6 days post op triple bypass surgery…

[Di1967]

Good morning all,

Had my triple bypass surgery last Wednesday morning, at Southampton general, I came home yesterday, but honestly felt so good I could of come home Sunday but you have to wait for physio to sign you off and a few other checks.

I have been so lucky as I’ve only had one post op issue of settling my blood numbers…potassium and haemoglobin. I had one chest artery used, one svg endoscopic vein in leg and my right radial artery

Being honest the worst part for me was the main tube removal on day two…but you get gas and air and follow the instructions of the nurses and it’s 5-10 minutes of discomfort or a real big ouch! which makes your breathing so much easier when they are out so these are positive milestones to achieve.

To all you out there that supported me with your time and experience of what to expect.. I Thank you….

To those of you waiting for this type of operation it isn’t as bad as you think it’s going to be…day 2 and 3 are the worst and by day 3 into 4 you see and feel so much better.

The worst part of the whole experience for me was sleeping in a bay of 6, trying to sleep with everyone else’s alarms and beeps going all night. Noise cancelling ear buds or head phones are a life saver . Calming music on low also helped so a play list on a replay loop is also handy. I used Spotify and a play list called sleep sounds for overthinkers. It’s 11 hrs long so it just plays in the background. Very calming.

You meet some amazing nurses who are angels in disguise and then some others who it’s just a job to them.

My first night home… slept for 9 hrs straight through, just woke up feeling stiff but good, I bought a good second hand electric chair months before op and I’m glad I did it supports you from not rolling over during the night, while helping also with keeping my legs raised during the day.

anyone who would like a woman’s perspective on what to expect or tips I’d love to help and return some support onwards

[PadThaiNoodles]

He he... I was in a 3-bed ward at one point and another patient had some sort of rain noise + harp music playing on her iphone all night. I slept like a baby and then really missed it the next night after she had been moved....

[Plum53]

Lovely positive and informative post. Thank you and so pleased you are doing so well.

[Dyllibobs]

So glad you're recovering well from your op. My experience was pretty much the same too. 15 months on now & feeling good 😊 xx

[Nelson71]

glad you’ve done so well. Remember your breathing/coughing exercises and walk every day. Start small distances and often then build up. ❤️

[BobbyB1962]

Great that your recovery is going well so far. I remember that tube removal; I wasn't offered gas & air, had a very large male nurse just rip it out, felt like I'd been badly beaten up afterwards!

[Cee-Cee1]

What a lovely positive post to read, Di - thank you so much for sharing your experience, it'll help to reassure a lot of other worried people who are about to go through the same procedure. My experience immediately after a triple bypass almost three years ago was much like your own although I was lucky that I'd no issues at all. I agree too about the drain and wire removal.😂 I wasn't offered gas & air but mine were removed by an amazing nurse called David whose lovely sense of humour made it much, much easier - he managed to keep me laughing the whole way through - and what a relief when they were removed and I could get myself up and walking again. It wasn't at all painful, just a bit surprising when I saw how long they were afterwards! My first night home in my own bed five days later was a little piece of heaven too! Onward and upward - here's to a fast and full recovery for you with a new lease of life. Carol x

[OldaYoda]

We’ll done

So much that I am jealous of!!!

I am 7 weeks post CABGx3 - I don’t sleep more that 3 hours at a stretch! I wasn’t allowed a better chair - coped on sofa!

But mainly - gas and air to take tubes and lines out - for me it was deep breath and think happy thoughts!! Lol

I would endorse noise cancelling headphones - only way I got more than 5 minutes rest in hospital, but I wasn’t allowed a causing as much noise and beeping as everyone else!

Keep getting better!

[CyclingTime]

A V pillow really helped me sleeping and stopped me spinning and causing chest issues by loosening the wires holding the sternum.

Sorry to hear about the noisy ward, I was at Papworth which is all single rooms, great for sleep but quite lonely especially as the hospital had limits on family visitors due to COVID precautions.

[Mancunian1]

that’s wonderful news and sounds like your progressing really well.

[Vegart]

My recovery from CABG ×3: I Recovered well and had very little pain, afterwards. Before my op, I exercised appropriately when I could, in the month before it. Before and after the op, I took a Homeopathic Surgery 30c pill, made by Helios Homeopathy. To ease discomfort when the tubes and wires were taken out, I also breathed in deeply, just before, and slowly let our my breath, whilst the pulling out was being done. The worst thing in my recovery was having to sleep only in my back. Also, sitting up in bed was very uncomfortable.

[HHH2017]

What a wonderful, positive, informative and supportive post 🥰 Wishing you very well in your recovery. Thank you for sharing.

[sjs1me]

Hi Di, that's great news, well done. Not sure how interactive your GP is but I had to call mine, tell them I'd had surgery and arrange appointments detailed on discharge notes. Hopefully you saw the Cardiac rehab person in hospital, my local team checked on me (phone call) and organised the start. Although DVLA say no driving for 4 weeks my discharge notes said 6 weeks, knowing that insurance companies will use anything to avoid payments I chose not to drive for 6 weeks and let them know before starting to drive - they didn't ask when I had surgery or what I had done - I chose to tell them so there was a recording. Keep well, remember a bit more each day but plenty of rest and don't overdo it. S

[devonian186]

Lovely positive post but we are all different. Please don't try to do too much too quickly. THat was a very big operation.