By-pass surgery? Anyone had one or helped someone recover from one

[HipChick]

can you tell me what to realistic expect? BF just had his surgery today, going to be in ICU for a couple of days, then a few more days in the hospital before he is sent home.

[gizmonic]

1. My dad had a quadruple-bypass about 3 or 4 years ago

IIRC, my dad was restricted from driving & lifting anything for about 6 weeks after surgery. Also, have something prop up your BF's feet: an ottoman, pillows, or the like. My dad was instructed to keep his feet elevated when he was sent home.

After surgery, you may have the opportunity to see him in the recovery room. The nurses told me that most patients, although still under from the anesthesia, can hear what's going on so it's important to say positive things like how well they look or how great they did. I told my dad that I would have a Starbucks coffee waiting for him when he woke up. When I saw him 24 hours later, he told me he heard me mention the Starbucks!

It may be a bit of a rough go at first for your BF but, if it was like my dad's experience, I'm sure he'll improve and feel so much better.

Best of luck to your and BF!


:hug:

[HopeHoops]

2. My F-I-L had his aorta replaced from the heart to just above his kidneys.

They used teflon tubing and he was in better shape after that than he'd been in at least 20 years. Unfortunately, what did him in was an aneurism (sp?) just below the end of the tube. I drove him out to Cincinnati to have it evaluated and they refused to operate because it wasn't 5cm - insurance wouldn't cover it. It burst about three months after that. Oh, and that was a Bush-era "death panel" that made the decision.

The best advice I can give you is to keep reminding him that he DOES feel better, but that doesn't mean he can run a marathon. He'll still need to take it easy for a long time. The restoration of blood flow can be a "high" of sorts. My FIL was most emphatic about the change in how he felt and his increase in activity may have been the factor in the development of the aneurism (sp?) because the rest of his system couldn't handle the pressure. The doctors never specifically stated that, but they did heavily insinuate it.

So in a nutshell, pamper him for a while and listen closely to what they say about recovery procedures and then GET IN HIS FACE if he doesn't follow them.

[joeybee12]

3. My Dad had quadruple at age 85...

they have come a long way in this surgery...most people recover very quickly...your BF should be out of the hospital in a few days.

[wysimdnwyg]

4. Dad had a quad a few years ago.

It's not nearly as stressful as it was in the past. While there is still a lot to deal with (hole in the leg where they get the new vein/artery, a couple of holes in the chest - one for drainage, etc), he should be able to get out of bed in a day or two, then gradually build up his strength. My Dad was in the hospital for about a week, then spent a few months working his way back up to full health. His surgery was during football season, and he only missed two home games.

[siligut]

5. Used to be my job

Your BF should have a class on what he can and can't do when he gets home. Men seem to have a hard time not using their arms to support themselves, so he may need some reminding. Best thing you can do is feed him nutritious food. Protein, Zinc, Calcium and vitamin C are all needed to heal. Monitor for infection...you know, fever, redness, heat from the incision site, increased pain is also a concern, pain should decrease. Make sure he doesn't get constipated from pain med too. Good luck.

[Archae]

6. Had 5 bybasses 2 years ago.

Not fun, but I've recovered.

[zanana1]

7. I had a 6 bypass surgery when I was 38.

I don't know if it had to do with my relatively young age or the fact that, other than my arteries, I was in good shape, but I felt ready to go back to work in a month. (They wouldn't let me go for six months). I'm 58 now and still kicking; I've had no more surgery since then, though I do have to take medication. The first two weeks post-surgery were hard and I needed help. After that, physical therapy helped me with my chest/neck muscles.

[HipChick]

8. are you male or female?

[zanana1]

13. female nt

[Awsi Dooger]

9. Helped my dad after a triple bypass in '98

He took much longer to recover than most, at least 6 months. Shortness of breath including a return trip to the hospital for oxygen. Lots of pain in his upper chest, and in the right leg where the veins were used.

Dad always shakes his head and scoffs when people dismiss bypass as nothing major. He had side effects which he only recently confided. I've looked at the list of side effects and he had one after another, despite the typical low percentages.

[Silver Swan]

10. My husband had a quadruple bypass in 2002.

He was 50 at the time.

He had surgery on Tuesday and was home Friday. I took the next week off work because I didn't want him to be alone.

A visiting nurse came twice in the first week he was home, just to make sure things were okay.

He returned to work in just a month--he had a desk job, so it was within the rules his doctor had set for activity levels. He underwent cardiac rehab sessions for a few weeks, which involved supervised exercise and lessons in nutrition and activity.

He hasn't had any further problems, and he feels fine.

[applegrove]

11. I think that people who have heart surgery are at risk for emotional

changes. I don't know if it is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or what but be ready for emotional events.

[zanana1]

14. I suffered from depression after my surgery.

I was in the hospital for two weeks and I was excited about going home, but the night before I was to be released, I suddenly felt sad and the prospect of going home didn't excite me anymore. I felt like something had been taken from me; that doctors had been "fooling" with my heart. It took a few months before the depression went away. My cardiologist told me that it happens to quite a few bypass patients. Personally, I think it has alot to do with the bypass machine.

[applegrove]

15. Glad you are doing great now.

[zanana1]

16. Thank you, applegrove.

That was thoughtful of you.

[gvstn]

12. My mom had triple bypass a few years ago after a heart attack.

She had a relatively easy recovery. A few days in ICU and a week in the hospital. She was 69 at the time and in a wheelchair so she spent a week or two in a nursing home to regain strength and begin cardio-physical therapy. Then a visiting physical therapist for a few weeks and then she started cardio-rehab physical therapy at a local center. When the physical therapy sessions ended after the insurance quit we joined a gym together and kept up on the exercise for 2 years before other health problems got us off schedule.

She said she had very little pain overall. A little uneasy feeling in her chest when lying in bed sometimes (which is common for any chest surgery. I know I felt things in my chest for over a year just from having a chest-tube put in for a collapsed lung--but I'm a wimp when it comes to pain).

Someone else mentioned a psychological component and I think that is probably very real for many people. Our hospital had support groups for bypass patients that must be well attended because they made a big deal about it. The member we talked to had been in the group for 20 years. My mom is of the type, "I don't want to think about things like that now that it is over", so she had no interest in joining.

Bill Clinton had his surgery about a year after my mother had hers and I must say his surgery seems to have taken quite a bit more out of him than her surgery did her. She actually has a bit more energy after her surgery where Bill looks a bit more fragile.

I guess my mom's surgeon said it best, "We do our best but we can't put you back together as well as God made you."

Overall, I don't think the situation should be that hard after the first couple of weeks. But if the surgery came out of the blue due to a heart attack it may take quite a while for your BF to fully comprehend and accept what has happened to him. Let's face it, bypass may have come a long way in recent years but they still crack open your chest and remove your heart for a period of time. It is no small assault on your body. It takes a while to regain confidence after such a trauma.

I wish both of you good luck over the next few weeks.