CABG for a woman

[Gigi70]

hello ladies

I have finally received my pre surgery appointment at the Harefield Hospital - for October - are there any women who were advised to have a bypass and how many arteries were grafted?

or women who have been part of the Roma women’s trials?

Look forward to your replies.

Michèle

[Youghurtlover]

Hi Gigi ( Michele )

My name is Sue and I’m 73yrs old .

I had a triple coronary heart bypass all 3 were grafted back in June this year ! I am recovering post op 12weeks !

I didn’t have a lot of time to think about it which now looking back was a good thing !

I was certainly very nervous ! didn’t believe it was happening to me !!

But all the staff and my consultant were so lovely and caring !

Please feel free to ask me any questions ?

Take care Sue X

[Gigi70 in reply to Youghurtlover]

hi sue

Thank you so much for your response.

Yes we are similar age I’m 70 - do you know why they decided on the bypass instead of a PCI? And did they say anything about women’s complications?

I’ve been needing this for 11 years / they put in 4 stents 10 years ago and since then 2 heart attacks!

Now I asked for a second opinion from a renowned female surgeon who led the Roma women’s trial here in London. My consultant is very against bypass and I’ve been asking to be referred for years, but finally my GP referred after this latest HA which included 3 cardiac arrestS. Now I’m having pre operation consultation with the surgeon - on October 2nd.

My cardiologist said that the only thing that works is medication for cholesterol not procedures but all these medications make me very I’ll. Currently I’m on 10mg Atorvastatin but get migraine and upset stomach.

Let me know more about your experience?

Michèle

[Youghurtlover in reply to Gigi70]

Hi Michele ,

Great to hear back from you ! I wasn’t offered the PCI just told it was the bypass with grafts ! I’ve looked it up this morning and although they both clear the arteries I don’t think all consultant surgeons work the same !

No mention about women’s problems ?? don’t know what you mean ?

I eventually had my op in the Cleveland clinic London ! Should have gone to royal Brompton but in June 6 London hospitals had the cyber attacks on there software !! My surgeon often works in the private Cleveland clinic and he took me there on NHS I was very lucky !

Sorry to hear uve had HA and cardiac arrests ! Hope ur ok now ? I have been lucky then as haven’t had any !

Was in for total 10 days !! 4 in icu then up on ward for 6 more ! Couldn’t wait to get home ! It was a very tough time after ! never realised how hard and long the recovery time was !!

Just 12 wks post op and still have good n bad days !! but just feeling a bit better !!

Take care and feel free to write again 🥰 xx Sue X

[Gigi70 in reply to Youghurtlover]

Hi Sue

Sounds like your surgeon was a good guy. But my cardiologist whose at Royal Brompton is anti bypass grafts says it does not help survival - as he’s a woman’s heart disease specialist and women have tended to have poorer outcomes from the operation.

My mother had this disease 27 years ago - she died at 74 from 5th HA as the docs refused to do a bypass - no statins or stent / in fact the tiny stents suitable for women’s smaller arteries were only created recently.

So I am very aware of this history - Roma womens trial has been gaining more knowledge about women and bypass as there was a huge gap in research - partly why women have fared so poorly was the research was done on men - men only! men’s bodies are bigger as are their hearts and arteries. The consultant I was referred to has mostly researched Asian women who are generally smaller still / I am 5’3 so I was drawn to her.

I am so pleased to hear you are feeling better - have you had someone caring for you? My worry is I’m widowed and had to rely on girl friends staying after my son did first 2 weeks pist this HA and will need help after bypass.

My only son lives in LA and is a film producer so was able to work online ftom my home here in London.

Actually you have been lucky to get the bypass prior to heart attacks as they damage the heart and you have been protected. I am very unhappy that my cardiologist has denied this from me and the result is some heart damage - grrrrrr.

Have a happy day Sue

Michèle

[Youghurtlover]

Hi Michele ,

Yes I was very lucky ! His name is Mr C Quarto from Royal Brompton also .

This is the first time I’ve heard about the difference between men & woman ??

Sorry to hear about ur mum X I do understand why your anxious X

Yes when I came home 10 days after op ! it was a very difficult time as I’m a widow also but I do have a daughter who is a nurse and she was brilliant as the home care from my GP is virtually non existent except by phone ! My 6 week discharge was done on a phone ( tick list ) plus a couple of very good friends !

Yes I’m very lucky to have not had a HA before op !!

Take care keep intouch and let me know when u get a date 🥰 xxx