STALLED RECOVERY FROM DOUBLE CABBAGE

[cabp]

I had a double bypass 7 weeks ago. For the last 4 or 5 weeks my general condition has if anything deteriorated. I have regained none of the weight lost in hospital. I still get considerable pain in the left side of my chest and am frequently short of breath. X/ray, echocardiogram, ecgs, CT scan, blood tests, none have indicated any cause/diagnosis. Any thoughts as to possible reasons for such a delayed recovery?

[PadThaiNoodles]

What level of exercise causes the shortness of breath? I'm 6 weeks post mitral valve repair and aortic valve replacement; I've been told that some of my fitness will take 6 months or more to come back.

Because my valve regurgitation was asymptomatic, I could climb 6 flights of stairs prior to surgery. About 2 is all I can do now.

Does your cardio team think your recovery has been slow?

[cabp in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Thanks for your comments. Just walking on the level for 5 mins or so can bring on breathlessness and my consultant acknowledges that that my recovery is not going normally.

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to cabp]

Yeah, I'm up to 25 min walking on the level.

Are both lungs filling? (My brother in law had damage to the phrenic nerve which prevents one side of his diaphragm from contracting. Seems like the type of thing they'd catch pretty quickly though.)

Did they give you one of those incentive spirometer things?

[devonian186]

Did you try to do too much to early on in the healing process.? I don't know how long you were in hospital for, but you will have lost fitness which is very difficult to recover the longer you were inactive and the older you are. Add in several weeks after the operation of losing more fitness and the whole thing snowballs.

I took max paracetamol for 8 weeks after the operation. Did you drop pain relief early?

Did the cardiac dept give you a list of do's and don'ts and exercise suggestions?

[cabp in reply to devonian186]

Many thanks for your helpful comment

[Cofton]

I had something similar and a Chest x ray showed a partially collapsed lung . Might be worth checking.

[cabp in reply to Cofton]

Many thanks for your comment. I have had x-ray and CT scan of my lungs - all clear!

[Smits1980]

I was still very rough 7 weeks after my CABG. Had various complications and breathlessness was one of them for months afterwards. I had some fluid on the heart but still had breathlessness once that had gone. No particular reason- just takes some people longer than others. Huge trauma on the body.

[cabp in reply to Smits1980]

Very encouraging - thank you so much

[Fortunate1]

My husband developed Dressler’s syndrome after his triple CABG last year. It’s an autoimmune reaction caused by the body’s response to the surgery. It left him breathless and with a high heart rate, as it causes an accumulation of fluid in his lungs and around the heart. It is supposed to be quite rare, but might be worth asking your doctor about ruling it out. Hope you feel better soon.

[cabp in reply to Fortunate1]

I much appreciate your reply - thank you

[Ralfthecav]

Had a similar experience around 3 weeks post my CABG. Diagnosed as pleural effusion (build up of fluid around the lung). Had this drained and breathlessness quickly disappeared. I am sure that the X-rays you have had would have picked this up but thought I would add so that you can rule it out. Apparently this type of thing is not uncommon after this type of surgery. All the best for your recovery.

[cabp in reply to Ralfthecav]

Your encouraging reply very much appreciated

[barryjcooke]

I think you’re expecting recovery to be quick. Your body has gone through a massive trauma and needs time to recover.

Give it time and you will heal. Get cardio rehabilitation after 12 weeks and you will start then to feel better. I’m 5 months in so I know how you feel.

[cometwatcher1927]

I’m 9-10 weeks quad heart bypass

Everyone said I’ll be a new man - I’m not

Still have chest pain / unstable angina from time to time - back taking GTN spray

very drowsy - at times too , perhaps the meds , but feel zombied at times

Exercise can walk a couple miles slowly

First month literally a 100m was the max

We are all different and the body as had a massive body shock neither mentally or physically was prepared for

I’ve not started the cardio rehab so doing exercise - walking as n when well enough too

I used to think am I different but from reading this forum and talking to heart nurses I’m a typical patient

It does get you down as you think I want to be doing this or that / be patient

Good luck

[cabp]

Really grateful to all who have responded to my post. Your comments/advice has been both encouraging and comforting. Very much appreciated.

[Redfloyd]

Up until 5 weeks post op, been home for 3 weeks, I felt dreadful. No appetite, losing weight, tired and despondent. I had done a couple of short walks. 5 weeks and 1 day I felt completely different, appetite back, gained 3kg in 5 days, walking 1 to 2 miles without any problems, almost feels too good to be true. I hope you and others have a turn around like I have.