Why Mine Didn't Work - Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)

If you have read my Hub about my Heart Bypass Surgery, you know that it was a pretty traumatic thing for me to go through. That is why I was so glad when I was told it would add roughly 15 good years to my life. Now, they told me in the beginning that there are no guarantees, and I wasn't expecting any, but still-imagine my dismay upon hearing that the vein they had used was too small, and they were going to have to do a Heart Catheterization, put in a stent, and the vein they had used for the bypass would no longer even be in use! I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I went through a full year of recovery from that surgery, all for nothing!

It all started when I was on the phone with my sister, and sudden;y I started having some chest pains. These were going through to my back, between my shoulder blades (again!), and down the left arm. So , I called my Cardiologist, and of course I ended up in the ER. After 4 nitro, 2 baby aspirin, several shots of morphine, and being made into a human pincushion, they decide to do a nuclear stress test on me the next day. So, off to my lovely room in ICU, and more shots of morphine (nitro just doesn't have much effect on me. The pains will stop for about 2 minutes, then come right back...), 5 days, and 3 angiograms later, I now have my second stent in the same vessel as the first one. In 1 year, I had gotten 90% occlusion (or blockage) again!So, then I had to have another surgery to insert the stent. I ended up having three total, but am a little fuzzy on the details, because of all the anaesthesia and the pain medications I had while in there, lol!!

I ended up with a 5 day stay in the ICU, a fancy new stent, and a $100,000.00 hospital bill. Haven't heard from the doctor yet, but I'm sure that is pricey too. That's ok-beats the alternative of not getting it fixed! So...now I am 49 years old and have 2 stents, and a bypass surgery!

Here is the REALLY tough part about the whole experience, though. If you have read any of my other hubs, you would know that I am bipolar and have depression. Stress and things that are really emotional trigger it. Well, anyone who has had heart problems probably knows that depression can be an unwelcome guest during recovery from heart surgery. The biggest problem for me is the fact that I went through a bypass for nothing. If you have gone through this type of surgery, you know the pain experienced, and the hard work that goes into recovery, not to mention the emotional part with the frustration, helplessness in the beginning, and the scar down the middle of your chest for life.

There are actually 2 recoveries that you may go through after a heart procedure. Number one is the physical part and the second is the depression. Even if you don't have some depression, many people will have at least a small amount of emotional upheaval. You may be more emotional and either cry or get angry easier than you normally would. It usually doesn't last too long, but for those of us that already have a problem with depression, it can be a real pain! I'm trying really hard to just accept the facts and go on, and I will, but it takes a little time. The best answer for me is to stay busy-so I have been working on a really awesome altered book. I plan to share it with you when it is finished. I have written about altered art also, in case you are interested in finding out more about this great and fun art form!