Triple bypass surgery

(((Hugs))))

I have no experience with heart surgery, but know how terrifying it can be to await major surgery. I don’t blame you for being very anxious.

You and your surgeons are in my prayers.

My father had it. The first day he was sedated and the second day he was up and yelling for coffee and asking to shit. LOL seriously though, for such a major surgery it was not as hideous as we thought. He had pain and was very fatigued for maybe Three months as he healed. He did everything his doc said and had no complications at all. He did say the sternum repair was weird and he often felt it at first. He rapidly got healthier compared to his pre surgery condition. It was a very positive experience and he did extremely well with it.

A word for your family: when they take them back to see you after you come out of surgery it can be distressing, a lot of tubes and machines, and you will be sedated still and on a ventilator. Being prepared for that saved me some grief and the improvement in the next 24 hours was rapid.

That must be scary for you. I hope it all goes well and you're up and about quickly.

The only experience I've had is my dad's best mate several years ago. He went to the doctor for a routine heart check - next thing we know he's in hospital having a triple bypass. He'd had no symptoms, and no idea that anything was wrong. They did an amazing job and he was back up and going better than ever. I go to the football him, his son and my dad every week, and he is probably the fittest out of all of us!  You wouldn't know that he's 77yo - he seems so much younger and he's so active.

The hardest part for me was seeing him on all kinds of support equipment post surgery before being taken off sedation. I am a medical mom too but wow that was shocking.

My Dad had it done too and the thought of it is very scary! Like others have said, you'll be sedated the first day. The nurse prepared us for what we'd see and very basically told us seeing him was for our benefit to see he was ok, but he wouldn't have any recollection. After we saw him she told us to go home because he wouldn't be with it until the next day.

He was up and about pretty quickly and other than being tired while recovering he bounced back pretty quickly. After he'd recovered, he said he felt better than he'd felt in 10 years!!

Good luck, hoping you'll quickly be on the other side of this and feeling well.

I can offer some information. It will be 2 years in January since I had a major heart attack and 2 weeks later, quadruple bypass surgery. Honestly, the waiting in the hospital for the bypass surgery was the worst of the experience. And stay off the internet -the images an be daunting to look at.

Since you are able to prepare, I would recommend 3 things. Get some hook front sport bras, a size up, to wear as you recover. I seriously couldn't wear a bra for several weeks, and was so uncomfortable because of that, (and definitely wanted to wear something when I was out and about). I wore the sports bras for 4 months, before I felt comfortable in regular bras.

Get a wedge type pillow. You cannot sleep on your sides for 6 months while the sternum heals. I was a side sleeper, and this made getting sleep difficult when I got home. It will be uncomfortable to get up and down, and in and out of bed, because your upper body is so weak.

If you color your hair, get it done shortly before surgery. My hair was resistant to color for 6 months after surgery and the grey was getting thick!

You will be on vent etc, for first 24 hours or so while in CCICU, and they will get you up walking and moving as soon as you are in a room. Take advantage of that. You could still be on oxygen, monitors, and drain tubes, but mine all got piled on wheel chair, and I held on to it to walk. Also, there will be an aide, or someone to walk with you (or a family member). I was told to walk 3 laps 3x a day. I was walking that per hour after 24 hours. A good friend spent a lot of time helping me, and taking a lots of notes, (and was a retired cardiac care nurse, so she knew what to ask). I also had a great nurse, who was aware when I was getting discouraged and frustrated. On the fifth day, after surgery, she got me in the shower, and washed my hair, and that was the best thing that helped me move forward.

I have a high pain thresh hold, but the incision is uncomfortable, and there is bone pain from the sternum. You may also have incision on the leg, and wrist from the vein harvest. But most surgeons don't use stitches or staples anymore, and that make the incisions heal quicker.

I was discharged 2 weeks after surgery, but since I live alone, had to stay with nurse friend for three days. Visiting nurses came each day, then when I was home, medical equipment was installed, that watched bp, heart rate, weight, etc, and reported them to hospital several times a day. You cannot drive for 6 weeks, but when riding in the car, take your pillow! (for the bumps!)

Your surgeon and cardiologist will determine when you can start cardiac rehab, but it is so important to be faithful to attending every session of that program. Meanwhile, there are exercises that you can do at home to help strengthen upper body as soon as Dr. oks it.

I went back to work 12 weeks after my surgery, and I have a very physical job. I had lifting restrictions, and still have some weight limitations as to how much I can lift above my head. The longest side effect is the tiredness that comes as a side effect from the anesthetic. It took months before I didn't need afternoon naps.

I actually don't feel the surgery itself is that bad. I think the recovery is harder because you actually don't feel ill. Just follow the Drs and listen to what your body tells you, and it should be a success. This is now a common procedure and is so well developed that there should be little concern.

I hope your surgery and recovery are a success.

My father had a quintuple bypass in April. He had his procedure at the Cleveland Clinic, and they have this down to a science. As part of pre-op procedures they gave him a great deal of material to read to prepare for what to expect, down to pretty much every last detail. While he was in surgery, my mom and sister were regularly updated through text to let them know where they were in the procedure. They even attended a class, while the surgery was occurring, where they learned about what to expect post-surgery and when they saw him for the first time. 

His procedure was delayed, so he wasn't out of the operating room and into recovery until maybe around 5:00? Then they weren't able to see him until around 8:30 or so when he was moved into his ICU room. He was sedated and very swollen at that point. Per protocol, they could not stay long. They went home and returned the next morning (my sister told me that my mom was actually avoiding going back, as she was not sure what to expect). He was conscious about a couple of hours after they left that night. My mom was notified when he regained consciousness. He was in a little bit of pain from the intubation, and was sucking on some ice chips. 

The next day he was in good spirits. When my mom got there, he asked her if she would get him an iced coffee from Starbucks. He was only allowed to drink liquids for a couple of days. He was able to talk to me on the phone. He honestly sounded great. 

He had very little difficulty recovering and needed very little pain medication post-surgery. He did have the sensation of feeling cold all of the time and was generally just a little crabby, but that's how he rolls. It took a few weeks before he was feeling pretty much back to normal. He did remark to me that he felt the recovery was much easier than his knee surgery had been. That procedure was painful and he had side-effects from the pain medications. He also lost a fair amount of weight after that. 

He did not get into rehab until about two months after his procedure (no joke-- the list was long), but he went regularly and he honestly loved it. He made some new friends and he liked the exercise. 

I am confident that you will be in good hands, too. Best of luck to you. I believe that knowledge is power, and knowing what you might expect is a good thing. 

My dad had a double bypass surgery when he was 48 years old (heart disease runs in his family). He recovered from it pretty well though he did get a bit depressed dealing with the pain a couple of days after the surgery. Overall, he is doing well and is now in his late 60s.

Sending you positive thoughts and wishes for a quick recovery.

No advice, just sending my best wishes your way.

I’ve never had the surgery but was an open heart nurse in the CVICU for 30 years before I retired in 2018. In our unit, we extubated as soon as possible, usually within 4 hours. Then up in the chair for a couple of hours then to step down the following day. I was always generous with Morphine and Oxcodone. Ice chips as soon as you are extubated then working up to clear liquids. Chest tubes and lines out first day post op, if all is going well. Most of the first night is a blur and many patients don’t even remember it. If you would like to PM me, I could try to answer any questions you might have.

Janet

Sorry for the double post. My iPad is being stinky today!

Janet

Thanks for the update. You really will feel better. Your body and mind have gone through a major ordeal, they need to recover as do you mentally too!

((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))