Heart Bypass Surgery

Dear listers, After nearly two and a half year post bypass I thought I'd visit you again, just to catch up how everyone is and tell you how I am. I hope that you are all doing fine and working hard towards recovery! For those who don't remember me, I live in South Africa and had my double bypass and reconstructive heart surgery on 28 August 2003, a couple of post-surgery CVA's on 30 August 2003, all at the age of 52. The CVA's left me with a right sided deficit, mainly my leg, which is spastic and without sensation but still functional and under my control. Recovery is ongoing and I am quite positive that I'll regain more function, and hopefully some feeling, as time passes. I recently turned 55 and have become a fitness-junkie since the heart surgery. I attend a biokinetic gym 5 times per week and do roughly 45 minutes cardio work daily (static bike, step machine, rower and orbital trainer alternatively) and 30 minutes stretches and strength exercises also daily. My assessment results started at a miserable 35% (red) in January 2004 and has since improved to 81,6% in February 2006. I am aiming for 86% (gold) in June. Walking is very important and I try to walk a couple of miles outdoors every week. I am sticking to the heart foundation diet and have come to like it. Every two weeks I visit a physiotherapist to help manage the muscles in my right leg. Next week I hope to add swimming to my fitness regime if my local fitness centre will accept my membership. Due to regular walking the pulses in my ankles are quite strong again and PAD seems to be under control. The scar on my chest is no longer red, but still a bit raised in the centre and I'm wondering whether I should have that fixed so that I can wear v-neck tops again. The scar on my leg is all but gone. And I feel great, which is the main thing, I guess. For two years after my bypass, and despite rigorous exercising, statins and a wholesome diet, my cholesterol was still spiralling out of control every few weeks until a few months ago. I suffer from familial hypercholesterolaemia and was finally put on 40mg Lipitor and 10mg Ezetrol which made my cholesterol levels much more respectable. I have started using hawthornberry extract regularly to help my vascular system cope. Just thought I'd let everyone know that there is life beyond bypass! Gerda Pieterse South Africa "I like living I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow But through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing" -- Agatha Christie -- -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.1.2/274 - Release Date: 2006/03/03

Hi Everyone, My name is Pam and like the subject said - my mom is having triple bypass next Tuesday. My mom is a widow and so my brother and I will be taking care of her post surgery. She will be staying at home but we are pretty close by and she has lots of friends that are within blocks. Could you pass along any helpful tips as to what she may need for us to do to help her out? She is young (59) and fiercely independant - so I don't want to go overboard and make her feel like someone is completely taking over but at the same time she will have lifting/mobility issues (she has advanced Rheumatoid arthritis as well) I had thought about buying paper plates and keeping them at counter level so that she wouldn't have to do dishes and could reach them easily. We have made arrangements for someone to take out & put back her trash cans. I'm going to be out there at least once a week to help with grocery shopping and general housecleaning. A few of her friends are retired and are making plans to bring lunches so they can eat and chat together. Any advice would be wonderful. I've also been perusing the archives as much as I can. Thanks Pam

My mother had a triple bypass in dec and a 2nd sx for infection in the sternum in jan. she is still have a very tough time recovering due to other health issues (diabetes, anti-biotic induced colitis, etc) my question is I have an issue with one of her doctors, not giving her the correct treatment. I live in nevada and check online and called reno to find out about her license, and there seems to be know record of her having a license to pratice in Nevada. Does anyone know if she would have a license under another name (such as maiden) and how I find out? I want to be absolutely sure about this before I talk to a lawyer. Thanks for all your help. Cheryl

Hi All, I was in the British Army in 1970 & was diagnosed with Rheumatic fever. This resulted in a medical discharge & an army disability pension of 20%. I was told this was because I could have heart problems later. The question I have is, I know that there is a link to heart valve problems and heart muscle scarring but does anyone know if there is any evidence linking coronary artery desease to it. I am looking to take early retirement (age 53) and if I can demonstrate a link to my 5x bypass I can apply for an increase in the army pension which would realy help. Thanks in advance. Keith.

