Relative going into surgery
Hi there, My brother is going in for quadruple bypass surgery tomorrow. I am very freaked out as he is only 41. He had the angiogram today and they could not do the stents because he has too many blockages. I am in a different state but am wonder if you can tell me how long it will take him to recover, etc. How long do the bypasses last and will he be able to resume an active life after or will he have to really watch it. Thanks Sarah
Everybody's different. I was fairly athletic up until a few months before angioplasty, then not so for the following 18 months, when I had my CABG at age 43. My recovery was 'fast track' . 7 or 8 weeks later took my first jog - up Mt Royal in Montreal - not too hard, just to get the feel of running again. Harold
Sarah: I had CABGx4 almost two years ago at age 45. Your brother is not alone. In my case recovery from the acute stage took about two months during which time there will be good days and bad days. Nobody knows for sure how the bypasses will last. You might be unlucky and have problems right away. My cardiologist says I should be good for at least 10-15 years, maybe longer. I personally believe that I will need another major tune up by age 65. Maybe they will never need to be redone (unlikely). The good news is that in the future any necessary procedure is likely to be less invasive, i.e. medicine, laser, laparoscopic. Regarding life after CABG, with the proper medicine, doctor, diet, exercise and lifestyle changes you can return to near normal. About the only thing I no longer do is lift very heavy objects. I am now beginning training to run a 6:30 mile on the second anniversary of my surgery. Have your brother join us at this group for helpful advice along the way. Dave
My massive heart attack caused heart damage that is of course why its called massive : ) ..Being on the vent for 11 days left me with COPD.. My cardiologist said I wont live through another surgery..sooo.. I feel like my family thinks i should be better then ever when in fact i guess IM better then dead .. i have nerve damage from diabetes so i cant walk far and my balance isn't the best so i cant walk alone.. i would like to go to the Y and use the pool i think its my best choice for exercise ..maybe i could do a little bike or tread mill .. not sure on what pain level that would produce and i cant use much pain meds because it depresses my breathing..i eat only what i am allowed but i gained 20 lbs in the last year because IM not active ..IM dependent on everyone else to do these things and although i have a supportive family my husband is tired and works plus does everything .. my daughter got married and isn't interested in anything but herself..i probably sound like IM whining but i just feel like i was given extended time for what? i felt better before I am NOT better then ever like they kept telling me in ICU ...IM bored.. IM full of disappointments and feel like IM beating my head against a brick wall ..so maybe family members feel that way also .. so maybe some second chances are just prolonging what some of us might have been better off with.. Rose jump-started march 20th 2003 4xbypass mar 21st 2203
In a message dated 3/7/03 5:45:03 AM, abbersmom@... writes: Sarah-- I am 38 and had my 5xbypass about 10 weeks ago. While resuming an active life was the LAST thing on my mind after surgery, cardiac rehab is helping me be more active than I was before the whole thing happened. Based on everything I've read and been told, it takes about a year to feel like you're hitting on all cylinders....BUT I already feel better than I did at the beginning of December. Total recovery (and reversal of the disease) is a long road. It's made much easier by the support of family and friends. Dana Thanks Dana. He just got out of surgery and his heart is beating on its own, so the worst part is over hopefully.
Regarding life after CABG, with the proper medicine, doctor, diet, exercise and lifestyle changes you can return to near normal. About the only thing I no longer do is lift very heavy objects. I am now beginning training to run a 6:30 mile on the second anniversary of my surgery. Have your brother join us at this group for helpful advice along the way. I will definitely tell him about the group. Sounds like you are doing well.:) Sarah