Heart Bypass Surgery

2 years ago , I suffered a heart attack at work,, was on life support for several weeks and then developed a Staff "A" infection, peracardium has herniated 4 times now and they have had to go back in 4 total times to clean out, debris and rewire my sternum, due to the infection,,,now my sternum has seperated again and the incisional hernia has reopened,,,,, about 5" , they want to open my chest for the 5th time and clean out the sternum and repair the hole and rewire my sternum again ,,,,,I can't handle this any more!!!! The infection in my sternum caused it to seperate and break all the sternal wires again,, I am in agony, 24/7,,,,,,can anyone please help me,,,i'm desperate!!!!!! Eric also at ehghflyr64@...

I had a quadruple bypass 11/09/06, and I think I'm recovering ok. I walk a couple of times a day, for 30-45 minutes each time. I have been having some pain in my chest area, like it is sore to the touch. It doesn't feel like a heart pain, more like around the incision area. Also an intermittent mild sharp pain once in a while. I'm only taking pain meds sporadically, like a half pill twice a day. Of course I worry about all of it, even though I really don't think it is my heart.

Hi My sister had bypass 10 days ago, has infection in leg and chest incision. My brother-in-law called yesterday, informed me that the infection is now in the bone. We knew going in that this was one of the more serious side effects, and she was told if this happened, she would not be going home. can anyone tell me what will happen now, and what to expect. She has been given yesterday IV drip to fight the infection. She is also diabetic. I need to know what her outlook is, as she is in another city, 12 hours, should I go to see her? how serious is this complication. Thanks Jackie

I am 35 year old ex professional basketball player. I also am recoving from from triple by-pass surgery 2 and half months ago. I have always thought of myself healthy and I could not believe I was as sick as I was. I am trying to get over the deprssion. I feel like I am damaged and not fixed. I know I should feel grateful and blessed that I was able to get back to normal life so quickly. I was back to work just after 6 weeks of the surgery and I am a high school teacher and a basketball coach. I know I need to work out but I am so depressed that I can't motivate myself to do it. After I leave work I am emotionally drained and I just want to go home and be by myself. I have lost my sexual desires and I don't feel sexy due to my new scars. I don't know what I should do to get back the confidence I once had. I am too young to feel like this. So if anyone can help me I would love to hear some positive words.

Hi All, I just joined this group, as my Dad had a Bypass surgery 2 weeks ago. I would like to extend my 'heart-felt' thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences in this group, for the benefit of others. My father is recovering slowly. But what is disturbing is the light cough that he keeps getting. He is using a pillow held against his chest while coughing. The cough is pretty painful (as expected), even though its cause is only a mild irritation in the chest. My main confusion is that should he try to suppress his cough, or should he try to cough harder to release the phlegm and other fluids from the chest? Is it safe to cough a little harder (with a pillow held to the chest) ? Is there any other way to release the phlegm and fluids from the chest? Does inhalation of steam from boiling water (water mixed with some chest decongestants) help in clearing the chest? I am from India, and medical stores here have some mild (and safe) ayurvedic decongestants (for the nose and chest) that can be applied externally or inhaled through steaming hot water. I am not sure how far this will help a heart patient. Cough syrups are available here in India, but they have a high sugar content and my father is a diabetic. Hence, he will not be able to take those syrups. Point of Confusion: To Cough or not to Cough ! Any help in clearing up my confusion on this will be extremely useful! Thanks & Regards, Vivek.

Hello Michael in the UK! I'm originally from the UK and lived for two years in British Columbia (early 70s), currently living in Southern California. When we lived in Vancouver Canadian medicine was not privatized, and I thought it was something like the socialized medicine you have in the UK. Is this not so anymore? Jennifer in Los Alamitos, CA (wife of Wally, now almost ten weeks post-op triple bypass)

Oh boy here we go ,now I thought I was all fixed lol thats what I get for thinking . Has anyone read up on the cypher stents? I have been doing alot of research on these since I have seven , my hope to grow old is getting a little less each time I read something . Well I guess what will be will be. Happy Holidays everyone

