Queries about CABG

[sachinhk]

Hello, I am going to undergo CABG pretty soon. I am really petrified about it. I’ll appreciate if anybody here I could talk to , who’s undergone this procedure. Also are there any bravehearts who refused CABG ?

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I am a very anxious person by nature so when I had 3 heart attacks and told I needed a triple bypass I was petrified

It sounds so frightening and whatever you do please do not go on google reading things as that will not help but do what you are doing and come and talk with people that have had this operation

My mind blew it up so much yet when I finally walked into the Hospital and the Nurses started to talk to me I felt so much more at ease you could tell they were experts and looked after people having these ops everyday the same feeling when the Surgeon came to talk to me to and you really are in safe hands

If the operation has been suggested that it is what you need I would not hesitate in having it done as been a braveheart if advised you need this op is not a sensible choice at all

If there is anything you want to know please just ask and we will do our best to share our experiences with you

All I can say is if I can do it I know you will be able to and we are here to help you the best we can x

[sachinhk in reply to BeKind28-]

Thank you very much for your reply. I’ve also read through many of the posts here and I am relieved a bit. I still regret of fumbling on my diet in recent years (I’ve had a stent some 10 yrs ago).

[BeKind28- in reply to sachinhk]

Hello

There are so many positive posts that members are living life better than before the op

It is a anxious time for some and quite normal to feel that way but you will get through this and when you have you will realise it was not as bad as you thought it was going to be

Try focusing on the positives of having this done and moving on to a better you don't look back we cannot change the past so no point blaming ourselves on what we think we could have done better like diet etc but focusing on we have been give this second chance and how we are going to take it and look after ourselves x

[sachinhk in reply to BeKind28-]

Thank you

[BeKind28- in reply to sachinhk]

x

[davidthegolfer in reply to BeKind28-]

Hi, I think most of us were anxious to petrified. I have a few brief comments. I had a quad and an aortic transplant/replacement. I can only reply. “I once was lost but now I’m found”. I now have my life back. I was having 20-30 angina attacks a day, incredible as it was. I now have my life back.

The people involved in your procedure are totally remarkable. Hugely skilled and caring.

One VERY IMPORTANT tip I have given several people which has made a big difference.

When the anaesthetist meets you for a briefing before your op, ask them to prescribe a diazepam tablet for the night before, and another for an hour and a half before you go for the op.

This ensures you get a good sleep and the next day it ensures you have absolutely no anxiety. They wheeled me in and I was thanking everyone for coming that day. “Have a good day etc”. I have heard of a few patients that went in singing.

The reason it’s important to have it prescribed. The nursing staff are scheduled to give you the medication. I have heard that some have been told, “just ask the nurses for it”. This doesn’t work 100%. They are very busy. They they have to find a doctor to prescribe it and can miss out.

Get it prearranged and you have no worries. When you take it you have no worries.

I saw two people refuse the op and left. THAT isn’t brave, it the worst decision of what could be their possibly short miserable lives.

One patient who declined had a wonderful doctor sit with them for four hours trying to convince them to go ahead. If you refuse., it could be a very bad outcome. You will still have this hanging over your head, and you will then ge back of the queue.

You owe it to yourself, your friends and family and to the medics and system that got you to the front of a very important queue. Be brave, get it done. It WILL change your life. If I needed it again, and I won’t, I would rush to have it.

Best to you my friend.

[sachinhk in reply to davidthegolfer]

Thanks a lot. The reason I brought up “refusing CABG” is because I have stable angina which happens only when I walk to office after having breakfast. I am perfectly fine to walk 2-3 km any other time of day. There are many reports on internet about ppl who lived long and quality life with their angina. There’s one paper which showed that incidents of further attacks and mortality are exactly the same whether surgery was undertaken or not. However, today morning I gave it a thought again and I am going to go ahead with the surgery

[BeKind28- in reply to davidthegolfer]

x

[Giant68]

5 years ago I had a few heart attacks, I say a few because I lost count at around 6. A few days later I had CABG X5. Over 17 hours on the operating table. 5 years later I'm still here, alive and kicking. I discovered several things that may help you. Do as they tell you. Never turn down pain relief, and don't be afraid to ask for it, and take up the offer of cardiac rehab if given.

Remember, these surgeons do this every day and they are very good at it.

Giant68

[sachinhk in reply to Giant68]

Thank you for advice

[Allyboy1973]

Hi It's only natural to be nervous it is a scary time but honestly its not as bad as you'll make it up to be . Its worth it though in my case its given me a new lease of life . Im back working go to the gym 4 times a week . The first week post op is a bit daunting but do whats asked by the physio and get up and walk etc it will help you big time i was 42 when i had my surgery so of a similar age . Good luck and hope to hear how its all gone .

