failed CABG

[Bergid65]

had cabgx2 in May. Today I had angiogram which showed one graft was blocked and the other partially so. Has anyone had a similar experience and if so what was the treatment. They have made urgent referral to MDT and said they will plan what to do next. Options suggested were further bypass, stenting or some procedure which was described as drilling the calcified blockages he said this is very complex. Prior to surgery in May I was told stenting was not possible due to severity of the disease, not sure how different it will be now. I am scared. Not sure I can go through it again.

[Happyrosie]

Bergid, it sounds like you have a complex condition that needs more than one professional to give their input as to how this might be dealt with. They are going to plan what to do next, you say. Posters here might not have similar conditions - or if they do, they might need to be dealt with in different ways from you depending on your medical and family history, height and weight, ethnicity and current medications. So I think the best thing is to wait until decisions have been made, then discuss this with the professionals

[Bergid65 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I am so sorry to read this and can understand why you feel scared and even though this does not happen often sometimes it does

I do know a member on here that I hope sees your post along with others that may have gone through this and will reply but the person I am thinking about did have stents put in and this was after a quadruple or triple Bypass

So try and have faith in them that they will come up with a plan and everything will work out they are so clever in what they can do

Let us know how you get on x

[Sljp0000 in reply to BeKind28-]

Hi BK, if that's me I've replied now 😘. Hope you're keeping OK? Xx

[BeKind28- in reply to Sljp0000]

Hello

Yes it was you I had in mind I hope you do not mind me referring to you in my reply I did miss ut your user name though

Same as always but I hope you are ok

Thank you for asking x

[Sljp0000 in reply to BeKind28-]

Of course I didn't mind. We're all here to support each other. I'm just reading your post this morning. Will message you tomorrow when I'm home xx big hug xx

[BeKind28- in reply to Sljp0000]

Thank You x

[Beamgirl]

Hi,I too got told yesterday that my LAD CABG bypass failed. I had my bypass 18 months ago but felt I wasn't recovering well, it has taken 18 months and a fair few scans plus angiogram again this week to hear the bad news.

My LAD is totally blocked and no surgery planned as told no guarantees the graft would work and not fair on my body to put through this trauma again.

So meds are the way forward for now. I am not sure that was the answer I wanted so really feel for you right now.

So sorry.

[Bergid65 in reply to Beamgirl]

I’m sos sorry to hear that I hope meds alone can do the trick take care of yourself.

[whiststev in reply to Beamgirl]

Hi , can I ask what medication they’ve put you on.

Regards

Steve

[Beamgirl in reply to whiststev]

I have been on aspirin, Bisoprol and Isosorbide Mononitate more recently a suggestion to go on Ramaprill too but not decided yet.

[jwd52]

HiI had a double bypass in 2020 and 18 months after started again with angina.

Had to wait another 8 months for angiogram but was told both grafts had failed. 3 stents were fitted in my rca graft but told blockage too low to stent my lad graft.

Now waiting to see cardiologist again as angina and breathlessness once again troubling me.

Hope all goes well for you , I know how worried you must be because I know I am.

Regards

Jill

[Bergid65 in reply to jwd52]

Thank you and good luck.

[Sljp0000]

Hi Bergid65

Yes! I had a triple bypass September '22. It failed straight away (and by that my grafts could have blocked before I'd even come round from the anaesthetic).

I had a terrible time following my surgery, Internal bleeding, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, severe AF, severed phrenic nerve, a saddle pulmonary embolism and now a sternum nonunion.

After all that there was no wonder I was feeling rough when I finally got home but my first few walks around the block gave me angina. Fast forward 3 months and I had a stress MRI followed by an angiogram. Non of my grafts were working, all fully blocked. By this time my native (original) LAD was fully blocked and my RCA was 95% blocked.

The doctor said I needed stents. There was no option of another bypass has my donor veins had clearly not coped with being used for bypass. Apparently my vessels are very narrow. (I am questioning why it was done to start with and not stents but that's another story)

So in February '23 I had 4 large stents in 3 original arteries. I have been ok but still get weird pressure sensations in my throat with and without exercise and left arm pain. I still haven't had a follow up to my stents but have had my Isosorbide Mononitrate increased and have a cardiologist phone call in March.

