The announcement of heart surgery came as a shock to someone like me who had always been active, a non-smoker, and in good health.
I would like to share my experience to support those who may be heading toward this procedure and to shed some light on the worries and questions that naturally come with it.
My annual checkups, including the recommended bloodBlood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. White blood cells make up our immune defense system. Platelets contribute to blood tests, had never shown any signs of cholesterolCholesterol is essential for the proper functioning of the human body, but it can also have harmful effects if present in excess. >> problems, high bloodBlood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. White blood cells make up our immune defense system. Platelets contribute to blood pressure, diabetes, excess weight, or anything else. In short, at 69, I was active and had never experienced any health issues.
A Warning Sign
And then, suddenly—bam! While traveling in Asia, I experienced chest discomfort. After resting for about thirty minutes, everything went back to normal, and life went on.
The Disruption
Shortly after my return to Canada, I went to my already scheduled annual checkup. I took the opportunity to tell my doctor about the episode abroad.
He immediately referred me to a cardiologist. Up to that point, all my regular test results—cholesterol, bloodBlood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. White blood cells make up our immune defense system. Platelets contribute to blood pressure, bloodBlood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. White blood cells make up our immune defense system. Platelets contribute to blood sugar, weight—had been excellent, with no cause for concern. Yet, this time, more in-depth tests revealed a very different reality.
The verdict was clear and unexpected: bypass surgery was inevitable.
Oof! That was a heavy blow… I had to process and integrate this incomprehensible information that instantly changed the life I thought I knew, a life that would never be the same again.
The Questioning
My first reaction was to ask myself: What did I do to end up here?
I later realized there was no simple answer. What I did learn, however, was that I would now have more information and more tools to stack the odds in my favor so as not to face such a situation again.
Acceptance
It took time to accept this new reality and to picture the impact: on my body, on my daily life, and on my wife, children, siblings, friends… everyone I love and who matters to me.
Being a very pragmatic person, my wife and I decided to first tell our children—who live across the country—before informing our extended family. We chose our words carefully because we did not want to create panic. We had to face this reality ourselves first and avoid spreading unnecessary stress.
So, we went step by step, sharing updates gradually, only when we had enough significant information to justify it.
Searching for Information
Right after the announcement, my wife and I began a quest for information. We scoured the Internet for details about the disease, possible interventions—whether stents or bypass surgery—and read extensively on the subject. We also consulted friends working in healthcare.
At the same time, we started reevaluating our daily priorities and our travel plans for the coming year. Everything seemed to need reconsideration in light of this diagnosis.
Everyone Becomes a Doctor
During this period, something quite peculiar happened: everyone we spoke to suddenly seemed to become an expert. Each had an opinion, often based on the experience of a relative. Human nature being what it is, people want to reassure, to minimize the seriousness of the situation—but without really knowing my case.
I quickly realized that I had to listen politely but not give too much weight to these opinions. In the end, only the objective data from my tests mattered, the data on which the specialists based their decisions.
Learning to Adapt
Every aspect of our lives was influenced by this new reality: family gatherings, travel plans, daily routines… Every project forced us to ask questions and make adjustments. It became a daily exercise in adaptation.
And then there was the waiting. Waiting for the surgery felt endless!
I wanted the problem resolved right away, to reduce the risk of a potentially fatal cardiac event and to return as soon as possible to a normal life.
A New Daily Routine
During this waiting period, another change entered my life: medication.
I had to get used to taking several pills every day and to deal with their side effects. For someone who hesitated to even take a pill for a headache, suddenly having to take multiple medications at different times each day was a major shift.
This was both a psychological challenge—accepting this new dependency—and a physical one—my body needed to adjust to the treatments.
The Surgery
Finally, I was admitted to the hospital for a quintuple bypass! Wow!
Do I really need five bypasses? That sounded huge to me. But in the end, it didn’t matter—one, two, three, or five, it was all the same to me. I would be asleep, and I trusted the team to do what was necessary.
They explained the risks, had me sign the consent forms. I feared not surviving the operation or waking up diminished, but I knew the surgery was essential if I wanted to go on living. It was as simple as that.
I felt grateful for being in good enough shape to withstand such a surgery, and above all, for living in a country where I could have this chance at healing. I truly considered myself fortunate despite everything.
It’s Over… But It’s Just Beginning
After several hours of surgery, I was transferred to intensive care.
I became aware of my surroundings about 24 hours after entering the operating room. I was so happy to be alive and could hardly believe the surgery had already happened! Those 24 hours are gone from my memory forever, but I know that during that time, the surgeon had done extraordinary work and saved my life. I will be forever grateful.
The care was excellent. Each day, I was encouraged to walk a little longer than the day before. I had no appetite, but I forced myself to eat.
My wounds were treated—on my chest, my arm, and my left thigh, where arteries and veins had been taken to build the bypasses.
Barely five days later, I was sent home! Fast, isn’t it?
Returning Home
Once at home, I quickly realized how weak and dependent I was. I couldn’t climb stairs or take a shower alone. Even getting out of bed required learning a special technique: pressing a cushion against my chest to ease the pain and protect the incision in my rib cage.
For about two weeks, medical staff came to my house to change my dressings.
I also did the prescribed exercises to stimulate circulation, keep my lungs active, and maintain muscle tone.
I was totally dependent on my loved ones, which was a huge adjustment.
The Psychological Side
Day by day, I became more aware of the enormity of what I had been through over the previous months. My body was repaired, healing, and regaining strength. But slowly, emotions began to surface. I realized how sick I had been without knowing it, and I became fully aware of everything that could have happened.
I developed a deep sense of life’s fragility. This state of mind persisted for several months at varying intensity and has permanently changed the way I look at every day I am fortunate enough to live.
Gratitude
I had the privilege of being treated by an extraordinary medical team and supported by a loving and caring family. They all stood by me through every stage of this ordeal, and I will remain grateful for the rest of my life.
My life philosophy—rooted in realism and optimism—helped me cope with the psychological side of this heavy challenge with less drama. But I know that for many, this emotional recovery is just as hard and demanding as the physical one.
Back to Normal Life
With the exercise program recommended by the hospital, I gradually regained my strength. My appetite returned, my projects resurfaced, and I started planning my life again as before.
I became the man I used to be… only better, I would say. My body was doing well, and my mind was calmer.
Conclusion
I am convinced I was fortunate to be diagnosed in time, operated on at the right moment, and strong enough to undergo this life-saving surgery. Today, I have adopted a new lifestyle, including a regular exercise program, more intense than before. My goal is clear: to take full advantage of this second chance I’ve been given.
I would not dare tell anyone: “You will get through this,” because each person experiences it in their own way and at their own pace, even though the stages are similar. I only hope my story can resonate with others in their moments of worry and vulnerability.
Statistics are largely favorable, but the lived experience remains unique, personal, and impossible to reduce to numbers. My conclusion comes down to three words: trust, resilience, and human values.
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