Managing the wait for CABG

[cotonh]

When my husband had his pacemaker upgrade to a CRT pacemaker at the beginning of February , cardiac failure and arteriosclerosis of the carotid arteries was detected. The Cardiac Failure nurse is optimising the mediation for the cardiac failure and the cardiothoracic surgeon has met us and a CABG / by-pass graphs is planned but this will not happen until the medication is optimised. As we understand it a further echocardiogram to be done in June will indicate to the surgeon if my husband's heart is in a fit enough state to for him to operate, if yes then he will be scheduled into the list in the months ahead. The new medications being introduced and steadily increased in dose are currently causing him tiredness, dizziness, loss of appetite and some constipation. making it hard for him to make plans, get out or do anything consistently. He is, understandably, preoccupied with the operation. Any ideas about how to endure this uncertain and unknown wait time welcome.

[stevetheadi]

Like your husband, I am waiting for a CABG.

When I first found out I needed an operation (when a stent couldn't be inserted during an angiogram) I was shocked and very anxious. In denial, almost. I insisted I wouldn't have the operation unless I was 100% happy there was no risk.

I was afraid.

But my consultant told me that the risk of anything serious happening is very small, about 2%. Two out of every 100 people who have a CABG have a negative outcome. That's the same percentage as an appendectomy.

And if I didn't have the op, he said, I would become progressively weaker, become house bound and then bed bound.

So there's no choice. I have to have the operation.

I know it won't be a pleasant experience but I know it will be manageable and I'll be looked after. And afterwards I will be able to walk up hills again!

I'm already planning activities for when I'm better and now I'm almost looking forward to the op.

Everyone feels anxious when they are first told they have to have an operation on their heart. It's natural. What helped me reduce that anxiety was to remember that thousands of people before me have successfully had the op, the risk of anything bad happening is negligible, the people who will be looking after me are experts and afterwards I will be able to get back to a 'normal' life.

While he's waiting I suggest he speaks to the nurses on this site about his fears. They will reassure him.

[WorriedWife24 in reply to stevetheadi]

I just wanted to say thank you for what you have said. My husband is also waiting for a CABG and your comments, optimism and advice have helped.

[stevetheadi in reply to WorriedWife24]

My pleasure.

If you want to chat about anything, you know where I am

[WorriedWife24 in reply to stevetheadi]

Thank you. This is the first forum I have ever joined so not sure about the etiquette but I have been following your posts with cotonh - hope that's OK. My husband is 78, fit and active and his diagnosis came as quite a shock (he had a few mild chest pains back in October and nothing since) so it's hard to take all this on board. Having read other threads it is the waiting that people find so hard.

[cotonh in reply to WorriedWife24]

It is helpful to know you are out there in the same position right now. I guess we are quite a big gang! I keep reading the various threads and like you say they help boost the spirits and help us, the supporters, not get too overwhelmed.

[WorriedWife24 in reply to cotonh]

So sorry to hear your husband is having such a tough time waiting for his operation. It's so hard watching a loved one struggling. At the moment I do think my husband is in denial, the only sign of worry is his occasional tuneless humming! He has had to come off high dose statIns because of a problem with his liver which has now resolved itself but he has to start again on a lower dose. Otherwise he is lucky in that he is leading a normal life. I had hoped that our meeting with the surgeon in early June would mean his operation would be quite soon after but I now understand that is not necessarily right. Will just have to wait and see.

[cotonh in reply to stevetheadi]

Thank you for your quick response, this forum is so friendly and supportive.

Is the activation of when your CABG also dependent on other things? It feels for us as if we have to get over another hurdle before we will be "waiting" for our slot so we do not yet have the certainty that the operation is crawling nearer.

I think my husband is not yet able to look beyond the operation and does not quite know how to endure this time of waiting while he is tired and depleted. A poor appetite is not helping as he usually enjoys eating. Like you he was in denial / ignorance at the beginning. Finding out what is entailed has shocked him. Innocently we had thought that having a pacemaker last September was the end of his cardiac problems not the beginning. Being socialable exhausts him but we try to go along to a bit of something rather than not at all. We are big listeners to the radio / podcasts. We try and take one day at a time doing what we can with the energy levels he has.

[stevetheadi in reply to cotonh]

I'm still having tests. Today I had a lung function test to make sure, presumably, that my lungs are working sufficiently well.

I get breathless easily so can't do anywhere near as much as I used to do. That makes me a bit sad and worried. My mental health is slowly deteriorating.

Hopefully, I won't have to wait too much longer.

[cotonh in reply to stevetheadi]

I think that riding the big dipper roller coaster of emotions is part of what is difficult about the wait. Along with having an unknown period when we are less sure of the direction our life might go. I think it would be unusual not to be worn down mentally by the wait. When people ask me how I am I say "emotionally appropriate" (meaning up and down, sad, agitated etc.) and I am only alongside someone waiting.