My name is Ditte Møller, and I am a student of the University of Copenhagen (psychology).I'm writing a paper on how heart disease influences sex life. I have found several very medical descriptions about the risks of having sex after a bypass surgery, and a few descriptions by doctors describing that some people have great problems resuming a normal sex life out of anxiety of having or inducing another heart attack. I think it's important to try to break the taboo, and get some more psychological research on the matter, only that way can couples suffering under such problems get qualified help. I would be very grateful for any feedback, both in the form of descriptions of problems, but also if you have no such problems. The material on the subject is extremely scarce and any suggestions are very welcome Ditte

Hi, I was wondering if anyone can help relate or know of these symptoms post-bypass (or any major heart) operation: My uncle has recently (Friday) had a quadrouple-bypass operation. It took 11 hours. The operation was deemed a success BUT Now, when my uncle wakes, he is not lucid - like he hasn't "come around" properly yet. He sometimes seems to recognise people, and seems to know his daughter (told her he loved her) but other times when he comes around, he gets extremely agressive, fighting to get out of the hospital bed while being incoherant until the doctors sedate him to calm him. He has never had any history of problems or behaviour like this, and the doctors are at a loss to explain it (they said they have heard of something similar, but it went away after a day - four days later my uncle is still like this) and we are obviously beside ourselves with worry. Has anyone else heard of anything like this, or can suggest any pointers? Long-shot i know, seeing as the doctors & psychologists have no clue, but anything is worth a try..... Thanks, Michael

My name is Kay Lee. I'm 62 years young. I have been living independantly in Atlanta Georgia for the past three years. Every year one of my daughters brings me to Wisconsin for a visit. Shortly after arriving in Wisconsin this summer, 3 months ago in fact, I had a night of agony in the bathroom, but thought I had ingested some poisonous cleaning fluid because I could taste and smell chemicals while vomiting. So, after sleeping for the next 4 days, I finally went to hospital at daughter's pleading only to flatline during the angio-whatever and was immediately rushed into surgery. They did 4 bipasses and left a leaky valve unrepaired because they didn't want to risk stopping my heart again. I had always felt healthy, didn't use any pharmaceutical meds, and hadn't visited a doctor in maybe 15 years, so this was all quite a shock. I'm very ignorant on health and medicine, but have made some lifestyle changes since the surgery. I quit using tobacco; quit using salt (my favorite seasoning); have only drank 4 cups of coffee in the past 3 months; am taking meds as they ask, and doing a wellness class at the local karate studio. They have me on three meds that they say I will have to take for the rest of my life: Lipitor, Lisinopril and Metoprolol (plus baby aspirin). My main concern right now is the Lipitor because I am reading so many reports that say lowering cholesterol artificially has not proved beneficial AND in some cases causes things I'd rather not have - like muscle weakness. The doctors tell me that my chloesterol level doesn't appear to be lowered by diet and that my blood pressure is chronically low. I don't like taking chemicals unless I have to and am thinking of just going it naturally. Does anyone here know the truth about Lipitor? I'm so glad to have found y'all. Thank you for your help. Kay Lee

Does anyone know if it is normal after 5 years that the foot and leg on the side that the vain was removet to still swell and hurt a lot. Thanks Don

Greetings All, I had quadruple bypass surgery on 112106. I am up this morning dealing with gas pains and looking for information on what to expect. Please respond. Thanks.

I had a triple bypass, I had quit smoking cigarettes 5 years ago, but continued to smoke pot, do I need to give this up after this recent surgery...I understand that nicotine lays down a stickly layer for plaque, but how about pot?

Hi Is there any truth to above supplement or is it just snake oil? It is based on the work of linus pauling but it seems to me if it was so effective why is our doctor totally oblivious to it. Richy

Hi, My mom had quadruple bypass surgery on April 17th 2006. She had real bad swelling of her left leg where they took out the veins. I actually could not believe how swollen the one leg was. Her other leg was also swollen but not as bad. Her left leg (the one the veins were taken from) is still swollen but not as bad. Her doctor told her to exercise every day, she is taking lasix 20mg and she wears those socks to help (although she swears they make it worse) In the beginning it took a lot of time and strength for me to get those socks on, now she can sometimes do it herself. The cardiologist also told her the swelling will probably not go down completely and she will have to learn to live with some swelling. I think the swelling will go down and that recovery, nomatter what they say can take up to a full year. It does get better though so hang in there. Take one day at a time. Take Care. Cindy

