Stories of the Heart: Coronary Artery Bypass

Roger White's story begins with a snow blower and ends with a motorcycle. In between was life-saving intervention from Carilion Clinic's emergency, transport, cardiac and rehab teams.

[@jrhalabamacustoms5673]

9 weeks post 4X CABG, getting better. Videos like this are helping me understand what is now normal, and what challenges I have yet to face. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@Hollywoodjedi]

7 weeks post 4X CABG. Let's compare notes.

[@confused.cat.]

​@@Hollywoodjedihow are you doing now?

[@LeslieShaff-ud1ty]

Thamk you for giving credit to all the caregivers; they deserve it! Even though they just believe they are just doing their job.

[@imagineengine]

I'm just about to go in and have a quadruple bypass Tues Oct 6th. I've never had heart surgery or a heart attack, but heart cath shows I have multiple blockages even in secondaries and docs say theyve been there awhile. I'm scared to death and its get worse as the day grows closer. I've also been a smoker since I was 16, 55 now. I am trying to not smoke these last 2 days before my surgery. I have been cutting way back the recent previous days to 6-8 a day from a pack and a half normally. Thankyou for sharing your story. It gives me hope that I will be ok. And gives me some strength to try and stay positive. I will have to go through this alone because of Covid-19 unfortunately so my wife will be seperated from me once she drops me off. Probably the hardest thing will ever do is walk away from her not knowing for sure if we will see each other again. Im so happy that you have a happy ending to your story. God bless you and your family.

[@CarilionClinicVA]

Robbie, Thank you for sharing your story with us and we are glad Mr. White's story provided some support during this time for you and your family. We hope you heal quickly and that surgery went well.

[@ayannamontano4713]

May I ask how your doing?

[@imagineengine]

@@ayannamontano4713 Thankyou. I am doing good other than the fact that I have to go back on a cpap. I found out my oxygen levels are dropping to around 70% when i sleep. Hopefully I will wake up feeling more rested once I get back on it though. Been feeling a little winded. Unfortunately I hate veggies and thats the very thing my surgeon has said I need to eat alot of, so I've been drinking a glass of the green V8 called Healthy Greens from Walmart, once a day.

[@johnbolla5607]

I miss read your reply you've already been through this I have to I have five blockages myself I never touched a cigarette in my life heart disease ran in my family they would only let my uncle comes to me when I was in the hospital when I went home I was all alone my friends checked on me and the home nurse I'm only about 6 6 months out of my surgery now I'm trying to get disability and they're giving me a hard time with that good luck to you my friend. I know what you went through

[@jeffjaccard7206]

Roger glad you are better and were in good hands

[@caul8820]

I happy to hear your back to normal. But one thing brother. DONT FORGET TO STOW YOUR KICKSTAND BEFORE YOU TAKE OFF ON YOUR HOG. God bless you and your family.💔=❤=👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

[@SuperLittleTyke]

Fabulous outcome! I had my triple bypass op in the UK where I live and I, too, was overwhelmed by the professionalism of all the doctors and nurses who cared for me throughout my 9-day stay in hospital. I was 67 and it was March 2013. To this day I cannot comprehend the enormity of operations like open heart surgery. I still feel very fit, but obviously had to change my lifestyle since. Better diet, more exercise. I've lost a lot of weight. I was well overweight before. My late uncle died a couple of years ago in his eighties, but he had had a bypass op 24 years earlier, so the grafts had lasted a very long time. Mine was only 7 years ago, so here's hoping I survive for a good few years yet! And good luck to you and your extended family.

[@CarilionClinicVA]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. We are glad to hear you are doing well.

[@lanceowencao8687]

Hi. May I ask something. After the surgery, how long does i take to fully recover from that bypass ?

[@SuperLittleTyke]

@@lanceowencao8687 You become more mobile after two to three days. You're not allowed to drive until you get the all-clear from your surgeon at the first follow-up check, which in my case was six weeks after the operation. By then I was really feeling so much better and was overjoyed that I could be independent once again. But you have to be very careful for the first year. DO NOT allow friends or relatives to give you a hug! They don't realise their own strength sometimes and your sternum is still healing. Avoid lifting heavy weights, even babies. Don't do any high stretching above the shoulders like when hanging up the washing. Take care around the house when vacuum cleaning, doing laundry and suchlike. Get plenty of sleep and take your meds exactly as prescribed. You have to be careful with light exercise. I attended a cardiac rehab course every week for six weeks at the local hospital. I bought the course DVD which contains videos you can play while you're exercising at home. I think walking is the best exercise. All the above being said, it is a very safe operation nowadays and it can extend one's life by many years. Good luck!

[@NinaNam]

Do you take Astorvostatin and aspirin everyday? did your late uncle (who I am so sorry passed away a couple years ago) also continue to take statins, aspirin and all medications as prescribed? Did either of you guys have problems with Brain confusion at any point? I heard that statins can cause Alzheimer’s. But I understand so many factors go into causing that, plus statins seem to be the only strongest medication that’ll stabilize plaque which will prevent rupture. Gosh thank you so much for sharing your experience and your uncles experience. Your comments gave me great hope for my mom who just had double bypass surgery 2 weeks ago she is recovering well now!! If you read this and reply, thank you so so so much ahead of time. God bless you and I pray you are feeling strong and healthy today

[@NinaNam]

@@SuperLittleTyke please read my comment above ❤❤❤❤❤

[@CoDnerd777]

My dad has a double bypass here in a couple hours today 11 24 2020.. I cant be there with him because of covid and I'm scared to death thank you for sharing your story, I'm trying to stay positive amd these success stories are helping me alot mentally. Thank you so much

[@xrxnpop1222]

How he is now?

[@sufyanjawaid3247]

Hows he now

[@hankgoodwin202]

Good stories I'm having open heart bypass surgery I think on Friday and yes I'm scared but it needs to be done I use tobacco and that's tuff but I know if I don't get this done I won't be around much longer good to watch these videos

[@CarilionClinicVA]

Hank, We wish you the best and hope you recover quickly!

[@johnb4183]

How are you doing now 7/2023 Roger ? Thanks !

[@DianaCarolinaGirl22]

Glad you quit smoking!

[@SuperLittleTyke]

I quit smoking in 1995, but still suffered a heart attack in 2012. Once one has smoked at all regularly, the bad effects hang around in your body, probably for ever. But now the very idea of puffing those cigs fills me with horror. I'm old enough to remember when doctors routinely smoked! And in the 1960s there were TV adverts for some brands, one of which claimed their cigarettes were "good for the throat". Astonishing today.

[@DianaCarolinaGirl22]

@@SuperLittleTyke They say if you quit before 40 you fair alot better. The younger you are when you quit the better. Forunately I quit at 28 yrs old. It's been 28 yrs for me now.