back to basics...
HI, everyone. I just joined the group. I had my operation 5 weeks ago and my 4x bypass went well. I feel a lot better (I'm 61 and had a bad year of angina fatigue up to the operation here in London UK.) I find the postings here are interesting but a little too specific - I just want to compare my experience with others and get an overview of how things can be expected to go in the next 6 months. E.g I gotta get back to work in January! Any chance we could just get back to basics? How soon did you feel good again? How soon did your incisions heal up? My leg is healing up nicely, but my chest is still sensitive and tender. How soon does it settle down? Do the scars remain pink or go white and tough? This is an English winter starting: should I plan to go and lie in the sun somewhere? Or is that a terrible idea? I feel gratitude to my young surgeon and wrote him a really nice letter - is that normal? Maybe those who are upbeat about their surgery could comment to help those of us new to the Zipper Club.
Hi "Londoner" I am 61 also. I wouldn't think lying in the sun would be too good. We all need to walk, walk, and walk. Also, I have seen the scar on another woman which has changed to white. At six months mine is still pink but not as pink and I am relatively pain free. If I do too much or lift something way too heavy at work, my body lets me know. My depression got a bit worse so the doctor upped it 10mg and I am feeling better for it. Good healing to you! losing her ribbons as well as her whiskers formerly Countess Talks Too Much
Thanks Michal - that's interesting and really helpful. I'm trying to do the walking but I get so BORED. I've never made trips that don't lead anywhere! But it's good to hear that I must really commit myself to this. I'm a long way from London at the moment - walking under the trees in a stress-free environment. But eventually I'll have to get back to the city and do my work. I just hope I can handle it... I'm James, by the way. Forgot to sign my last message. Good days ahead!
Hi James, My pep talk on walking is to encourage myself to get out there and walk. It isn't so bad walking with my dog and if I wear my headphones and play my CD it is much better. I find Cuban, Brazian, Latin, and some of the young girl singers keeps me moving. My uncle did great on his walks and was very faithful about them. He would still be with us if lung cancer hadn't knocked him out. Keep on walking. losing her ribbons as well as her whiskers formerly Countess Talks Too Much
Hi James, short answers from a 63yr old triple bypassee in Australia: * How long to feel good? I'm 11 weeks out and now feeling fitter than pre-op. Like you, fatigue was what alerted me to the problem. * Incisions healing? The big one pretty fast, maybe three weeks, but strangely the drain punctures took much longer. With legs I can't help, my surgeon used both mamary arteries. * The sensitive chest? The numbness took about 7 weeks, but it still feels strange. Apart from the bone healing there are a lot of nerves in there that got severed and they're still occasionally sending confused messages that something's wrong. My cardio said some will heal and the brain will learn to block the others out. * Scars? Depends how neat your surgeon was. Mine was great - if I ever need a suit made I'll go to him. The advice here is beware of sunburnt scars, ugly and painful, but maybe our sunshine is stronger than yours (no offence intended!) * Thank you letters? You were well brought up! I settled for a handshake at the last consultation, but we all like our work to be appreciated so why not. Overall I found breathing exercises a real help. I stopped them after a couple of weeks at home, and then realised my mistake. Walking is good, but I really recommend Rehabilitation exercise classes if they're available, they really helped. First I'm undisciplined and need a bossy physiotherapist to keep me going. Second it's good to mix with a group of veterans and share grumbles and tips (when you're feeling down it helps to know others who are having a worse time) Upbeat? I think we all have bad days. What's that strange pain? Why me? Did I really need to go through this? I'd love a piece of chocolate cake/hamburger/fourth glass of wine, and so on... But hell, I'm still alive and I'm beginning to feel better than I have for a few years. I'll bet you notice the real difference when you go back to work. Cheers, Julian