General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOpen Heart Surgery
I am currently in the hospital for a heart attack and although we have that settled down, they are going to keep me here for observation until Wednesday. Then I have open heart surgery for 5-6 bypasses.
I will leave a message when I get through but won't be in shape to continue conversations for several days afterwards.
Wish me luck and see you all on the back side.
Botany
(77,835 posts)Get better soon and get home asap.

We will be listening for you.
GentryDixon
(3,157 posts)💐💐💐
OGBuzz
(577 posts)livetohike
(24,411 posts)Then wishing you a speedy recovery. Please check in when you can
.
irisblue
(37,897 posts)malaise
(297,873 posts)Return when youre hale and hearty.
Dave says
(5,467 posts)Spazito
(56,062 posts)a quick recovery.
JMCKUSICK
(6,602 posts)It's so remarkable what they do now, when I had mine done a year plus ago, I placed a DU friend in touch with my sister so everyone could stay updated.
I wish you will, if you have long hair, cut it now lol. (Makes moving easier afterwards lol).
We're here with you and for you PadFun.
padfun
(1,915 posts)Interestingly, I had my haircut just two days before the heart attack
mvd
(65,952 posts)healing vibes and luck to you.
PCIntern
(28,578 posts)Grim Chieftain
(2,012 posts)Sending thoughts, good wishes and hugs your way. Be strong, and keep us posted.
IbogaProject
(6,065 posts)Just carefully up your vitamin c intake to help the blood vessels heal. And be cautious about increasing your activity outside of PT & OT. People heal at different rates and take it easy before your start building back your heart's strength.
femmedem
(8,566 posts)My dad had a heart attack in his 50s, had a quintuple bypass shortly thereafter, and died twenty years later from something else. That early heart attack clued everyone in to what he needed.
padfun
(1,915 posts)A month ago. I guess I didn't go as long as we hoped. The surgeon did say that without this surgery I was due for an attack within the next two years. I guess it came sooner rather than later.
femmedem
(8,566 posts)I'm glad--we're all glad--you survived it.
OLDMDDEM
(3,275 posts)It means a lot to have those who have had it let me know they did good.
spanone
(142,047 posts)Triple bypass last July...
markie
(24,048 posts)I just had an unexpected heart "procedure" and I do know that heart surgery has come a long way and I trust you are in good hands!!
MiHale
(13,158 posts)About 13 years since I had my quadruple bypass
greatauntoftriplets
(179,329 posts)SheltieLover
(81,663 posts)niyad
(133,987 posts)recovery and healing.
S/V Loner
(9,561 posts)I had a triple seven years ago and no issues.
padfun
(1,915 posts)mercuryblues
(16,515 posts)Good luck and best wishes.
My biggest advice for you recovery... WALK.
Don't be surprised. They will have you walking less than 24 hrs after surgery. Don't fight them.
Friends always ask how they can help. Tell them you need walking buddies. Get yourself a headset, music on your phone for when you need it.
padfun
(1,915 posts)Walking on the first or second day
BaronChocula
(4,736 posts)Be good to yourself and listen to the docs!
mwmisses4289
(4,701 posts)mountain grammy
(29,194 posts)and will be watching for the all clear!
Ilsa
(64,562 posts)as is the recovery. I've taken care of those ICU patients before. Sending prayers and good wishes to you and the teams taking care of you.
hamsterjill
(17,742 posts)May you have a safe and easy passage through this and a speedy, full and complete recovery.
I will be holding you in my prayers on Wednesday.
Nevilledog
(55,131 posts)I so clearly remember my dad saying how much better he felt after his quad bypass. He said he hadn't realized what a drain his underperforming heart had been on his day to day life. Your physical therapy will suck, but it's so important. Best of luck.
Marie Marie
(11,507 posts)feeling better than you probably have in months.
CaliforniaPeggy
(156,928 posts)May your health return and your energy and joy too! Take care and please let us know how you're doing, when you can!
padfun
(1,915 posts)Hang in there, buddy.
yardwork
(69,612 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(181,929 posts)KPN
(17,504 posts)Hang in there! And as you say, well look forward to see you on the back side.
bluestarone
(22,461 posts)Positive after your surgery!!
Wicked Blue
(9,011 posts)cachukis
(4,077 posts)KT2000
(22,214 posts)they caught it! Wishing you even more good luck!
LoisB
(13,442 posts)you.
Laurelin
(955 posts)Sending positive healing thoughts your way!
70sEraVet
(5,610 posts)and your surgeon!
Looking forward to hearing from you during your recovery (may it be speedy and complete).
Richluu
(159 posts)And blessings!
multigraincracker
(38,031 posts)Follow doctors orders, get a second opinion and then do your own research.
padfun
(1,915 posts)They said I was stupid too.
Alice Kramden
(2,963 posts)My 75-year-old brother had quadruple bypass last week and he is doing great. I'm sure it will go excellently for you as well!
Catlady123
(74 posts)Vinca
(54,321 posts)lived for many, many years after, despite taking terrible care of himself. Can't wait to hear how it went. Modern medicine is amazing.
gilligan
(219 posts)Had a Triple bypass 4 years ago Am doing fine and live one day at a time. They wanted to do 4 but to much blockage to close to the heart.
