Just wondering if anyone could share advice or their experiences - my husband is 64 years old, history of high blood pressure but otherwise pretty fit and healthy, 18 months ago he started with Angina pain on exertion which became increasingly worse, he was booked in for an Angioplasty last October which they were unable to complete and ultimately turned into quite a scary and unexpected triple heart bypass. Four months later he has recovered remarkably well, back to work, riding his motorbike and the things that he loves. He attended Cardio rehab classes which were brilliant but due to staff shortage he was only able to have two out of the six. He takes a reasonably long walk each day but does keep having episodes, which he describes as a tightening in his shoulders and chest and tight breathing, does not feel anything like the Angina pain that he used to have, if he bumps into someone for a chat or is destracted they immediately go, he mentioned it to the nurse and she said it's likely anxiety caused by the trauma and that this will get better over the coming months, just wondered if anyone had experienced anything similar?
CABG x 3 - recovery: Just wondering if... - British Heart Fou...
CABG x 3 - recovery
Hi.
It's good to that your husband has recovered well from his CABG and is doing the most important thing - enjoying life!
I had a triple CABG last June. I was lucky enough to complete my initial cardiac rehab and I'm now on the third stage of rehab, in the gym. I feel stronger than I have done for many years and it's only now that I realise how ill I was. And how lucky I am to have a second chance at life.
Occasionally I get a little breathless when exercising. Nowhere near as breathless as I did before the op but it does make me worry a little when it happens. I put it down to 'health anxiety' - it's natural to obsess a little about your health when you've had such a traumatic experience as a CABG - but if it became worse or happened more frequently I would definitely consult my GP.
Have you read up on micro vascular angina? This site has a very good article. Keep on pushing for help. GPs are still learning about these things.
Hi there, yes I think a lot of us experience similar things, I had a double bypass op two years ago now & still get anxious with any sort of pain in the chest area, I’m probably fitter & healthier than I have been for years since the op, but it continues to play with your mind. It will get easier and come to terms with it but it does take a little while. I’m 62 btw so a similar age.
Thank you for the replies, it's much appreciated and good to hear experiences. Although only able to have 2 Cardio rehab classes he was signed off last week, completed a beep test with no chest tightness and passed with a good score. It's very strange, he says that it's nothing like the angina pains he was having prior to surgery, just a feeling of tightness, nothing when he is at work or gardening or doing anything else physical just when walking and if he's then destracted it clears instantly. Hopefully, time will be a healer and it will settle.
I am 61 this year, began with some mild shortness of breath last year whilst walking up 3 floors of stairs and progressed downhill from there. Now waiting for (some) imminent CAGB.
Gives me a great deal of support to know that hubby (and others that replied) have gone through this and got better - I just feel that every sensation is a terminal heart attack coming on (which I would prefer not to have as it would really spoil my weekend)
PS, I left my job just before Christmas (unrelated to angina) but I feel tense when I even think about my old manager, makes me shudder!!
Hi, my husband was much the same, no issues at all until last year, it was all a bit sudden as he was just booked in for stents but then kept in and CABG x 3 performed, so he didn't have much time to think about it! His procedure and recovery went really well, its just the fact that now he's signed off with no real further support that is a little worrying. He's pretty much back to normal four months later, working, decorating, gardening, out on his motorbike, nothing causing him any issues other than mild breathlessness when walking, Cardio nurse does seem to think it is anxiety related and will pass in time, his angina pains were always brought on with walking so maybe, we will keep a close eye.
I think that I would probably have done the same thing but the angio was in Derby and they do not do cabg so I had to wait to go elsewhere.
Glad he is doing well, I have not been allowed a motorbike for years so I am envious.
We're told that any chest discomfort brought on by exertion and relieved by rest is suspicious of angina. It's possible that one of his grafts has closed. His GP or cardiologist should be informed of his symptom and a treadmill stress test may be advised for evaluation.
I had my cabg4 about 6 months ago and trying to keep active but not as much as your husband. I am still getting pains on the left hand side of my chest and sometimes i get really scared, which then makes me feel tired. I try to keep myself distraced and try to meditate. Anxiety is a terrible thing and if allowed can push to dark places. Don't sit idle listening to your pains. Read, watch a good program and socialise. There are good exercise programs on bhf's website, which i follow when i can't go out for a walk when the weather is too cold or raining.
Hi there,I’m glad your husband has recovered well and unfortunately after a bypass operation,it can be common for people to suffer anxiety .Im 54 ,and 11 years ago,I had a CABG X2 ,I had no heart attack ,and I’ve always been along distance runner,and still am to this day ,competing in Marathons ,but after my bypass ,I neglected my mental recovery and concentrated on getting back to my previous fitness,but it’s also important to process your emotions from the trauma you go through,because you have very heightened sensations and also suspect something’s not right ,every little pain or breathlessness,puts you on alert,which ultimately manifests into anxiety,mine got pretty bad and I was ultimately told I had PTSD and ocd ,I have recovered and I am no longer as bad as that ,but I remember that I would walk up a hill ,and all of a sudden become breathless ,and think I have angina again,but then I could go for a fast run and be ok,so anxiety and cardiac symptoms can be very similar,so it’s quite a complex situation.Also beta blockers are helpful in damping down adrenaline,but can also interfere with your sympathetic system ,so it’s a bit of a mine field,I’m very well adapted to this as I’m 11 years in,it’s not all plain sailing,but a good diet,exercise and mindfulness all play a big part,I wish your husband all the best in his recovery.But never neglect how you feel,if you do not feel right ,always reach out to a health professional .
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