[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/06\/denises-cabg-surgery\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/06\/denises-cabg-surgery\/","headline":"Denise’s Story: How CABG Surgery Got Her Back to ‘Enjoying Life’","name":"Denise’s Story: How CABG Surgery Got Her Back to ‘Enjoying Life’","description":"

When Denise began experiencing chest pain and other symptoms due to blockages in her arteries, she underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at UPMC.<\/p>","datePublished":"2025-06-17","dateModified":"2025-08-27","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1614473690-e1749837250190.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1614473690-e1749837250190.jpg","height":866,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/06\/denises-cabg-surgery\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":464,"articleBody":"Heart disease runs in Denise Herring\u2019s family, and she has experienced many heart-related issues throughout her life.Ten years ago, Denise had a stent placement to repair a blockage. She also has high blood pressure, which is monitored and well-controlled.In 2024, however, Denise began experiencing symptoms that ultimately led to her needing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.Sudden SymptomsDenise’s journey began when she started experiencing chest pain and other symptoms.\u201cI was having shortness of breath, especially on exertion, but sometimes not on exertion,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd by exertion, I mean a short walk up the driveway.\u201dDenise made an appointment at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI) at UPMC Memorial. Doctors discovered another blockage in her heart, leading to another stent placement.\u201cShe had a blockage in one of the arteries that feeds her heart muscle that was treated with a stent,\u201d says Nathaniel Melton, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. \u201cIt opens up an artery to allow better blood flow to that particular part of the heart.\u201dAfter the procedure, Denise felt much better. She and her husband, Roger, celebrated her completion of cardiac rehabilitation \u2014 as well as their anniversary \u2014 with a cruise to England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.During the first week of the cruise, Denise felt fine. But during the second week, her shortness of breath and chest pain returned. Walking from her stateroom to the dining room was a challenge.\u201cI had to stop and rest along the way, and I had to take nitroglycerin to relieve the pain,\u201d Denise says. \u201cThe pain eventually started going down my arm and up my jaw.\u201dA More Serious SituationThis time, the cause of Denise’s symptoms was about six blockages requiring treatment beyond stenting.HVI doctors scheduled Denise for the CABG procedure.CABG involves rerouting blood flow around blockages using blood vessels from other parts of the body. In Denise\u2019s case, Dr. Melton used two arteries and a vein for a triple bypass.The time in the waiting room during Denise\u2019s surgery wasn\u2019t easy for Roger.\u201cAt the time before the surgery and during the surgery, I knew it was possible we would lose her, and it was a waiting game through the six-hour surgery,\u201d he says.Denise did well after surgery, with no complications, and spent eight days in the hospital. By the holiday season, she was able to travel to visit her two children and seven grandchildren.Since her surgery, Denise has been busy with cardiac rehabilitation. She\u2019s also back to doing what she loves, including planning more trips with her husband.\u201cI\u2019m spending a little more time just enjoying life,\u201d she says. \u201cI felt very blessed to receive great care at UPMC.\u201dSources"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2025","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"06","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/\/06\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Denise’s Story: How CABG Surgery Got Her Back to ‘Enjoying Life’","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/06\/denises-cabg-surgery\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]