Alan

[sachinhk in reply to Allyboy1973]

Thank you. It’s good to see that I am not alone in my age group

[Viking24]

Hi, I had a quadruple bypass nearly 7 years ago. I had developed chest pain quite quickly over the space of a month. Due to family history I went to get it checked out.

Was sent for an angiogram and when they were doing that, things changed very quickly was told that I would need the bypass the next morning as a priority and they fitted a heart pump while I was on the table having the angiogram.

I signed the forms that afternoon. Had an echocardiogram in the evening and had the bypass the following morning going in at 08:30 and out at 13:30 I was told. When they took me around the day after the surgeon explained that instead of the double he had originally spoken about doing they had done a quadruple instead due to some other stuff they had seen when they were doing the operation.

I spent 7 days in ICU some of those ended up because there wasn’t a bed in the high dependency ward and then another 7 days in a general ward before being allowed home. 9 weeks after the bypass I was able to return to work on a phased return plan and after three months I was back to full hours.

I was a similar age to yourself so if you have any questions then let me know. From my personal perspective and with the advice I was given by the medical team at the hospital I can say it was the best decision I could have made in my circumstances.

[sachinhk in reply to Viking24]

Thank you for sharing your experience

[devonian186]

My consultant said to me that there was an alternative to a bypass, but it was a very stupid one.

I hurt my back yesterday and it is currently causing me far more pain than the bypass operation did.

[sachinhk in reply to devonian186]

Loved the analogy with back pain

[Bluey73]

It's a scary time. Not had surgery myself, but my boyfriend had a heart bypass 3 weeks ago. He's doing great and getting better each day. This forum is great for support, I found it really helpful when we were waiting for surgery. Any questions you have, ask away, people on here are happy to share their experiences. Wishing ypu all the best.

[sachinhk in reply to Bluey73]

Thanks

[Mancunian1]

I am having my CABG done in 10 days and the best advice I could offer is to listen to and take the advice given on here. It’s a wonderful resource with many uplifting and positive stories all told from experience.

Both myself and my wife have found it all to be reassuring even more so I. The last few days as more people recall their experience which has given me hope and confidence I think I was lacking before.

[davidthegolfer in reply to Mancunian1]

Hi Manc, please read my advice elsewhere on this feed and get diazepam prescribed when you have your pre op briefing. I wish you all the best. Look forward to a fantastic procedure to make you whole again. It really is a gift. Best to you.

[Mancunian1 in reply to davidthegolfer]

Hi and thanks for the advice I’ll be sure to look into that

[sachinhk in reply to Mancunian1]

Can’t agree more about the advice

[DWizza]

Turn down CABG? I didn’t have any choice , after my Nstemi last July I had angiogram and was told stenting wasn’t possible, I was due triple bypass but ended up with quadruple CABG and I’m so grateful for my rebirth 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻.

It obviously takes time to recover and rehab and it wasn’t all linear. I definitely needed help and support in the early days , but time passes and within months I was riding my motorbike, completed the rehab classes , made tweaks to my nutrition , had my meds changed ( statin was giving me issues , ), was doing physical work round our small farm. 8 months I was back to yoga classes. Plan for the future , I can’t imagine refusing the opportunity!

12 months post quadruple CABG .

[sachinhk in reply to DWizza]

Thanks a lot for your perspective

[Bigscar]

Don’t know if it is possible to track my story on here I am the Guinness World Record Holder as the Longest Surviving Triple Heart Bypass Patient in The World.

I had my op in 1977 47 years ago when I am sure operations were more basic and with your case things have moved on and be more efficient.

I was 31 at the time now 78 doing things at one point I thought I would never do again. I must admit I never had a heart attack I was caught early with angina when exercising to extremes. Just to say there is great hope for you, my story is on the Guinness World Record Website if interested.

[sachinhk in reply to Bigscar]

Thanks a lot. I think I’ve read your story on internet (the year of surgery is unmistakably 1977). A big salute to you sir. I’ll appreciate some rehab tips from you after my surgery

[stevetheadi]

Hi Sachinhk

I had a triple CABG seven weeks ago. Like you, I was really, really scared when I was told that I needed a CABG.

I was worried about the possibility that I wouldn't survive the op. And the pain afterwards might be unbearable.

I told my family that I didn't want to have the operation.

When I asked my cardiologist what would happen if I didn't have the operation he said (and I apologise for being blunt here, but these were his actual words to the best of my recollection): 'You will get really breathless when you walk quite quickly. Soon, you'll be virtually housebound. Then you'll be bed bound. You could die soon. So....do you want the operation or not?'