Hi my mom just had a quad. bypass one week ago. She is doing ok I think. Some edema yet in her leg from the grafts-and some sob at times. I have been reading a lot about the sternum incisions coming open and such! Yikes that scares me-I though they wired you shut pretty good! LOL--I am glad I read that though-My mom would definatly know or feel it if she ever does this then right?? That is scary- Thank you to anyone who send me advise-I am her somewhat only caretaker! Michelle

Hi All, I am a 44 year old man and have had a heart cath a few days ago and was told I needed a triple bypass. I have had a Pancreas and Kidney transplant in 4/2002 and all is very good with that. I was slowly gaining weight and was easily tired when walking etc. So,,,,after several years of Docs suggesting the weight was the problem I am at a triple bypass surgery. I am curious/concerned about what to expect after surgery.ie,,pain,length of tubes,tests etc Thanmks Biggie

My dh (44yo)had bypass surgery(4 bypasses) last Sunday, he finally came home yesterday(had problems with fluid in the lungs)..I am pretty scared as I dont know what is normal pain and whats not.He still has pretty bad chest pain and coughing alot.Today he had a coughing fit and said he felt something pop really hard. It wasnt real painful but he is pretty concerned..Anyone have any ideas? Also he is very bloated(his stomach) and has alot of fluid in his legs, is this normal? Im sorry for the questions, there is noone to talk too and we live an hour from the hospital so that makes it scary too...Thanks Cece

I just need to know that this is normal..One minute he is doing really well and the next he is feeling very bad with muscle spasms and trembling..Is there anything I can do to help this...I am so tired I havent slept for two nights more then an hour at a time.I feel like Im on the edge, ready to make that 911 call at any time. How do you spouses handle all this stress and pressure?

Nancy, Can't imagine dealing with this when my kids were younger. Luckily my boys are 23, 19, and 12. The older 2 were a tremendous help with their younger brother this summer when their dad got sick. My biggest worry is that the middle one is in college and I'm concerned about the finances. My husband used up much of his sick time over the summer and we had to go a month without any income until he could jump on long term disability. Things are better now but how do you manage? Even though we've got medical insurance, there are all these copays and prescription drugs. It seems like I just refill the 3 month supply of one drug and it gets dropped or they switch him to something else. Do you worry about the health of your kids? Have they been tested for this same problem? My 23 yr old continues to have the worst diet and he is the most similar to his father. He can eat anything but doesn't gain a pound. Not much I can do except push the healthy stuff on him as much as I can (without him knowing it!) The hard part is I don't know what the doctors should look for in them. One other question for eveyone . . . has anybody ever heard of a link between lyme disease and coronary artery disease? One of my husband's visiting nurses after surgery mentioned that to me. My husband was diagnosed with lyme back about 8-10 years ago and my oldest son was diagnosed just 5 yrs ago. My son still has some lasting issues - he was left undiagnosed for 3+ years. They are both in the woods all of the time - hunting and fishing and we live in an area that has a high incidence of lyme. That's another reason I worry about my oldest son.

Hi all, A quick intro. I am a 53 yr old male, British but living in Malaysia where I had my quintuple bypass last August. Overall I think my progress to date has been quite good, returning to my office job after 3 months and able to swim 2 lengths of the pool & walk on treadmill at a brisk pace for 20 mins without any negative symptoms. My question to you all is - I have been having some apparent problems with my medications 1st with bruising when on Plavix & Casprin so the doc took me off Plavix so I am currently only on Casprin & Lipitor. A week ago a small pin prick rash appeared an my legs and progressed to my arms as well. None on face or body. I went back to the hospital & apparently this is capilary bleeding which the consultant thought could be a reaction to either the Casprin or Lipitor so I was refered to the haematologist. He took a blood test & was concerned that my platelet count was too low. The test showed it was OK though. I am now waiting for the results from a more detailed blood test. Have any of you experienced anything like this? All views appreciated. Regards Keith - alive and KICKING!