In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Update on my Dad.....
rcrxmike_2
Member Posts: 3,275
The bad news it....the winner is by-pass surgury, and he's 72 years old..
The good news is, it's a single by-pass, one artery, which tests today indicate more like 60-70% blocked. And his other labs have come back great, and otherwise, since his last cardio cath 15 years ago, when he was still drinking heavily, to this one, his cardiologist in Rochester says the rest of his heart and function, as well as his general health, looks to be in excellent shape.
I spoke to him tonight, he sounded a little trepidatious, and when I asked why, he said that he had just watched a video explaining the procedure to him. I told him to look upon it as a good thing, very routine, he's in good hands, getting the VIP treatment, and especially since he had just gotten a YMCA membership, and had expressed an interest in a spinning class(!?)
I have to wonder, how long has he felt something is wrong? Did he intentionally put off starting his cardio workout, because he thought something might be amiss? It would be just like him to not say anything, just because he felt he would be letting somebody down, like me and my kids, as when he was discharged from detox, his goal was to earn enough trust back to obtain the ability to care for his grandkids!(?)
As I said before, his first apology was about what an "inconvenience" he was being to me. I told him he was out of his mind. This is not an inconvenience, this is a good thing. Get it taken care of.
Surgury is 10:00am. I'll be leaving aroung 6:30AM ish.
Mike is making dinner, then a glass of wine (or two) then sleep....
Please keep my dad, who in addition to being a stellar dad, grandad, and former sailor, is a rabid Red Sox and NY Giants fan in your thoughts and prayers.
The good news is, it's a single by-pass, one artery, which tests today indicate more like 60-70% blocked. And his other labs have come back great, and otherwise, since his last cardio cath 15 years ago, when he was still drinking heavily, to this one, his cardiologist in Rochester says the rest of his heart and function, as well as his general health, looks to be in excellent shape.
I spoke to him tonight, he sounded a little trepidatious, and when I asked why, he said that he had just watched a video explaining the procedure to him. I told him to look upon it as a good thing, very routine, he's in good hands, getting the VIP treatment, and especially since he had just gotten a YMCA membership, and had expressed an interest in a spinning class(!?)
I have to wonder, how long has he felt something is wrong? Did he intentionally put off starting his cardio workout, because he thought something might be amiss? It would be just like him to not say anything, just because he felt he would be letting somebody down, like me and my kids, as when he was discharged from detox, his goal was to earn enough trust back to obtain the ability to care for his grandkids!(?)
As I said before, his first apology was about what an "inconvenience" he was being to me. I told him he was out of his mind. This is not an inconvenience, this is a good thing. Get it taken care of.
Surgury is 10:00am. I'll be leaving aroung 6:30AM ish.
Mike is making dinner, then a glass of wine (or two) then sleep....
Please keep my dad, who in addition to being a stellar dad, grandad, and former sailor, is a rabid Red Sox and NY Giants fan in your thoughts and prayers.
Comments
Prayers sent.
Just got back from Rochester a few hours ago, after stopping in to see Dad.
Cardio surgeon decided during the operation to perform a double-bypass, as Dad's artery disease was in one of the "big ones" coming out of the left side of a left-side dominant heart. Surgury lasted about 2 1/2 hours. Went up to see him immediately post-surg, and I almost fainted. I'm not a squeamish person, at least I have never been so in the past. He didn't look bad at all, in color or fluid retention, but the man was "wire for sound". All I could think of was Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein", with tubes and probes coming out of every part of his body. Had I not been so facinated by the nurse explaining the post-op protocol, I probably would have needed to have been picked up off the floor. It is amazing, and to say the least, I have always had, and have only increased my respect for those who serve in the health care field, and for the advances in medicine that they discover and implement.
All of his vital organ function came back right away, including his heart.
Dad started coming around about 9:00 last night, and was extubated around 11. They had him up and sitting in a chair by 4:00am, and he had a bit to nosh. When I got to the hospital this morning, he was still a bit confused and disoriented from the anesthesia, he thinks it's Tuesday, and was going on about a garden rake that he says I borrowed and didn't return (which may well be, I'll have to check) but otherwise aware of what had happened, and what was going on, and was cracking wise with the nursing staff.
Probably going to the step-down unit shortly, get some "real" dinner later, and depending on how he does there, will determine when he comes home.
Again, thanks for your support and well wishes. Will keep you posted.
rcrxmike_2:
The bad news it....the winner is by-pass surgury, and he's 72 years old..
Well, it's all a matter of perspective, my friend.
My dad died in his sleep at 55 ... from something that the bypass would have
fixed.
Given the choice, I'm sure he (and all of us) would have been DELIGHTED to have
lived to 72! Mac was a truly incredible man!
1970 was a pretty sad year - for all of us.
Consider yourself lucky ... on a couple of counts! [:D]
My Dad's side of the family apparently has the genetic ability to live into their way upper decade, however, the women on my Mom's side rarely survive out of their 50's, rarely their 60's, usually dying very suddenly.
I was just concerned about the ability to sustain function through surgury, as well as the ability to physically recover for a 70 year old, versus a younger person.
I do consider myself lucky, apparently he sustained no damage (other than the HUGE blockage), since he did not have a heart attack. Trying to keep on the positive, I reminded Dad of this, and told him that in a week or so, he will only start realizing how truly crappy he felt, and will feel 20 years younger.