1. < Heart & Blood Health

COVID-19: Anyone else dealing with postponed heart procedure?

Posted by inali @inali, Mar 27, 2020

I was scheduled for triple valve surgery and CABG on March 23. That has been postponed due to pandemic. In a way, it's a relief. On the other hand, I worry that I'll be able to stay healthy long enough to have the surgery. Anyone else dealing with postponing necessary procedures? How are you handling it?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

heartbreaker | @heartbreaker | Mar 30, 2020
In reply to @inali "Hi heartbreaker, Why would you choose not to have CABG? It took me quite a while..." + (show)
@inali

Hi heartbreaker,
Why would you choose not to have CABG? It took me quite a while to work up the courage to agree to the triple valve surgery and CABG. Everything I’ve read indicates my odds of surviving the surgery are not wonderful. But I have confidence that the surgeons at Mayo will give me the best shot possible- at least at living through the surgery. Quality of life on the other side is a mystery and a huge gamble. Right now, I function independently, and while I’m limited physically compared to my personal past (for example, I can no longer swim because I get severely out of breath), there are many who are far worse off than I. I’ve asked myself “should I just roll the dice and skip this massive surgery and enjoy what time I have left?”. I wish I had a more concrete view of what the progression of this disease will look like without surgical intervention. In the absence of that knowledge, my decision-making is driven by faith in the skill of the docs and my own lifelong compulsion to fix what’s broken.

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I would not choose to have another CABG because I had one 16 months ago and it was very painful, very traumatic, and extremely unpleasant. However, Mayo is the best, and your faith is well founded. No one can predict what will happen after surgery. My recovery was great. I was 73.

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 30, 2020
In reply to @inali "Thanks for asking Colleen. I’d love to get some recommendations for keeping mentally and physically healthy..." + (show)
@inali

Thanks for asking Colleen. I’d love to get some recommendations for keeping mentally and physically healthy through this very frightening time.

I’m logging all my food using “Lose-it”, an app that allows me to set goals for weight, exercise, calories, and each individual nutrient. I especially watch my sodium, water, and fiber. I have not been exercising, but did a little walking today. I plan to be more intentional with that. I need to wean myself from watching and reading the news for hours and hours each day. I won’t give it up entirely since I know it’s important to be informed. But too much time spent focused on the enormity of this Crisis - especially when individuals are mostly powerless to have an impact on its spread or duration - is a recipe for panic. And panic intensifies stress which batters the immune system. None of us can afford to compromise that.

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@inali, so glad you asked. Check out this discussion:
- Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lets-go-walking-join-me-for-a-virtual-walking-support-group/
There is a whole group here on Mayo Clinic Connect who are gradually increasing their walking together (virtually) following this 12-week plan to ease into it. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20050972
Several members expressed that walking is not possible for them, so other members shared videos of chair exercises and gentle approaches. I encourage you to read through the whole discussion.

Another discussion that may interest for talking frankly about the emotions that sometimes get packed in with dealing with heart disease:
- Heart Disease: Let’s Talk About the Emotional Side https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/heart-disease-lets-talk-about-the-emotional-side/

And finally, for a pleasant escape and to behold some beauty among virtual friends, try this one:
- Visual Escapes and Daily Inspirations: Share Yours https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/visual-escapes-and-daily-inspirations-share-yours/

It looks like you're taking great steps forward. Even doing a little will help. I'd love to hear how you're doing if you don't mind checking in occasionally.

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inali | @inali | Mar 31, 2020
In reply to @fiesty76 "Hi, Inali, I've found just standing up and moving a bit more often during the day,..." + (show)
@fiesty76

Hi, Inali, I've found just standing up and moving a bit more often during the day, rather than too much sitting is helping me divert my attention to other things to do. I also found that limiting my tv news watching time to once in the early morning and then again in the evening for local and national news has improved my morale. Heard that "whatever we focus on grows" and as you said so well, we probably can better protect ourselves by distancing from the bombardment of news to some degree. Take care.

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Thanks Sundance!

