Mended Hearts Open Forum

Hello all!

I had an emergency double bypass 10 days ago.  I'm 51f.  I've been home for 5 days and I'm doing... satisfactory.  I am slightly dizzy and unstable while walking and it makes me nervous to move around too much.  I've put in a call to the cardiologist to see what's going on with that. 

I am still tired a lot and I can only walk 6 or 7 minutes at a time.  Was it the same for you?

Hello all!

I had an emergency double bypass 10 days ago.  I'm 51f.  I've been home for 5 days and I'm doing... satisfactory.  I am slightly dizzy and unstable while walking and it makes me nervous to move around too much.  I've put in a call to the cardiologist to see what's going on with that. 

I am still tired a lot and I can only walk 6 or 7 minutes at a time.  Was it the same for you?

Hi Karin,

I know it's a scary time right now. You've just gone through a very traumatic event. There is definitely an adjustment period post surgery where your mind and your body are trying to accept this new reality. I had the all of the same symptoms you're experiencing and probably drove the staff at my surgeon's office crazy with calls saying "This is what I'm experiencing. Is that normal?". One of the things you'll learn from Mended Hearts is that everyone's recovery experience is different. Some breeze right through it and are back to 100% in no time while others, like me, take more time. It truly is an exercise in patience with yourself and your body but as long as you listen to your doctor and rely on your support group (family, friends, etc.), you'll make it through just fine. You're off to a good start by coming here. One area where I feel the hospital, doctors and nurses failed me was by not preparing me for the psychological after-effects that come with open heart surgery. If I hadn't stumbled across this group purely by accident I don't know what I would have done. It was truly a blessing. The encouragement and support of all the members here who have walked the same path you are just beginning will help tremendously.

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Feel free to reach out anytime you need someone to talk to that's been where you are.

Best regards,

Brett

Hello all!

I had an emergency double bypass 10 days ago.  I'm 51f.  I've been home for 5 days and I'm doing... satisfactory.  I am slightly dizzy and unstable while walking and it makes me nervous to move around too much.  I've put in a call to the cardiologist to see what's going on with that. 

I am still tired a lot and I can only walk 6 or 7 minutes at a time.  Was it the same for you?

Hello all!

I had an emergency double bypass 10 days ago.  I'm 51f.  I've been home for 5 days and I'm doing... satisfactory.  I am slightly dizzy and unstable while walking and it makes me nervous to move around too much.  I've put in a call to the cardiologist to see what's going on with that. 

I am still tired a lot and I can only walk 6 or 7 minutes at a time.  Was it the same for you?

Hello all!

I had an emergency double bypass 10 days ago.  I'm 51f.  I've been home for 5 days and I'm doing... satisfactory.  I am slightly dizzy and unstable while walking and it makes me nervous to move around too much.  I've put in a call to the cardiologist to see what's going on with that. 

I am still tired a lot and I can only walk 6 or 7 minutes at a time.  Was it the same for you?

Marilyn,

An ideal summary for post surgery recovery. Be patient, follow your doctor's suggestions on exercise and continue a healthy long term recovery

Victor Fabry

Hello all!

I had an emergency double bypass 10 days ago.  I'm 51f.  I've been home for 5 days and I'm doing... satisfactory.  I am slightly dizzy and unstable while walking and it makes me nervous to move around too much.  I've put in a call to the cardiologist to see what's going on with that. 

I am still tired a lot and I can only walk 6 or 7 minutes at a time.  Was it the same for you?

Hello all!

I had an emergency double bypass 10 days ago.  I'm 51f.  I've been home for 5 days and I'm doing... satisfactory.  I am slightly dizzy and unstable while walking and it makes me nervous to move around too much.  I've put in a call to the cardiologist to see what's going on with that. 

I am still tired a lot and I can only walk 6 or 7 minutes at a time.  Was it the same for you?

Hi Karin,

Welcome! I'm so happy you found this group. I received SO MUCH support from everyone on here during my recovery.

Your story sounds very similar to mine. March 2019 I was feeling small, sharp pains in my chest, I went to the ER and was told it may be indigestion but to follow up with a cardiologist. In April I had a stress test and was told it was abnormal. First part of May I went in for an angio and when I woke up, I was being admitted for OHS the next morning. Wow, what a surprise! I ended up having a double bypass at the age of 54. I just recently celebrated my 5-year heartiversary!

You're very early on in your recovery. Be patient, take your time and more importantly be easy on yourself. In the very beginning I would walk 3x a day, only walking about three houses down from mine and back, then slowing increasing it each week. My husband was always there to remind me I was doing better than the previous week. 

Ah yes, the psychological effects! The "cardiac blues" hit me pretty hard around the 3-month mark! Not to mention my Dr had me off work for 6 months. I actually fell into a depression. Luckly, there were and still are so many wonderful members from this group that helped me through that time, along with the cardiac rehab nurses who had suggested I see a therapist to help as well. They said this type of surgery has a way of shaking things up inside of you. 

Be patient, you'll get there and please reach out if needed! Wishing you well during your recovery! You got this!

Michelle

Hello all!

I had an emergency double bypass 10 days ago.  I'm 51f.  I've been home for 5 days and I'm doing... satisfactory.  I am slightly dizzy and unstable while walking and it makes me nervous to move around too much.  I've put in a call to the cardiologist to see what's going on with that. 

I am still tired a lot and I can only walk 6 or 7 minutes at a time.  Was it the same for you?

Hello all!

I had an emergency double bypass 10 days ago.  I'm 51f.  I've been home for 5 days and I'm doing... satisfactory.  I am slightly dizzy and unstable while walking and it makes me nervous to move around too much.  I've put in a call to the cardiologist to see what's going on with that. 

I am still tired a lot and I can only walk 6 or 7 minutes at a time.  Was it the same for you?

Hi Karin,

Your post surgical experience sounds pretty normal.  The physical trauma from the surgery is the biggest hurdle to recover from.  In my case, after triple BP and Mitral replacement, it was 6 months before I started feeling kinda normalish.  I say kinda because the nerve impulse flashes in my chest muscle tissue didn't stop until around 10 months.  I'm 13 months post surgery now and the only thing I'm still feeling is slight tenderness at the incision, which is related to the sternum and wire closure. 

It takes time.  Do the cardio rehab and give yourself all the time you need to heal at your pace.

Hello all!

I had an emergency double bypass 10 days ago.  I'm 51f.  I've been home for 5 days and I'm doing... satisfactory.  I am slightly dizzy and unstable while walking and it makes me nervous to move around too much.  I've put in a call to the cardiologist to see what's going on with that. 

I am still tired a lot and I can only walk 6 or 7 minutes at a time.  Was it the same for you?