I'm 7 months out from my double bypass. I'm 39 (38 at time of surgery) and during the 6 month out I was feeling great. Exercising regularly and playing racquetball with minimal angina. I decided to try soccer again and failed miserably. The only thing I can think is that the strain of soccer is just too much for my heart right now. The angina I felt during soccer was excruciating.
That threw me off kilter a bit but I've talked with my cardiologist and he's not concerned. But over the last few days I've had intermittent two pains that simultaneously hit under my lower left rib cage near the sternum and mid sternum. At first it didn't bother me but after a couple of days it's freaking me out. Especially with my soccer experience. I've been working crazy long hours at a desk/computer and think I may just be fatigued but of course my mind goes right to "GRAFT FAILURE".
Anyone have a similar experience or thoughts?
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Shakey few days
- By agentsl9
- Posted September 22, 2009 at 6:41 pm · 7 replies
- In Life after heart bypass surgery
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- By celeritas
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 12:17 am
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Hello agents19. I'm just under 6 mo's out, and I'm 23 years older than you. I too have been physically active all my life (tennis, running, racquetball, etc), but I have to say I've been very disappointed in my come-back to this point. I can't imagine myself trying to play soccer right now. In fact, I have to temper down even if I feel up to an extra 10 minutes of workout, because being over aggressive with exercise has set me back several days (swimming knocked me back at least a month.)
Factoring in your youth, etc, perhaps you hit a wall and need to honor what your body is telling you right now. From what I've gleaned from others posting out here, re-learning to listen to our body is a very important component of our full recovery.
Also, maybe now would be a good time for some kind of test(s). Talk to you doc. And good luck with this thing!
- By bookman58
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 5:46 am
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I am four and a half years post op x4. I about went nuts the first year because everything was just different. Nothing seemed to be normal. It wasn't until I heard my wife's uncle tell me that everyone had told him that he would feel like a new man after his surgery, but they failed to tell him that it would take eighteen months that it finally sunk into my mind that recovery would be slow. This surgery is just an awful surgery. Remember what they did to your body. I had a total knee replacement last year, and that was a much more painful surgery that CABG, but the recovery was simple in comparison. One last thing, by all means talk with your cardiologist. I think he/she could do much to alleviate your concern of graft failure. Hang in there. We are all here to help.
- By blkrino
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 9:00 am
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Yes I agree have it checked out to give your mind assurances that the grafts are ok.
Your recovery is another thing though. Some sail through it no problem but most hit high and low points all along the recovery period. I am not religous but this operation does make you think. What makes it different from others is that during the operation they stop your heart and you are dead. This is about as major as it can get. Well your body is taking your recovery very serious and it wants you to do the same. Slow down abit and enjoy life more.
- By TORELLOS
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 9:26 am
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playing football so soon after by pass doesnt sound too smart to me!
- By Ef0168
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 11:24 am
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I'm 2 years out of my 4 way bypass and still hit walls. I don't know if it's my age (56) or the surgery but I can't seem to do what I did 4 yrs ago. I'd ask the cardio why your still having angina. They have medication for that and I thought that was supposed to go away after the surgery. Sometimes I wonder if having this surgery was worth it.
Good luck Ed
- By TACH
- Posted September 28, 2009 at 10:04 pm
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Ok...so you beat me. I had my triple at 41. That was about 2-1/2 years ago. It is amazing how the body can recover, but too much too fast can't be a good thing. You mentioned that the doctor wasn't concerned about your Angina episodes, but can they tell you why you're getting them? By the way, as far as a cardio intensive sport, soccer has to be one of the most extreme. Have you had a stress test since your surgery? One other thing I highly recommend if you're going to be pushing the limits. If you don't own one now, buy a heart monitor. Know where your upper limits are so you know when to back off. As your cardio improves your heart rate will decrease as well. I'm religious with running with the monitor. If I don't have it with me at the gym.....I don't run.
Good luck. If you want to share notes just email me.
Ted (Tach)
- By agentsl9
- Posted October 1, 2009 at 10:13 am
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Thanks for all of your replies. The day after I posted I decided to take a half day at work and sleep in. That did the trick. The pain vanished and my energy levels increased. The learning from this is that working 12 hour days for 19 days in a row is not a good thing for those recovering from open heart.
On the soccer front, I've decided to hang up the boots for now and try again in a 6 months or so. I've had a nuclear stress test and everything was fine. Our (cardiologist and therapist) working theory is that though I'm getting enough blood to my heart for exercise and even racquetball, the sudden oxygen demands of soccer are just too much for my bypass to keep up with. See, I'm bypassed at the first biforcation of my LAD. Right at the top. So, the blood pumping to my heart has to go back up and around the corner of the biforcation to reach the other side. Our hope is that new veins will grow to compensate. Here's to hope.
Thanks for all your comments and encouragement. This community rocks.
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