I had a heart valve replace aortic and anerysm at the time a blood disease from birth and they cut the wrong artery took one from my leg and thank god I am fine god was in the operating room and my mom I know it for sure. rosedeam

Hi All, I'm Ellie and I just had my Triple ByPass this past September so I'm just about 8 weeks into the recovery process. I've been struggling with all the same issues and anxieties I'm sure all of you have but also am struggling with a Pleural Effusion. I've had it drained 3 times already, the last this past Wednesday but it keeps coming back. I am hoping to hear from others in this group who have experienced the same thing after Bypass and can give me some information on their experiences. It will be nice to meet you and I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Ellie

My triple 06/27/2006 the cardologist said that the mortality is 10 years. I am 63. I hate to believe that I only have 10 more years to live. I do not have any after care ( rehab ) I have lost 30 of the 88 lbs that I need to lose and I exercise almost daily did 10.5 miles on my recumbert bike yesterday in 45 minutes. Most days I feel absolutely great. I would like to hear about other life spans after bi-pass. Thank you Bert

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Just writing to let everyone know that after a 24 day strugle Linda passed away yesterday morning. It is really hard on the family considering thanksgiving and Christmas is right around the corner. We are trying to do something for the hospital that she was in. We are looking at possible trying to get new furniture for the waiting room that we had to be in while we were up there. We had probably 6 people that stayed up there from Wednesday the 16th till she passed away yesterday. The chairs and couches in there are very old and the springs are falling out of the bottom so they were not very comphy to sleep on. So we are looking to donate new furnature in her honor. Does anybody have any feed back on where to look for stuff like that? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Barb

I had my bypass surgery 2 1/2 month ago. My recovery went well, except I'm still extremly weak and feel very depressed. I live alone and have to do everything by myself. I do go for short walks, but I feel secure only when rest in my bed. My doctors can't help, they just say that "it's common", but is it, really? Every day I feel more lonely and helpless, nobody to talk to about it. People on this board sound so compassionate and supportive, so maybe someone can give me an advise... Ellen SH.

Note: forwarded message attached.

Hello Everyone, How soon after the surgery did you start driving again? Providing all seemed to be healing at the expected rate, that is. Also, what about coughing? Wally doesn't want to cough "productively" because of course it hurts more than coughing very weakly. He's been told he needs to cough more often and more forcefully so that fluid doesn't accumulate in his lungs. And yes, he always "splints" with the heart pillow. Looking forward to hearing from you. Jenny in Los Alamitos

Hi Sandy P, Was a pleasure to read! Subir

In a message dated 11/17/2006 8:40:50 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, mangst1969@... writes: She is currently spending the night in the ICU. I was too stunned to ask many question at the hospital, other than of the "is she alright?" category. But I wanted to know, is this common? The Dr. said her heart stopped due to the trauma of the procedure. Does this happen a lot or is this a rarity. Did the Dr. do something wrong? Or was I just not told how risky this procedure was? My mother tends to down play things like this, and at first didn't even want us coming with her. Should I be concerned with the care she received? I'm sure the release she signed told the dangers this being one of them ..one of my Dr has had this done and his heart stopped twice and he said it wasn't unusual but it is very scary for the family I'm sure...It doesn't sound like they did something wrong but kind of hard to tell through mail we will keep her in our prayers for sure Rose

I had my bypass done in July 06, 4 months ago. the top part of my incision is still humped up it has never gone down. The surgeon thought since I was still in a lot of pain when I seen him that it may not have healed, the wires may have come undone. but when I went back to see about getting a cat scan the pain had lessened a lot so he figured I was doing fine and not to worry. I just don't like this hump sitting on my chest lol. it bothers me although I don't think I would want to go through the operation to have it fixed once was enough for me thank you. has any one else had their bump hang around for a while and will it ever go down how long did it take ? Ann P

