Hi Destiny,
I heard a similar story to yours-from my own wife. Two and a half years ago, I had a heart attack, immediately followed by emergency quintuple bypass surgery followed immediately by bacterial pneumonia from the ventilator and a two week medically induced coma. There was no Covid, then, but there was plenty of influenza, which my wife caught the day of my surgery, followed by my then 17 year old daughter catching it. My wife told me how incredibly frustrating it was trying to get information over the phone, especially since my case was complicated by the pneumonia. Eventually, she had her friend's cardiologist husband call my doctor, with my wife on the line, to find out what was happening.
And I was no help. When they finally got me off the ventilator and my wife was finally allowed to visit, while I knew that I was in a hospital, I was convinced that the hospital was in the Bahamas (we were in New Jersey) and I was helping the hospital administrator, who also was my surgeon and former shipmate in the Navy (I was never in the Navy), with a legal problem (I am actually a lawyer). So, yeah, I was pretty confused, and remained confused for about a week or so after awakening. But I'm here to tell you that things did rapidly improve and, within three months, I was back at work and at my gym, lifting weights, and living a normal life again. It will get better for you and your husband. And post bypass confusion is normal. You and your husband will soon be having some laughs over dinner when he is able to tell you about his confused adventures. As my wife said, "Great. I was dealing with influenza, nor'easters, no information while you were in the Bahamas!"
Destiny, all the best to you and your husband. Please keep us posted.
Ira
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Ira Reid
Hoboken NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-27-2020 18:11
From: Destiny Best
Subject: Confusion while in ICU after bypass surgery
My husband had a triple bypass on Saturday 25 July -- he is still in ICU and they are not letting me visit him. I respect the COVID restrictions however today I found out that he's still confused from the medications they've had him on. They did a CT scan and it was negative. But I found all this out after the fact -- I called the unit several times and when I finally got through to his nurse for an update that's when she told me about his confusion and CT scan. I'm really frustrated about not being able to be onsite and I feel like not having a familiar face is impeding his progress.
I'm still grappling with all of this. This surgery came about completely unexpected. We went to the ER Thursday morning last week thinking he had some chest pains that were probably due to stress only to find out that he had three critical arteries blocked and needed surgery right away.
I'm dealing with the shock and awe of that and now feeling completely in the dark about his recovery. I understand the complications of COVID and I respect the restrictions, quarantine, masks, everything. I'm compliant 100% but I don't understand how being in unfamiliar surroundings with no one there to advocate for him is helping him.
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Destiny Best
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