Day of CABG Op -!!

[Kincavel]

Hi at last my OH has his CABG tomorrow. He's listed for op at 2pm they suggested that I go home as he maybe in theatre for 5/6 hrs and will be straight onto CITUWe live 60 mins drive away from the hospital as he will go straight onto CITU.My partner said I should go home as he will be out of it and I should go home but I'm a bit reluctant to leave him. I was wondering if your partners stayed until your op was completed until you were settled on CITU?

[PadThaiNoodles]

My op was first thing in the morning; my wife dropped me off the night before and then planned to come down the day after when I would likely be in the HDU. However, in the end she was too stressed at home and made the drive down after the op. I evidently spoke to her while in the ICU, but I have no memory of it. I made the move to the HDU later that evening.

Once in the HDU I still wasn’t up for much conversation, and was napping off and on, but it would have been nice to have a little more company then (my wife was coming down for an hour or two around lunch each day).

[Ersilia2]

I usually stay, maybe go for walks or to the shops, but close enough in case they ring me

[OldaYoda]

Go home. You won’t be allowed to see him until next day at the earliest. My op was 3:00 - came out at 8:30 ish. I was out of it until 4:00 am next day. Wait until the tubes are out and he can actually respond.

It’s hard, but you can’t do anything by being in the hospital

[devonian186]

Firstly, just because an operation is scheduled does not mean it will go ahead. If it doesn't its vital to ensure he remains an in patient as out of sight out of mind.

If the op doesn't happen on the day and time scheduled-as others might take priority and 2pm is quite late and doesn't allow much margin for over runs-then it should go ahead the following day.

I would be very surprised if you were allowed to see your OH on the same day as the op. They will be totally out of it. By all means phone and accept advice as to when you can visit. There is absolutely no way i felt like talking to anyone for 24 hours. I do remember being VERY thirsty though, so any visit can coincide with ensuring the OH is comfortable.

[DWizza]

I didn’t see my wife until day or two after. I’d say go home and come back when he’s ready.

[sjs1me]

Hi, I went down to surgery at 8am, my wife was at home. I was brought round at 7am the following day in ICU and my wife visited me at 4pm. I would recommend you go home.

[Emgee1]

I went home and waited there so that I could find things to do to distract myself. My partner was in surgery for over 7 hours so it was a really long wait. Once she was up in ICU, they didn’t bring her round from sedation and remove the ventilator until after midnight. We didn’t get to speak until the next morning. She was out of it anyway so she had no idea who was there and who wasn’t immediately after the surgery.

[Anothernewbie]

Here is what I did.

Hubby had his 3xCABG in Papworth when it was still in Papworth and not part of the Addenbrookes complex in Cambridge. I worked in Cambridge. I took him to Papworth the day before the op. On the day I went to work, couldn't really concentrate but better than being at home. Had a call from the hospital late afternoon to say op was successful and I could go to see him. When I got there after work he was still in ICU, but I was gowned up and allowed to go in. I was glad I did because the nurse was concerned because his core temperature was normal, but skin felt cold. I suggested she covered him over! Around 10.00 pm I had a call from ICU to say he was going back to the ward, immediately followed by a call from the ward saying he was back and asking for a sandwich.

I have to add that was in 1996 when the S in NHS meant Service.

[Zerohere]

Expect the unexpected, I had my operation as planned my wife was told to ring the ICu when I was out of surgery and in recovery.

The plan 4 to 6 hours in surgery approx 4 hours in ICU for recovery where she could visit when they bought me around transfer to cardiac ward.

Went in at 2.00 p.m as scheduled 10 hours later came off operating table and 14 hours after came around in ICU and in isolation and spent the next 4 days there.

My wife was allowed in but had to experience all the tubes, iv lines, oxygen, monitors and for me it was a great comfort as she could explain what had happened although it took me a couple of days to process it all.

So talk to the ward on admission you should be given all contact details and when you should contact them or ICU.

I can’t talk for all hospitals however I was admitted to the University Hospital of Wales and can only speak for them but the my care from pre op to post care was first class and the information and advice I was given was fairly comprehensive and covered every question we could have asked.

[devonian186]

I think the thing to remember is that Heart surgeons are people that are at the very top of their game. Whilst routine is an over used word, these people perform many of these operations and to them it is an every day procedure, unless there is a special case which would have been flagged up to all concerned in advance.

[Kincavel]

Thx for all your advice and support it really is appreciated.

I've been advised by the ITU to go home - and to ring up for progress report. I am a retired NHS Director of Nursing, so I'm aufait with clinical processes and procedures but I think when it's your own- my professional experience goes right out of the window.

I'll come back tomorrow for his first post op visit.

[Jako999]

I had a quadruple and was in surgery for 8 hours and I can’t really remember anything of the two days after even after that it’s a bit vague. I know what you mean about being medical and knowing how everything works but it’s so different with a close one or in my case myself. The big problem I had is being medical I knew exactly what was going to happen to me, to much knowledge can be a bad thing sometimes.

Say good luck but he won’t need it he’ll be fine.

All I can say is watch out for the hidden bit, it really messes with your head and as all on here know there is no shame in asking for help. I had to have therapy afterwards and it really helped.❤️🙏

[Kincavel in reply to Jako999]

That's really good advice re the psychological side of the op. I will let him know to ask and talk it out too. Glad to know your doing well.He's having quadruple too and no health lifestyle issues ( never smoked, doesn't drink, healthy BMI and cycles so was a shock) . He's coping quite well atm though - he just wants to get out the other end healthy. I'll keep an eye on his MH though

[Jako999 in reply to Kincavel]

I was 54 never smoked, never really drank and have had none at all for 15 years, vegetarian and supper fit with no history until the HT then intensive care and then my quad. Just unlucky 😡 Or was I I should be dead and I’m not so really I’m super lucky. I never went back to work there is far more to life and now at 57 I’m living my life to the best I can.

So in some ways I would say really it made me rethink my life for the better😎❤️

[Mancunian1]

hi.

Hope all goes well which I’m sure it will, it’s absolutely amazing thinking back to my double bypass how the team works.

My wife was advised to go home and hospital would be in touch as soon as surgery done and advise on visiting.

From recollection there’s a lot of close monitoring in the first few hours and so staff need access to stabilise and bring you through recovery.

Your OH is in the absolutely best hands so be guided by their advice they give and all will be well..

Best of wishes

[Kincavel]

Awhh so glad you are feeling much better now thx for advice

[cabgpatch]

My wife is disabled so couldn't travel to the hospital, but to be honest, I don't remember the ICU or much about the HDU either, so I don't think I could have held any sort of conversation if she had been there. The hospital phoned her when the op was finished, so she knew everything had gone well and my best mate came in when I was out of the HDU and I was capable of stringing a few words together.

Really, in the end it's a personal choice, but if you do stay and visit the ICU, be prepared for how it might look. Good news is, most hearties leave the hospital between 5 and 10 days after the op.

[Billett]

My wife went straight home night before and phoned next day told not to come in and i had op at 8am wednesday and i was video phoning her at 8 at night felt great then she came in the thursday that was 13 months ago

[Seal59]

I would go home and get some friends to take you out for dinner or something, don’t be on your own as you’ll probably just be pacing up and down. My husband also had afternoon surgery. His was a quintuple bypass and I think he was about 3 hours. I got a phone call from the surgeon once done and I did see my husband that night but he couldn’t remember my visit, so it may be best to wait till the next day. I hope it all goes well for you both x