Petrified

[Eichaleen1]

Hi I have had two m.i. in the past year. Chronic anemia. I had an angiogram last week and told I need a triple bypass. I am terrified. Can anyone tell me please about waking up on the intubation? I have a phobia about suffocating.I am in the Sussex area and wonder how long I may be waiting for the. Surgery

[Hannah13]

I had a triple bypass and replacement of aortic valve ..no pain.. went smoothly. In hospital 5 days..then home

[Sljp0000]

Sorry to hear your news but I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine. I had a triple bypass and must admit was worried I'd pull the intubation tube out. They give you so many drugs you wake up feeling relaxed and out of pain. (I asked for lots of anti sickness drugs cos hate that feeking after an anaesthetic.) The whole reason for the tube is to help you breathe so you're not gonna feel like your suffocating. In my experience as soon as you wake and they are happy, they take it straight out. It really isn't anything to worry about. You'll be fine!

Not in your area so don't know waiting times, but keep ringing the consultants secretary to find out how long. If angina gets worse keep telling them. Also, ask to go on the cancellation list. You may get it done far sooner.

All the best

Susie

[DWizza]

Hi, I had Nstemi last July 13th, was told after angiogram that I’d need triple bypass, ended up with quadruple. You will meet your medical and surgical team before your procedure. The surgeon and anaesthetist will brief you. You will come round in ICU post op, you will be spaced out.. I thought I was an astronaut on a spaceship , surrounded by little beings that were looking after me 🤦🏼🤦🏼🤣🤣. The ambient white noise , the clicking of my bed when it docked into position , the white interior , the fentanyl 🤦🏼🤦🏼🤦🏼. The last memory pre op I had was the warmth and weight of the heated blanket swaddling me and counting backwards from 20, think I got to 17 … nearly 10 months later and wow ! Loving my rebirth

Progress post op

[JoTsu in reply to DWizza]

Although I have read your posts and replies before, I just wanted to say that I am in awe of your strength and really appreciate how you make an effort to encourage others. Your photos mean a lot too ❤️

[DWizza in reply to JoTsu]

Hi JoTsu, I’m so glad ! That’s really made my day . I always try to post something regarding progress , not to impress but to impress upon others that we can make progress. I have previouysaid that rehab isn’t all linear . I’ve certainly had my peaks and troughs . 🤦🏼🤣.

[JoTsu in reply to DWizza]

You are amazing in my eyes. Thank you again ❤️.

[devonian186]

Phh! A triple? Us quadies don't normally bother to speak to mere triples!

Seriously, the waiting is the worst bit and the terrible hospital food.

i remember nothing of the actual operation and the immediate aftermath, other than being very thirsty when I came round. I went home after 4 days and in my opinion it is that return you need to plan for.

Depending on your age and fitness it may take 6 to 8 weeks before you begin to feel at all normal so you need to make preparations for this before you go in to hospital

[MountainGoat52]

I'm a mere triple bypasser. I had my op at 8 a.m. and was on the high dependency unit around during lunchtime. My wife and son came to visit me at around 4 p.m. and I was able to have a reasonable conversation with them.

The time seemed to whizz by and I went onto the ward the next morning feeling great. I had no worries about having tubes here and there and the gradual removal of each one was a small victory... something to show progress. As for others on here, a 5 day stay in hospital for me. The recovery at home was slow and steady and I was well on the way back to being able to do the things I used to by 6 weeks. The hardest part was not lifting / carrying until my sternum had recovered.

A bypass op is standard work for cardiac surgeons and nowadays very low risk. I elected to have op... I was offered stents as an alternative, but went with the surgeons recommendation as it offered a better outcome in the long term. I think the fact that I can still climb Munros at the age of 72 proves the op was a success. 😀

[Greencurry]

I had a triple bypass in February and i had the same fear of the intubation tube as you. The funny thing was i don't remember waking up with it in. I just came round in the ICU surrounded by smiling staff telling me everything was ok. I was pretty spaced out and attached to drips and drains, but not much discomfort. You will be absolutely fine.

[cotonh]

Echoing everything said here. We also do not live in Sussex but I imagine you will next get a letter inviting you to meet the surgeon. We took a list of things to say, especially about my husband's fears and concerns. The surgeon listened carefully and told us what would be done for each. He said the tube would be removed as you came to and that you probably would not know that it had been there. The surgeon wanted the cardiac failure nurse to optimise medication with the aim of getting the EF up from 23% if possible above 40%. So we are in this phase with an echocardiogram booked for June but this may not be necessary in your situation. If all is good enough we will then be booked in off the list.

I think of us as suddenly having to take a long haul flight. We are currently flying across the ocean with our destination some way off. The booking of the a date is like when you circle the airport waiting for other planes to land before you. You can not be sure how long that will be.

Once you have a date (like landing on the runway and taxing to the terminal) there will be a pre-operation meeting where the surgeon encouraged us again to discuss our fears /concerns and again on the ward before the operation when there is an opportunity to meet the anaesthetist.

[Ageingfast]

I was an AVR but very frightened about going in for the op. By far the worst bit is waiting, as soon as I entered the hospital doors the fear melted.

