CABG Oct 8th booked

[Lincsman1]

So pre-op completed and now have a date for my triple heart bypass in 2 weeks time at Glenfield Hospital Leicester. Other than trying to avoid Covid which is always around it seems, is there anything else I could be doing to prepare for the big day, weeks, months ahead please? I have a few tips from a friend of a friend who had the same op last Dec which I found useful, although the recovery seems very slow. And I have already contacted my local cardiac rehabilitation team in Lincoln which I found really reassuring. Thanks John

[Hidden]

Everyone's recovery is different some are faster than others. Mines was average up to the 12 weeks. I had a lot of issues with my leg graft and around 4 weeks my wounds wept and we couldn't stop the bleeding. Went back to the hospital and they stopped the bleeding.

Looking at the bathroom mat which was covered in black blood was pretty scary, but now after 13 months leg is OK, still have a little bruising.

By 12 weeks I could sleep on my side can feel the wires on my Sternum which is a bit weird.

[Bishop1]

Good luck for 8/Oct for op. Listen to advice from Drs and nurses in the hospitalKeep gentle exercises before hand

Make preparations for your return home

Hope you have someone to be with you afterwards x

[Di1967]

hi, I’m also due my triple bypass at Southampton on the 7 th oct, this will be my second admission for surgery as my first was cancelled at the very last minute, I was expecting to be wheeled down after waiting till 3 pm , a long stressful day and then had to wait another 2 months for next surgery… so be prepared this can happen. I’ve bought myself an electric recliner to help with resting during the day and maybe some nights sleeping as I’m a side sleeper and fidget a lot at night so thought this might help keep me on my back. Listening to others your sleep can be disturbed for a few weeks from the effects of the drugs and discomfort from surgical sites. I’m also looking into a second hand treadmill as the weather seems to be rather wet and walking is a must to build strength again and prevent dvt clots. I’ve also been told the wards are very noisy at night and an eye mask and earplugs can help as well as loose clothing…. Good luck

[cabgpatch in reply to Di1967]

Hi, hope the op went ahead today, you're obviously not going to read this immediately if it did as you'll be in the CICU or High Dependency unit for a day or so post-op. I had my triple in So'ton 7th June this year, not sure about the hospital food, but the care is excellent! And yes, the wards can be a bit noisy at times during the night, earplugs are quite handy! Depending where you live, you should get an offer of rehab from the Solent West Cardiac Services, make sure you take it. They are heavily subscribed, so it may be worth you calling your cardiac surgeon's secretary or your nurse manager if you don't hear from them within 8 weeks. You'll get a lot of take-home reading as well, hope your recovery goes well 🙂

Paul

[Di1967 in reply to cabgpatch]

Hi Paul thanks for the message, but my op was rescheduled, one cancellation on 5 th aug, then rescheduled on the 7 th oct to the 16 th oct… I’m getting a bit annoyed as all the planning that is involved… think of me next Wednesday 16 th… is the first 48 hrs the worst to get through?

So by now you should be past the worst… how did you fare with any complications? How are you feeling now? Hope your healing well

[cabgpatch in reply to Di1967]

Sorry to hear that, there is indeed a lot to sort out before and plan for after the op, third times a charm? I was lucky I didn't have any rescheduling, perhaps because I am the sole carer for my disabled wife and getting cover for that at short notice would have been very difficult!

I can only tell you what my experience was, everyone has a different experience, but I can't really remember much about the first 48 hours. I was sedated for all my time in the Cardiac Intensive Care (CICU) and can only remember small parts of the High Dependency Unit. Mostly a nurse continually asking me what the date was, when my birthday was and other simple questions!! I was in no pain whatsoever during this time.

