Is there anyone here thats had Open Heart Surgery? I would like to share the healing processess with you. I'm 8 weeks post op and wondering what to expect and how long it takes to feel good again. I'd also like to know your schedules of exercise and rest. I get tired so easy. I'm 48 years old. I've had a triple bi-pass and would love to talk to anyone thats gone through this surgery. Thanks, Mama Kay

Mama K - I also had open heart surgery and am recovering. Had mine on 9/14/04. I am 65 and was very surprised. Have had some depression but understand that this is very normal. You have to keep thinking about how good you are going to feel when you finally feel really good.

I had gall bladder surgery 7/29/04 and the "swelling" never seemed to go down. Finally went back to dr. Kind of got run around. Long story, but ended up at ER right after Labor day. They were going to fix hernia ... but EKG did not look right to this doctor. Called in others and they changed from hernia surgery to open heart.

Am going in this coming Wed for hernia surgery. Am really tired of all this.

How are you doing? Do you work?

If you don't hear from me for a few it will be due to hospital again.

Sandra

Wow Sandra, you've been put through the mill. Good luck on your surgery Wednesday. No offence to men but I needed to talk to a woman thats been through the bi-pass because of some problems I'm having. My left breast fills like I've been hit with a baseball bat. Riding in a car, walking, wearing a bra, not wearing a bra flat down hurts. I suppose being split open and our breast hanging off the table doesn't help matters. I don't know if this is normal or not. I wish I was a man, lol. The depression, I went through that too. Laughing one minute and crying the next. I took Paxil for about two weeks and went off them. I'm doing fine now. My doctor also said the depression is normal. My sternum(sp) stays sore all the time. In case I spelled it wrong or someone may not know what I'm talking about, the first bone that gets cut in the ribcage sure stays sore too. I'm 10 weeks post op now. Ready for those feel good days that people keep talking about.

As for you, I wish you the best and hope and pray that healing comes to you fast. You've been through enough. Thanks for responding. Mama Kay

Mama Kay it could because your doctor used the mammary artery for your bypass graft which does better than veins harvested from the legs. Also it's been almost 3 years since my bypass but I can remember during the healing process the skin on the chest area got so sensitive that even soft clothes hurt. From what I understand it's where the nerves that were cut are healing. Heart surgery is not one of those that people usually bounce back real quick from. I was 41 and had no other existing health problems an it was a long process for me. I won't get into it too much but in the last 6 months I can really say I feel good now. I can't remember the exercise routine, but I started out with a stent that failed and had to have emergency bypass 3 months later.. I was in cardiac rehab after the stent so I just went by the routine set by them. After a few weeks I began cardiac rehab again.

:wave:
Hello, I had heart bypass on Nov. 5, 2003. I would be happy to help if I can. Feel free to write me. I had a triple by pass at age 61.
Suni



Is there anyone here thats had Open Heart Surgery? I would like to share the healing processess with you. I'm 8 weeks post op and wondering what to expect and how long it takes to feel good again. I'd also like to know your schedules of exercise and rest. I get tired so easy. I'm 48 years old. I've had a triple bi-pass and would love to talk to anyone thats gone through this surgery. Thanks, Mama Kay

Hi, I had Quadroople bypass at age of 27,,,,im now 36,,,,,,,,,very tough for me,,,,and im still not 100 percent,,,,,post to me if you want to talk..

Steven

Mamakay after seeing this post again I would also recommend a sports bra.

Hi Mamakay,

Sorry to hear that you had to have CABG. I had 5 bypasses done in May of 03. I think alot of how you recover has to do with whether or not you had an MI. Although the healing process is the same, having a heart attack first really weakens the body and it takes a little longer to get back to normal.

You have mentioned the left chest discomfort. I agree with ninelives about the mammary artery that they use and the time it takes for the nerves to reconnect seems to take some time. It is kind of numb and painful all at the same time. The incision in the sternum takes the longest though. My Cardio doc told me that it would take a full year to really feel good again. He was right.

I didn't have any problems with the vein harvesting in my left leg. It was bruised and sore for along time but it healed up fine.

I started walking right away. My wife went with me for a week and although we didn't go very far, we did go 4-5 times a day. I started cardio-rehab about two months after my heart attack and surgery. I worked very hard doing that and it really helped me.

I had alot of damage from my heart attack, so I don't know what I would feel like now if I hadn't, but I can say that I don't have any pain or discomfort and even though I lost 60% of my heart during the MI, I feel pretty good.

It really is up to you and how hard you want to work at it. With the eating right and exercise you can feel as good as new in pretty short order.

Thank all of you for your replies. I'm sorry I missed all your post. The reasons for the millions of questions is that I'm don't have insurance so as far as rehab goes, thats out. And I'm not sure what I should do or shouldn't do. Thank all of you for your replies. I've been so depressed and not knowing what should be happening at this point has been scary. Your a bunch of great people. Now that I've thanked you, I'm going back to reread each of your post and apply it to my life. Thanks again. Mama Kay