OT: Joining the Zipper club soon. Wish me luck, Options

[914rrr]

Had my CT Scan yesterday to clear me for an ENT proceedure. Heart Doc calls and says CT scan no bueno. Currently in the hopital awaiting a heart cath with a triple bypass surgery likely on Monday. Really crummy timing as I'm knee deep in a renovation of a house we just purchased. Any insights on recuperation time would be appreciated.

[rhodyguy]

I’m knee deep, with few answers, in medical stuff. Ultra sound, CT, MRI (yesterday. I left my house at 5:50AM, got home after noon. 18 mile drive). I hope the procedure goes well and your recovery is excellent.

[burton73]

I do not need to tell you to do what the Dr. says you should do. When it is time, your team will tell you what you can do. You have to have faith that it is going to turn out well.

Best Bob B

[StarBear]

Best wishes for successful operation and speedy, full recovery. Longest May be the PT afterwards - slow buildup and endurance. Lots of folks have gone through it!!

[TROJANMAN]

I've my fair share of CTs in recent years.
Good luck to you and Godspeed.
You got this (IMG:style_emoticons/default/call me.gif)

[PanelBilly]

You’ll feel great when it’s done. Amazing how much better it is when the blood flows properly.

[Geezer914]

Best wishes on your procedure and a speedy recovery!

[flyer86d]

I’m hoping for all the best for you. My dad, a corporate pilot had a heart attack at 53 ending his career as a pilot. He moved on and retired from his second career at 65 and neede a bypass at 73. That lasted till he was 87 and his heart just stopped. They are pretty good at this type of repairs these days. We are all looking for a few more good years.

Charlie

[Shivers]

I'll pray for you. Don't know if he knows the name 914rrr but lets give it a go anyway.

[fiacra]

Sorry to hear that, but it sounds like this was discovered before a major cardiac event took place. That's a HUGE upside right there.

It's not my practice area, but I'll address your question about rehabilitation time...it all depends upon the procedure, your preexisting medical conditions (diabetes, etc.), and any intra operative and post operative complications (if any). In the days when it was routine to split the sternum to access the heart there was an extended recovery time and lots of physical limitations in the initial six months. Minimally invasive surgery has a much quicker recovery time, and as @PanelBilly pointed out you may actually feel quite a bit better right after surgery as there is no substitute for well perfused cardiac muscle. Not sure if the plan is to use saphenous vein or radial artery for the graft, or some other vessel, but expect some discomfort at the donor site. Listen closely to your medical team and follow the post operative recommendations carefully. Expect a few months of cardiac rehab and a gradual return to activity. Renovating your house can wait, renovating your heart can't. I know it is frustrating, and there is never good timing for an event like this, but try to think of this as a short term inconvenience that comes with a long term benefit.

I really hope you do well and are back at it shortly. I'll keep my fingers crossed on Monday, both for you and your family.

[BillC]

The mother-in-law of one of my co-workers just had triple bypass surgery. She's 58. Went in on a Thursday a couple of weeks ago, complaining of chest discomfort (not even pain). They CAT-scanned her and scheduled her for surgery the next day. Surgery went well, and they sent her home the following Tuesday. So, four days from being opened up to being sent home. And, she's feeling much better.

And, as stated above, FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR'S INSTRUCTIONS! Can't state that emphatically enough. Also, be careful not do over-do it afterward -- you'll start feeling better and it will be too easy to do too much and cause problems. You'll recover much faster if you stick to the medical instructions.

[914rrr]

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes and advice!

On the plus side, I beat my dad's first bypass surgery by 10 years to the good! He lived to be 90 after 2 triple bypasses, several stents, ablations, wearing out 2 pacemakers prematurely , etc.

My heart doc commented that my CT scan was the worst one he'd ever seen (due to blockage size and placement), like ...Hey, you gotta check THIS out! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

[worn]

Had my CT Scan yesterday to clear me for an ENT proceedure. Heart Doc calls and says CT scan no bueno. Currently in the hopital awaiting a heart cath with a triple bypass surgery likely on Monday. Really crummy timing as I'm knee deep in a renovation of a house we just purchased. Any insights on recuperation time would be appreciated.

Sorry to hear that. On the other hand, finding the problem with a scan is a lot better than losing a lot of heart muscle when the vessels clog up for real. It is really hard to lie there while other people take care of renovations and everything else. Good luck with that.

[jim_hoyland]

Best wishes for a successful op and recovery. Been there. You’ll be surprised how much better you feel after you complete rehab.

[r_towle]

Finding it and fixing it prior to a heart attack will help quicken your recovery. You will breathe much better, but expect a few month to let all the wounds heal.

[rick 918-S]

My son works in the coronary care floor here at the local Essentia Hospital. Lots of success. You should do well with great care.

[Cairo94507]

Speedy recovery. My father-in-law had a triple bypass when he was 80. He passed away at 98. They are pretty darn good at this stuff these days. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Jett]

Best wishes! My father had a quintuple bypass at 81 and is 91 now…

Today’s technology is amazing and will help reduce the recovery time.

Lets us know how you feel afterwards.

[76-914]

Good luck and a speedy recovery. As others have mentioned your in good hands nowadays. My dad had the 2nd open heart surgery in TX in '71. There were 16 in the surgical team out of Houston. The surgery consumed 19 pts of blood and lasted 11 hours. He told me he hurt so badly afterwards that he tried holding his breath so he would die. He was given a 5% chance of recovery. In 1981 he had his second OHS. Four hours later they wheeled him out and had him up and walking down the aisles that evening. So yea, you got this. And throw away those cigarettes if you smoke. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Tdskip]

Best wishes