Ray has made it through surgery. He did have a quadruple by-pass. The surgeon said everything went well. The heart muscle was in really good shape. I got to see him briefly in CVICU prior to them kicking me out.... Ray was still on full ventilator as he had not woken up yet. The nurse said he was doing really well, everything was within normal range. They did not have to give him blood -- yet. That has been a bit of a concern, because he is AB- and they just don't have a lot of that type. The nurse said they were able to recycle his blood during surgery and his hemocrit was 14 -- which she thought was amazing. The plans are -- as he wakes up and begins moving, they will titrate the ventilator down. If that goes well he should be extubated tomorrow and sitting up in the chair by tomorrow morning having jello and broth for breakfast. The hospital and it's staff, as well as the surgeon continue to be the most caring and compassionate people I've ever encountered. Our little nurse, Carlie, from the angiogram, along with Daniel, did Ray's pre-op today and Carlie walked me up to the waiting room -- offering to stay with me until Ray's brother arrived. Carlie will also be calling me tonight to check on me -- and visiting with Ray and I tomorrow. She has given me her pager number -- if I should need her. A real sweetie. And truly one of God's angel's on earth. Ray's brother, Leroy and his wife Carol arrived shortly after they took Ray down and we had a long morning waiting and waiting some more...but I honestly couldn't have done it without them and probably would have had a major melt down. Leroy continues to be my rock and Carol has quickly joined that rank. I thank God that both of them are in our lives. Leroy will be picking Rebecca up at the airport on Saturday for me -- saving me over 3 hours of time. Rebecca will be here all of next week to help me care for Ray and of course Leroy and Carol have offered their assistance as well. Thank you all for the prayers. Please continue them, so that we have an uneventful recovery and Ray comes home and heals well, without any complications. I will keep everyone updated as time allows -- remember, I still have 5 dogs here that need my attention as well -- or at least food tossed at them from time to time! As Always, Peg

I would like to thank everyone that gave me information and hope. As of last night Linda is doing good. She is very much aware of her surroundings and answers yes and no questions for us. She keeps trying to tell us something but with the breathing machine in we are not sure what she is trying to tell us. Can anybody give pointers on how to figure out what she is trying to say? We have been able to make out I love you too and I want to go home. We are all scared because her finger tips and feet have turned purple and they said that there is a chance that she could loose them due to the lack of blood flow. Is there anybody out there that experienced something like this, and if so is there something that they did for you or your family member? My self and my husband will be going up tonight with 2 of her grandchilderen so i will update tomorrow. Barb

Hello Everybody! Some of you may remember the post I made a few weeks ago after my husband Wally had triple bypass surgery October 4, 2006. He was hospitalized for 34 days! This was not so much due to "complications" (though he did have a thoracentesis and a chest tube reinserted for a couple of days) as it was to his unwillingness to be active and cooperate with post-op suggestions, e.g. using the spirometer (breathing apparatus) and taking short walks. When the nurses and physical therapists showed up he would usually say he was in too much pain or too tired to get out of bed. He grew more and more weak and depressed. Antidepressants didn't have much effect. Now he's home and still seems reluctant to move. It's all I can do to get him to take one or two very slow short walks a day. Up till now he's led a sedentary life and has never "voluntarily exercised" so he's been able to maintain a state of denial as to how this has affected his health. He has not started a cardiac rehab program yet, although he says he is willing to do so. If anyone has had success in overcoming these kinds of obstacles I would appreciate hearing from you. We've been married only a few months and at this point I'm starting to feel desperate! Jenny in Los Alamitos, CA ______

My name is Barb and i am new to this group. My husbands Aunt had quadruple bypass surgwey last Saturday the 28th of October. I was looking to try and get some information from family members or individuals that have had the surgery. She also suffers from diabeties and undergoes dialisis due to Kidney failure. After a week we don't really see any inprovement in her. She is still depending on the breathing machine and the heart cathiter to do all of the work. She isn't awake yet nor responding to us. The family is worried and doesn't think that she will pull through it. Is there any body out there that can share how long it took them to recover and be up and aware of their suroundings. At first we were told a couple of day's. Now they are saying give her another week. I'm just looking for information from other individuals so i can try to ease her kids and husbands mind. I keep telling them that she went through alot and her body is saying that it just needs time to recover. Any information will be helpful. Thanks Barb

It has been 2 yrs since my triple bypass and I too often feel an occasional "stabbing pain" direct center of my chest. I often wonder if it is the wires used to join my sternum after surgery. My cardiologist mentioned the possibility of minor angina. As for pain after the surgery I too had sharp quick pain in my chest for a couple weeks after surgery. It did eventually go away. Overall I felt 100% better after approx. 6 weeks. Good luck to you.

