass a few years ago I would have said never but I did and if I can anyone can
It will be alright x
Thank you for sharing your experience so generously. Very much appreciated. 🩷
x
BeKind28 always gives the most empathetic advice.
so supportive and lovely brilliant ❤️
Hello
Thank You
I hope you had a nice Christmas x
Hi, I think the best you can do, is reassure him that this operation is routine for these surgeons and their teams. The best preparation he can do is to get as fit as possible before the op. You say he is a fit 65, so was I. So he should keep doing what he is doing, and increase it if he can. The fitter he is before the op, the easier the recovery. Pre op, I used my GTN spray before exercising (running up a set of 60 steps near my house 10 times a day). As regards recovery, he should move as soon as he can, walk as much as he can (I did circuits of the hospital wards all day long), on my release I went straight with my family to look at houses and then to have a pint. I looked liked a ghost 💀, but I was straight back into normal life. Yes, it is painful, but not for too long. I wish him all the best in his recovery. At 6 weeks he will see his surgeon who if everything is OK, will discharge him, that's it. My surgeon told me I can't undo what he has done and to get on with it. We all know our body and can push it to its own extent.
Yes. I had OHS for a Mitral valve repair last year. Like you, I was determined to get back to a normal life as soon as possible. They had me walking at the Brompton within a few days and I was encouraged to walk further every day. I'm 65 but determined to stay healthy as long as possible. I do find it hard to rebuild the muscle strength I had before the op but from a cardio point I'm as good as it gets😉
Thank you Wooodsie - he wants to get back to exercise asap. And I'll take him to the pub - even if he looks like a ghost Great words of wisdom.
Good luck to your husband on his forthcoming bypass. Had mine 3 years ago during the dreaded 2020 No visitors allowed at hospital or at home
Tough times
Listen to their advice and stay fit. Those ops are their living so well used to various complications and know how to look after their patients
Surgeons are used to dealing with Diabetics ( I'm type 2). You take care of yourself too. He'll need you to be well afterwards to support and care for him.
Happy New Year to be both x x
Thank you so much - Happy new Year to you too.
Hi there , I had an Nstemi heart attack in July aged 61. Was fit and strong, a total shock to me and my family and to my friends and ex work colleagues. I had an angiogram and fully expected to have a stent (after the procedure was explained) . Another shock was when I was told “ no stents , it’s triple CABG for you!”
I couldn’t believe it , arteries were so blocked . I get fine though .
The surgical team that performed my operation came and explained everything. They were so casual about it “ we do thousands of these procedures , you are so young and fit , we normally deal with people a lot older , frailer and with complications . This really is just some new pipes , plumbing and sewing ! The person that works the hardest is the anaesthetist…”
I was taken back but quite reassured. I was on a ward with others waiting for similar operations whi had other complications , one was diabetic and he sailed through . Others had cancers and had to wait a little longer for their operations due to various set backs with stoma wound infections . I ended up with quadruple surgery and I’m making a remarkable recovery . I put that down to being as mobile as possible , walking as much as I could . Progressively doing more . A couple of dietary changes , followed the BHF advice , if it’s naturally occurring , not ultra processed, not red food label .. (mostly green) good oils & fats ( nuts , pure peanut butter , homemade breads- less salt and sugar) .
Early days are quite painful , he will need your physical support on occasions. I got stuck trying to get out of bed .. half in half out .. getting up from a settee or deep chair can be challenging with the sternum wound . Mine got infected and I had a couple of courses of antibiotics to clear it up. The medication post surgery can take some getting used to . The bisoprolol dose I asked to be reduced as it was spacing me out . One of the meds made me feel cold , partition my hands and feet . Make sure he gets his discharge notes and contact numbers for rehab programmes. I did a 6 week level 3 NHS course and found it really easy but it also had some talks about nutrition, mental health etc that were great opportunities to ask loads of questions ( you can go with him to the talks ).
The scars on my arms and legs are a constant reminder of what I’ve been through . My sternum has a scar and is still a little tender 5 months on .
I was back riding my motorcycle and driving within 2 months , working a little around our small holding too. I ran 5k twice recently and have started lifting some light weights again , I have the oversight of an online specialist cardiac rehab coach . Didn’t envisage doing this at this stage . I’m back to doing a weekly strenuous yoga class room.