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mikeynorth | @mikeynorth | Feb 28, 2022
In reply to @heartbreaker "I would not choose to have another CABG because I had one 16 months ago and..." + (show)
@heartbreaker

I would not choose to have another CABG because I had one 16 months ago and it was very painful, very traumatic, and extremely unpleasant. However, Mayo is the best, and your faith is well founded. No one can predict what will happen after surgery. My recovery was great. I was 73.

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I had a "7" CABG, and it was quite the experience. The one thing I was surprised at through the recovery was how sad I would become if I had to explain what I went through. I would start to cry and couldn't carry-on a conversation with relatives seeking to understand what I experienced. As I progressed, I found that this condition went away. I had up until then not been a type to be weepy, but this surgery sure made me like that for a short time. I am wondering of others experienced this?

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2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 8, 2022
In reply to @mikeynorth "I had a "7" CABG, and it was quite the experience. The one thing I was..." + (show)
@mikeynorth

I had a "7" CABG, and it was quite the experience. The one thing I was surprised at through the recovery was how sad I would become if I had to explain what I went through. I would start to cry and couldn't carry-on a conversation with relatives seeking to understand what I experienced. As I progressed, I found that this condition went away. I had up until then not been a type to be weepy, but this surgery sure made me like that for a short time. I am wondering of others experienced this?

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Hi @mikeynorth, you are certainly not alone with the emotional impact of a health experience and it making you weepy out-of-characteristically. You might be interested in taking part in this discussion:
- Heart Disease: Let’s Talk About the Emotional Side https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/heart-disease-lets-talk-about-the-emotional-side/

Do you think it was the seriousness of the surgery that made you weepy or perhaps a medication you were taking then and no longer are taking now?

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1 reply
mikeynorth | @mikeynorth | Mar 8, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @mikeynorth, you are certainly not alone with the emotional impact of a health experience and..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @mikeynorth, you are certainly not alone with the emotional impact of a health experience and it making you weepy out-of-characteristically. You might be interested in taking part in this discussion:
- Heart Disease: Let’s Talk About the Emotional Side https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/heart-disease-lets-talk-about-the-emotional-side/

Do you think it was the seriousness of the surgery that made you weepy or perhaps a medication you were taking then and no longer are taking now?

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Hi
I think it was a situation that was unfamiliar, such as not being in control which through my career I held positions of being accountable and showing any weakness. Maybe because it was on Forestry and as such a certain mannerism is required?

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feelingthankful | @feelingthankful | Mar 8, 2022
In reply to @mikeynorth "I had a "7" CABG, and it was quite the experience. The one thing I was..." + (show)
@mikeynorth

I had a "7" CABG, and it was quite the experience. The one thing I was surprised at through the recovery was how sad I would become if I had to explain what I went through. I would start to cry and couldn't carry-on a conversation with relatives seeking to understand what I experienced. As I progressed, I found that this condition went away. I had up until then not been a type to be weepy, but this surgery sure made me like that for a short time. I am wondering of others experienced this?

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Mike, yes, this happens often and to many of us, and is also written about often as well. Congratulations on your progress. I was very thankful and greatful!

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mikeynorth | @mikeynorth | Mar 14, 2022

(with typos removed 🙂
The main thing is that I feel great, although I never thought I would be one of the many on meds, BUT they make a difference… I get it.
Had a great surgeon and a great hospital experience. My wife made everything fall into place, and who can not feel great when your dog is so excited to you again after my eight day adventure.
Looking forward to the greenhouse and garden, kayaking and biking. Spring can't come soon enough.
take care,
Mike

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1 reply
feelingthankful | @feelingthankful | Mar 15, 2022
In reply to @mikeynorth "(with typos removed :-) The main thing is that I feel great, although I never thought..." + (show)
@mikeynorth

(with typos removed 🙂
The main thing is that I feel great, although I never thought I would be one of the many on meds, BUT they make a difference… I get it.
Had a great surgeon and a great hospital experience. My wife made everything fall into place, and who can not feel great when your dog is so excited to you again after my eight day adventure.
Looking forward to the greenhouse and garden, kayaking and biking. Spring can't come soon enough.
take care,
Mike

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Stay healthy and sounds great

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