complications of bypass surgery

I had a quadruple bypass on 10/21. It went well, but I arrested in CICU, and was rushed back to surgery. An aortic balloon pump was inserted at that time also.  As a result of the arrest and the eventutual removal of the pump, I developed compartment syndrome in my left leg. This was treated by yet another operation, a fasciotomy, while still in CICU.

I had planned on a very aggressive recovery program to fully take advantage of this second chance I've been given. The problem is this leg thing. It's still very swollen and so painful that even lying down and not moving hurts. I should be out walking today, but I had to use my walker just to get this far. The added aniety doesn't help either.......Someone please tell me something encouraging!

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

I'm sorry to hear of your complicated post-op course.  The risk of these events is very low but when they happen to you it's 100%.  I wouldn't beat yourself up trying to hard at first. Give yourself time to recover.  You spent an lifetime building up the blockages and have a lifetime to work on reversing things.  Lifestyle changes are more important that a burst of activity at first followed by a resumption of your previous habits.

[annie]

Hi Bob !

I found a little bit of myself in reading you, since i had a mitral valve repair in January and was very eager to get back on my feet.  

It can be debilitating to not be able to do the things we want to do or that we were able to do before the operation, but i learned to take one day at a time and to acknowledge my progress everyday .  Some days you'll make bigger steps then others some others you'll just feel like you've been hitted by a truck, take this time to think about this second chance, read or just plan what you will do when you get better.  Don't push yourself to much, goals and determination are good but stubbornness isn't.

Life have ways to make us stop and assess our lives, we have to grab this chance to rethink our values or simply rediscovering them.

Take care.  Annie.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Thanks Annie.

[bob]

Thanks Doc and Annie for your words of encouragement.  I had my follow-up appointment with the vascular guy who did the fasciotomy, and will be consulting an orthopod tomorrow for guidance on possibly opening a second compartment in my leg to address the continued swelling and pain.  We'll see how that goes.

While at the hospital today, my girlfriend was pushing me around in my wheelchair, showing me things that I was not able to remember due to the efeects of the anesthesia, even though I experienced them before the surgery......very strange.

I also went to the CICU and was able to meet some of the people who cared for me there.  It was pretty emotional for me and I think also pretty good for them, too, to see one of their "graduates" return just to say, "Hello, and thank you."

I feel truely blessed to have been given this second chance; I'm just a little anxious to get more aggressive about it.  Thanks again for the comments.

Bob

[annie]

Hello again !

I just wanted to see how you were feeling today!  
I think having someone to be taking care of you is very important
, my husband played a very important role in my recovery.

I had my surgery at 8:30 am and was brought to the ICU around 3:00pm, i woke up at 6:00pm that night with my surgeon, the nurses, my mother and husband by my side, the first thing i said is : i'm alive, the second thing: is my valve repaired or replaced ? The surgeon told me it was repaired.  They'd never seen someone so awake after a heart surgery, i remember almost everything and everyone from the ICU.  I spent 2 days there and was brought to another CU for another 4 days.  When i left i gave each of the person who took care of me a box of chocolate, i had 3 for the ICU , they actually couldn't beleive that i came back to thank them, it was very emotional too.  They are usually forgotten by the patient since they don't remember being at the ICU.  I think what you did is very kind and also it encourages you to get better.

I've exchanged with a lot of people from this web site, one day i was the person needing encourgement, the other i was encouraging them.  We still communicate from time to time via e-mail.  Also since i had trouble finding ressources from my hospital when i got operated i decided to enroll myself as a volunteer to help other patient cope with their surgery.  I will give them support, but i think i will receive a lot more by their testimony and trust.

Anyhow I'm so glad to have build a great net of friends with the people i've met on this web site, as
i was discussing this with another successful MVP repair we (cardiac operated) share an invisible bond that we can only understand.  It is very rich in emotions and sharing.

On this note, i'm wishing you a good recovery and tell your girlfriend to keep her wonderful attitude, because sometimes it can get pretty rough for both of you.  At the end it will give you a stronger relationship based on a different point of view.

Take care.  Annie.

P.S. if you want to e-mail me, feel free to do it at ***@****