Hi everyone, I have pains in my heart several times a day, some are sharp they all get my attention. I did not get these before my triple bypass surgery. Does anyone else experience this. I am sore from the surgey but this is different. Kind regards, Michael

My dr. wants me to walk 3 miles in 45 minutes daily? Is this normal

, they think that there is more blockage. Has anyone had a stent for a blockage after the bypass? I did go for a second opinion and both doctors agree, but they are not sure where it is, they think it might be on the back of the heart rather than one of the ones they alreadfy fixed. I would like to hear from anyone that had this problem. Thanks for being here as a group. Linda Posnick

I hardly ever get the little viruses that come and go but my new grandbaby that lives with me started day care and now i have had upper Respiratory virus (That they at first thought was Strep) and some stomache virus that knocked me to my knees. I had my CABG on may 17th of this year (just under 6 months ago) I was wondering about ya'll's opinions/experiences on whether I may be more succeptible to this stuff now. Both times my fever shot way high (over 102) I also wanted to ask what should I take for fever if i asm taking plavix? I still get dizzy when I look up and stuff...Dr. didn't have much to say about the...anyone else have this problem? Finally..WILL MY LEG AND BOOB EVER FEEL RIGHT from the grafts??? I am just so frustrated with my health...thanks kindly in advance for your responses! I usually can "get by with a little help from my friends" here

Thank you all for your responses, we called the DR. today and he said the the "odd thing" sticking out of him is called a Fibrin and this is normal that we must keep it clean and put neosporin on it. It should dry up and fall off in a few weeks. The draining is less and the bleeding has stopped. I think he was just moving around too much for his first day out of the hospital. Who knows?? Anyway thanks again. I hope my questions can help someone else.

After triple bypass surgery my father has had a lot of draining and bleeding. When the bandages were removed there was an odd "thing" sticking out about 2-3" above the naval. Does anyone know what this is and why it is there? He has only been out of the hospital 2 days. How much bleeding and draining is normal? Is this common?

Hi, has anybody every tried using Hyperexol or something else to try to lower blood pressure? The web says that all the ingredients in Hyperexol are natural and they guarantee that your blood pressure will drop 30 points in 30 days. I was just wondering if anybody has tried any type of product like this? My mom just received a 2 month supply of this and I am trying to look up information on the internet about it. Thank you. Cindy

I'm trying to help my single male friend, 54, who had a 4CABG four weeks ago. He is doing well, but, is still somewhat depressed and extremely tired. He was given permission to drive so in his mind, all is well. However, I went with him to the surgeon, who told him, "a young man like you doesn't need any rehab!". He sees his cardiologist soon and I think he needs the support of diet instructions, exercise, etc. He was sent home 4 days post-op with little or no support, except for the X2 weekly nurses visit to check for infection, now that is over. What is next? Cornelia

I am new to this post, and based on what I have seen, I sure am glad that I was told about it!!! My issue is that I am a 47 year old male, and had 6 CAGB done in August 06. This was a big surprise considering that I had no issues with blood pressure, cholesterol, weight etc. My biggest bad habot was smoking for 32 years. After going in to the doctor for a hernia issue, I was given an EKG. From there life almost seems like a blur, and still not understanding how bad the issue was. After talking to my surgeon in to doing the hernia surgery, he had me scheduled to see the Cardiologist a week after the surgery. The Cardiologist insisted that I report to the Hospital after our appointment, and another EKG. To make a long story short, the next thing I knew, I was told that I had 3 Arteries 100% blocked, and 3 veins blocked as much as 90%. Before the shock left me I had 6 CAGB's done and woke up in the CICU! I am proud to say that everything went very well, and that I am a member of the "Zipper club." It is great to be alive vs. what my family could have gone through. The healing seemed to be going good, but I continued to have chest pains even after 4 weeks. I saw the surgeon after 4 weeks and told him the issue that I was having. He said that I should be farther along, and told me to take another 4 weeks off of work. Well it has been 8 weeks now and I still have this issue with pain in my chest with no real explanation to the cause. I was on Zocor, which my family doctor took me off of one week ago. I have read a few bad things about Statin drugs, but nothing that will ease my mind about all of this. No one seems to be able to tell me what is going on. I have always been a very active person, but now it is hard to walk through Wal-Mart with out pain in my chest. Please can anyone help me. Thank you, Dan

Any feed back on Recovery procedures, medication and success in recovery ????

