Bypass surgery

[Eichaleen1]

Has anyone ever refused bypass surgery? If so, how did it go for you?

[cotonh]

I am sure there must be people who decide against it but most of the posts I have read on here are people who, when they ask the surgeon what would happen if they don't have the operation are told that their quality of life would become more and more diminished and shorter so they go for the operation. I will be interested to see if there are replies from people who have chosen not to go ahead and how things have gone.

[Eichaleen1 in reply to cotonh]

Me too. Thank you ever so much

[mozart27 in reply to Eichaleen1]

I too would be interested in replies to this question. I am a reasonably healthy man approaching 74 with hypertension which is well controlled. If I were to become ill, I doubt that I would want anything other than palliative treatment.

[MountainGoat52]

Hi Eichaleen1,

I was given the choice between a triple bypass and further stents. I had already had a couple of stents in my RCA at the time of my heart attack. The plan for the op was to bypass the stents and also two moderately blocked vessels on the left side.

My surgeon advised that a bypass should give me 25 years before further intervention might be required, whereas stents should give me 10 years. I went with the non-brainer offer of an op as hopefully I will be 90 before I need further work. It is now 6 years since my op, I am 72 and I still climb 3000 foot mountains in Scotland.

Ultimately the choice is a very personal one. We can only tell you of our experiences.

All the best with making your decision.

Gerald

[gintyweatheritt]

Hi I had a angiogram in November, the doctor spoke about a bypass. He took my case to a MDT and the concensus was I did not have good targets for a bypass. So the only option is further stents. Am now waiting to go back for that procedure.

[DWizza]

I asked my consultant before I left hospital what would have happened if I hadn’t gone to hospital to get a blood test following my “trapped wind “ episode that led to quadruple bypass as stenting wasn’t possible . He said the outcome could’ve have been fatal depending on where I had the next heart attack as I regularly work on my own round my small holding . It made me very tearful and glad that I agreed to go in to hospital with the ambulance crew even though I felt fine. They said they couldn’t make me go in but impressed upon me that as my ECG was showing normal the blood test would confirm if I’d had a cardiac event . First reading cam back at 74 which the doctor wasn’t very concerned about but thought he’d better do a second test. Waited from 13:00-23:15 in hospital corridor in A&E to get the second result of 402 and the doctor , my wife and I were all flabbergasted! Doc thought he was sending me home ! Things changed pretty quickly straight away. So grateful I went in and had the bypass surgery 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻. I call it my rebirth 👊🏻.

[Angelique71]

It was very simple for me. My consultant and surgeon are the expert, I am not. After my HA my health slowly deteriated and I had way too much to lose. As much as I didn't like the thought of a bypass, I knew I had to have it. So far and 4 months in, I'm fitter than I have been in a long time. All the best to you!

[Thanksnhs]

Hi when I was diagnosed with heart failure at 58 I had no idea that there was anything wrong with me, within month's my health deteriorated so badly I was offered a transplant. I know some people have refused but I excepted readily as I had no quality of life. I had to wait a long two years for a match but it was well worth it once I recovered what a difference it has made, four years on I can do things I could not even of dreamed of with heart failure. All the risks as with any operation were explained fully and yes I was terrified especially with the wait being open ended it was awful but in the end I am really glad we have the NHS and there wonderful skilled surgeons. I wish you all the best in whatever you decide. Take care char

[Grizedale]

Hi Eichaleen 1

I declined the offer of a triple bypass 7 years ago when I was 73. The need for one was discovered when I had an angiogram to investigate the cause of stable angina. I would have had stents but was told that they would not be suitable for me.

I did not want to proceed with a bypass for several reasons.Being a pessimist and very risk averse were the main ones but I did have additional risk factors, my age obviously but also having afibs, COPD and kidney disease. Also, I had read that the heart has remarkable powers to perform a natural bypass, given time, by the expansion of existing blood vessels and the development of new ones to compensate for areas of the heart muscle that have been deprived of a sufficient blood supply by narrowed or blocked arteries. Therefore, I opted to improve my diet and exercise more to encourage the collateralization process. The doctor at the time said that he did not consider this course of action to be "reckless".

Did I get the collateralization that I was hoping for? I do not know as I have not had any tests to check. I still experience angina but it remains stable; it only occurs during exercise. Sometimes I think that it is improved but I am not certain about this. Obviously, one adapts and develops coping strategies. Also, I think that I am in afibs for most if not all the time now which muddies the water a bit. But I suppose that the main thing is that I am still here and enjoying life at the moment. I like to walk and cycle, although nothing too strenuous and am now 80,a fact that no one could be more surprised about than me!

Please contact me if you would like any more information.

All the best and good luck

Patrick

[Eichaleen1 in reply to Grizedale]

Thank you Patrick. So nice to see an alternative.