Open Heart Surgery

[gobbl4me]

I was wondering if any of you fellas have ever had it and how long you had to stay in the hospital?
I have to go under the knife on tuesday for a triple bypass and they are going to trim down the left side of my heart sort of a reverse grinch:D. I,m just a little nervous about all this. The procedure is gonna take place at vanderbilt medical center in Nashville. Maybe if it's not to much trouble ya'll could put in a good word for me with the guy upstairs.
thanks
mike

[redneck1377]

good hospital mike and we will pray for you

[westkybanded]

My mom's boyfriend went in for a double, and came out with a quadruple. He was in the hospital for just over 10 days. One thing to watch is fluid buildup in your chest cavity afterwards. He had his the day before thanksgiving, and went back in last week for almost three liters of fluid to be drained off. It's fairly normal, but it can impact your recovery time.

Also, make sure you eat even if you don't want to.

Good luck.

[Hammer]

you'll do great! That's such a fantastic surgery now in terms of success. Make sure to do your deep breathing and cough after surgery and your incentive spirometer no matter how bad they suck and hurt. Get up and walk as soon as they let you after the surgery. My experience with patients is that a lot of them hurt worse where the grafts were taken out of their legs than they do in the actual sternum/surgery area.

[C.L.Button]

Good Luck. The Vandy Med center is a top notch facility.

Let us know how you are doing. ;)

[raven_over_easy]

prayers sent!

[AAAJohn]

Mike I had a three way done 2 years ago. I had to stay 4 days after surgery and the doctor said he never let anyone go home before 5 days. The chest tube is the most uncomfortable thing about the surgery, at least it was for me. Mostly hurt when they got me in and out of bed twice a day for xrays, but they took it out the second day. I was Christmas shopping at Walmart 5 days after I came home and driving in 3 weeks. After 3 months you are usually back to regular days. Just can't ride atv or start weedeaters or chainsaws for a while. They tell you not to drive, because with both hands you are working the chest bone before it heals, but I am a one arm driver anyway. You'll do fine. Best of luck........
Prayers for you!!!!!!!!

[theck]

We'll certainly pray that all turns out well. I'd rather have Jesus Christ with me and the least experienced doctors as all the doctors in the world without Jesus Christ. He can do all things. God Bless,
Thomas

[AteUp]

You recovery will depend a lot on you. Are/were you a smoker? How many PPD? Sometimes weaning you off the ventilator takes longer for heavy smokers. I worked in the Open heart recovery unit at Jewish 10 years ago and the fast track patients would leave in 4 days-best case scenario. They prolly have trimmed a day off of the stay since then though. Good luck, expect some pain. Hug a pillow against your chest when you cough. Get out of bed when they tell you to.

[TheToons]

good luck man! you'll do great! lots of prayers being sent for ya'

[dipits]

Prayers on the way.

[turk2di]

Prayers are sent im sure u will do fine!

[12 pointer]

prayers sent. I like what theck had to say, If you have the Lord, you will be fine no matter what happens. We will see you back here very soon!:)

[kyhunter110]

good luck buddy, prayers sent

[gobbl4me]

You recovery will depend a lot on you. Are/were you a smoker? How many PPD? Sometimes weaning you off the ventilator takes longer for heavy smokers. I worked in the Open heart recovery unit at Jewish 10 years ago and the fast track patients would leave in 4 days-best case scenario. They prolly have trimmed a day off of the stay since then though. Good luck, expect some pain. Hug a pillow against your chest when you cough. Get out of bed when they tell you to.

I used to smoke but i quit on the 22 of dec. I smoked around 1 pack a day but this was for the last 33 yrs. I had to go friday for a pulmanary test and i passed all of them the tech said i had the lungs of a 20 yr old. He said it looked as if i had never smoked:eek:.
I have 2 100% blockages and 1 partial. We found this out on the heart cath. I also found out i have a reaction to the dye they use my heart started doing some really weird rythms and they defibbed me. I really don't reccommend this for anyone while you are still awake it felt as if someone had heart punched me as hard as they could :D. i want to say thanks for all you guys encouragement.

mike

[Rem7600]

Had a 6X bypass at Jewish about nine years ago. Keep your pillow handy and walk as much as you are able, it will usually shorten your stay. Enjoy your three months off. Prayers are with you.

[Boone Dock's]

my dad jsut had a quad last march, things i can tell u from watching him go thru this is keep that lil pillow they give u hand and TRY not to sneeze haha and do ur lil blow tube thing eveytime they tell u to it will really help ya, I will pray for ya, good luck well see ya back here soon.