I thought I would put this up for some help and advise. I started seeing a cardo Dr 6 years ago and had all the test done with the recommendations of just using meds to control the blood pressure and cholesterol. The last to nuke test indicated collateral blood flow. The Dr said no problem but I may not be canadate for stents. Well we have now moved to a different state and the new dr is more aggressive, he saids I should of had surgury years ago and is talking by-pass. He wants to do more testing which puts me into panic attacks if I doint med myself first. Anyway, what I would like to ask is what do I need to do to prep myself mentally and physicaly. If anyone has advise I would like to hear from you.

In a message dated 10/19/2006 10:31:47 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, ann.doyle@... writes: I had been married for 30 years so length of marriage does not make a difference either. Ann P Ann Jim so sorry but he was the sick one NOT you ...please don't be scared to tell us if things aren't right we are all here for you and we will never get tired of hearing it... just be glad your daughter is kind.. I have a awesome husband but I just wont bother going on about my daughter.. Rose

I had a heartattack in nov of 2005 so about a year has passed, I lost my job my house and not to mention my insurance and now I cannot find an insurance co. to cover me. I have to pay for all of my percriptions myself. with the help of my boyfriend. I started going back to work a few months ago through a temp. service and I felt as if I was doing ok. I know I was dealing with some depression so I thought I would go and get some counceling to try and help me understand some things. when I went he sugested that I see a psycholigst to straighten out my meds and to see maybe if my meds might be an issue. when I went to see him today I had the 2 shock of my life...(1st heartattact...) He told me I could not drive anymore because with heart paitents they have memory loss?????????????? now I am depressed I am 47 years old and I had to find a ride home... The temp. service called me just a while ago and now I cant go to work because I cant drive..... Does anyone know how or what I should do or if anyone else has had these problems??????? Thanks to you all Dana

Hi, how many of you were told to take Iron? Joan

In a message dated 10/16/2006 10:50:48 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, bogdankl@... writes: Take your TALL and search for SMALL!!!!! A SHORT person makes a better lover.........like ME!!!!!! Please and Thanx, (5'4") Bogie haha i agree bogie my marine is only 5'8 and he has always been a tall man in my eyes... and wow now they tell us its free to date on the Internet who would have guessed loll Rose bad star hangs her head in shame without Connie to control me Tim a bad bypasser

Linda, Hi, My mom had quad bypass surgery in April of this year. She also had fluid buildup around the heart. The Echo showed this after surgery. The Dr. gave her prednisone I believe and she took it for around one week to 10 days. This cleared it up. Sometimes you may have to have the fluid drained. My moms Dr. said it is quite common after this type of surgery. If medication doesn't help then they drain the fluid. My mom also had some pain in that area and her blood work showed inflamation, that is why they did the echo. Cindy

hi i am new here. I am a 42yr old male and have just had a quad bypass on sept 19,2006. Im not sure if all the things i am going thru are normal but would like to share some of your experiences and feelings you might have gone thru, thanks, sincerly scotty.

Hi, I Just had triple by pass surgery 2 and 1/2 weeks ago. I also have MS and am 64 years old. I had no idea this would happen to me. My biggest concern is recovering. I keep hearing my heart beating very loudly and I'm concerned,is this normal? When can I expect to be back to my normal activities? Will I be better, worse? Any inside would be greatly appreciated Marie

Hi, everyone! I'am a new one here. I had a double bypass two month ago and another open heart surgery /pericardial window/ just a month ago. It pretty much 've knocked me down. I am still on oxigen at home, and get tired just changing my clothes. Shortness of breath keep me from talking. I try to walk every day, but my doctor said I'am not ready for rehab yet. I sleep only with the pills, and besides all that I feel very depressed and isolated. Is that unusial? did anyone have similar experience? and how long does it take to recover /if ever/? My doctors do not give me any specific answers. I would appreciate any advise, Ellen

Hello Everyone, This is a group I was hoping I wouldn't need to join, but last Wednesday my husband Wally had a triple coronary bypass. I'm worried--not only about his recovery going as well as it should be, but whether we can make the changes in his lifestyle (losing weight, exercising) so that he won't have another cardiovascular event. He's quite anxious and has a low tolerance for pain, wants me to spend more hours in the hospital with him than I'm able to do. How can I help him feel less "abandoned" (his word)? I've been there an average of 6-7 hours a day, sometimes twice a day. My real name is Jenny. Thanks for any and all suggestions!