He also said: 'There is a risk with any operation. About 2% have serious complications. But we do this all the time so if anything untoward does happen we have plans in place and we'll deal with it. Honestly, it's more risky driving to the hospital than having the bypass and it will give you a much improved quality of life. You'll live longer, too.'

Everyone is scared when they are told they have to have heart surgery and just about everyone says afterwards 'that wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be! I'm glad I had it done.'

This post and many other on this forum are full of good advice:

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

If you want to ak me anything, feel free. Alternatively, ask a cardiac nurse on this site, your GP, or you cardiologist.

Don't ask Google.....

It's going to be ok.

[sachinhk in reply to stevetheadi]

Great ! That’s very reassuring

[Cee-Cee1]

Hi Sachinhk - first of all a very big welcome to the forum where you'll find lots of lovely people who are more than happy to share their individual experiences and offer help, advice and reassurance with any worries or queries you might have.

I'm 64yr-old female and had a triple bypass in February 2022 after a heart attack in January the same year. I can honestly say that, two and a half years later, I still feel so much better than I did in the couple of years prior the op. I didn't really consider that the tiredness and pains I'd been having were anything more than the normal aging process. In fact, I hadn't really noticed it - until after recovering from the op when I realised I felt so much better.

We're all different and have our own unique experiences but, as I'm sure you've already read in the posts above, each of those experiences tend to be very positive. It's scary to be told that you need this operation, and in all honesty it is a big op, but the surgeons and medical teams who look after us are performing these surgeries every single day. As the surgeon who looked after me said when I thanked him "there's no need for thanks, it's just a bit of plumbing!" 😊

I have absolutely no regrets about having had the bypass and am still thankful every day for my new lease of life. Carol

[sachinhk in reply to Cee-Cee1]

Thank you for sharing your story

[Sd26]

At the end of my angiogram I was told I needed a triple bypass which came as a shock to me. I said I didn’t want to have surgery. Later I asked to speak to the cardiologist who did the angiogram to discuss it and he suggested I also speak to his colleague who was the angioplasty specialist when he was on the ward the next day.

The colleague was more positive about angioplasty and stenting and he suggested I could have my case referred to the MBT, a weekly meeting of cardiologists and surgeons. At the meeting the consensus was that angioplasty and stenting were the preferred course. Within an hour I was receiving angioplasty and a stent.

So you can seek a second opinion and there can be a range of viable options. It's early days for me and I may have chosen the wrong option. It sounds like you have already had a stent so in your case there may not be a better option than bypass.

[sachinhk in reply to Sd26]

Thank you. I already had a stent and I have hereditary history (my father had succumbed to heart attack at an early age also at least 2 of his brothers) I believe CABG is the right choice

[Vroomfondel_66]

I too am extremely anxious and I was in pieces when told I needed CABG. I didn't have a lot of time to process the news either - there was 5 days between full diagnosis and the operation itself. That said, the alternative is far worse... refusing the op isn't necessarily brave, and bear in mind that the surgeons do this day in, day out... I'm one year on from mine now and apart from some twinges in my scars I feel excellent. My brain seems to work better (increased bloodflow?)

In my experience the best advice I can give after a triple CABG last year is ' Do NOT leave the hospital before you have a decent bowel movement' - you'll be on a lot of pain meds post-op and they do a number on your ... shall we say 'throughput'? I had a very uncomfortable two weeks after I got home. Also, invest in a bed wedge because for a while afterwards you'll have difficulty lying down/getting up from a prone position, unless you have a LOT of pillows that you can prop yourself up with.

In conclusion I will say to you what the hospital chaplain said to me on the day of my op (and this is completely true - she actually said this to me as it was the closest thing to spiritual comfort she could offer me) - 'May the Force be With You' 😁

[sachinhk in reply to Vroomfondel_66]

Thank you for your advice

[MattG1875]

I went through a CABG 18 months ago. It's a daunting prospect, but I came to the conclusion that it had to be done. Everyone will be different, but I was relatively relaxed about it (which sounds crazy). I personally focused on the positives. There can be lots. The main one is a second chance at life. I am back at work, playing football, other than my scare my life is as before... I had a heart attack, by the way. I have always eaten healthily, been sporty, and I am pretty laid back, so I did question why me. My only change now is I am a bit more selective about what I eat other than that I am back to a normal full life. All with it in the end.

[sachinhk in reply to MattG1875]

Great ! Optimism always helps

[greenba]

I had quadruple by pass 7years ago and there has been no problems at all. Perhaps I am lucky in as much that I am not an anxious person. Try and do deep breathing and meditation, that is a great help. Good luck and try not to worry too much.