Hi @Lazell123 - yes I had a quadruple heart bypass in March 2013. Of course I was apprehensive, but the way I viewed it was that after the op, I could look forward to having more energy. Obviously it's a major op and it takes between 6-12 weeks to be fully functioning again, but it wasn't as bad as I had feared.I have been type 1 for 54 years, since the age of 3. Within the next few months I will be having heart by pass surgery. I'm absolutely terrified. Has anyone out there had this type of surgery? Can you please tell me what to expect and give me any advice?
Hello robert72. You have made me feel much better. My friends & family have all reassured me and been very supportive, but none of them have experienced this operation and none of them are type 1. So thank you for helping me and thank you for the advice about the cushion.Hi @Lazell123 - yes I had a quadruple heart bypass in March 2013. Of course I was apprehensive, but the way I viewed it was that after the op, I could look forward to having more energy. Obviously it's a major op and it takes between 6-12 weeks to be fully functioning again, but it wasn't as bad as I had feared.
They don't bring you round after the op, just let the anaesthetic wear off naturally, it's bit like being in a dream although you know what's happened. I didn't come round until the following day, spent one day in ICU and then one day in HDU, then I was on a ward for 3 days during which they made sure I got up and moved around before being discharged.
I didn't really suffer from any bad pain and was mostly just on paracetamol and codeine.
My best advice would be: if you need to cough or sneeze in the first few weeks, grab a cushion or pillow tightly to your chest
Hello Enclave. Thank you for sharing your experience with me. You've made me feel much better about it. Thank you.Hi @Lazell123
I had my bypass op 23 years ago ... My op did not go quite to plan and I was in a coma for three days after .. then came to and in high dependent ward for the remaining 4 days. I think just about everything went wrong for me .. they could not start my heart during the surgery .. After I got home I had a major allergy to one of the tablets I was sent home with.
Why am I sharing this with you ... well because I am still here .. and fighting fit
I was not diabetic at the time of my op (T2 now) When I had my op there was a diabetic on the ward with us. He got the best of attention .. special meals and the nurses seem to really understand what was needed diabetes wise. In fact he recovered a lot faster than I did !!
Try to to stress out to much .. They don't do theses ops if you don't need it .. so in the mean time stay away from anyone who may have a cold or flu .. Yes it hurts a bit .. but not forever
Hello mikeg1964. Thank you for reassuring me. I'm not terrified now - just frightened.I got stuck for almost a month in the cardiac ward of a London hospital,although I did not have any cardiac surgery myself...long story but I met lots of patients arriving and leaving after their bypass operations. I was surprised how well and fast they recovered after surgery. Some were in their eighties and up and about and home in no time.
my sister had a quad bypass. Her recovery was about 3 months. I think the scar on her leg took the longest to heal because she got an infection. Make sure you look after the leg and that theres no pets etc in your room.
Try keep your blood sugar as near to normal from now till the op. Good luck and let us know how you got on after the op. I am sure it will all go well. Doctors are truly amazing.
Same here. I once was having a hypo. I called the nurse and she brought me the smallest glass of Orange Juice!I found that the hospital food was quite high carb, limited choice for breakfast ,bread and cereal. I developed my T1 during my first stay ,none of the health professionals could tell me the number of carbs in a meal. Also on a second hospital stay they put my insulin in a locked medication box in my room. Also they were quite casual about bg testing had to remind them. I have been in 4 different hospitals over the past year and the diabetic care is well below what one would be comfortable with.
Same here. I once was having a hypo. I called the nurse and she brought me the smallest glass of Orange Juice!
She took ages to bring it too....
Hello Omnipod. Hope your sister is OK now. As far as I know I'm having one bypass. Thank you.my sister had a quad bypass. Her recovery was about 3 months. I think the scar on her leg took the longest to heal because she got an infection. Make sure you look after the leg and that theres no pets etc in your room.
Try keep your blood sugar as near to normal from now till the op. Good luck and let us know how you got on after the op. I am sure it will all go well. Doctors are truly amazing.
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