Thread: Cardiac by-pass, - Recovery time etc?

Be extremely careful in the leadup to NOT injure/scratch yourself--
the slightest hint of infection and its all off,,

My old man had a quad.
He was pretty well out of action for 2-3 months.
Take it easy.

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Friends have had bypasses and are now much healthier and happier. Are you having a human or robot surgeon? A neighbour had the robot and it was a great success.

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Would that be the 'Da Vinci' machine ? - I like the idea of a 'Minimal Invasive Surgery' approach... because it does not split the sternum (?) A mate of mine who had open surgery has been regaling me with Horror stories about how excruciatingly painful it was..and still is years later. I have a feeling that he's telling Porkies....
- I think...

On the other hand, a few hours questioning Dr Google suggests that entry wound issues and patient discharge times are improved, overall 'success' is the same as the hack & slash procedure.

Edit:- A Nurse friend of ours strongly suggested (a) Get my teeth & gums sorted out 'before', and (b) Get medication for my -mild- depression...as it may get worse before it gets better, not an uncommon reaction to surgery.

My Brother had a five bypass at the start of the year. Had not had any trouble with his heart. work hard all his life and eat well, no high blood pressure. It just came out of the blue. The call the mica until as well to attend him. They rush him in to hospital and did the operation.Was in ICU for some time, it was touch and go. When home after some time in hospital, and a few week later one of the by pass failed they say that at least one will fail. They could not redo that one again. He is on a few medication for it. So he has to take it a bit easy from now on. He is in his early 70's. But he is fine now. When all this happen he was splitting wood. Glad that he is ok now, I will have him for some more years yet. Heather

Glad he's better. Its remarkable what can be done now to fix things which once killed people.
A friend in his 70s had a triple earlier this year and is now so much better he's going to Burma and India on holiday at Christmas.

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Expect to be a bit depressed for awhile afterwards.
It's a heart/lung machine side effect.

I had a double by-pass 20 years ago. I was amazed how quickly I went down hill so fast after the surgery - I had trouble shaving when I got out of ICU and back to the ward. But I was equally amazed how quickly I recovered. Don't worry about the sternum - it may feel like you have a steel plate in your chest but there is no pain. When I first got back into the normal ward I was given a rope that was attached to the bottom of the bed to pull myself up with. I thought here was no way I was going to do that!!! But it is very easy and again, no pain. I was told that when I get home I had to walk - from memory - 100m in 30 minutes!!! First day this was all I could do, but a week later I could walk around the block. Another week later and I could do a brisk walk for a km or so. The main thing I found was to keep up the walking exercise and stay positive. Never had a real bad diet - in my case it was more of an hereditary issue - but I changed to make sure it was the best I could.
Now 20 years later I am still (reasonably) fit for a 70 year old, still try and get regular exercise and still watch my diet ( although not too strict) and my weight.
You can get some mental issues - depression, change of character, etc. But recognise them and take action with your doctor. I still take aspirin daily, now plus cholesterol and blood pressure tablets - but so do a lot of people who have never had heart surgery.
I have achieved things after my surgery that I was not game to do before I had the surgery.
I am sure that techniques and treatment have improved a lot in last 20 years. Hope all goes well for you.
Ross