Comments on: When I’m Not Working,

By: Robin

Robin — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:20:57 +0000

It's crazy freezing out here and all ice at the moment. I'm going to refrain from telling you my grandfather's story...although he had several surgeries that went fine. It was the pace maker or something that was the problem. Your mom will be JUST fine. Robin's last blog post..4 Days With Aurora and Pilot

By: Mom

Mom — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:59:20 +0000

Hi! I just don’t know how to thank everyone here for giving Leanne such encouragement! Gratefullivin, your story is amazing! I am so glad to read such positive restults – it helps me have peace about the whole thing, and I hope it gives my children the same peace!
Thanks you all, and I wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Mom
:thanku:

By: SwordGirl

SwordGirl — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:27:12 +0000

J’s Dad seems better than ever after he had his bypass surgery. The medicine did kind of make him a little forgetful at times.

By: Greatfullivin

Greatfullivin — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:43:22 +0000

Hi, first time here. Found you through TT. I have a lot of experience with open heart surgery to share. My father, in the late 80’s. My brother in 1995 (due to his thyroid, which had stopped working) My mother who had 98% blockage in two arteries and 89% in a third. It was 2002, she was living alone in Ohio, as my father had passed on in 2001. I travelled out from Indiana to take her for the heart cath. They sent her home, saying there was nothing they could do ,as she has COPD and they felt surgery was just too much of a risk. We consulted with a couple other heart specialists including the Cleveland Clinic, no luck. I decided to pack her up and move her to Indiana with me. We arrived at my home on Mothers Day, 2002. The next morning I got on the internet and found a heart surgeon at The Indiana Heart Hospital, I called and told him the situation. We made an appointment for Wednesday. My Mother had open heart the following monday. The surgeon worked on the beating heart and never stopped her lungs. Here it is 2007 and my mom is fine, living on her own. Medicine has come so far. I remember my Dad in recovery(it was awful) stapeled together, on a ventilator. It was very different with my mom. My Uncle just had heart surgery on Wednesday. Only 15% of his heart was functioning. Very risky surgery…but he made it through! He is still critical but responding. Medicine has come so far…Your mom’s life will be so much better! I will add her to my prayer list. Just remember, it is a lot to put the body through but so worth it!

By: Geekwif

Geekwif — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:14:47 +0000

I totally get the freezing thing. And my husband is exactly the opposite. He’s just wilty all summer unless the a/c is set to “frigid”.

I don’t know anyone personally who has had Open Heart Surgery, but I will keep your mom in my prayers.

By: June

June — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:47:50 +0000

Fortunately for me, I’ve not had any first hand experience with open heart surgery, but have heard OF people who’s had it. Details are not shared, but people seem to go through it well. Why around these parts, it’s almost considered a routine procedure! My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your mom.

As for the cold…this is why I can’t quite break the bond with Florida! Sometimes I think that I could handle the winter, but then…maybe not 😮

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:09:40 +0000

As you know, my Dad had Open Heart Surgery in spring of ’05. That’s when he had a massive MI (myocardial infarction… a/k/a heart attack) and requried a quadruple bypass in order to save his life. And it did save his life, there is no doubt about that.

The surgery itself was a bit scary.. as was the immediate recovery time (he was in ICU for 2 days after)… but, he has had absolutely zero problems with his heart ever since then. He lost a little weight after the surgery and it took him a month or two to gain it back to his usual, but really .. all in all, considering how very serious his situation was, he has had no problems.

Despite my mother’s protesting – he mows the lawn, snowblows the driveway and still gets up on the roof to clear the leaves out of the gutter. He’s as healthy – – if not MORE so, than he was the day he had his heart attack and it truly did save his life.

The surgeon was extremely good and gave us several years more with my Dad… years we would not have had if the root cause of his heart problems weren’t detected at the time they were. For that, I will forever be grateful.

All our thoughts are with you… but mostly with your mom for her surgery next week. :friends:

By: YellowRose

YellowRose — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:28:52 +0000

Hi sweetie, I know how you are feeling, my dad had triple bypass open heart surgery almost two years ago. It was one of those things that just happened. He went in for a check up for work, and they found massive blockage. We like to call it divine intervention. 😉 I, being the eldest, came and stayed with my dad and his wife for over two weeks. Definitely learned alot!

He is doing great now! Matter of fact, he started recovering very well after the surgery. He returned to work just 8 weeks after he had his surgery!! Mind you, he didn’t do anything strenuous, just office stuff, but he was getting back into the swing of things very soon.

He hasn’t had another problem since his surgery and he is the picture of health.

My FIL has also had open heart surgery just 5 months ago. His recovery is taking slightly longer, but he also had blood clots in his lungs (these were already there, nothing to do with the surgery). He is also about 15 years older than my father.

If you have any questions, please don’t hestitate to email me or I’ll be happy to give you my phone number. I know what it is like to be the daughter. :hug:

Know that your mom will be in my prayers, so will you my friend!

By: Paige

Paige — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:02:30 +0000

I am still sending prayers to your mom and will continue to do so after her surgery. I know she will be fine. I think Laura’s advice about follow up care is right on the money. It is important to ask alot of questions and make sure the rest of the family is all on the same page with the follow up care.

I am praying for a protective and healing light around your mom. I know she’ll have a great recovery and will be back to her old self in no time at all!