Open heart

[clevermanka]

Got a text from my mom yesterday saying Daddy has to have double bypass surgery. This morning they met with the surgeon who set his date for March 6. Apparently the particular blockage that he has is called the widowmaker which, IMO, is not information a medical professional should provide? 

I talked to them both last night and they seemed in good spirits (this was before the widowmaker info). I was concerned about Mommy going from full-time care for her mom to full-time care for her husband in two months (Nana died January 2), but she says anything that gives her more time with Daddy is a good thing. Daddy says he's looking at it as an opportunity to make lifestyle changes he should've made a long time ago.

It's a good thing they hadn't already bought plane tickets to come visit me this spring.

Daddy clarified that it isn't heart disease--it's just major artery blockage. I told him it was going to be very disappointing if he broke the family record (on both sides) of dying from stroke.

Comments

[anarfea]

I hope your dad's surgery goes well.

[clevermanka]

[islenskr]

Yikes! "Widowmaker" is not a ever a word I want to hear from anyone in the health care profession.
Your parents seem like they're in reasonably good spirits despite everything.

Fingers crossed that everything goes well with surgery!!

[clevermanka]

[minoanmiss]

*sends all three of you good vibes*

[clevermanka]

[seascribble]

Fingers crossed for this to go well. Jesus christ, what kind of bedside manner is using the word widow-maker, honestly. (*hugs to you*

[clevermanka]

Surgeons are the W-O-R-S-T.

[splix]

I totally get gallows humor among professionals but you might want to keep that from anxious family and friends. Sheesh.

I wish him the best on the surgery! Glad it's happening in timely fashion.

[clevermanka]

[ceruleancat]

Crossing fingers all goes smoothly. There's good recovery for that, I believe. It's very good that they found it, that your parents can go into this prepared and with a positive outlook.

My dad had an emergency bypass surgery (6 bypasses!) over 20 years ago. We had no time to prepare. Neither did he. But they wanted him out of bed very quickly after. He was encouraged to move about, was walking down the corridors a day or two after surgery. He stayed in hospital for only three days and they sent him to recoup back home. The long surgical cuts on chest and leg (where they got the arteries from) were what needed treatment. They sent a nurse round to replace bandaging, and deal with the antibiotics pump, daily at first.
There must have been tons of medical progress in 20 years, especially in something as high profile as cardiac.
Best wishes for speedy recovery.

[clevermanka]

Thank you for the encouraging words! Yeah, he's supposed to get up and walk around as soon as he can, but they expect him to be in the hospital for longer than that. Three days expected in ICU and then another two to three days in progressive care. They're really cracking down on pain meds though which I think is BS as a general rule.

[ceruleancat]

Meds depend a lot on the specifics of the case. I hope your dad gets enough to be comfortable but not too much to cause adverse effects. Meds are tricky beasts.
I have zero recollection of what my dad got for pain management, though he obviously had some. I'm pretty sure being sent home that soon was partly a function of the overcrowding in Israeli hospitals.
Crossing fingers for your dad.

[doc_paradise]

Thinking of you. Sending all the good wishes and luck.

[clevermanka]

[write_out]

It just never lets up, does it?? HUGS (MORE HUGS)

I am sending all of the good thoughts to your dad for his surgery and hope he has a speedy recovery.

[clevermanka]

[subtlegrey]

Echoing everyone else with hugs and best wishes.

Also, I scoff at his use of "the widowmaker" because my understanding is you don't know about it until it's already made the widow. like it did for my stepdad.

So I'm gonna stubbornly insist that your dad will be FINE.

Yes, universe, that is a threat.

[clevermanka]

Thanks, bb! Surgery was Monday and he's already walking around and eating (somewhat) solid foods so your threat worked. =D