I doubt you will even know you had a tube. The anaesthetic is mega strong. Cardiac is unlike the other hospital wards. Staff are fabulous, surgeons amazing. And they give you your life back. I went to London for the op, which was fine. No visitors but that worked rather well.

You will be fine

Sooty

[Nelson71]

3x CABG last Dec. I was terrified as well. It’s the waiting that’s wors. On the night before surgery I was given a mild sedative as I was so worried. I woke in the morning, a quick shower then into the theatre. I spoke to the anesthesiologist for a couple of minutes then I was coming round in ICU. The nurses stood me up and told me to cough as hard as possible twice. I did as I was told and the nurse said the tube was out. . They watch you like a hawk in ICU so they’re ready to take out the tube it was literally about a minute after I woke and didn’t even realise it was still in. A word of advice is give the coughing 100% and its out before you know it. You’re still really groggy at this point but I was on my feet, albeit held up by two nurses and breathing on my own. At this point the worst is over. They keep you in ICU for 24 hours (I was in 48 as my potassium level had dropped but this was treated easily) then you’re back on the ward. Make sure you follow the coughing /breathing exercise about every 60-90 mins to clear your lungs. When it’s time they take out the chest tube and pacer wires, which again you take two deep breaths, hold it and 30 seconds later they’re out. You have a catheter in your neck but again deep breath and 30 second’s later it’s out. Follow all the instructions, breathing exercises and build up your walking and you’re soon fighting fit. There are days when you feel shitty but overall improvement is to be measured weekly rather than daily and you will notice huge differences. If you get plenty of pillows you have to sleep semi upright for a couple of months which is uncomfortable but you wake, get up stretch your lower back then back off to sleep. I’m now +5 months and apart from my scars you couldn’t tell I’d had anything done. I walk about 5km every day and carry out low level weights three times a week. Something I found useful was a shower chair as I was frightened of falling in the shower so buy beg borrow one. You do tire very easily the first 2-3 weeks so a chair is a god send in the shower. If you have a hand held attachment then you can keep the incisions as dry as possible. Dab them with a clean cloth and warm water they soon heal then they look very cool. I’m based in Derby. The surgeon and all the team supporting him including theatre, ICU and ward are all marvelous and extremely understanding and caring. It’s all routine for them so you’re in good hands. Best of luck and if you’ve any concerns I’m always ready to share my experiences. ❤️from Derby

[Eichaleen1]

Thank you so much.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

There are at least three NHS Trusts that cover Sussex, Surrey and Sussex, East Sussex and University Hospitals Sussex and you will likely be under one of them if you are resident in Sussex but the waiting times for all types of treatment could be different, just like any other NHS Trusts. However, if you, or indeed anyone else, wants to find out an approximate waiting time for treatment there is a website for NHS England which provides basic information as under.

myplannedcare.nhs.uk/

[Qualipop]

YOu will be fine. What's the alternative? You've already had two heart attacks. My friend's dad needed a quad bypass. He too was terrified and refused it. He lived just about another year. They would not suggest such treatment if you didn't need it. Talk to them about your fears. You're not the first; they are quite used to it. After my heart attack, angiogram and stents I had to go back for another angio. I'd already had one just fine; sailed through it but for the second I was absolutely petrified and in tears. The nurses and doctor were wonderful. I was sedated and sailed through it .

[Eichaleen1 in reply to Qualipop]

Thank you. You're right I know.

[Qualipop in reply to Eichaleen1]

Your other post looked as if you were trying to say no to it. Please don't. You need it. They know how to deal with phobias but only if you tell them. Be truthful.

[Eichaleen1 in reply to Qualipop]

I am struggling to capture my emotions at the minute. I understand that it is routine for the surgeons but of course not to us patients. I was born deaf and had many operations up to the age of 16. I had an adverse reaction every time to the anaesthetic. However that was almost fifty years ago and hopefully things will be better now. Thank you for your message. My husband and I are making a list of questions for the consultant. Adrenaline must be flooding in me because although I am aware I need to fight my instinct is to run away! Where?

[Qualipop in reply to Eichaleen1]

No sadly you can't r un away this time. It's terribly difficult explaining things when you are deaf. Do you sign? You should get them to make sure you have an interpreter. You need to fully understand everything they are saying and be sure they understand what you are saying. When you first come round I would hope they have a nurse who can sign to you but they probably won't. I'd make sure there was a notice above my bed. You must also tell them about your previous reaction to anaesthetics so they can avoid using the same one and maybe even do tests beforehand.

[Eichaleen1 in reply to Qualipop]

Thank you. I managed now with two hearing aids. Thank you for your message. X

[CalvinHb]

Don't worry about waking up and the intubation.

You'll be heavily sedated, and remarkably relaxed. You'll barely know the tube is there.

It will also be removed before you know it.

I'm one year on from triple bypass, and the whole procedure and recovery was so much easier than I could ever have expected. The results once you start to build your strength up are amazing!

[Eichaleen1 in reply to CalvinHb]

Thank you that's reassuring. Continued good health to you.

[CalvinHb]

It's something I was worried about, but told that the waking up is a very gentle process, which it absolutely was!

[Eichaleen1]

Thank you for your reassurance. X