Some of you may have seen my previous posts, asking how long people have waited for CABG knowing it is impossible to know
After advice from BHF nurses and his appointment with the surgeon being pushed back, I made him go to A & E, and after a long, and stressful day and night, it was agreed he would have the operation on Tuesday 24th!
He went to A and E with Chest pains, I think the stress of the appointment moving had contributed to them being worse than normal, our A and E department dealt with him very quickly and transferred him to Glenfield hospital ( heart specialists) within 45 mins. There it was a bit slower, we were told so many different things, the DR who wanted to discharge him said there was nothing wrong with him, and if he were to have further chest pains to come back to a and e? to which we questioned how bad does it need to be because this is what i have done today? after not being able to answer our questions (at 3Am?!) he said that my husband could stay till morning and speak to the consultant, which he did and the consultant advised to operate!
for those that have had a CABG what helped you whilst in hospital or recovering? is there anything I can get him that will help?
thanks!
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Hart2202
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Good for you pushing and now he is getting his operation next week I am so glad you got this result
When you are in Hospital there is a lot going of and when he gets back on the ward they will get him moving and he will want to rest but there will be times when you are bored so if he has an i pad or phone so he can communicate with friends and family that can be handy to pass some time as well as not sure if he likes crosswords anything like that
When he is feeling a little better I know you will be visiting him so if there is anything he needs or wants he will be able to tell you and you can get it and take it the next day
The obvious to take in with him toiletries , PJ'S or loungewear , slippers and a dressing gown
When he comes home he will have no doubt everything he needs been back in his own home with you
Just make sure he does not lift anything heavy or reaches as he starts to recover get him doing the coughing exercises and little walks even to start with round the garden will be fine
I know for me but we are all different I got a cheap shower stool only used it 2 weeks but I was unsteady and it really helped so was worth it but again he may be fine bathing or showing and not need anything like that
I think basically take things day by day you will find your own way together what helps and with him been younger there is every chance he will have a quick recovery
Try not to worry we are here if you need to talk
Will be nice to see your updates how you both are getting on x
It's only a little thing but a eyemask for nights, there's all sort of lights in the hospital which I found difficult as I'm used to darkness and anything that helps is good. Also extra long charger for the phone as plugs are a long way for normal charger. Good luck 🙂
A V-pillow (he will be sleeping upright for several weeks) and noise cancelling headphones - (the constant beeping in hospital - yours and everyone’s else’s, drives you nuts! )
Keep us posted. We’ll all be thinking of him. ❤️🩹
I would love to add to the lists people are suggesting but they beat me to it. Read as much advice as you can on here and the very best of luck. You have done really well to advance as you have and the best of luck in surgery but of course the surgical teams are on the cutting edge( forgive the pun) of what they do and will do the absolute best for your husband.
Be prepared day of the op he will be out of it most of the day. When I was a bit better I asked my wife for cold still drinks and yoghurts. Throat felt weird, and I didn’t t have much appetite. My sense of fast is still a little off.
Soft pyjamas helped - anything big and baggy. I put on 8kg overnight. There will be lots of tubes and drains to negotiate!
I had a catheter for a while too - all very complicated to carry to the shower.
I couldn’t really concentrate on a book or a crossword, headphones may help- but they come and check you - a lot and keep disturbing you!
Finally my foot was swollen (on thenwhere they had taken the vein). Slippers were too tight - all I managed to get on was crocs.
Never be afraid to ask for pain killers!
Hope all goes smoothly. I am getting out and enjoying like (mostly) especially being off household duties.
Good news he’s getting done quickly. Whilst he is in hospital he will be on plenty of painkillers- and in truth he will be out of most of the time he is there- but make sure he doesn’t miss a beat on them once he gets home and for weeks afterwards. I had to sleep on my back for a few months - I found a wedge really helped, especially after the comfort of a hospital bed. Don’t get too stressed if he has complications- I had a long list of them but all was fine in the end (you don’t really get told about them beforehand so they took me by surprise). Consider the mental health offer afterwards if he gets one. It really helped me- took a while to feel the mental trauma of it all. The hospital will have him out of bed the day after the op and be keen to get him on his way- it will feel all too quick but help do as much as needed but once home slow it down. I’ve never felt as tired as I did in the weeks after the op. I could fall asleep in an instant. So, some activity is crucial to recovery but after the trauma of the operation the body needs huge amounts of rest. Over a year on, I still have to manage my energy levels carefully. If he decides to change his diet like I did, nurses still told me to eat lean red meat to help recovery and cut it back six months afterwards. Don’t expect too much, and if he cries a lot more than usual, don’t be surprised- that’s common!
Great news that the operation is happening! The days in hospital will be tiring - hooked up to devices that you need to take with you when the ‘physioterrorists’ come to get you up and about 🙂. I had my CABG on 30th March and am now halfway through my 8-week cardiac rehab course where we do circuits etc.. I’m back doing all the stuff I did pre-diagnosis so there is light for you at the end of all of this. The two months post-op are critical - NO moderate or heavy lifting! The biggest challenge was putting the surgical stockings on each day - it gave me and my wife a real workout 😂. Best wishes for the operation and a successful, speedy recovery. Good luck!
thanks so much to everyone for your feedback. My husband is currently in surgery and I am pacing up and down waiting to hear how he got on.
Was told not to worry going to see him tonight but feel like I just want to be there. Check he ok, I told him I would be there. I know he won’t know. Did your partners come to see you in icu?
After reading all these comments I realise that every single patient experiences the op and recovery in totally different ways. At 38, your husband should have quite a fast recovery.
Hi HeartofLondon. thanks for your Message. Unfortunately i think the fact every doctor and nurse told us his recovery would be fast due to his age blind sighted us a bit, it has been very challenging. More so mentally than physically, which i had not really considered. Physically he is doing his exercise and exceeding what they said, however at home he says he is still really struggling, and mentally we are at a bit of a low. He has a follow up with his consultant next week, and i hope we can talk through these issues.
I had my surgery exactly a week before your husband. My chest drain wounds came unstuck shortly after suture removal, and they've only finished closing in the last few days. Otherwise physically I've been doing OK.
The mental side is definitely tougher. I've had depression for decades, so was already on antidepressants. I suspect they helped, and kept me from having a low mood, but I still find a lack of interest in things I used to enjoy and feel a bit like I'm stuck in neutral.
Search for some of Sooty's posts. They're inspirational.
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