First I remember feeling like I could not breathe and wondering if that was what death felt like, then it felt like someone kicked me in the back. They told me I had tachycardia?? and they had to get my heart back in rhythm as I had lost too much blood. Then my hands were tied so I could not use them and there was a tube down my throat so I could not talk. I wanted them to get my husband and the nurse finally figured that out and explained it was not visiting time yet!! They started giving me blood and before visistation time they took the tube out of my throat. I had quadruple bypass surgery the day before and got out of surgery about 7 pm. that night. It was a horrible experience and I will never have surgery where you have to be put to sleep again beyond a mild sedative to relax me. The surgery was 16 years ago and my feelings have not changed. My left leg where they removed the saphenous vein still feels numb today. It feels like your mouth does when they give you novacane. I have not fallen and it has not caused me any problems except that strange feeling that I am now used to. There were many things I was not told and so my friends will say next time you will know what to ask and I think to myself, there will be no next time. This was the only surgery I have had in my 76 years and I was 60 at the time. I know I should get over it but I still have nightmares about my hands being tied and that thing in my throat. Most people I know have had multiple surgeries at my age and have no idea what I am talking about. Today I am doing good, no more surgeries and my heart doc and internist both tell me I am doing good so I just need to forget about the leg.

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