Hang in there.
StevieM
(10,581 posts)May you have a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.
Kid Berwyn
(25,053 posts)Speedy recovery to you, padfun!
10 Turtle Day
(1,309 posts)GoodRaisin
(11,053 posts)Trueblue Texan
(4,605 posts)Looking forward to hearing from you in a few weeks. You have lots of support here! Take care and see you soon.
Maraya1969
(23,560 posts)canetoad
(20,998 posts)Hope to see you back here as soon as you are able.
highplainsdem
(63,058 posts)amazing cardiac care now, especially compared to decades ago.
Maru Kitteh
(31,993 posts)patient handouts and work on it now so that after surgery it will be 2nd nature already and you wont have to think about it as much when you body and brain are fresh off the blow of an extended and challenging surgery.
Best of luck to you! Follow your surgeons instructions like you suddenly found yourself in the squid game.
blue_jay
(285 posts)and a rapid recovery.
Clouds Passing
(8,180 posts)I went through open heart surgery last July. Cant say its a breeze. Can say Im alive and moving about.
Liberal In Texas
(16,415 posts)Had one 8 years ago (almost to the day) and had 5. Quintuple, I guess.
I didn't have a heart attack or something similar, but in trying to figure out the Afib they discovered blockages and said that an angioplasty wasn't going to work.
Recovery is no fun, but once your stitching heals up you'll be back normal.
They'll get you signed up for cardio rehab. It'll seem like a PIA to go 3 times a week, but you really need to keep at it for the required number of weeks.
This might be scary, but it is going to make you better!
?v=1662991149
padfun
(1,915 posts)I know it's a long road but I will do what I have to.
MLAA
(19,798 posts)Scrivener7
(60,063 posts)are on the mend.
You will be in my thoughts.
TNNurse
(7,549 posts)My husband is possibly facing a similar surgery. He did not have a heart attack, but the tests show blockages that might not be able to be fixed any other way.
Please keep us posted when you can.
Figarosmom
(13,285 posts)I'm sure you'll be okay. Doctors have perfected this type of surgery to make recovery much faster and easier on the patient.
Sending good vibes.
debm55
(61,624 posts)democrank
(12,675 posts)Get better, then come on back.
MustLoveBeagles
(17,205 posts)I hope everything goes well for you.
Bayard
(30,250 posts)Healing vibes to you.
blogslug
(39,215 posts)Be well.
Eko
(10,100 posts)ms.pamela
(93 posts)AncientOfDays
(269 posts)though mine was just a double bypass. Recovery didn't take long - but they don't let you lift anything heavier than a spoon for awhile - while your chest heals. getting out of chairs will be a challenge (you can't use your arms) Sign up for Cardiac Rehab if available (they have you exercise while wearing monitors)
padfun
(1,915 posts)I remember that name from 40 years ago when I read the Book of Urantia.
HeartsCanHope
(1,758 posts)Will being thinking of you and your family.
DFW
(60,425 posts)Though nothing (yet) open heart, I have had a few cardiac near-misses, one of which elicited just in time in English from the surgeon, and this was not in an English-speaking country. Im probably due for another operation in the near future. I have a family history of both cancer and heart issues. Im 74, and men on both sides of my family almost never make it to 80 (in four generations, only two that I know of).
BUT
. cardiology has made spectacular advances in recent years, and statistically, your chances are good. Once its done, do what they tell you, do NOT eat what they tell you not to (thats the hard part), and dont try to take recovery faster than the docs say you can. Do all that and you should be fine. As a side note, I saw Clinton a few years after his quintuple bypass, and he looked great. Skinny as a rail and body movement more agile than when he was in the White House. He had become vegan, which must have required an iron will. I know what the White House kitchen staff is capable of, and Im sure he must have missed eating like that whenever he wanted.
As for statistics, even those are only indications, not absolutes. The second time my wife had cancer, it was a rare form known as the murderer, since it was always fatal. But hers was caught earlier than her oncologist had ever seen. He managed to fast-track an operation for her (very difficult here, as she only has coach class insurance), and she became that one in ten thousand that survived it. That was ten years ago, and 4 to 18 months is usually the best anyone with that kind of cancer can hope for.
So, hope for the best, then DO your best, and you should be here to tell the tale for a long while.
eppur_se_muova
(42,480 posts)My dad had two bypass operations -- the first was supposed to be a triple, but the second time they said actually it had turned into a quadruple, and they needed to make it a quintuple. They were running out of blood vessels to work with. Still, he made it to 84 with a pacemaker. And he probably would have lived longer if he had listened to his doctor more and taken his Rx as prescribed.
He spent most of his life considering medium-rare steaks to be the best food in the world. It must not be genetic, because I always found beef to be kind of boring -- certainly not something I'd want to see at every meal. I probably have much clearer arteries because of it. After his surgery, the steak dinners kind of disappeared.
OldBaldy1701E
(11,530 posts)My quad bypass was a whirlwind. I went in for a simple stress test, and was under the knife 32 hours later!
Just keep yourself mentally grounded. You are fine and it will be fine.