Just to add to the store evidence of life after bypass...

I was diagnosed with angina, then fairly soon after that I had a heart attack. The angiogram showed that my blockages were too extensive and complicated for stents, so there wasn't really any choice but a bypass.

I had a quadruple bypass at the Royal Brompton in London in 2006, just before I turned 45. I won't claim it was enjoyable, but I'm very glad I had it, as I now feel so much better, with no chest pain etc. It's taken a while to get back to "normal" but that's been mostly the drugs and also the loss of confidence which you mentioned.

Hope things work out as well for you as they have for me - good luck, whatever you decide.

Cheers, Mark