Mended Little Hearts Open Forum

Hi everyone
I am reaching out and introducing myself here.  My name is Steven, I am 61 years old.  I live in the Pacific Northwest.

I became symptomatic this past year without realizing what was happening.  Somewhere along the way, I had a silent heart attack (no idea when that happened!).  I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and spent ten days in hospital while they began fixing my thrombus with heparin, and other meds to help my body and my heart.

Now, some months later, after a stress test and a cardio cath, I know that I have two blocked arteries, and a couple of others that are, as my surgeon tells me, "on the fence."  I will have my bypass surgery on January 6.  He will decide at the time of surgery whether this will be a double, a triple or a quadruple.

I have amazing health care and doctors and healers.  I feel confident in their skills and healing powers.

But I am scared.  The whole on-pump scenario for the surgery is frightening.

Tomorrow I have a bunch of pre-op tests and I will get to spend an hour with my surgeon.  So I will learn more and can have my questions answered.

I am grateful to find this forum, and honestly I don't know what else to say right now, just that I wanted to reach out to folk who have been through what I am going through, and if anyone has any hope and grace and strength to share, I appreciate it.

Thanks

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Steven
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Hi Steve,
I had triple bypass surgery in Sept, 2018. At that time I was 82 years old. It has now been one year and 3 months since my surgery. I had a wonderful surgeon who gave me so much confidence in his description of my blockages and exactly what was going to be done. 

My advice to you is to relax and let your surgeon do his job that he has trained for many years to do. 

I was in the hospital for 10 days then went to rehab for 10 more days. Needless to say I was weak upon arriving home and had home health care that came in 3 times a week to take my vitals and for physical therapy. Physical therapy is a vital part of recovery, don't slack on that as it will build your strength. I participated in a 12 week supervised cardiac rehab at the hospital after my surgeon released me.

All in all I had an excellent recovery. I now go to the Y twice a week using the tread mill and other equipment. I feel great and have lost 35 pounds.
Life is good! Another thing - prayer helps.
May God bless and keep you on this journey.

------------------------------
Barbara McKinnon
retired
Irmo SC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2019 00:13
From: Steven Ripley
Subject: Upcoming bypass surgery, my first

Hi everyone
I am reaching out and introducing myself here.  My name is Steven, I am 61 years old.  I live in the Pacific Northwest.

I became symptomatic this past year without realizing what was happening.  Somewhere along the way, I had a silent heart attack (no idea when that happened!).  I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and spent ten days in hospital while they began fixing my thrombus with heparin, and other meds to help my body and my heart.

Now, some months later, after a stress test and a cardio cath, I know that I have two blocked arteries, and a couple of others that are, as my surgeon tells me, "on the fence."  I will have my bypass surgery on January 6.  He will decide at the time of surgery whether this will be a double, a triple or a quadruple.

I have amazing health care and doctors and healers.  I feel confident in their skills and healing powers.

But I am scared.  The whole on-pump scenario for the surgery is frightening.

Tomorrow I have a bunch of pre-op tests and I will get to spend an hour with my surgeon.  So I will learn more and can have my questions answered.

I am grateful to find this forum, and honestly I don't know what else to say right now, just that I wanted to reach out to folk who have been through what I am going through, and if anyone has any hope and grace and strength to share, I appreciate it.

Thanks

------------------------------
Steven
------------------------------

Hi Barbara!
Thanks for your message of support, and for sharing your history.  We may be in the same triple bypass club when I am done.

You are right -- my doctor knows what he is doing and I can relax and know I am in great healer hands.

God bless you.

------------------------------
Steven Ripley
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2019 19:04
From: Barbara McKinnon
Subject: Upcoming bypass surgery, my first

Hi Steve,
I had triple bypass surgery in Sept, 2018. At that time I was 82 years old. It has now been one year and 3 months since my surgery. I had a wonderful surgeon who gave me so much confidence in his description of my blockages and exactly what was going to be done. 

My advice to you is to relax and let your surgeon do his job that he has trained for many years to do. 

I was in the hospital for 10 days then went to rehab for 10 more days. Needless to say I was weak upon arriving home and had home health care that came in 3 times a week to take my vitals and for physical therapy. Physical therapy is a vital part of recovery, don't slack on that as it will build your strength. I participated in a 12 week supervised cardiac rehab at the hospital after my surgeon released me.

All in all I had an excellent recovery. I now go to the Y twice a week using the tread mill and other equipment. I feel great and have lost 35 pounds.
Life is good! Another thing - prayer helps.
May God bless and keep you on this journey.

------------------------------
Barbara McKinnon
retired
Irmo SC

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2019 00:13
From: Steven Ripley
Subject: Upcoming bypass surgery, my first

Hi everyone
I am reaching out and introducing myself here.  My name is Steven, I am 61 years old.  I live in the Pacific Northwest.

I became symptomatic this past year without realizing what was happening.  Somewhere along the way, I had a silent heart attack (no idea when that happened!).  I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and spent ten days in hospital while they began fixing my thrombus with heparin, and other meds to help my body and my heart.

Now, some months later, after a stress test and a cardio cath, I know that I have two blocked arteries, and a couple of others that are, as my surgeon tells me, "on the fence."  I will have my bypass surgery on January 6.  He will decide at the time of surgery whether this will be a double, a triple or a quadruple.

I have amazing health care and doctors and healers.  I feel confident in their skills and healing powers.

But I am scared.  The whole on-pump scenario for the surgery is frightening.

Tomorrow I have a bunch of pre-op tests and I will get to spend an hour with my surgeon.  So I will learn more and can have my questions answered.

I am grateful to find this forum, and honestly I don't know what else to say right now, just that I wanted to reach out to folk who have been through what I am going through, and if anyone has any hope and grace and strength to share, I appreciate it.

Thanks

------------------------------
Steven
------------------------------