Heart surgery

[artme]

Don,t know if this is the right spot for this but here goes.
Iam having a double bypass Op on my ticker on Monday 17th. at Greenslopes Private. This on top of a year where I,ve been trying to over come depression. It's enough to make me feel a bit down!:D:D:D

Don't worry I'll be back to dispense advice andpraise in the new year.:o:o

[gpsmith]

Artme,
wish you all the best with the op. Hope all goes well and the recovery is easy.
Don't give the physio's too hard a time.

best of luck,

[watson]

Artme,
Hope all goes well on the 17th...take it easy and come back as you're usual self.

Just to make you have a smile.....I think as a new mod, that I should move this post to "PLUMBING" :U :U

Hang in There,
Regards,
Noel

[Blackout]

artme,

All the best. It's a good hospital and especially for the ticker. I'm sure you'll recover feeling better:U and younger:o than you have for a long time.

Cheers,

[Groggy]

Good luck with the op mate :2tsup:

[jerryc]

Good luck mate. Don't know about Greenslopes, but do know bypass heart surgery is fairly routine these days. I didn't have a bypass, but during my protracted stay in the cardiac thoracic unit I watched those who did and they were in and out in five days. The zipper club is a big one with lots of members. So hope the depression improves as well.

Jerry


Everybody is entitled to my opinion

[wheelinround]

Arteme good luck on the 17th just think nurses are younger these days but not all female so careful who gives you the sponge bath :D

[Rocker]

Artme,

Good luck: I am going in to get an atrial septal defect repaired four days later; so I trust that you will set a good example by coming through your procedure in good shape. Like you, I am looking forward to feeling a lot better when it is all over.

Rocker

[RufflyRustic]

Best wishes for the op Artme! Hope your recovery is quick and as painfree as possible

cheers
Wendy

[BrettC]

Good luck mate, you'll get sick of the food soon enough...:;

[robyn2839]

if you want to ask any questions after or before your done give me a pm , i had mine last year and i found it great to talk to and ask questions from someone who has had the procedure done to them, just little things docs dont tell you ,but its comforting to know ( i knew that so i wont worry me) and the little things when you come home ,its good to know there is an answer. bob

[Barry_White]

artme

I had my quadruple two and a half years ago in Greenslopes. Definitely the best hospital in Australia and they really look after you. One thing I would advise you is to get all your coughing and sneezing over before you have it done and keep a rolled up towel handy at all times .

They are so good today it is no worse than having your appendix out and better than having your tonsils out because at least you can eat after the operation and the food is good in Greenslopes along with your private room.

At least they use an electric razor to shave you and no risk of getting any vital appendages cut accidentally.

They will kick you out after a week and have you walking the next day.

Good luck and as others have said watch out for the male nurses.

Have look at post No.7 a room with a view. http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=18260&highlight=quadruple+bypass

[STAR]

Thinking about you Artme. We all go through a few dry gullys and muddy creeks.

Greenslopes is a top hospital. Used to be run by the Federal Government War Veterans Dept.

You are not alone, there are plenty here, me included. even though I do not know you personally, appreciate all the help and advice you have given here.

Keep in touch, after your op, good luck, and I am sure many of us here, would love to meet up with you, when you are over your hospitalization.

[Robo1]

Not a problem these days. It will be over in no time and you will be back on here real soon.
Rob...

[echnidna]

Goodluck

[Wongo]

It is not an easy time for you at the moment. I wish you all the best for the operation.:2tsup:

[Woodlee]

Don,t know if this is the right spot for this but here goes.
Iam having a double bypass Op on my ticker on Monday 17th. at Greenslopes Private. This on top of a year where I,ve been trying to over come depression. It's enough to make me feel a bit down!:D:D:D

Don't worry I'll be back to dispense advice andpraise in the new year.:o:o



Hope all goes well for you and will be thinking of you .
Have heart problems as well , a positive outlook will help along immensly .

Cheers and take care .

Kev.

[hcbph]

Hope all goes as expected and have a speedy recovery.

Paul

[lubbing5cherubs]

all the best,
Toni

[jow104]

I honestly cannot recall anyone who says they haven't felt better after that operation. Sounds a good hospital you are going to as well.

[Evan Pavlidis]

All the very best to you Artme with the op and hope you beat depression. Looking forward to your posts and having you back on-line. :)

Cheers mate, Evan

[Sebastiaan56]

Im not in the zipper club, I know plenty who are and all are glad for it. Good luck,

Sebastiaan

[Chesand]

I can only repeat what has been said above.
Had a quad bypass done 9 years ago and have never looked back.
I made a decision that I would be a hassle free zone after that.
It is important to be positive and if there is a cardiac rehab course available you should do it.
Good luck

[Scally]

Best wishes Artme.

Take a few pics of the staff for us.

[Harry72]

Good luck mate.

[munruben]

Good luck with your operation artme and have a nice Christmas. I am sure you will be looked after admirably in Greenslopes. All the best mate.

