Mended Hearts Open Forum

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  • 1.  Open heart surgery

    Posted 02-14-2021 04:29
    Once again it's the middle of the night and I'm prowling my empire in search of something to occupy my idle hands. Been going back and fro debating with myself over adding a post here but didn't want to wake all you sleeping beauties. Then I thought, hey they can suffer with me, so without further ado...

    Just celebrated the anniversary of my OHS, the beginning of my journey down this road, and like many it brought back a lot of memories. After they told me I had heart disease, I recall thinking how is this possible, I'm young, virile, full of life. The refrain we hear far too often from newbies. I just returned from a snow mobiling adventure and things went downhill. When the specialists finally figured out what was happening they had my wife contact the kids to come to say good-bye. 

    You've all been there so I'll skip the details. Everything coming out of the doctors mouths was grim, and while they were doing my cath test I had another heart attack. They were convinced I wouldn't make it without a transplant and even then they doubted my longevity. I declined the transplant and opted for an overhaul of the old equipment. Fast forward 5 weeks and 3 hospitals later and I was pardoned for bad behavior. As I was leaving the surgeon informed my wife I had less than a year to live. 

    Discovering I had not employed all the doctors in town, I went into a fourth hospital to get a defibrillator crammed into my chest just weeks after my release. 

    I've had several ER and urgent care visits since, and every doctor I see is astonished I'm still alive. Each time I see my Cardiologist he informs me I'm failing and to be sure and pay my bill on the way out. Well, Feb 1st, I started year 15 and have no intention of departing this life just yet, wanna walk my daughter down the aisle and she ain't even dating. 

    So whats my point other than waking you all, well it's this...no matter how deep the fertilizer is in life remember roses will still grow. To you newbies, have faith this ain't the end of the road just the starting of a new journey.


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    Warren
    TucsonAZ
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  • 2.  RE: Open heart surgery

    Posted 02-15-2021 01:24
    You are a fighter Warren and fighters never give up. God has a master plan for all of us , and heart problems are not the end of the world......i have had aortic dissection at age 39. not even a year ago. Still fighting , i have returned to work , i am happy about life again ,even my doctors say that i have high chance of kiddney probems in the future, my kiddneys are already showing some signs of not working so well.
     But in the FUTURE that i would not even had if the surgery did not went amazing and they saved my life with some minor consequence. So let's keep the faith and enjoy every day of this life until it's our time to go. :) Love and live, we all got a second chance. God bless you all.

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    slobodan sokola
    technical supervisor
    Andritz
    vinkovci
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  • 3.  RE: Open heart surgery

    Posted 02-15-2021 06:30
    Hello Slobodan
    Your fighting spirit is inspiring. I wish you well and stay in touch.

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    Doris Edwards
    Retired RN
    Dublin, Ohio
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  • 4.  RE: Open heart surgery

    Posted 02-15-2021 06:25
    Hi Warren
    Glad you decided to write and the way you told your amazing story illustrates your grit. And your wit. I'm encouraged by both. I'm only 5 months past OHS, complications, more repairs and now trying to manage unstable angina and get somewhere with cardiac rehab. Keep having setbacks and today the weather is another challenge. Need all the grit we can get...pun intended.  Hang in there everybody. #

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    Doris Edwards
    Retired RN
    Dublin, Ohio
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  • 5.  RE: Open heart surgery

    Posted 02-15-2021 15:45
    Doris ~ must be something in the water all you Buckeyes who're members here. I've lived away from Ohio since 1968 so can 't consider myself a native son anymore.

    I know the challenges and setbacks can make life difficult, but hang in things will get better. I lost 6 months when my defibrillator changeout caused an infection and I had to go to hospitals and clinics daily for treatments. That cheese grater they used to scrape my chest wound out was torture, but I got through it and life is pretty good. 

    The unstable angina is annoying. I've enjoyed it since my open heart surgery in 2007. I think of it as Gods way of reminding me I'm still alive. Talk with your Cardiologist and see if he/she has any suggestions such as Ranexa for long term treatment. Hang in.


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    Warren
    TucsonAZ
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  • 6.  RE: Open heart surgery

    Posted 02-15-2021 19:29
    Fifteen years, Ralph, after what all the experts told you and your family to the contrary.  That goes to show you and everyone reading this that there are no limits, that we can survive and that the gift of life is just living each and every day.  God bless you, brother.  You're gonna walk your daughter down that isle.  That's my plan, too, and my daughter is just 20, not dating anyone right now but I have always been there for her and I, too, will be there walking her down that isle when it's her time!

    Ira

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    Ira Reid
    Hoboken NJ
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  • 7.  RE: Open heart surgery

    Posted 02-19-2021 08:20
    Wow! What an amazing story. You indeed are a survivor, and attitude does make a huge difference in a person's illness. Keep plugging away! I'm sure your daughter's wedding will be awesome whenever it is and you will be there.

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    Dennis Danner
    Punta Gorda FL
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