Mended Hearts Open Forum

Hello folks 

I'm 54 looking for advice. I have bypass surgery scheduled in March. Needless to say the procedure scares the crap out of me. I feel like I have a good surgeon who has experience and he is confident that I will have a good outcome but as someone who has never really had much experience with anything like this I  am struggling with trying to be positive. I have experienced Anexiety with medical things my whole life and have been on meds for awhile. Normally I can manage it prettty well but this was a complete shock and and feels so overwhelming and out of my control. 
Any idea's support or positive vibes are appreciated.

Thanks Everyone 

Hello folks 

I'm 54 looking for advice. I have bypass surgery scheduled in March. Needless to say the procedure scares the crap out of me. I feel like I have a good surgeon who has experience and he is confident that I will have a good outcome but as someone who has never really had much experience with anything like this I  am struggling with trying to be positive. I have experienced Anexiety with medical things my whole life and have been on meds for awhile. Normally I can manage it prettty well but this was a complete shock and and feels so overwhelming and out of my control. 
Any idea's support or positive vibes are appreciated.

Thanks Everyone 

Hello folks 

I'm 54 looking for advice. I have bypass surgery scheduled in March. Needless to say the procedure scares the crap out of me. I feel like I have a good surgeon who has experience and he is confident that I will have a good outcome but as someone who has never really had much experience with anything like this I  am struggling with trying to be positive. I have experienced Anexiety with medical things my whole life and have been on meds for awhile. Normally I can manage it prettty well but this was a complete shock and and feels so overwhelming and out of my control. 
Any idea's support or positive vibes are appreciated.

Thanks Everyone 

Hello folks 

I'm 54 looking for advice. I have bypass surgery scheduled in March. Needless to say the procedure scares the crap out of me. I feel like I have a good surgeon who has experience and he is confident that I will have a good outcome but as someone who has never really had much experience with anything like this I  am struggling with trying to be positive. I have experienced Anexiety with medical things my whole life and have been on meds for awhile. Normally I can manage it prettty well but this was a complete shock and and feels so overwhelming and out of my control. 
Any idea's support or positive vibes are appreciated.

Thanks Everyone 

Hello folks 

I'm 54 looking for advice. I have bypass surgery scheduled in March. Needless to say the procedure scares the crap out of me. I feel like I have a good surgeon who has experience and he is confident that I will have a good outcome but as someone who has never really had much experience with anything like this I  am struggling with trying to be positive. I have experienced Anexiety with medical things my whole life and have been on meds for awhile. Normally I can manage it prettty well but this was a complete shock and and feels so overwhelming and out of my control. 
Any idea's support or positive vibes are appreciated.

Thanks Everyone 

Hi Dale:

I was told in 2021 that I needed bypass surgery.  I had no symptoms and felt fine.  The surgeon told me I was a walking time bomb.  This was in May of that year.  The cardiologist told me I could wait until September.  This was not a good option because I would be a basket case if I waited that long to get the procedure done.  I found that speaking to other people who had the procedure made me feel better.  I was not happy about it but realized it must be done.  I was told the realities of the recovery period and also wanted to do cardiac rehab.  I was fortunate because I was always active.  The recovery period was difficult but at least I knew this going in.  It took about a year for me to get back to almost normal.  My only complaint now is that my legs feel different.  Of course, that is where they took the veins from.  I find I am not walking as fast as I used to, but I am doing pretty well and have resumed traveling (even going to Antartica).  I worked hard during rehab and when asked why, I told them that I intended to go back to traveling and handling my suitcases.  Having something to look forward to is a good incentive.  I was 71 when I had the procedure.  You are much younger than me and have a lot more years to enjoy.  It sounds like you have confidence in your surgeon.  Worry is a useless expenditure of time and energy.  Spend the effort on something productive like planning how you are going to enjoy the many years ahead of you.

Hello folks 

I'm 54 looking for advice. I have bypass surgery scheduled in March. Needless to say the procedure scares the crap out of me. I feel like I have a good surgeon who has experience and he is confident that I will have a good outcome but as someone who has never really had much experience with anything like this I  am struggling with trying to be positive. I have experienced Anexiety with medical things my whole life and have been on meds for awhile. Normally I can manage it prettty well but this was a complete shock and and feels so overwhelming and out of my control. 
Any idea's support or positive vibes are appreciated.

Thanks Everyone 

Dale,

By way of contrast to most of what you've heard about recovery time frames, I was 67 years old when I had a heart attack and then next day emergency quintuple bypass surgery.  By 3 months post surgery, I had graduated rehab and was back at NY Sports Club lifting weights with all the youngsters.  After 5 months, I was running again. The weights were baby weights at first compared to what I used to lift but, in addition to still healing from the surgery, I also was 40 pounds lighter, which affects how much you can lift.  By the end of a year, though, I was pound for pound stronger than pre-surgery.

I never did have much pain unless I coughed or sneezed and even that disappeared within weeks of the surgery.  When people ask me how sick I felt post surgery, I tell them that I was much sicker when I had measles as a kid and it wasn't even a close comparison.

Upon awakening and coming off the ventilator/breathing tube, I felt nothing but joy during this entire recovery period.  Although I came down off this high eventually (basically when I returned to my stressful job as a lawyer 3 months post surgery), I remained and remain changed forever. I am a survivor and the trivialities that bother most people around me I just don't care about anymore.

Good luck and have a strong recovery,

Ira

Hi Dale:

I was told in 2021 that I needed bypass surgery.  I had no symptoms and felt fine.  The surgeon told me I was a walking time bomb.  This was in May of that year.  The cardiologist told me I could wait until September.  This was not a good option because I would be a basket case if I waited that long to get the procedure done.  I found that speaking to other people who had the procedure made me feel better.  I was not happy about it but realized it must be done.  I was told the realities of the recovery period and also wanted to do cardiac rehab.  I was fortunate because I was always active.  The recovery period was difficult but at least I knew this going in.  It took about a year for me to get back to almost normal.  My only complaint now is that my legs feel different.  Of course, that is where they took the veins from.  I find I am not walking as fast as I used to, but I am doing pretty well and have resumed traveling (even going to Antartica).  I worked hard during rehab and when asked why, I told them that I intended to go back to traveling and handling my suitcases.  Having something to look forward to is a good incentive.  I was 71 when I had the procedure.  You are much younger than me and have a lot more years to enjoy.  It sounds like you have confidence in your surgeon.  Worry is a useless expenditure of time and energy.  Spend the effort on something productive like planning how you are going to enjoy the many years ahead of you.

Hello folks 

I'm 54 looking for advice. I have bypass surgery scheduled in March. Needless to say the procedure scares the crap out of me. I feel like I have a good surgeon who has experience and he is confident that I will have a good outcome but as someone who has never really had much experience with anything like this I  am struggling with trying to be positive. I have experienced Anexiety with medical things my whole life and have been on meds for awhile. Normally I can manage it prettty well but this was a complete shock and and feels so overwhelming and out of my control. 
Any idea's support or positive vibes are appreciated.

Thanks Everyone