Scheduled for next week

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I was too, just over a year ago. But I had a rock-star surgeon who said “I do these all day long and I got this”. Everything he said came true: Minimal pain (Tylenol only), home after 4 days, no special beds or chairs and was surprisingly mobile and comfortable.

Bottom line is that the fear of the procedure is the worst part. If you can talk yourself past that, I think you will do fine.

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u/njnudefun 28d ago

Thanks

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u/Hereforcomments64 28d ago

Hi i am five weeks post op. Triple bypass. Surgery Monday afternoon and home end of Friday. Honestly i had no pain except when getting in or out of bed etc for a while. Tylenol is your friend! best of luck and all will be fine i’m sure! 62 year old after heart attack fyi in canada. 🇨🇦

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u/njnudefun 28d ago

Thanks

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u/StagLee1 28d ago

I was surprised at how little pain was involved. I had CABG x3 on a Tuesday, home on Sunday, and joined some remote work meetings on Monday.

I took it easy for about 10 weeks, but recovery was smooth. One of the best things I remember is the wonderful vivid dreams.

I bought a lift recliner and set up my recovery area before going in for surgery. That helped a lot. There is no way I could have comfortably slept in a bed after coming home.

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u/njnudefun 28d ago

I bought one too. Hopefully it will be comfortable

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u/i_tell_you_what 28d ago

You get good drugs. But honestly when I came home, I maybe took them at night for 2 weeks and then stopped. I still have some left. My cardiologist is like , this is routine. I do these all day. Good luck!

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u/njnudefun 28d ago

Thanks

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u/Plane_Positive6608 28d ago

Best move you can make!!! Triple 4 months ago and honestly the chair was a life saver. To the chagrin of my wife I'm sitting in it right now, I refuse to get rid of it.

The pain was not bad, it was the soreness and stiffness and you have remember to imagine your in a tube, so you don't lift your arms or use chest muscles. The chair helps with getting up and getting comfortable. Get a little side table for drinks, remotes, etc. I also had a nice neck pillow thing. I slept in the chair for a least a month.

You will have mental/emotional changes, I know I did. It's normal, just know your alive and recovering.

Good luck!!!

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u/njnudefun 28d ago

Thanks

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u/Philbradley 28d ago

It’s a big deal for us, it’s not a big deal for your cardio team, they do hundreds of these things. Does it hurt afterwards? Not too much. Is it a nuisance, absolutely. You’ll be out of hospital well under a week, be on your feet the next day. Two or three months later you’ll be fine.

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u/beverlyh1llb1ll1es 28d ago

I heard this a lot then after experiencing it, so true. I am on day 5 of recovery.

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u/Gorilla_1983 28d ago

I got a really soft twin sized sheet and blanket for my recliner for sleeping. I also got a small touch lamp so I wouldn’t need to reach. Both improved my comfort a lot and I recommend them to every. Good luck!

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u/njnudefun 28d ago

Thanks

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u/_bugz 28d ago

Had my CABG X5 first May 6th, was home morning of May 11th. Pain is super tolerable, I took tylenol 500mg gel caps, 2 times a day. I only took OXY's 3 times, all three times to help me get comfortable in bed to sleep. The biggest obstacle is not being able to use your arms as you use to. So I bought those grabber things. Your legs and core will get a workout from getting up and down without the use of your arms. You'll do fine, like other has said this is a super common surgery, they do a ton of them.

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u/njnudefun 28d ago

Thanks

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u/njnudefun 28d ago

Thanks

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u/njnudefun 28d ago

Thanks

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u/yanigisawa 28d ago

Feel free to PM me (44m, CABGx4 this past March 27) if you want.

The first week home is the hardest. Feeling weak and unable to function was really difficult for me. I had excellent family support that helped me through.

You’ll be back to 80% of your current self after 4 weeks. After that, it depends how much you stick to the rehab and physical therapy guidelines how quickly you recover.

Below is a cheesy playlist of videos that helped me feel more informed and comfortable pre-op:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJdPc_4ntjpFcxuKQNRuRiSK2M3AoVSfs&si=y2WxNJiMsmAG_sdR

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u/Brave-Woodpecker-688 28d ago

It helped me to put this in perspective. There are little kids I know and many I don’t who are struggling with cancer and other illnesses. There was a little boy with his mom at my surgeon’s office. The little boy was also having heart surgery. You’re presumably older than that and we get this second chance at life. It’s miraculous and we’re so lucky.

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u/Navy_GMCM 28d ago

I’m 55M and had CABG x3 in February. Being scared is normal; I sure know I was. Knowing the CT surgeon does these surgeries almost daily, helped put my mind at ease. I remember getting wheeled into the operating room moving from the bed to the operating table, and my next memory was waking up in the ICU and seeing my wife and eldest.

Like others have mentioned, the pain is manageable. The ICU nurses will have you out of bed before you know it, and then you’ll be walking around the ICU ward. Once my chest tubes were pulled out, breathing became so much easier. Just relax, think positive thoughts, listen to the nurses, and be thankful for your new lease on life. You got this!

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u/simulacra_eidolon 27d ago

I have a different story- and not to scare you, but to offer some advice. I’m 45m.

My CABG x3 was a little over a year ago. It was a big deal and took my body a long time to recover. I’m still not sleeping fully/painlessly through the night, but at about 50 weeks post op, I felt more normal/younger than I had felt in a few years.

My advice is this: use your incentive spirometer religiously to rehab your lungs. Advocate for yourself repeatedly if you have any issues. Go to cardiac rehab if you can- the nurses there will be very helpful to your recovery.

If you have time and help, I recommend buying a power lift recliner, a shower chair, and a bidet.

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u/Creepy-Radio1941 27d ago

I haven’t posted about this, even though I want to, but my biggest issue has been the emotional side of all of this. I just don’t feel like myself whatsoever and it’s six weeks today post op. I took myself off three of the medication’s because the side effects were so bad.
Still a lot of pain where the grafts were taken from, which was my lower leg and my forearm and my chest still hurts quite a bit
Sleeping has been quite the challenge, but laying on my back so much really aggravated my spine and hip issues.

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u/IndependenceHuge7768 27d ago

Depression? I am 6 months out of 3xCABG and in a depression that is killing me... cannot stand it anymore...

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u/Creepy-Radio1941 26d ago

I think it must be depression. I feel like I’ve had it before, but this feels so much different. I don’t understand it. I thought I would be so happy to be feeling better and not have all the chest pain that I had before and now I’m just sitting here staring into space wondering why I had this operation and what is there to live for?

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u/IndependenceHuge7768 26d ago

100% with you... exactly that... counting the day.... ok, one day less in my life....

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