Today officially marks six months since my double bypass heart surgery. My heart surgery journey starts here if you’d like to follow along from the beginning.
I’m truly amazed at how much better I feel. I’ve felt empowered and strong and have more energy, for sure. I wasn’t able to return to work until 3 months after surgery. I was really self-conscious about my scar and debated at first whether or not I should cover it up at work because I didn’t want to freak my young students out, but when I was finally able to return to work at the three-month mark, I talked with each class, they saw my scar, and they didn’t make a big deal or seem upset about it, so I decided to carry on as usual. One of my sweet little kindergartners asked me if I took my scar off at night to sleep! Ha! I wish!
So, here I am at the six-month mark since heart surgery, rocking my zipper:
My cardiologist seems pleased with my progress. I go see my surgeon for a check-up in a couple of weeks. I don’t go for another stress test until next year (at the one year mark).
How I’m Feeling
Physically, I have to be careful about how much I lift, but I’m doing things I never thought I would do again after heart surgery like mowing the yard and digging a garden all by myself. I still feel a few funny flutters from time to time, but physical activity makes me feel better. I’m off for the summer, so a regular exercise regimen of walking is about to become the norm, as it should have been months ago.
I’m also looking into switching to a mostly plant-based diet, starting slowly at first with maybe only eating lean meat two or three meals a week. I’d eventually like to switch to an all plant-based diet. My scar is really starting to itch here lately and I can’t see a whole lot of healing up with that. It’s very pronounced and I’m anxious to see if the surgeon thinks this is normal looking. Also, I can tell you almost within a few days that rain is coming. It’s like they’ve installed a barometer in my chest. My sternum really starts feeling tight when the weather changes.
Dealing With Feelings
Emotionally, dealing with this surgery has been tough, and it’s a battle I have to fight every day. I never ever wanted to have heart surgery. I’m still in a little disbelief that this is my life now. I still cry occasionally, but I’m trying so hard not to let myself slip into a depression. It takes me a little longer to do the everyday things I used to do. I was really ashamed and hard on myself about that at first. It’s getting better, though. I also have a little trouble remembering the littlest things and give myself a hard time about it, but I shouldn’t. I really think this is a normal part of the whole process. I’m really trying to focus on my blessings and stay positive.
Overall, I’m doing pretty well and have resumed a mostly normal life. I will still update here and I definitely plan on writing more blog articles about heart surgery to share my experience in case someone else might benefit from it.
Come see my one-year post-surgery update here!
I’m 46. I’m a mother of three. I had an aortic valve replacement and ascending aortic aneurysm repair about 5 months ago via open heart surgery. I was put on cardio pulmonary by-pass and “cooled” during surgery. After surgery I had an episode of Afib, but returned to normal rhythm. Then I had a reaction to the Heparin and developed Heprin Induced Thrombocytopenia. I was in the hospital for 19 days. I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only
One who’s scar gets tight and itches or has a little brain fog. I’m naturally very hard on myself. I’ve had to learn to be nice to myself. I still have days when I feel absent minded and it scares me. I still can’t lift my toddler. I still cry a few times a week. But I am so comforted by all of these comments and your story. I am not alone. We are not alone.
Mathilde, I pray that your healing is coming along nicely. You have been through so much, and you are not alone. I promise it will get better. The hard part is slowing down and taking one day at a time. But you WILL feel better again! Hang in there and keep me updated on your progress!
46 Year Old Female here two months post triple by-pass surgery. I wrote this quote down today “They are my battle scars earned and gloriously celebrated as such.” I don’t know who said it but I thought it would help me. I also have have ridden a emotional roller coaster. Being frustrated by not doing all the things I could before surgery but realizing how far I’ve come. I enjoy showers now instead of them being a chore liek they were the first couple of weeks. I’m lookng forward to feeliing even better in the future. Thanks for sharing your story.
Christy, I am so glad you stopped in to share about your experience, and I sure hope you are doing well and finding the days getting easier. It DOES get better! Patience is the key. Take care!
So glad everything had been working out smoothly for the most part. (I’m reading well after all this happened.) The lady who used to be in charge of our local farmers market had heart surgery as teen (maybe even as a child?) and rocks a similar scar. She is my son’s age (30). I wasn’t close enough to her to feel comfortable asking what her surgery was for though. She was always so happy and energetic, so go go go, quite inspiring. =)
Try, (ARNICARE GEL) for your chest scar stops the itching.
Mandy thank you for your blog. My mom is having A triple bypass on March 1 and I was trying to research how I can best help her. Thank you for your tips.
Hi Juanita, I would love to hear an update on your mom. I pray everything went well for her. Glad I could be a little help. Thank you so much for stopping by!
So glad I found your blog ! I am 48 and facing having double bypass surgery soon. I had a cardiac cath on June 2 of 2017. I had multiple complications and now am having issues with the stents that were placed. Going in for another cath the day after Thanksgiving and will we will decide after that about the bypass. I am extremely anxious about the whole thing but reading your experience has really helped. Thank you for sharing something so personal.
Praying maybe you won’t have to have surgery! Please keep me posted on how you are doing. Will certainly keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for stopping by!
I am scheduled for a double by pass on January 2,2018. I had a second cardiac cath the day after Thanksgiving. The problems I am having are due to the stents and my body scarring around the dissections. Only way to fix it is by pass. I have my first tests on December 12. A breathing test and a carotid Doppler. I am already so nervous about everything. Trying to take things one day at a time. Reading and re-reading your blog really helps. You sharing your experience has been a true help and blessing to me.
Thank you for stopping in Michelle. Looks like your surgery is right around the corner. I am definitely praying for you. I know it is very scary. If you need something to help you relax beforehand, just ask them. I don’t even remember being taken to surgery and I am so thankful for that. And when you wake up in recovery, staying relaxed and letting the breathing machine do the work for you is very important as well. You will feel SO much better once you fully recover. And please be gentle with yourself. I thought I was supposed to be so tough and bounce right back, but it took three months for me to feel somewhat better and a full year now to feel fully recovered in my chest area. Take care and PLEASE stop in if you can and let me know how you are doing. You are in my prayers!
I am very glad that I found this written by a woman. I am 61 a mother and grandmother. I had been feeling very tired for the past few months. On May 23rd I saw my primary doctor for mild chest pain, after three sheets of electrocardiograms were printed he sent me straight to the ER. They ran all their tests and wanted to keep me over night so they could do a cardiac heart cath the next morning. Two of my arteries were 95% blocked. No wonder I was so tired all the time. Since my hospital doesn’t do heart surgery they transported me to another hospital that same day so that I could have a double bypass surgery the next morning. Amazingly enough I have stayed calm through all of this. After being moved the step down unit the next morning at 3:00 am I went into AFib. Now if that doesn’t scare the begeezus out of you and your family I don’t know what will. Today is June 8th and I am just starting my journey to healing.
Oh my goodness! You have certainly been through something. I think what I truly wasn’t prepared for in all of this was how long the recovery process can be. I hope your recovery is going well and that they have figured out everything you need to get back to feeling better. You will be amazed at how much better you feel in a few more months. My energy level has improved so much! I’m so glad you stopped in here and will pray for your complete healing. Please stop in again and keep me posted on how it’s going!