Hi Ralph,
Welcome to the group! You're not alone in how you are feeling. I think a lot of us in this group have been where you are. Trust me when I say it does get better and easier, it just takes time. Be patient with yourself, you'll get there : )
I had a double bypass May of 2019. It took me a little over a year until I felt myself again. I had a collapsed lung as well and remember the pain like it was yesterday. Keep doing your breathing exercises and walks.
Sometimes you just have to tell yourself, "Get up, dress up, show up and never give up." There were many times in the beginning that I had to remind myself of that saying. One time when I was driving home from rehab (it was a 2 hour drive each way) there was a small sign off to the side of the road that said, "Don't give up." It was very strange but I knew then things were going to get better. I just had to be more patient with my recovery.
I developed some depression/anxiety around my third month. I started seeing a therapist to help me through those times. Once you start the cardiac rehab program you will also start feeling better not just physically but emotionally as well.
You will find this group is full of so many wonderful members with a lot of great advice/support. I wish you well during your recovery! You'll get there, we are all here for you!
Michelle
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michelle leverett
Ridgecrest CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-19-2020 18:20
From: Ralph Pena
Subject: CABG
Hello. I'm one week post-op after a quad bypass procedure. I'm 58 and was relatively active. I had no symptoms, no chest pains, nothing. What I felt was the sensation of squirting liquid in my left chest -- something like filling a balloon with water, puncturing it with a pin, and then squeezing the liquid out. It wasn't painful, just strange. My primary doctor suggested we check it out anyway, so he sent to me a cardiologist. This was in February 2020. The cardiologist sent me to get a stress test, which I technically "failed" because I couldn't get my heart rate high enough. He then suggested a CT Scan -- but then COVID-19 happened, and I couldn't get an appointment at the hospital.
Fast forward to August, and my CT Scan came back with a calcium score of 2,600. That seemed to send the docs into overdrive. Next was an angiogram for stenting, but while in there, the doctor found more blockage than stents can fix. And so I have open heart surgery.
A week later, everything hurts. Part of lung collapsed and breathing is not easy. I work with my incentive spirometer, and have taken short walks around the block -- very slowly. Today, I started dwelling on why I needed to do this to myself. I sadder, and less interested in getting out of bed. I have a meeting with my doctors tomorrow, and will bring this up.
Has anyone else experienced this kind of sadness?
Ralph
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Ralph Pena
Director
MYTC
New York NY
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