Any experiences with bypass surgery?

Hold the heart pillow when he needs to cough

I had x4 in 2016. Two days in CICU, then two days in a regular room on the cardiac floor. Two weeks of doing almost nada, then slowly return to normal. It didn't help that I developed afib the night of surgery. I'm still dealing with it.

My dad had this about 5 years ago. Have him walk as much as he can once he gets home (they’ll have him walking in the hospital day after). Down the driveway, to start, then maybe a few houses down, etc. Be sure to build that strength. As others have mentioned, make sure he uses the heart pillow and the spirometer thing. Recovery was a slow go for a little bit, but after about 9 weeks or so, it was like nothing had ever happened.

I’m 48, had a widowmaker and emergency angioplasty on 1/31, quadruple bypass 3 days later. Was released 2/7. The worst part of the whole deal was the drainage tubes in your chest cavity after surgery, but when they removed those you instantly started feeling better and could breathe. The next two weeks were tough because every time you cough it feels like a 4x4 post being driven into your chest. Walking immediately after in ICU is vital to recovery, and you must keep it up on your own after release. I walked the driveway until I built my stamina back. First 4 weeks are rough, but eventually I felt better and in the 7th week post surgery, I started 8 weeks of cardiac rehab. Just returned to work 6/1. I would say that I was back to 100% about four weeks into cardiac rehab, but the chest muscles are still very sensitive.

Dad had quadruple bypass surgery pass years ago, he has some mild memory loss afterwards.

quote:

---

My 67 year old father just found out he needs triple bypass surgery. The surgeon said 4-5 days in the hospital, 2 weeks of recovering at home with lots of rest and small walks. Then feeling about 80% at 4 weeks with normal, basic activities returning. 100% sometime between 8 and 12 weeks.

---

Sounds about right. My dad had the widow maker surgery a few years ago.

quote:

---

The surgeon definitely downplayed the extent of how bad it might be

---

That could be good, or bad TBH
What do you know about the surgeon? How many CABGs does he perform/yr? On-pump, off-pump? How many are done at the facility where your dad intends to have surgery? Those are very important tells in terms of heart surgery outcome. If the numbers are low in either case, explore alternatives.

My dad had quadruple bypass. He was in really good shape otherwise. Very active 75 year old, very strong.

Did well the first 4 days, then got pneumonia. Spent over 2 months in the hospital and rehab. I honestly don't know he survived.

Today, he's back at it. Age is catching up now as he is over 80 but doing fine.

Advice...The nurses and therapists that take over after surgery need to be on their game and push your father to get moving. Looking back, my dad's team didn't do enough and we almost lost him because of it.

quote:

---

Any experiences with bypass surgery?

---

I had double bypass back in 2021

I was in the hospital for about a week, maybe a day or two less, so that part sounds about right.
the drainage tubes in his chest will play a role in this.
Mine were still draining a little longer than "normal" so that added a day or so to my stay.


They'll have him taking short walks at the hospital the very next morning with the goal of increasing length of walks each time.


the pain is nowhere near as bad as it sounds like it will be.
don't get me wrong, you definitely feel it, but its not excruciating.

also, for mine at least I was well told all pain meds are taken by mouth and not IV.
so stay with them even if you don't think you need them. Because taking them by mouth takes longer to really get into your system and make a difference in how you feel. So you don't want to wait until it really hurts before taking them.


I was in my early 40's when I had mine, so I probably bounced back a little faster than someone in late 60s, but that recovery timeframe sounds about what mine was.



couple of notes:
getting the tubes pulled out of the chest is the weirdest shite ever.
it does not hurt.
but the feeling is not something that can be easily described. Best I can do is it kinda feels like the sound of the Taun Tauns splitting open when Han uses the lightsaber on it at beginning of Empire Strikes Back.
Again, does not hurt, but also not something you ever want to experience again.




keep that heart pillow handy at all times.
do not cough or laugh without it squeezed against your chest.
if he has to sneeze, recommend shooting himself instead, as that will feel better than the sneeze will.


tell him "Welcome to the Zipper Club"
once recovered, he will realize he feels better than he has in a long time. Probably doesn't even realize right now that he doesn't feel as good as he thinks he does.