My Bypass Surgery

[[old] ljwagner]

Back in December, I mentioned I had a a little chest discomfort rowing.<br /><br />Well, I had some severe extended pain while visiting in Nicaragua, the longest 30 minutes. Thank God for 3rd world countries. Two cardiologists there trusted my description, put me on meds, and insisted I wait a week to return to the US, said I could not fly yet, but had to have an angiogram. This was the 1st week of January (They also did an ultrasound, and Tomography). My US doctor treating me for 10 years, gave me an EKG and clear bill of health on December 23rd, despite having 5 minutes of chest pain at his office. He said it was "anxiety". My wife really wants to give him some anxiety. <br /><br />To get to the point. When I got back, I went to an ER in Los Angeles, which transferred me to a Cardiac Specialty Center. It turns out I had 99% blockage of 1 side artery and the left main artery. Those and a third cardiac artery were replaced in a triple bypass surgery January 13th. So I have new pipes. Years of heavy rowing and other exercise gave me great collateral circulation, so I have no heart muscle damage at all, and had no heart attacks, despite 12 instances of severe pain while out of the country. In no instance of the pain, was I doing anything remotely strenuous. <br /><br />Want to see my scar ? <br /><br />Know your genetic destiny. <br /><br />Larry Wagner

[[old] Citroen]

<!--QuoteBegin-ljwagner+Jan 20 2006, 05:36 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(ljwagner @ Jan 20 2006, 05:36 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Want to see my scar ?  <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Yes, go on. I like to see a nice zipper up the sternum.<br /><br />Amazing story, thanks for sharing it.

[[old] John Rupp]

Hi Larry,<br /><br />Thanks for sharing and I am very glad you're okay.<br /><br />Scary stuff.<br /><br />I wonder if those clogged arteries were having a major impact on your rowing.<br /><br />Even more than your history, know your current total cholesterol.<br /><br />80% of the world's population has a total cholesterol reading of 150 or below.<br />

[[old] PaulS]

WOW! Glad to hear that went as well as it could for you. But why didn't you just get it done while in Nicaragua? It does sound as if your primary Doc will be feeling a bit of anxiety, that's what second opinions are for.<br /><br />Yes on the Pics, always impressive to see what our bodies can tollerate, not to mention the motivation to keep it from happening to us. Curious about the source of replacement parts too.

[[old] rspenger]

<!--QuoteBegin-ljwagner+Jan 19 2006, 10:36 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(ljwagner @ Jan 19 2006, 10:36 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->To get to the point. When I got back, I went to an ER in Los Angeles, which transferred me to a Cardiac Specialty Center. It turns out I had 99% blockage of 1 side artery and the left main artery.  Those and a third cardiac artery were replaced in a triple bypass surgery January 13th. So I have new pipes. Years of heavy rowing and other exercise gave me great collateral circulation, so I have no heart muscle damage at all, and had no heart attacks, despite 12 instances of severe pain while out of the country. In no instance of the pain, was I doing anything remotely strenuous. <br />Larry Wagner <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Larry,<br /><br />You are making a fantastic recovery to be able to write a coherent message only a week after the surgery. Man, I was in a pumphead fog for a good three weeks afterward after my own surgery. Of course I am sure that there are some - especially on this Forum - that would say that I never did come out of it, but I probably won't see those messages.<br /><br />Good luck on your rehab. Patience and persistance are the watch words, i.e. keep up the exercise every day with just a very gradual increase. Take your time and don't overdo it. It's been almost 2 1/2 years for me now and I am just completing my third week of following the simplified Pete Plan. There <i>is</i> life after open heart surgery - and rowing as well.<br /><br />regards,<br /><br />Bob S.

[[old] Citroen]

<!--QuoteBegin-rspenger+Jan 20 2006, 12:16 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(rspenger @ Jan 20 2006, 12:16 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I am just completing my third week of following the simplified Pete Plan. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />How have you simplified it? The basic, mark I, version 1.01 of the Pete plan isn't terribly technical.

[[old] Paul S]

One thing to learn from this for others who may have the isolated chest pain is to quickly make an appointment with a cardiologist. Was your 10 year US Dr. a cardio? Also, I hope you are taking Cardiac Rehab. You may be used to excercising, but not after a heart attack. They will monitor you carefully and slowly ramp your excercise back up. I had a heart attack in Aug 1991 and like you I had excercised for years and consequently had very good collaterol developement. In fact it was so good, that even though my right collaterol artery was 100% blocked, they did nothing. It remains 100% blocked to this day. They described it as due to the Collaterol developement it was like the back roads took over. So I had enough extra veins that they could carry the load. Unfortunately I did have minor heart damage which after 11 years resulted in electrical problems so I now have an ICD. Ah well, I shall continue' "Sliding Down The Razor Blade Of Life." Quote by Tom Leher.<br /><br />Cheers everyone, Paul Salata

[[old] Xeno]

Hi Paul, hello Larry, and hello Robert!<br /><br />My gosh what experiences you guys have gone through. Paul, I had no idea. What is remarkable is the difference of body type you both have. Why did the clogging occur in the first place? Cholesterol? Larry and Paul when I read your posts, my jaw was in a constant drop. I can't believe that your doctor had no clue! As for you Robert you really give anybody great hope to power through heart issues. <br />All the best,<br />XENO

[[old] Paul S]

