My bypass experience.

Stats

53 year old woman with type 2 diabetes

Overweight most of her life. About 40 pounds overweight at the time

Having fatigue, chest pressure and dizziness.

Not active

Doesn’t eat well

High stress lifestyle raising grandkids.

    

The beginning or the end depending on how you look at it

    I went to my general practitioner and she knew I had a heart murmur but told me she just wanted to check it out a little more with an EKG. That was fine with me. Right after the EKG she set up appointment with a cardiologist. Something was off. I had been a little dizzy and some pressure in my chest but I didn’t think it was a problem. 

    Upon leaving my first appointment with the cardiologist, I had appointments for stress test, echocardiogram and some other test. I didn’t pass. I was very upset. The cardiologist told me they needed to do a test where they check for blockages. They may even do stents if necessary. While not ideal, we knew that it was the right thing to do. 

    Upon waking up, I was told I was not going home. I was dumbfounded! I had 3 small children 4 and under. They expected me to be home. I was told I was being transferred to a heart hospital to undergo open heart surgery. My husband’s mind was spinning. What was going to happen? How are we going to explain this to the kids? Will I survive? Who was going to watch the kids during all of this? Will Mike be able to still work to bring in the money we need to live? We asked can I go home and prepare the kids and pack and get things in order. They said they couldn’t let us leave because they felt I would have a cardiac event as it was severe. Blockages were well in the 80 and 90 percentile. 

    I ended up in the hospital for a week waiting for surgery. They give you a book to read. Well it wasn’t really a book but a huge written booklet about what you should expect.

    Finally the day came. The surgery went well but was having some issues with low blood and went through DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) and a collapsed lung. They drained the fluid out of my lung and corrected the DKA. My blood slowly built back up but was very slow. It only takes days to get out of ICU. It took me nearly three weeks.

    Eventually in a regular room and with much difficulty with blood pressure was able to do some walking at the hospital and went to rehab place for a few weeks. 

Recovering 

    At home with the kids was not easy but I was glad to be home. I did need help for a little while but then was able to walk in my own. Home health care really helped with this, The Cardiac Rehab at the hospital helped me regain some strength and stamina. 

 Today

    I find it hard to exercise and food is a struggle for me. I try but need to do better. Lately my cholesterol went out of range where it couldn’t be calculated. This past blood work it is almost in health range so I have been able to rein it in. 

The days ahead

    I want to be in the normal range for cholesterol and blood pressure and blood sugar. That means changing. I have done some work but need to continue in order to keep heart healthy. Stepping it up with this experimental approach will help me get there. 

Side note: I have had some complications from the surgery like erosive chronic gastritis, It’s not fun. But I’m alive and if I manage the food I take in, I can reduce this major complication.

New Beginnings 

It was a new beginning as I have another chance at life. Now at 55, I have years ahead that may not have been possible before. Years with my lovely husband. Having many adventures raising grandchildren and getting to know myself all over again. New beginnings in taking care of myself in all the ways. 

Endings too

  • It’s the end of mindlessly eating. Food is medicine. 
  • The end of ignorance is bliss. I know better now. 
  • The end of non compliance to meds and medical directions. It’s non negotiable now.
I don’t want to go through that again. I don’t want to put my family through that again. It was hard. Still is. 

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