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Real life--just got a COTI list email from Marc

G

Garyius2003

SOC-13
To quote him:

This is an update so you can hear it from me first.

Marc

After TravellerCon in early October, I had a checkup at Mayo Clinic including a Cardiac Stress Test. The results of that test indicated I should have an angiogram, which I did. The results of that test said I should have a Coronary artery bypass graft, also called a Triple Bypass, or sometimes Open Heart Surgery.

Wow.

I am in reasonably good health. I exercise. Eat more-or-less right. Probably could lose ten pounds, and now I probably will over the next several months. But much of heart trouble is apparently genetic, and my father and both my grandfathers had heart issues.

I’ll have the surgery October 23, spend about a week in recovery, and be home by Halloween.

I have cancelled my planned appearance at GameHoleCo (butI hope to be there next year), and cancelled several planned trips through the end of the year.

My prognosis is good. My spirits are good. I expect a full recovery, and no complications.

I’ll make various announcements as necessary, and this is not a secret, so if someone is curious, or interested, you can share this information with them.

I appreciate the support I get on so many levels from all of you. Thank you.
 
Thanks for posting this, Gary.

You probably didn't know, but Marc posted here, as Avery. He doesn't post often so it's easy to miss it.
 
Garyius2003 said:
To quote him:

This is an update so you can hear it from me first.

Marc

After TravellerCon in early October, I had a checkup at Mayo Clinic including a Cardiac Stress Test. The results of that test indicated I should have an angiogram, which I did. The results of that test said I should have a Coronary artery bypass graft, also called a Triple Bypass, or sometimes Open Heart Surgery.

[ . . . ]

I appreciate the support I get on so many levels from all of you. Thank you.
Click to expand...
I had a bypass about 18 months ago (also from a family history of heart troubles), so I can suggest a few things.

i. You will need someone to look after you as you recover. The surgery goes in through your ribcage next to your sternum and you won't be able to do any heavy lifting for a couple of months afterwards. No doubt the doctors have already discussed this.

ii. Getting in and out of bed is difficult while your chest recovers. Your first complete night's sleep will be a milestone and it might not happen until a month or so after the operation. Get a La-z-boy recliner rocker (if you haven't got one) and a new, fairly stiff goose feather pillow. Plan to spend much of your nights sleeping in the chair with the pillow stood up in your lap supporting your head (basically stopping it from nodding too far forward).

iii. I'm still having fluid retention problems in my leg from where they took the arteries to graft.

iv. It's possible for the grafts to fail, although unlikely. One of mine isn't working terribly well.

v. Get walking as soon as you can. Within a few weeks I could walk to the supermarket, although I couldn't carry a big load back. If your hospital works anything like the programmes here, they will set up with a cardiac rehab programme of physiotherapy.

vi. Good luck.


Protip: Make sure they have an accurate phone number. My cardiac rehab fell in the cracks repeatedly because they kept trying to phone me on an obsolete phone number, which survived multiple attempts to correct. For those working in I.T., this is the sort of thing that happens if you don't get your reference data management right.
 
Last edited:
Best wishes!

My dad, at age 64, had quadruple bypass way back in '92 and lived 23 more years.

Good advices, nobby. About item (iv), that's why my dad's heart surgeon did quad. If they do quad and one fails they don't have to go back in.

It has been 25 years, and perhaps they recommend triple now.
 
Straybow said:
Best wishes!

My dad, at age 64, had quadruple bypass way back in '92 and lived 23 more years.

Good advices, nobby. About item (iv), that's why my dad's heart surgeon did quad. If they do quad and one fails they don't have to go back in.

It has been 25 years, and perhaps they recommend triple now.
Click to expand...
I think for quad they have to run one across the area they make the incision. It prevents them from opening you up again, so they don't do it unless they have to for some reason. My circumflex already has two stents - one bare metal and one drug-eluting.

This really is a forum for grognards. We're now comparing notes about bypass surgery. #OldFartProblems
 
Straybow said:
Best wishes!

My dad, at age 64, had quadruple bypass way back in '92 and lived 23 more years.

Good advices, nobby. About item (iv), that's why my dad's heart surgeon did quad. If they do quad and one fails they don't have to go back in.

It has been 25 years, and perhaps they recommend triple now.
Click to expand...

nobby-w said:
I think for quad they have to run one across the area they make the incision. It prevents them from opening you up again, so they don't do it unless they have to for some reason. My circumflex already has two stents - one bare metal and one drug-eluting.

This really is a forum for grognards. We're now comparing notes about bypass surgery. #OldFartProblems
Click to expand...

In early 2010 my Father had a quintuple bypass (and they left 2 more undone, to make it easier on him). He was 77 1/2. 2 months ago he reached 85, and is still going (slowly, and not as well as 2 years ago, but still...).
 
Straybow said:
Best wishes!

My dad, at age 64, had quadruple bypass way back in '92 and lived 23 more years.

Good advices, nobby. About item (iv), that's why my dad's heart surgeon did quad. If they do quad and one fails they don't have to go back in.

It has been 25 years, and perhaps they recommend triple now.
Click to expand...

My mom had a triple about 11 years ago. They were planning a quad, but one of the blockages had grown its own by-pass. That is known as angiogenesis and not uncommon, especially in older folks, which is why older people actually survive mild heart attacks better when it is their first. My mom was 70 when she had hers done and her cardiologist expects her to make it to 100.

She still lives, alone (widowed in February 2010) in the house my dad bought in March 1964.

I expect I'll need a by-pass one of these years as the heart trouble is genetic (like the pancreatic cancer I had/have).

Did send best wishes to Marc elsewhere.
 
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