## The Night My Breath Betrayed Me: A Post-CABG Scare & Hospital Dash
Waking Up Gasping: My Post-Heart Surgery Lung Infection Emergency
As many of you know, I'm a post-CABG patient. Life after open-heart surgery is a journey of healing, adjustments, and constant vigilance. Lately, that vigilance took on a new urgency.
01. The Unsettling Nights:
It started subtly, then became impossible to ignore: shortness of breath at night. Not just a little huffing and puffing, but a feeling like I couldn't get enough air lying down, waking me up with a start. My mind, naturally, raced back to my heart. Is it my grafts? Is something wrong with my heart function? After everything we've been through, that fear is always lurking. After Subuh prayer, I rushed to a private clinic, hoping for a simple answer. They administered a nebulizer treatment once, then twice. While it offered some fleeting relief, the core problem – that terrifying nighttime struggle to breathe – persisted. The nebulizers felt like putting a band-aid on something that needed stitches.
02. The Escalation & Rush to Putrajaya:
The doctor at the clinic, seeing my distress (and undoubtedly noting my significant cardiac history), didn't mince words: "You need to go to the hospital. Go to Putrajaya Hospital. Now." That sentence, delivered with such seriousness, sent a fresh wave of anxiety through me. This wasn't a suggestion; it was an urgent directive. My wife, who accompanied me, didn't hesitate. My family rushed over, brother Alihan took the wheel, and drove me straight to the Emergency Department at Putrajaya Hospital. That car ride felt endless, every minute marked by the effort to draw a decent breath and the pounding of my own heart – my repaired heart.
03. Emergency & The Yellow Zone:
The ER team at Putrajaya moved swiftly. Triage was quick, and explaining my symptoms and crucially, my status as a post-CABG patient, immediately heightened their alertness, I could see it in their eyes and their actions – cardiac patients with breathing difficulties are a top priority. Tests were run, observations were constant. The diagnosis came as a surprise, yet also a relief in a strange way: a lung infection (pneumonia). While serious, it wasn't an immediate cardiac complication. However, learning about my CABG history made the doctors even more concerned. The vulnerability of a heart surgery patient to any infection, especially one impacting the lungs and oxygen levels, is significant. I spent about 8 intense hours in the Yellow Zone of the Emergency Ward – a place for patients needing close monitoring and active treatment before admission. Those hours were filled with oxygen support, IV antibiotics, frequent bp checks, and the constant hum of urgent care.
04. Admitted for the Watchful Eye:
After the initial storm in the ER calmed slightly and the infection was identified, the doctors delivered the next step: admission for further observation. While the diagnosis was clear, the potential impact on my recovering heart system meant they couldn't take any chances. I needed continuous monitoring, targeted IV antibiotics, and specialist oversight to ensure this lung infection didn't trigger any secondary cardiac issues.
So, here I am, writing this from my hospital bed, tethered to monitors and IV lines, but profoundly grateful for the swift action and expertise of the hospital staff.
This experience hammered home several critical points:
1. Never Dismiss New Symptoms: Especially breathing difficulties post-CABG. While it might not always be the heart (as in my case, it was lungs), it ALWAYS warrants immediate and serious attention. Don't assume it's "just" asthma or anxiety.
2. Your History Matters: Always, always lead with your cardiac history when seeking medical help. It changes the entire risk assessment and urgency level for healthcare providers.
3. Escalate if Unsatisfied: If initial treatment (like the nebulizers at the clinic) isn't resolving the core issue, escalate. Go to the ER. Listen to doctors who tell you to go to the hospital. My clinic doctor's insistence likely made a crucial difference.
4. Support is Everything: Thank goodness for my brother. Have your emergency contacts ready. Don't hesitate to ask for help getting to the hospital.
5. Lung Health is Heart Health: For us, they are intimately linked. An infection in the lungs puts strain on the heart. Protecting ourselves from respiratory illnesses is now even more vital.
I'm in good hands here at Putrajaya Hospital. The staff have been attentive and thorough. The road to recovery from this infection begins now, under their watchful care.
To anyone else recovering from major surgery, especially heart surgery: Please be hyper-aware of your body. Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, especially with your breathing, seek help without delay. It's always better to be safe, get checked, and potentially hear it's nothing major, than to wait and face potentially devastating consequences.
I'll keep you updated as I can. For now, I'm focusing on resting, breathing deeply (with a little help!), and fighting this infection.
Sending strength and gratitude,
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