I check in daily on this forum to see if I can learn or help someone else in a similar position.
Here’s wishing you both a peaceful happy , healthy 2024 . Don’t hesitate to ask anything , so much r experience on here ❤️
Thank you DWizza - the detail you have gone into is very helpful. Lots of things to consider. Very much appreciated - I hope your recovery continues to go really well.
it’s a second life about to start.
I had 2xPCI done in late May, they went to discharge me and found another issue so in mid June I had AVR & 1xCABG. The bypass was on an artery they couldn’t stent.
I’m now enjoying life and doing far more than I have for quite some long while.
I doubt I’d have been here otherwise.
I’ve still got the odd ache from the OHS but it is muscular where it takes time to heal.
When I thanked my surgeon for his skills he said “it’s only a bit of plumbing”. Rather understated it I think but underlines how routine this is these days. I’d not worried much when I had mine (HA in mid May, OHS 22 days later) and I’d not be concerned if I had to repeat the experience.
The most important thing for me was to try and stay positive looking forward to being active again. In that respect the physical rehab I was offered was really important.
Such encouraging words Survivor1952 - thank you very much.
I had to have 2 teeth out a couple of months ago and that was a much worse experience than the quad bypass I had in May 22!. One tooth is still so firmly embedded they couldn't remove it. The time in hospital will go very quickly as there are constant tests and checks etc.
Recovery time is very individual. He will likely be very emotional for some weeks and likely in pain from the sternum surgery. I took max paracetamol for 8 weeks(two, four times a day) then one day suddenly didn't need them. Due to your husbands condition you need to ensure which pain killers he can take.
He needs to take it gently with at first only short walks. He will invariably try to do too much and will pay for it the next day. He needs several comfortable chairs as what he finds restful in the morning is likely to be less so in the afternoon. I found the car a very good place to sit, depending on the weather!
He will likely be very restless for several weeks and it might be helpful to have separate sleeping arrangements.
Make sure his clothes are within reach and he doesn't have to stretch for anything and that he lifts nothing remotely heavy. I can not stress enough that he should not try to do too much at first. After a week or two, if you drive you might like to aim for a garden centre with a cafe nearby or something similar as he will want a change of view. As Be kind says, sometimes it is the mental side that takes more time to heal than the physical side.
These surgeons are at the top of their game with what is now considered a pretty routine operation so ensuring the medication he is prescribed does not conflict with his diabetes medication is likely to be the biggest complication.
Thank you devonian186 . So sorry about your teeth 
The detail about the bypass and insights into the emotional side and not pushing too quickly is really, really helpful - thank you for the time and care in this response and I hope your recovery continues to go well - all the best for the teeth.
I think that any tooth that refused to come out probably didn't need to!
For the first couple of weeks at least he must make sure he doesn't over do it by trying to walk too far or too fast or he will pay for it later. If you do make a trip out in the car (he will want a change of scenery and a feeling of normality) the seatbelt will rub. I used a padded gilet for several weeks which was very effective.
At 5 weeks I couldn't begin to think about driving myself. At 6 weeks I thought I might like to give it a go. For the first trip with him driving, assuming he does, go somewhere close, that doesn't involve too many junctions and where you can park very easily without having to turn round. Good luck to both of you.
Such helpful advice, thanks so much.
A bit off topic here but you might like to hear about my mum. At 81, after 6 months of illness and having a list of other, serious health complications as long as your arm, it was decided she needed major abdominal surgery. One surgeon decided it was too risky, but a lovely lasy surgeon who was known for being ultra cautious decided she could operate and did.Mum was in theatre for nearly 6 hours, she was type 2 diabetic, had asthma, angina, heart failure, hypertension, and kidney problems and the nature of her illness meant she hadn't absorbed nutrients from her food for 6 months so was effectively malnourished. At her age recovery took about 12 weeks, but due to the fantastic doctors and nurses she did recover.
I actually went down to theatre with her, and stayed until they were ready to anaesthetise her, she was so ill that they invited me to do so.
I'm not trying to compare the 2 operations, just wanting to show that they can do marvellous things, even on people who are really poorly.
Thinking of you both.
That's a very inspirational and reassuring story - thank you so much for sharing and wishing your mum all the very best.
