Triple bypass shock

Will do. Thanks for the support

that is awful. I am trying to get my head around and I know it is my only chance and doing nothing is not an option. I don't understand why there is nothing they can do for you. I am going to take this chance but feel so much for you

i must have missed something in this conversation because i dont understand why they would say they cant do anything. Surely not just because of your age..

thank you for that response. I am scared but the more I hear from others who have gone through this the better it is. I get breathless and have a tight feeling in the upper stomach when I walk. I can't go up hills anymore so I know I need this operation or the alternative is as you say. The chest opening and the stopping of the heart during the operation are the worst aspects to contemplate. You mention the first month is tough. Can you tell me in what ways was it tough as I want to be aware of all aspects of what is coming.

It differs from person to person, but you have to view surgery as though your body has been given a bit of a beating. Your body doesn't know that this is for your good...some people sail on through, others take their time to recover. Your experience will be unique. And you're perhaps better not pre-empting what may or may not happen. You'll be in good, capable hands!

In

In my dad's case, he had some bone discomfort in his ribs and he was very tired and breathless for quite a while. But once he was on the mend, he went to cardiac rehab and improved greatly. It takes time, but be patient and kind to yourself.

The couple of days after my op it was a bit of a struggle to sit up but other than that okay except for the very sore back i had. I had to take panadol osteo for about two weeks straight. Then i was in a bit of a daze for another few weeks due to medication and i watched foxtel all day and wondered if it was going to be out-of-it forever. But i was not. Am now 5 years down the track and all is good.

Hopefully I am generally fit enough to be able to cope with the beating.i think my problem now is the wait to get this done. I was informed it will up to a 3 month wait which is hard to cope with.

Yes...so try and take it easy and try and use the time, to make simple lifestyle choices (if you need to...of course not everyone does). Plan for your life post-recovery when you can walk again...and also the huge relief you'll feel when you wake up knowing the worst is over.

Try not to google! I know it's hard, but very little good can come from googling this disease. You just end up scaring yourself....far better to get your info from your GP and support group. Post here too...you'll get loads of support.

Hi Again

the tough bits were that I am a side sleeper and you have to sleep on your back for a few weeks at first (which means that I did not sleep well for over a month! Makes you very irritable and grumpy to be sround. Also you have to hug a pillow and not use your hands to push off when getting up from a chair as you can pop your wires holding hour sternum together. I had no real pain, but a lot of discomfort, it felt like I had a six inch piece of barbed wire buttoned down the front of my shirt. Slowly gets better as the weeks and months go by and the sternum fuses and heals, but it was uncomfortable and annoying at the time. All is good these days and the last 4 years have flown by.I.

Thanks for that. I side sleep as a ell so maybe a problem in the offing there. Also how on earth do you get up from a chair if you can't push yourself up with your hands?

thats exactly what I have been doing googling and scaring myself. The cutting of the rib cage and the stopping of the heart are the 2 things that petrify my most. I have joined a support group to hopefully meet others who have faced this though visits to the GP are next to useless.

Dont stress too much, the nurses and medical team will show you all the tricks of the trade, but basically you hug the pillow, rock back then forward and push off with your thighs into a standing position. It doesn't take long to become an expert lol. As for sleeping a recliner type armchair is a big help. I had a brother in law that leant me one for a couple of months.