Heart Bypass Surgery

Ann........ I can totally understand your feelings as I have almost identical ones. Before my surgery I was doing everything in life that I wanted to....dancing.....hiking..(walked three or more miles a day)...and basically enjoying life. Never once had any angina....no shortness of breath ..nothing that would indicate I had heart problems. One day I developed a pain in my right shoulder and went to dr when it didn't go away after a few days. From there I had a exercise stress test...and then a heart catherization. I never left the hospital as the dr said I would be dead in a week if I didn't immediately have bypass surgery which I finally agreed to after a couple of hours of tears etc. I was told I had three arteries that needed to be bypassed and not being a doctor I felt I had no options. After surgery had major organ failure and spent week on respirator. It took full year to get to a point where I felt I was going to live. Since then (5 years ago) I have never recovered to a point of being able to do any of those things I used to do before surgery. My sister who has blockages much worse than I did chose not to have surgery and instead went the route of diet and exercise (Dr Ornish) and today at 77 is doing things I can only marvel at. I would never tell anyone what to do as far as heart surgery goes.....I am NOT a doctor but if I knew back then what I know today I believe I would have at least spent some time to determine if I had any options at all. Five years ago had I had lots of symptoms and problems connected with blocked arteries I would not have hesitated to have the surgery as I have too much to live for. So Ann.....I do understand how you are feeling......I was also told that I would feel so much better after surgery.....at the time I laughed and told the dr I couldn't possibly feel any better as I was feeling great.......he looked at me like I didn't know what I was talking about. And yes I was depressed.....and bitter......about having this surgery but after five years I have to just let it go and do what I can to make life a little bit more pleasant for those living close to me......everyone remarked on how my personality changed and I had become a real "witch"..... But it finally hit me that I had to let it go and get on with life........ I don't normally talk about my problems with this surgery but I did want you to know that you are not alone in your feelings....... carol