well im back

[cblmn7]

i have been gone for a couple of weeks i had double bypass on the 26th of feb they tried to go in twice with heart cath couldnt do it so i had my lad bypassed  with a mammary artery and the obtuse marg with a leg vein all is good so far except  lots of pain just tring to recover now any sugestions on how to make it easier

[LindaTX]

I truly apologize, My mind really is nowhere what it used to be and I honestly did not remember this.  I'm so glad she is doing so much better and I promise not to post any more insensitivity. Best health to both you and your wife, ed.

[ed34]

"Did this just recently happen?"
Since 2003 she has been battling with rectal cancer and the max chemo/radiotherapy had no efffect. In July last year they removed a section of colon, along with the rectum, performed a colostomy and she seemed fine for about 3 days in recovery. I kept commenting to the Doctor how she was speaking in riddles and falling asleep halfway through a sentence, but he insisted it was the medication. On day 5 I walked up to ITU and asked a Doctor there to come and examine her. She said her body was far too low in oxygen and needs to be moved to life support. Suddenly they didn't know if she would make it thru the night, but she was off life support 5 days later. Unfortunately while on life support she suffered a-fib and this caused a large stroke. All her right side was paralysed, you could stick pins in and she wouldn't feel it. Her speech was lost and she didn't recognise anyone except me, not even our kids. Within a couple of weeks she gained some movement in her right side and got her speech back. Since that time her memory has fully recovered and she has regained 97% of the strength in her right side. Physiotherapists are optimistic that she will regain all her strength because you usually have up to 2 years for recovery. For the first time since 2003 she has put on weight. The surgeon feels he got all the cancer and her lymph nodes contained no cancer cells. Hopefully this will be the last of it.

[LindaTX]

My best to your wife, ed.  I didn't know that.  Did this just recently happen?  Yesterday morning I went into one of my a-fib episodes, makes me depressed as all get-out.  Just so happened my husband had to make an out-of-town trip about 300 mi away to help his 90 yr old dad with fixing his tractor.  Normally I would worry about being alone with this arrythmia but I managed to hang on to that independent spirit, knowing that if I truly did get into trouble, I could simply call 911.  I didn't feel so panicky.  I can feel self-sufficient and I need to keep demonstrating that way of dealing with my life.  You men have taught me a good life lesson.  Thanks again :)

[ed34]

My wife is recovering from a serious stroke and I understand what you are saying Linda. I weight on her hand and foot too, but at the same time I ensure I give her space. It's a fine line which can be difficult to find. I am one of those who hate being looked after, I feel intimidated. I just do what I can for my wife but the important thing is floods of encouragement. I would also like to say thank you for your comments on my character and you are spot on, which shows how wise you are :)

[LindaTX]

Yes, I re-thought that after I posted.  ed just sounded so "heartless...so cold!"  But that was just a temporary misperception, a knee-jerk reaction I had when I read his post.  I know ed has a warm heart <3 and doesn't have a mean-spitited, cruel or sarcastic bone in his body So I completely agree with every thing he said. He's been there and know of what he speaks.

In my particular situation, my husband does baby me and he needs to stop it....right now! I'm not getting better, he waits on me hand and foot, he's at my beckoned call, my allowing him to do this has drastically limited my activities and surroundings, for ex. I'm afraid to go anywhere...I might go into a-fib or the stress of watching the grandkids might throw me into an arrythmia or at least pvc's.  I plan to start living differently starting today.  Thank you all.

[cblmn7]

I am married and it kind of what ed said the nurses at the hospital told her not to baby me and to get me walking and thats all she needed whiich is a benifit for me otherwise i think i would still be in bed lol. did my stress test today and passed so now its off to start cardiac rehab

[ed34]

I think that kind of marriage is in fairy tale books. I had help for a couple of weeks and then it was "get off your lazy **** ". Physiotherapists have a saying "if you want to keep it, use it, but know your limitations". I think cblmn7 is on the right track and getting his heart strong. Wait til you get to rehab and the 80 years olds are doing better than you. I was 46 my first time and I've never felt so embarrassed in all my life. I remember there was a lady there who was 89 years old and she kept going much faster than me and grinning. Still, I suppose things like that make you more determined to get better.

[LindaTX]

You must not be married.  Otherwise, you wife would be saying, "Don't overdo it....you might hurt yourself."

[cblmn7]

maybe your right and i am pushing alittle too much i have been getting rib pain on the right side that goes thru to the back i went to the dr to see if it was pneumonia which he said my lungs are clear after a x ray i start cardiac rehab in a week thx for the input

[RadioAstronomyObserver]

My problem was the terror of taxing my heart but once I started rehab, after the first two days, I felt better.

[ed34]

Yep, great progress. I don't think he's overdoing it, the physios wanted me to start walking as soon as possible and for the distance I felt comfortable doing. For someone who felt no pain from their bypass, I would have thought you'd be running and swimming the following day lol. I was in rehab five weeks after surgery instead of the standard six. They say six because that's how long it takes the bones to knit together.
I reckon we will see him in the olympics in 2012.

[RadioAstronomyObserver]

Less than a month and your already walking 2.5 miles?  Bypass in April, rehab in July(?) to August, Walking 2 miles a day by mid Sept.  Five months for me and it only took you one month?  Either you're pushing too much or I was a lazy son of a gun.

[ed34]

I remember after my bypass it felt as though I could walk forever (obviously a gentle walk). It was rehab where I suddenly found my chest muscles being used more. Wow did I ache after each session, especially the next day but the day after that it actually felt improved. It's still fresh in my mind what you are going through and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. One piece of advice I can give and thats to keep doing the breathing exercises they tell you about in hospital. Where you inhale as much as you can, hold it for 10 seconds, then exhale slowly. Do this five times every hour and it really gets those ribs moving again. You also notice each day how you can draw in that little bit more air. It sounds like you are doing really well which is great. You know that the LIMA artery they grafted to your left artery will last the rest of your natural life :)  It appears we now have something in common, my MI was due to a blockage in the obtuse marginal. Maybe this is a common area?
Look after yourself and keep us informed. You will be able to laugh again before you know it.

[cblmn7]

you got that right about the pain with laughing or coughing or sneezing i am starting cardiac rehab in 2 wks right now i am up to 2.5  miles a day walking

[cblmn7]

thanks for the support i am now walking 2.5 miles a day and should start cardiac rehab in 2 wks 12 wks until  i get to go back to work thx again

[erijon]

Sorry to hear you had to do the bypass, please know we're thinking of you and wishing you a speedy recover.

Good luck,

Jon

[ed34]

Did you hear the joke about the penguin who.........
Sorry, I meant to say, no listening to jokes or watching comedies cause laughing makes you hurt. I found that repeating the breathing exercises to stretch your ribs every hour made a lot of difference. Sleeping positions are also important. I found the best one was to hang upside down on a washing line. Just keep in mind that you want to look after that sternum, so no lifting anything heavier than a beer bottle, or a kettle of course. Cut down to only 5 cigars a day and 12 donuts. Once you start rehab you will pick up really quick. Is that about 6 weeks after surgery?

[Riz711]

Be positive.  Keep telling yourself this is the best for you and you will feel well again.  Seeing any improvement each day is hard but each week I look back and can see progress.  In the first few weeks I kept a diary and found that helpful.