Coronary Heart Disease Support Group

In April 2003 I underwent 12 1/2 hours of bypass. I had 5x done. What he needs is someone to help him around. Food tasted lousy the first couple of months. I had 50 staples in my left leg where they got some veins. I wish I had help getting down the stairs (I lived on third floor) and upstairs. I needed to walk and exercise. It was really difficult. He needs encouragement to exercise and walk. The after surgery was rough cause I quit smoking two weeks before surgery. Like I said, food tasted like nothing. I could not eat anything. I survived on liquids like Ensure. If he can get into the local Rehab center for cardiology that would help. I had none.

I spend 7 days in ICU and 2 days on a ward. As tough as it was I still had a heart attack a month later. Two bypasses closed. I also had two stents put into my legs in June 2003. Three more stents in my heart the following year. Just make sure he does what he is told.

Hi Happy2 - thank you very much for sharing, i really appreciate it. what was rehab like for you? do they just make you walk and walk?

it is tough now coz i am so far away and dont know what he's going through & what to expect. i dont want to aggravate him by asking too many questions.

he mentioned he has tubes in his chest - to drain the oozing. does anyone know if this is normal? does it always get infected?

when does it stop hurting to breathe? i heard its not a good idea to be dependant on the pain killers too much. When do you ween it off? He was in the ICU for 13 days and is now in the regular ward.

thanks for the reply, it helps a lot.

he will neeed u there, his moods will go up and down, then he will realize hes alive.. IT get better.. TIME things i must endure

Reen....to answer some questions...

I had tubes in my chest, IV in one arm and another sold IV in my hand. I had a cat in my side. After three days the cat came out. On day four the tubes in my chest were pulled. (Yes pulled with no drugs....they grab them and slowly pull......it does not really hurt..just pressure...then it is relief.) Some time in there the A-line IV in my hand was pulled. (It was used for administering drugs and taking blood.)

The doctors want you to cough as much as possible to prevent any infection. It hurts like hell. They suggest hugging a pillow when coughing. So make sure a pillow is handy. I coughed for a while. It hurt for about two months and then eased up. I took Perkaset (sp) for pain. They prescribed two every four hours (big pills)......I took two every four the first two days. After that I would only take one. I took them for about two weeks. Being a recovered alcoholic I have to be careful not to abuse this, which I did not. He will need a lot of TLC.

I unfortunately did not go through rehab. Did it on my own. Walking was tough. Just make sure he keeps his nourishment up and watches what he eats. Low sodium, low fat. Talk to his doctor about diet.