Good Morning! I’ve just seen your post on here. I’m approaching my second heart birthday (had my bypass in jan 2022) and it absolutely changed my life for the better. He won’t realise how poorly he’s been until after the op because he would have slowly got used to his symptoms. Also, you’re in the worst bit of the process…the weighting part!!
I’ve chatted to a few members on here on the phone now which has been really nice. Please do message me and I’d be happy to give you my contact details to talk about the practicalities of the op.
There are a few things that catch people out and I would say the main thing is how BLUE people feel post op. I 100% guarantee that 100% on this forum cried their eyes out post op more than once. Why? It could be the pain or the situation but if they were anything like most of the people I have spoken to it was the drugs and anaesthetic.
And don’t worry, it’s so normal and I was crying about stupid stuff, not heart related at all. I think the “best” one was that I had a dream that I cheated on my husband with a dr from Greys Anatomy (TV show) and I was so upset that me and him were out of our honeymoon stage!! We’d got married only a few months before my op but it felt so sad and so real, like we’d never be romantic together again. Of course, that was horse sh*t, and we are very happy together it was just the whole experience getting me down!
But I just wanted to reach out and say the down days slowly go. And before you know it you think “oh I haven’t cried today!” And then it’s “oh, I only cried twice this week”…slowly, slowly, you go back to normal.
Please do message me for a chat, Rosie xx
Thank you so much Rosie. You've been on such a journey. I'll tell him not to worry about dreams about other women 😁. Bless your heart, must have been so tough being newly married. We will be married 30 years next year. Thank you for wonderful advice and the offer to call. I'll let him know.
You’re more than welcome. People are very English about speaking on the phone and not actually reaching out, but honestly, I think it really helps. Having had a CABG aged 34 I was very young but I’m a very open person and happy to answer any questions if you want to send them directly - especially if he might be a bit embarrassed. I’m a easy person to chat to (my surgeon wants me to be a patient advocate we just haven’t got round to it) and I’m in a hospital most days for work as I work in the medical industry - so if I don’t know the answer, the likelihood is I’ll be seeing a cardiologist that will know the answer soon enough xx
HiI had a double cabg in January of this year. I was absolutely petrified at the thought of the operation and of any subsequent complications. For such a major operation, you are home within 5 days. The chest area is very stiff and tender for a good while, and twisting and turning is very difficult. We bought a reclining chair from a charity shop and it was a godsend as it helped me sleep on my back. I wasn't allowed a bath for a while because of the sternum healing. My leg was very tender and swolen ( where they took the vein graft) all in all though, I felt I healed very quickly
The emotional recovery takes the longest. Lots of tears and low mood , dark thoughts and bad dreams. Only sleeping for a few hours at a time too. You will get there slowly. I feel amazing now and it truly has saved my life. Good luck
X
Thank you so much. From many very kind replies, seems the emotional trauma is the toughest part. I will do my very best to support him with lots of love, patience and positivity.
Stay positive, the recovery time is not as long as you think. The first month getting back to walking etc is more difficult but after that things improve quickly.
Get a separate bedroom sorted, a V pillow really helped me as it meant I never really had to turn much in the night at all and I was able to sleep on my back which I never could.
Support him outside on the initial walks, not by holding him up just by being there. Once he starts going on his own use Strava on his phone with tracking enabled. That way you can always see where he is, remember to get him to start recording! Gives great comfort and helped my wife when she was back at work and I was doing my exercise.
Make sure he does all of the exercises in the guide provided. Make sure he does all of the exercises provided by cardiac rehabilitation at 6 weeks and chase them if you haven't heard.
Be prepared to feel like you have just been dumped with no support by the hospital and doctors. He will be sent home after a week and nobody comes to visit or check, your doctor doesn't contact you to check. It was a big shock to us I can tell you.
Bypass operations are everyday now so don't panic and look forward to three months down the line when he will be a lot closer to normal apart from the aches and pains. After three months I was cycling 40+ miles on a semi off road track 😊
Wow, that's so encouraging...he really wants to get back to cycling. Thank you so much for all the practical advice as well...really kind of you.
it took me a full 6 months to get back on my bike because it hurt my pectoral muscles as they take a long time to heal. Everyone is different though as is the ‘damage’ caused by the operation. I was walking/jogging 2 miles a day within three weeks of discharge though as the exercise is needed.
