triple bypass

[detroitfish]

im 35 m just had triple bypass surgery 4 weeks ago and i was wondering what my life expectancey is now and will i have to have the surgery again heart diesease runs in the family but i now have a very low sodium diet fat free and cholestoral free diet almost have a little of each but hardly any  i used to smoke but i havent since this happened and wont ever again and i havent drank in 7 years  any info would help oh they used vein from left forearm one from chest and one from left leg

[pusher]

Bypass surgery is not a death sentence.  I know many people who had bypass surgery 15-20 years ago and are doing great.  It's not the surgery that is so life altering.  It's why a person had the surgery and what steps they have taken to alter how they live that really makes the difference in the long term.  

A person may have had blockages that were repaired before they had a heart attack.  Or they may have had a heart attack with minimal damage or no damage at all.  The literature says that vein grafts don't last as long as arterial grafts.  I was told a vein graft generally lasts 10 years or so and an arterial graft last somewhat longer.  The surgeon who told me this also told me that she has patients she has operated on that never had another problem and were going strong 20 years later.

So about life expectancy.  Who knows.  When it is our time its our time.

I had CABG x 5 following a massive heart attack that wiped out 60% of my heart and yet I feel great.  I may not be able to run a marathon or even run period, but I still feel good, go to work everyday and know I am fortunate to still be around.

So for me "Life Expectancy" is one day at a time.

Good luck to you on your recovery.  It sounds like you are doing the right things.  It is pretty easy to be motivated to do those right things when you are reminded every day when you stand in front of a mirror and see that long scar.  After 4.5 years mine is getting pretty faint.