Single Bypass

[LaLa58]

hey! I’m new! 25 days post surgery… I’m just interested to hear about people’s return to life after such a big health event. Also think it’s important to support others through a community like this. 😀

[Clack53]

Welcome LaLa, we're similar in age, I'm 57, just over a week since I had a HA, SCA and stent. No warning signs prior.

I'm only new to this group too, but it's been really useful to get a bit of reassurance, info and see how others have coped.

[LaLa58 in reply to Clack53]

Hey! Thanks for saying hi! What is SCA? Still getting my head around all the acronyms! While I was in waiting for my op I saw a few people come and go who had had stents. How’s your recovery going?

[Clack53 in reply to LaLa58]

SCA = sudden cardiac arrest. I didn't know what it was either until last week! I had a heart attack and on the way to the hospital in the ambulance arrested. Fortunately had the stent fitted pretty much as soon as I got there.

Recovery wise, I'm following the rehab book I was given prior to discharge, guided meditation/relaxation, exercising at home (which was a surprise as I thought I would be resting), getting out for little walks. Still quite tired.

To be honest emotionally it's been quite tough, lots of tears, wondering about the future etc.

[LaLa58 in reply to Clack53]

Thanks for sharing.

I agree, the emotional / mental health impact can be just as derailing as the physical impact.

I’ve had a few tears too but I’m not sure the realisation of what has happened has fully hit me.

It sounds like your recovery is going well. Keep up the good work and reach out if you ever want to chat!

[080311]

morning LaLa58

Welcome to the forum, not a place I am sure you never expected to join! But it’s a place where you will find helpful information and advice and sometimes a laugh!

When we have a heart issue it’s as if the ground as opened up under our feet. How can this be happening my body has never let me down before. I was a few years older than you and had a replacement Aortic valve and bypass. That was nearly 9 years ago. The life we has flown out of the window and this new life has flown in. It’s a good life just a little different. Tablets to take appointments to keep.

25 days isn’t very long since your surgery, I would say follow all the instructions you were given no arms above your head no lifting anything heavier than a half a kettle of water. You can feel very emotional for a while after surgery, we are given some very exotic drugs when we are on bypass and these take longer to leave our bodies than we imagine, plus your brain is still wondering what as happened to you.. You will have been given some breathing and coughing exercises to do in hospital keep doing them, when we are on bypass our lungs collapse and the little pockets need to be filled out again. Keep walking, and when you get an invite to cardio rehab go, it’s good for getting your stamina back but it’s so good being around others who have been through the same thing. You don’t feel like you’re on your own!

Every day I am grateful to the medical team that gave me a second chance. Welcome to the heart mended road.

Best wishes Pauline

[LaLa58 in reply to 080311]

Thank you, Pauline!

Your message made me feel quite emotional! I know what you mean… old life flown out of the window and new life in… and that’s the key… ‘new life’.

Like you, my over riding feeling is ‘grateful’. Grateful to my colleagues who recognised how ill I was, the ambulance crew and everyone of the medical team that looked after me and continue to do so.

I’m a bit of a rule follower - so I’m doing the exercises strictly and look forward to cardiac rehab when the time comes.

Thanks for reaching out and I hope you continue to thrive in your new life. X

[Ageingfast]

welcome on board LaLa

I had open heart surgery to replace my failing aortic valve.

No rehab available due to covid, so I followed the written suggestions provided by the ward staff.

Mainly walk every day, getting a little further each day. And talking as I walked.

I am well into my 70s so recovery was a slow four months.

Then the golden day arrived when I realized I was better. And I have had no after effects at all. That’s five years on. Magic, fantastic, wonderful. I love the doctors and nurses who cared for me.

An annual appointment at the local hospital, where they do two scans and give me results whilst I am on site. What more could I want

Sooty

[LaLa58 in reply to Ageingfast]

Hey Sooty! Thanks for sharing your journey. Wow… it must have been hard to go through that during Covid. I’m so pleased that you continue to go from strength to strength.

I’m looking forward to the day when I can sleep on my side!

[Malteasers]

Hey, I'm new too, certainly not a forum I thought I'd join but so very glad I did.I've spent hours reading through all the posts on here and have found them some informative.

My story is on 24th July last year I was at my cousin's kids 16th birthday bash, a barbecue. I wasn't drinking as I was driving.

Got home around 6pm, felt really sick and took myself off to bed assumed it was something I ate.

During the night the chest pains started, I put them down to having been sick in the night and strained a muscle throwing up!

In the morning is didn't feel too bad but by lunchtime everything changed, at that point I think deep down i knew it was a heart attack.

Ambulance to A&E .

I was treated and sent home the next day, I was diagnosed with Angina.

Had a few Angina attacks over the next few months then on Halloween 31st October I had another heart attack, had an angiogram which confirmed 3 vessels were blocked and I needed a triple bypass.

Big shock, i was in denial for a good week.

I was put on the waiting list, had several Angina attacks while waiting, had my bypass on 21st February.

If I'm being honest I'm still in denial about the whole thing and I really don't know how to feel about it all.

Good luck with your recovery and journey, here's to being our normal selves soon

[SuddenShock in reply to Malteasers]

The sick / strained muscle story sounded like my dad but he never made it (long time ago, things have changed)

I am waiting for a bypass right now, every twinge is a cause for concern but trying to ignore it as much as possible.

I hope you, LaLa58 and everyone else has a good and speedy recovery

[Snowflake01]

Hi, it's a big operation that takes a lot out of your physical and mental health, but from my experience it does get a lot better - I had a CABG x4 last year and recovering is going well.

At 9 months I'm running regularly and doing near enough everything as before if not better. Each month has seen an improvement and each month was another turning point - I think the 6 month point was when things were becoming much more normal. 3 months was when I was able to exercise more confidently.

Everyone recovers at their own pace and slowly building things up is the way to go, not over doing anything. Take advantage of any Cardio Rehab and the advice given and have plenty of rest. Take care of your diet and exercise regularly - all the usual advice!!

[LaLa58 in reply to Snowflake01]

Wow! That’s impressive and massively encouraging. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

All the best!

[OK10 in reply to Snowflake01]

Good luck. It has been 6 months since i had my cabg4 but still getting pains on my left due to muscles and nerves etc. When did your pains start to disappear plesae? Thanks.

[Snowflake01 in reply to OK10]

Must admit I think my recovery is going better than a lot of what I read on here, so feel very fortunate. Don't think we're ever 100% pain free, but I say over the 3-6 month period I was getting physically stronger and fitter without overdoing it.

At Cardio Rehab (3-6 months) I started with low loads / high reps in the gym and built from there together with plenty of walking. For me physical activity was the best way to strengthen the rib cage etc. I was pretty fit prior to the op which also helped and the exercise was quite normal.

It is a long haul, so keep fit and active would be my advice, with plenty of recovery rest. I think protein in the diet also helps to build muscle strength, which I try to do especially after exercise.

[OK10 in reply to Snowflake01]

Thanks very much gor that.