Took me about 2 months to get back cycling. It could have been sooner but a rehabilitation nurse advised against purely because any accident would cause sternum damage.
Having been through a CABG this year I understand your concerns and it normal. The operation itself is an every day event and routine. Before my op the doctor talk to me about the risks and I was suprised to hear how low they were, I was in 1%. Although the op is invasive I made a full recovery. The whole event feels like a distant memory now and from a health perspective Iam in a much better place. My treatment by the NHS was also amazing.It can be difficult but try to stay positive and stronge these and my family and friends really help me get through this.
All the best.
Thank you very much ...I really appreciate your encouragement.
Hi, I once sat beside a lady I know on the bus. I said " how are you? " . She told me her husband was having a triple bypass. I couldn't believe it. I see him now. Walking, cycling, smiling, fit as a flee. You stay positive, I'm sure all will be well. Good luck and let us know how it goes. 😊
I will! Thank you so much.
Mine was Feb. 2022. My word was also terrified. I saw it as a fascinating experience to go through which I did and here I am 2 years later living a normal life taking less daily meds than before I was sorted. Recovery is slow but just take it one day at a time. I have to say that emotionally I had no issues at all.
So interesting, ChoochSiesta . Thank you for sharing your experience. I guess everyone is affected in very different ways.
I think trying to be positive for your husband even if you dint feel it. Hopefully you will have family who can support you, I stayed with my mum while my dad had his op so she wasn’t alone. Also ask for help in the days that he comes home to either someone shop for you or give you a break while they sit with him. If you are relaxed it will also help you to look after hubby. My dad set himself goals each day which I think helped. The road to recovery can be a bumpy one and I think the secret is to not put to much pressure on yourselves.
A really good point, trafar . Thank you for your wisdom. My sister is an amazing support...and friends too. Setting goals but not putting pressure on is very helpful.
Hi
He is going to feel worried and apprehensive about the surgery that is completely normal, i think we all did. I had a double CABG on 28/03 this year and i am doing well, was back to work by August. Initially i was earmarked in for a Triple possible Quadruple bypass, however they found my Carotid artery in my neck had closed itself off. This in effect meant they would not stop my heart from pumping. Because artificial pumping could have caused too much pressure on my other Carotid artery possibly causing a stroke during the op. So only two blocked arteries have been grafted, leaving at least one still blocked, which i have been told may be stented at a later date. When they turned my heart upside down it reacted badly so they opted to repair just the two on the front of the heart. They said the closed Carotid artery would usually have been caused by a stroke, but i have never had a stroke that i know of lol. Its bizzare but true, and i never knew i had this missing artery until all this was looked into. I was told in Brompton my risk rate had increased a lot because of this artery problem, but the operation was very much needed due to my unstable angina. I honestly only thought about what the op entails on one occasion, then dismissed it from my mind. From then on i was making light of it with the nurses, docs, family, etc. It really does no good to dwell on it because you will look back on this with a sense of relief, trust me. At Brompton i did not really get the best care due to some of the staff there, and they had me out of bed far too early i think. I wish you both all the very best.
Ted
My goodness, you have been through it. Thank you for sharing your experience. I wish you the very best for a full recovery and no further complications. Seems as if you has great expertise working on your heart.
Partner of triple bypass patient here 😊 partner had his in 2020.
It’s only natural you will both be anxious/scared/terrified etc, I’m sure 99% of people and relatives feel exactly the same.
I was absolutely amazed at how quickly my partner was sat out in a chair (bypass on the Monday morning, sat in chair eating breakfast and moaning at me on Tuesday!) I was amazed at how quickly he was able to do a lot for himself - following the sternum guidelines.
Looking after yourself is REALLY important, as is trying to maintain a sense of humour (which sounds odd but will really help) and a thick skin at times (my partners moods in the initial days/weeks were very up and down - understandabley so.)
Please let me know if you have any specific questions (you can message me if you’d like) and good luck to you both.
Thank you for your empathy and understanding. Great to hear how quickly he was up and moaning at you 😀Your offer to message is very kind and much appreciated.