When I was moved to a cardiac ward, I was more alert although I did have some confusion at times, either due to the after-effects of the operation meds or due to the lingering effects of being on the heart and lung pump during the operation. This is not uncommon, but not everyone gets these side effects, I was just lucky!! From the time I was in the ward until I went home a week after the op, I only had paracetamol and didn't need any other painkillers. I was up and walking along corridors with visitors within a day of getting to the cardiac ward. I was initially a little wobbly, but not in any pain. Having the various tubes and wires taken out before I went home was a bit unnerving but again, wasn't painful. All the dressings were removed before I went home except for a few plasters covering stitches where tubes went in.

My experience was and is that the whole hospital experience wasn't anything like as bad as I was expecting, especially in terms of pain. The recovery after you get home is more challenging than the op as you really have to keep to the movement guidelines and don't get ahead of yourself. Some days will be better than others, if you expect that, it won't throw you too badly.

I also have had a lifetime of sleeping on my side or front, which you really shouldn't do initially you get home, but I found I adapted to sleeping on my back with the right pillows, and now sleep on my side without discomfort.

There are some important milestones, 12 weeks is when your sternum is fused and you start to feel more secure. I tended to be more cautious than perhaps I needed to be, mostly because I needed to recover as well as possible rather than simply as quickly as possible.

I have had some problems with my right leg where the vein was harvested for the bypass, it has taken a while to heal over and there is a nerve in the ankle which was painful for a while as it started to regrow. It has now healed to the point where I can go swimming again, although swimming is a whole other issue after open heart surgery! I still use a leg elevation cushion I got off Amazon when I am watching TV in the evening, as it gives support to the calf and ankle joint. As a cardiac rehab nurse put it, you have to exercise to aid the healing, but that makes the wound hurt so you don't feel so inclined to exercise! I find the cushion has helped with the healing by supporting my lower leg. Initially, the surgeon said they were going to remove the vein using keyhole surgery techniques, but that didn't work out, so half was keyhole and the other half was a regular incision. If they can do the whole thing with keyhole techniques, the healing happens much more quickly.

I set up a WhatsApp group of people who wanted to know my progress and posted a weekly update, warts and all, of my experience. This helped because I only had to post once, I didn't have to answer a lot of queries and I could ask for favours from people whilst I couldn't drive. It also allowed people to engage in my journey it whatever way they were comfortable with. Some posted they were praying, some sent positive thoughts, all were welcome as I knew I wasn't doing this alone.

If I am honest, I have never felt that I have had such major surgery. I treat each day as it comes and feel very positive about the future. It might seem weird, but I also feel very proud about what I have got through and that in itself is a positive thing to me.

Am I over the worst now? TBH as I have already said, the worst wasn't anything like as bad as I was expecting. I think the recovery phase is as much to do with your state of mind as anything, all other things being equal. Don't be in a rush to get better, talk to people you can be real with and find some other hearties who know what you have gone through like the people on here or in the real world and stick to the recovery guidelines.

Sorry, a bit verbose, but I hope that helps in some way. Don't be scared to ask more questions 🙂 and all the best for a weeks time🤞

[Di1967 in reply to cabgpatch]

Thank you for your time and consideration on your own experience and details you included. Your experience has helped me put a few worries and concerns about the whole process in a way my brain can process and deal easier, it’s the unknown that’s the scary part and the recovery process daunting. The part where everyone’s recovery is individual is the scary part which to be honest as a control freak seems to give the most issues. You have made a difference today with your time , concern and honesty… hopeful your recovery continues well. Wishing you the best, again thank you, I will post an update once able.

regards Diane

[Hart2202]

My husband had his CABG X3 a week ago today at Glenfield. He is hopefully coming home today. Honestly the staff have been amazing, from ward 31 to ICU and Secu. You will be in good hands.

My husband is 38, and had less than a week to prepare for his op. The biggest struggle he has had this week is tiredness and being disturbed at night due to obs ect but I have assured him it’s for a good reason. His advise to anyone was that they have to get up, and get out of bed and know that moving, is going to help in the long run.

[Hart2202]

sorry sent too soon, wishing you the best of luck!

[Frogman53]

You couldn't be in better hands, the staff at Glenfield are amongst the best in the UK I had a double by pass there in 1999 and it all went well.