[walro]

Good luck artme,
I wish you all the best and may you have a speedy recovery.
regards
walter

[Cliff Rogers]

See ya Tuesday Artme. :2tsup:

[philf]

Good luck Artme, hope all goes well and it gives you a positive outluck for the future.

Rgds,
Phil.

[artme]

Jus t a note to say many, many thanx for your good wishes.:2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

To all forumites let me wish you a safe, happy Christmas and a really great 2008.:):):)

[Allan at Wallan]

Good luck Artme!

Zip in, zip up, then zip out.

Plenty of friends on the Forum will be thinking of
you and wishing you a speedy recovery.

Allan

____________________________________

One good turn requires a quality piece of wood.

[jerryc]

Artme, You should be out or getting ready for release from hospital about now. Let us know how things are when you feel a bit stronger.

Jerry

Everyone is entitled to my opinion

[artme]

Well the bypass was a success and the view of the grass from this side is even better.:2tsup::2tsup:
Painful experience :(so my advice to everyone is look after yourself so it doesn't have to happen to you.
Again many thanks for all your good wishes and I trust your Christmas was well rounded and that you all resolve to do some great turning in 08.

[jow104]

Welcome back, and take a rest for a few days.

[Rocker]

Artme,

Good to hear that all went well for you. I hope that you will heal quickly and feel much better soon.

Rocker

[Groggy]

Good to see you back again :bestwishes:

[watson]

And!!!
What took you so long........Huh???

[munruben]

Good to see you back artme, keep up the good work. You will be as good as new when you have recovered completely.:):2tsup:

[artme]

Watson I know you know your way around everthing but you weren't there at Greenslopes otherwise I may not have taken so long.:D:D:p

Did Munruben become a gold member in my absence?:q:q If so, Why?:?:?

[Evan Pavlidis]

Welcome back mate :); have a good, no, many good years. Looking forward to see more of your work when your strength builds.

Evan

[Barry_White]

Hi Artme

Pity they kick you out so quick at Greenslopes after open heart surgery. I would have looked you up on the 10th February when I go up there for my annual checkup for my hypertension in Ward 5

[Simomatra]

Glad to see you are back Artme just can't keep a good man down.

All the best for your future check up Barry

[wheelinround]

Artme good to see your return:2tsup:

They say that this is just like servicing the fuel pump and carby these days a spring replacement a new gasget and a quick blow through the lines, and our good for a further life time of get up and go.

[Pops]

Hi Artme,

All good news mate.

I guess you got the best Chrissy gift of all, a new lease on life. Onya !!! :)

Take it easy when you first venture back into the shed.

Cheers
Pops

[Cliff Rogers]

:2tsup:

[Barry_White]

Artme good to see your return:2tsup:

They say that this is just like servicing the fuel pump and carby these days a spring replacement a new gasget and a quick blow through the lines, and our good for a further life time of get up and go.

That's probably true Wheelin and it's just like a car that you've had that done to you just don't flog it quite as hard as you used to.

A heart surgeon is just like a motor mechanic, the only difference is the heart surgeon does it like he has to do it through the exhaust pipe while he has the engine running.

[wheelinround]

That's probably true Wheelin and it's just like a car that you've had that done to you just don't flog it quite as hard as you used to.

A heart surgeon is just like a motor mechanic, the only difference is the heart surgeon does it like he has to do it through the exhaust pipe while he has the engine running.

I just had a dejavue moment Barry :D

[jow104]

My experience (only stent fitted) is that after operation wounds healed they encourage excercise and frown on a loafing lifestyle. The neighbour next door had the quad bypass and he put my scaffolding up for me, so it does pay to think positive, after medical advice of course.

[artme]

I have strict exercise and recovery plan to follow. For instance I am not allowed to lift any more than 4kgs. for a few weeks. All lifting is to be done with both hands. I have a neat little toy to assist my breathing develop and this is to used every 1-2 hours a day.
I won,t be able to mow the lawn or beat the wife for a least 3 months.
It will take 6 months for the sternum to heal completely.
I can't Drive for 6 weeks. I must walk for suggested minimum times each day, do upper body exercise etc....
The worst thing about bypass surgery is that everything is to be done gradually, no matter how good I may feel.
At the moment I feel like I have not felt for years - BLOODY TERRIFIC!! But I'm frustrated because I can't touch the lathe and all those other finger removing toys. I cannot even begin to clean up the shed.:((:((:((
Otherwise I am having a great time under the watchfuleyes of SWMBO.:p:p

[jow104]

We told you so.:rolleyes:

[watson]

I have strict exercise and recovery plan to follow. For instance I am not allowed to lift any more than 4kgs. for a few weeks. All lifting is to be done with both hands. I have a neat little toy to assist my breathing develop and this is to used every 1-2 hours a day.
I won,t be able to mow the lawn or beat the wife for a least 3 months.
It will take 6 months for the sternum to heal completely.
I can't Drive for 6 weeks. I must walk for suggested minimum times each day, do upper body exercise etc....
The worst thing about bypass surgery is that everything is to be done gradually, no matter how good I may feel.
At the moment I feel like I have not felt for years - BLOODY TERRIFIC!! But I'm frustrated because I can't touch the lathe and all those other finger removing toys. I cannot even begin to clean up the shed.:((:((:((
Otherwise I am having a great time under the watchfuleyes of SWMBO.:p:p
I reckon schooners are under 4Kg's. but then again........???????
Take it slow and easy.