Hi My hubby had a heart attack back at the end of March he was 63 at the time type 2 diabetic but otherwise okay he was very lucky and stayed in hospital 6 weeks before having what he thought was going to be a double by-pass but was in fact a triple. He thought he would be able to come out of hospital and carry on as before after a few weeks!! which wasn't going to happen. I would say if your hubby is anything like mine do not make the mistake of saying not to do anything or let me do it!! The main thing for me was I didn't think about the mentally side of having the heart attack and Ian has found it very difficult to come to terms with what happened and even today I will here him say where did that come from. All you can do is take each day as it comes realize that perhaps life may be a little different to begin with but give him strength and love he is going to need, we have a daughter which has been a rock all throughout the year hopefully you also have some-one you are able to turn to. I wish you both all the very best
Thank you for sharing your experience and it resonates. He is having a hard time coming to terms with what's happened, that's natural I guess. It is all a bit surreal. But very real at the sane time and he's incredibly lucky that the heart attack was treated quickly and successfully...and other problems were spotted which will be treated soon. I will give him strength and love...thank you for your kind words.
Hi PostivePants 2022. I’m not type 1 diabetic, but type 2 pre diabetic. Im also male, 67 yo. Three weeks ago I was like you husband, bemused, shocked and emotional. So on Dec 5th, I had not only a dual bypass, but an aortic valve replacement too. The op only took 130 minutes and everything went well. I can now walk down the street for an hour without getting breathless. The breastbone scar is healing fast and in 6 months will be able to wear open shirts again. Sternum and leg pain is reducing and now minimal. When they take the vein from the leg (for the bypass) ask if it will be by keyhole, so no big long leg scar.
Day five after the op, I was able to get out of bed. You are still fragile, but within a day or so should be able to shower unaided. Once you can get you own pyjamas and dressing gown on, recovery begins and next day he should be creeping around the ward with a Therapist.
I was fine on Christmas Day and looking forward to joining our friends on New Year’s Eve. I feel 80- 85% recovered already, although I sometimes need to sleep for two hours after lunch.
My complications have been minimal amd fixed quickly. Don’t worry. There’s a 98% success rate and you should have you husband by your side for a very long time.
That's so wonderful to hear, 7LTR Thank you for sharing and encouraging. All the very best for your recovery. Have a great New Year's Eve.
I had OHS in March 2021, with an aortic valve replacement. Recovery is slow but steady. Each day is different. It is very easy to overdo things just by pottering around. I would have a good day, then be completely exhausted the next. This is normal. It's all about pacing yourself and doing what is right for you that day. Having a day when all you want to do is rest is ok, it's just the body pacing itself. The emotional side is very true. I would dissolve into tears for no apparent reason - but knew this was an after effect so didn't let it bother me. It is a huge operation and it is not surprising that mentally this takes some getting used to. However, it also made me marvel at how our bodies adapt and cope. My main focus was doing my 10 minutes walk each day, and adding 10 minutes each week until I felt comfortable doing an hour. The most important thing will be for your husband to be kind to himself. Don't have specific expectations, take each day as it comes and do what is right for him on that day. There will be up and down days, the latter isn't a sign of recovery slowing - it's just the body making sure recovery is paced out. Each week, he will be able to note something he can do that he couldn't the week before - very important as a way of seeing progress. With you as a support, I'm sure he will make a good recovery. Wishing you all the best.
Thank you so much for such a generous response. Really helpful advice and very positive.
Hi Positivepants2022, I'm a bit late to this thread as I rarely look at my feed. I think this says just how helpful this forum was to my recovery (bypass September 26 -2021) and will be to your husband's if my experience is anything to go by. As others have already mentioned once you leave the hospital post bypass you're pretty much on your own and my wife pretty much had cope with constant sleep disruption for the 1st week's of my recovery. If you share the same bed an investment in a super king with a Temper mattresses was a godsend for us. Made lying on my back for six weeks post op bearable and enabled my wife to grab some sleep!😅and
The BHF helpline was also a lifesaver when it came to advice on post op support stockings etc. Sometimes you just need to seek advice immediately and it's impossible to speak to your GP. In my case I found it invaluable to be able to speak to a nurse who had many years experience working on a cardio ward invaluable.
