Open Heart Surgery Options

[Lindsay Richards]

I went in for a heart cathetiaztion on November 29. I ended up going to cardiac ICU for 8 days and having a heart bypass. I then spent 3 weeks in rehab. Today, I came home tethered to Oxygen. Not sure how long this is going to last. I was wondering if other have had a satisfying camping life after having a bypass. We had a lot of trouble with the surgery and that is why I was in ICU for so long. I am hopping my lungs get better and I can ditch the O2. I did learn why the call it ICU. It is because of those gowns that have no backs. I see you.

[gsbogart]

Hi Lindsay
I am age 72. Had open heart surgery in January of 09. 3 bypasses in the vicinity of the widow maker. 5 days in the hospital.
12 days after surgery, I was on a cruise ship for 7 days to St. Thomas. Doctor said it would be the best re cooperation he could suggest. (We had booked six months before the surgery)
Went to Cardiac rehab for 13 weeks, and then bought a treadmill for the house. I use 15 to 20 minutes every day with bursts to 4.5 MPH. Feel great, and have lost 36 pounds. My chest is still numb on one side from all the nerve cutting they do. Aside from the massive scar on my chest, one would not know I went through such an ordeal.

Exercise, and proper food is the secret to my success. I don't use alcohol or smoke, and am a retired firefighter. Had a construction business while I was on the department, and worked hard labor most of my life.
My brother, a retired police officer, died from Cardiac arrest when he was 59. I have to feel if he had taken the precautions I did, he would be alive today. I was lucky.
I had two doctors tell me nothing was wrong, but I persisted after symptoms I felt uncomfortable with.

Good luck in your rehab.

[Lindsay Richards]

I had a relapse and had to go to the ER. I was rel short of breath Tuesday morning and my heart was going up to 140 with a walk in the house. DW took me for my scheduled DR. (lung) and he took one look at me and sent me to the ER. (about 1 PM). The did a lot of testing and sent me to the room about midnight. I had a lot of fluid outside my lungs and it was stopping them from inflating right. I spent two nights and after IV Lasix like given to race horses to get rid of extra fluid, I was doing laps around the hospital floor. I came home and then this morning, I am back to short of breath (SOB my wife says.) and am going to DR. tomorrow morning. They seem to think that the problem relates to my 8 day stay in the cardiac intensive care with congestive heart failure. This is the congestive part. I am afraid I will hve to start over on my PT. I had been working so hard on it. The Beast's supervisor told me I had been too aggressive with my physical therapy and to slow down. Now, I'll have to start over I am afraid.