<!--QuoteBegin-Xeno+Jan 20 2006, 10:20 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Xeno @ Jan 20 2006, 10:20 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hi Paul, hello Larry, and hello Robert!<br /><br />My gosh what experiences you guys have gone through.  Paul, I had no idea.  What is remarkable is the difference of body type you both have.  Why did the clogging occur in the first place?  Cholesterol?  Larry and Paul when I read your posts, my jaw was in a constant drop.  I can't believe that your doctor had no clue! As for you Robert you really give anybody great hope to power through heart issues.  <br />All the best,<br />XENO <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Xeno, Yes, Larry and I have entirely different body types. I have been overweight most of my life. I weighed 242 when I graduated from high school. Many of the people who have heart attacks are slim and healthy looking, so going by looks alone won't help. My aunts, uncles, grandparents, and even cousins have died from heart ailments so mine was somewhat pre-ordained. My problem was cholesterol. What most people do not realize is that 50% of the people who have heart attacks have cholesterol that is in the healthy range, and if yours is in the un-healthy range do not depend on excercise alone to lower it. This was demonstrated when Dr. Jim Fixx, who was considered the guru of running had a fatal heart attack while on a run. The lesson to be learned here is to eat healthy and excercise. I am sure most of the people in this forum have the latter well taken care of. Do not ignore the former.

[[old] rspenger]

<!--QuoteBegin-Citroen+Jan 20 2006, 07:25 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Citroen @ Jan 20 2006, 07:25 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-rspenger+Jan 20 2006, 12:16 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(rspenger @ Jan 20 2006, 12:16 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I am just completing my third week of following the simplified Pete Plan. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />How have you simplified it? The basic, mark I, version 1.01 of the Pete plan isn't terribly technical. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I have been followiing the colorful little chart that was available on the net. As I understood it, that is a simplified version in itself and that is what I meant. Incidentally, I realized after I sent the message that I am really windiing up the sixth week on the program - it is the third week of the second round. I suppose that this was just another "pumphead" moment:<br /><a href='http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/bypass ... mphead.htm' target='_blank'>http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/bypass ... htm</a><br />Since I have signed up for the Beach Sprints which are only 15 days off, I will probably quit the Plan after this week and go into a taper mode. I have been tryiing to clear my desk to find Xeno's schedule for this period, but with no success. I don't know whether I filed away a hard copy or if I never printed it out. In any case, I can probably find it in my "erg items" computer file along with all the Wolverine documents that I have saved but not read - mainly because I have spent too damn much time reading all these silly, futile Forum arguments over nothing of consequence.<br /><br />Bob S.<br />

[[old] Jim Barry]

All the best for a speedy recovery, Larry. Don't Sneeze! (or have you found that one out already?).

[[old] Godfried]

<!--QuoteBegin-ljwagner+Jan 20 2006, 07:36 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(ljwagner @ Jan 20 2006, 07:36 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Those and a third cardiac artery were replaced in a triple bypass surgery January 13th.[right] </td></tr></table><br />This gives friday the 13th a new meaning.

[[old] ljwagner]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You are making a fantastic recovery to be able to write a coherent message only a week after the surgery. Man, I was in a pumphead fog for a good three weeks afterward after my own surgery. </td></tr></table><br /><br /> I had half days like that. My wife and I figured it out he last day, for me at least. I'd take the meds the nurses gave me, when they gave them to me. The good ones would stagger them depending on food , no food, full glass of water, not with this, reacts with that, etc. The others would put lots together. <br /><br /> I'd sleep well, from 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM, be up two hours, then get meds. Once I was a wreck until 2:00PM. <br /> The last day, one nurse put them all together at breakfast, and I 'd had a pain medication I already seemed to react to poorly a couple hours earlier. The Exercise Physiologist still insisted I could walk the stairs at 11:00 AM. I walked up about 10 steps. Started breathing a bit hard, went pale, and little by little threw up the 1/2 cup of breakfast I had had, about a 1/10 at a time. I was cold and woozy for about 3 hours following that. The EP was really freaked. She was nearly as pale as I was. She was also victimized by a different nurse a few days before. She took me for a bit of a long walk, and my BP shot up, my pulse shot up, I went cold and trembling the entire afternoon, could not eat. Each time it took about 8 hours for my system to recover, but it was a miserable 8 hours.<br /><br /> Sounds like you were on pill abuse the whole time. I'm not sure anyone else on here can imagine what those 3 weeks were like, including me. <br /> Hard to believe some nurses can be that ignorant or uncaring.

[[old] ljwagner]

<!--QuoteBegin-PaulS+Jan 20 2006, 04:17 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(PaulS @ Jan 20 2006, 04:17 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> But why didn't you just get it done while in Nicaragua? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />My wife knew of someone who died during an angiogram, again , in Nicaragua. So she preferred to be here for a serious invasive procedure. <br /><br />A nurse here said the Cardiac Center where we had it done performs about 1400 angiograms yearly, with complications about once every 2-3 years. All those angiograms are followed-up with about 300 bypass surgeries yearly. Majority of the rest are treated with meds. They try to get them all in and out in a week.

[[old] ljwagner]

<!--QuoteBegin-Jim Barry+Jan 20 2006, 10:41 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Jim Barry @ Jan 20 2006, 10:41 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Don't Sneeze!  (or have you found that one out already?). <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />No sneezes yet. Plenty of coughs (daily, hourly ), which all hurt.<br /><br />Lifting my arms above the shoulders is very painful.