I also like many others didn't fair well on the multiple meds you find yourself on post op. Nothing really serious just nausea and after a few months very, very loose bowels. I'm not one to complain (other than to my long suffering wife) but when things did get too much I did speak to my GP there was no problem in switching my meds.
So, don't hesitate to speak to your GP.
If my experience is anything to go by in two years time you both will hardly recall all the trauma you're going through now.
Love to you both.
Denis
I really appreciate your reply Denistennis and advice regarding post op support, especially about the meds and the BHF helpline. Already, just with one post, people have been so generous in replying...feels like a very supportive and positive community. Thank you.
This may sound crazy, but hear I am 6 months on from triple CABG, aged 51.
It really is a straightforward procedure (surgeons’ words, not mine!), and it actually was.
He will be very tired for a few weeks afterwards, but that soon passes. He will also be up and about much more quickly than expected.
Very importantly (this is from nurses and consultants) that he asks for/takes pain relief before thinks get very painful. This makes the pain much easier to control, and - surprisingly - minimal.
Now for the big parts! Current research show excellent long-term outcomes in terms of life expectancy, quality of life, risk of heart attack, and further procedures.
It takes time, but I feel at least 10 years younger; it really is life changing!
There are huge positives, so focus on these. Accepting the surgery is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Also, as he is taking elective surgery, the risks are greatly reduced compared to emergency. For example, medications which may increase risk of complications will be stopped several days before the procedure.
There is so much to look forward too one the procedure is over and done with, which - to be honest - he’ll find much less traumatic than everyone waiting for him to come home!
I hope this is helpful!
Thank you for your wonderful positivity CalvinHb . Advice like this is so helpful to both of us. Really appreciate your response.
I'm very much a glass half empty person which goes to show just how much of a change it has been for me!
Hello. I can’t add anything to the great advice you have been given. I wanted to say that if it helps,I am type1 diabetic of forty years and I had a quad bypass over 2 years ago. I think in some ways the psychological impact can be worse than the physical. Your husband will be given lots of info, instructions etc, both pre and post surgery, The physical recovery will naturally take time, stating the obvious, the right diet, gentle exercise etc. I concentrated on keeping my blood glucose levels in the right range, which can be a challenge as some of the medications post bypass can play havoc with blood sugar levels. If this is the case for your husband, please speak to your gp as there are always alternatives. It can be a bit of trial and error, we are all different. Your husband should be offered cardiac rehab, I would definitely recommend this, it helped me tremendously.
None of us are doctors on here, but all of the hearties you speak to have lots of experience and always willing to share their support and thoughts.
The cardiac surgeons do these surgeries everyday, I think it is routine for them, which is incredible when you think of what they do. For me, my surgeon will forever be my hero! Take care and let us know how you get on, and remember to look after yourself. Your husband will be in expert hands, and you will need support to. My husband was and still is my rock, but I know how tough it was for him. I am thinking of you, Judi
Thank you so much Judi...your post is very reassuring. Having Type 1 diabetes adds an extra layer of complexity and worry to the mix, so thank you for your insight...and also your empathy. Very much appreciated.
Hubby has now had his double heart bypass surgery and has been at home for 4 days. I took great comfort in everyone's words before the op, and the practical guidance and words of wisdom. Thank you all. I'm so happy to let you all know that the operation was successful. He was in ICU for 3 nights and then the ward for another 3 nights, before they let him come home. He was extremely well looked after and made really good progress, almost hour by hour. His biggest challenge was the lack of sleep. Made him a bit doolally at times and beyond exhausted.
Bring at home is a bit scary for both of us. He's in a fair amount of pain, especially in the sternum area. But only taking paracetamol. Just about not needing stronger painkillers. Leg is healing well. We've taken 4 short walks each day. The first was about 30m, now up to about 150m. He's sleeping much better, although still not brilliantly. But he can relax during the day. District nurse is coming to change dressings on leg for a while. My biggest challenge is getting his compression stocking on his legs...flipping heck! Top tip, plastic bags over the toes to start it off.
So, all as good as it can be - I hope that's reassuring to some as I was beyond worried about complications. I'm sure there will be much more down times - he is proper fed up with feeling about 150 years old, but I'm proud of how strong he's being. I've had amazing support from family and friends, it's made all the difference in the world to me, so please let people support you if you're going through similar.
Love to all in this community. 🩷
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