[wheelinround]

Artme it does get better uncle had one and has returned to flying which he thought he'd have to give up. Not only that but at age 70 jumped/parachuted in a tandem jump. He's just turned 80 and still fly's once a week.

[jerryc]

artme, glad you are back with us.
One strong word of advice and that is don't treat yourself like an invalid and more importantly don't let others treat you like one. they mean well but get back to life.
I had a bad time with heart failure. Blood poisoning , six months in hospital and finally a new valve, the other banded and a puncture repaired. They had to take out the old defibrillator and put in a new pacemaker/ defibrillator.I had deteriorated so far that even my vocal chord muscles had failed.
Point I wish to make is settle down to a daily routine of exercise and stick with it. Recently I asked my cardiologist, who is a friend, how hard I could work at exercise. He grinned and said the heart unit wouldn't let me go above 170 beats a minute so just "go for it"
I've bought a new yacht and sailed it up the Qld coast. Yesterday I was out chainsawing fallen trees and still came in to do my exercise routine after that.
Like you I was limited at first to 2kg. Now on the lat machine I"m pulling 45kgs in three sets of ten reps, that's in addition to other weights and twenty five minutes hard pedalling on exercise bike.

Quality of life is what it's all about so get fit and enjoy it.

Only problem I have is alcohol. I've always enjoyed wine, preferring quality to quantity. But with low blood pressure and tablets that also reduce BP I am limited to about two glasses.

Sorry to lay out my problems in such detail but only put them in as a guide to what you can achieve. I don't want to be dramatic but my wife, who was a cardiac nurse said she thought the only push ups she could see me doing was daisies

If you want to you can always PM me, I've lived with this for about three years now so I might be able to help with some advice especially on the mind bit, which I consider the most important hurdle.

Jerry

[watson]

Great Post Jerry,:2tsup:
That's exactly what we all need to hear.
My "Gone to God" FIL could have done with that message, as after his op he wouldn't buy new shirts......as he wouldn't get the wear out of them:oo: :oo:
With that attitude, he didn't hang in long enough to need replacement batteries in his machine.
Very good to hear such positive stuff!!

[artme]

All good advice thanx, Jerry:2tsup::2tsup: I have no intention of sitting about saying "woe is me", but SWMBO seems to think I'm a delicate type - you know, the sort who as a kid did ballet and got asthma. That aggravates me no end but I can understand as her father died after such an op.

I don't think the red stuph will be a problem.I've never been into cheap bombo. I just don't know jow much of the good stuph I'll be able to accommodate as the prices go up.

Tomrrow, despite SWMBO. I shall be walking the track along the creek. Just a couple of days and I'm bored sh*&%^&%* walking around the house.

[jerryc]

artme,

Remember what said about not being an invalid or letting others help you be one. success is in the mind

I had lost fifteen kilos whilst in hospital and all of it muscle. I tried pushing a plane a week after coming out and found it was right at the limit of my power.
We are all a bit lazy and I found myself letting my wife wait on me. Small things like getting me a coffee while I just sat and let her. Remember she was a cardiac nurse and knew what I could and should do. Son in law who knows value of exercise ( his son has cystic fibrosis and if he doesn't exercise he dies) When out on the yacht S-I-L wanted to raise and lower the sails. I had to tell him "No way. You sit and watch and only if I'm in distress will I call you. Same goes for raising and lowering anchor."

Two people who should know better still managed to want to "help". I might too easily have let them help. I was grateful for their concern but you see how easy it is to fall into the invalid trap.

Another point. We all start off exercise with good intentions and often find excuses to miss a session. ALL of us. I used that to good advantage and it might help with recruiting your wife to do the same. I explained to my wife that I might backslide on exercise and asked her to drive me to it when I weakened. It's good because she feels involved. One way she uses is, "You can find five excuses not to exercise, but it only takes one good excuse to get stuck in."

And get good advice. While in hospital ( before the op) I asked one cardiologist what I could achieve when I was patched up.
"About 25% of what you were before" was the answer. I was shocked and later when he did his rounds asked my cardiologist if that was the best I could do. We have known each other for years and he replied. "It's up to you. We can give your heart the major service, but like a car standing idle in the garage it deteriorates if not used. At worst 25% is about right, try for the best."

Sorry about the lectures but I saw many different attitudes among patients when I was "inside"

Jerry


eveeryone is entitled to my opinion

[prozac]

Glad the op went well Artme. Get out and about everyday, it will tire the blackdog and it will want to sleep.

[Scally]

Glad to hear the op went well Artme.

It is a shame you cant clean the shed.
I get really annoyed when the sawdust gets above my knees.

Festool have some light tools!!