I feel a bit messed up to be honest but that's because of the other things I've been left with for absolutely no reason.

I hope your doctor will attempt stents on you. Mine was clearly very proud of what he'd achieved, and I got the impression he thought I should have had them before a CABG.

All the best, message me if you have any questions. I'll try to answer and keep you going through what is a horrible time.

P.s did you know you have loads of little capillaries etc (collateral vessels) that can keep your heart supplied with blood if the main ones are blocked? Not all doom amd gloom!

Susie xx

[Beamgirl in reply to Sljp0000]

That's very helpful info Suzy.I have had some very similar experiences to you and still in shock as told stenting my LAD not an option as I too have narrow/tiny archeries.

I am also left with lots of problems due yo the operation, was even signed off back in 2022 and had to fight my way through to get where I am today to confirm my worst fears.

Sad we go through so much to have such rotten news.

[Sljp0000 in reply to Beamgirl]

Oh dear, I'm sorry. Maybe a second opinion to see if you can have stents? It's a horrible time for you. I feel my life has changed forever. The trouble is, anxiety makes all these symptoms worse so I don't know what's what anymore. I do hope you can get some clarity on everything so you can carry on witj normal life feeling well and at peace with everything xx

[Beamgirl in reply to Sljp0000]

I think the place I finally got my conclusion this week, was enough (RP)They were thorough, even though it has taken soooo long to get this far. Doctors strikes have not helped this year either to be honest.

I just need to know that I am not on borrowed time . Any real exertion makes me exhausted hence putting on unwanted weight and now I at least know that my intuition was right and that told the op probably never a success and originally thought. The graft failed very soon after OP too.

Just wish it hadn't taken a year to finally get all the tests rolling to find this out this week (another 6 months on) from tests.

It helps chatting to someone who actually knows how you feel.

Thank you x

[Sljp0000 in reply to Beamgirl]

The 'borrowed time' feeling is awful. I really understand how you feel. I guess we just have to enjoy what we have. I think if things were that bad they would have to intervene? Like they don't let people home sometimes before a CABG because they're not well enough. They must think meds are going to be enough for you. I lived for 5 months with a fully blocked LAD and didn't have a heart attack. How does that even happen? Remember those Collaterals!

I'm not sure if you'll appreciate me saying this but I also have my faith in God amd that gives me peace and great comfort.

Susie xx

[Beamgirl in reply to Sljp0000]

Hi Suzie,God has to really step up now then🤞

They are now telling me I am unable to have my C tumour op🤔 as risk is too high because of graft failure.

Such an awful situation all being told this week. Then discharged without any support at all.

Spoke to my g.p and told sorry that was it!

[Weetabixie]

I hope they find they can do stents for you. I'm surprised since joining this forum last year to see how many by pass grafts are followed by stents due to grafts failing/blocking. How come they don't stent first? Sorry to ask it just seems you all have been through so so much. Hoping they can, do help you. Good luck with the MDT and hoping for a positive outcome of the meeting 🤞🙏🫶

[Beamgirl in reply to Weetabixie]

I have to say, I have also questioned why they didn't try stenting first but think it's because of my tiny archeries. Nevertheless, the bypass graft probably failed for the same reason I am told, so left with so many other issues because of the operation that I wasn't told would happen.Feel like it's a lose lose situation now.

To add to the complication, I was supposed to have a major operation for a C tumour, which now looks very unlikely ad they don't think my heart is upto because of the graft failure.

Cardiologist had announced that there is nothing more they can do either and follow up appointments which I fought for anyway...none.

The angiogram I finally had to find all this out this week was to green light the C operation, which now looks unlikely.

Very very angry as a no win situation and also absolutely no info or support.

BHF are the only ones that have been kind to me

[Weetabixie in reply to Beamgirl]

I am so sorry to hear this, frustrated too, how can they just say job done toddle on. This is wrong. Would writing to the health ombudsman have an effect maybe, I mean there's so much to complain about here I think. Can a second opinion be got if ask gp for rereferal. I wish I was more knowledgeable in this area. But it really seems wrong. Are they not going to do anything? Would maybe ringing the cardiac nurse helpline on BHF help? Might be worth a try. I'm just shocked by how you've been treated.