Just to inform....I have my next check-up with the cardio on Thursday - Oct 12 and had my blood given for testing this morning. Just hope that after all these restrictions - diet / weight etc. the result on lipid profile and all the other tests comes out well. If no one tells my wife, I can share one act of mischief I had been indulging upon for the past few days. Someone brought some lovely swiss chocolates for my daughter and you know what.....! Hope my blood work comes out well. Subir

Hello group I am new. I had triple bypass surgery a month ago. I am in pain but the pain pills help. After my surgery and up till now I have a numb left pinkey finger. I was told I have a 10@ heart pump left. I do not understand this exactly but that does not sound to good to me. Could someone please explain what this means and if I will be alive for very long. I have many personal problems that also eat away at me, my wife walked out on me a month before my major heart attack so I am alone most of the time, she does help me though. I am taking 12 medication to stay alive. I am faced with becoming homeless since she left me alone in this big house. I live on disability so my money is very limited. I am afraid so it makes my healing process harder. Part of me does not even want to survive this ordeal. I ask God to be kind and take me so I do not have to live in the streets. I am 61 years old. Please forgive me for being so heavy handed I just needed someone to talk with. I do pray that you all recover and feel better soon. Kind regards, Michael Are you sure you want to send this message?

Hi all, I am new to the group. I had my triple bypass 7 weeks ago, and seems to be recovering quite well. However, the pinkie finger on my left hand feels numb. My cardiologist is not too concerned and thinks it will go away soon. I wonder if anyone had the same experience.

It's been over a 19 months since my quad bypass. I understand stress. I work in a county jail with an inmate population that's over 4000 and work as a first line supervisor on a floor that has over 900 of them. I went back to work on "light duty status" six weeks after my bypass and returned to full "full duty status" four months later. To say that life has not changed since my bypass would be an understatement. I know I have limits and adjust as needed. There is tow things I've learned about physical work/exercise/activity or whatever you want to call it and stress. That is, it is easy to do nothing and hard to add a little bit to what you do each day. I find that the more I can add "physical stuff" the better my day, the better I rest, and the less stress I feel. No, I don't think I'll be as I was at 40 or 50 (I'm 58 now)but, I do see the need not to allow myself to sit too long or too much. As for stress at work or home I have my pace and the bosses can have theirs. No job is worth your health or life. If the boss doesn't like my pace, then they can go work someplace else, I was here first and I'll leave when I'm ready, but I'll not be driven away. This doesn't mean I'll not do my best, It means my health come first, not my job. John

I have concerns. Before my mild exercise on a tread mill, my blood pressure was 121/80 pulse 60. After just 20 minutes at 2.2mph, my blood pressure dropped to 95/58 pulse 81. Then I waited three minutes and my blood pressure went up to 109/76 pulse 61. What should I be expecting at this point? My 3x bypass was a little over a month ago. To my thinking, if my heart is operating properly, my blood pressure should increase after exercise. So I have concerns that something is wrong but I don't know what to do about it. My heart surgeon told me at my last check up that I could do all the exercise I wanted to do. In rehab they are telling me to take it easy. I want to get back into shape and really 2.2 mph is very mild for me. I should be, in my mind, at 3.6mph for thirty minutes or at least walking 1.5 miles every day. Gene

I have been advised that I need a triple bypass. I am concerned about the recovery and any pain and/or discomfort after the procedure. I had an aorta anyurism (sp) operation 15 years ago and recall that the pain right after the operation was quite severe. Any one care to comment on pain.

i havent posted in a while. i was just wondering what happened to connie. i miss her posts.i hope she is alright.glad to see your doing alright too ron. Tammy

read this last night and to me it was very profound. Thought I should pass it on. Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, health, family, friends, and integrity. And you're keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls, family, health, friends, integrity, are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life. StannisRose James Patterson FREE Emoticons for your email - By IncrediMail! Click Here!

Has anyone had any experience with having a triple bypass through minimally invasive CABG? Or having any bypass off pump? I am 42 year old male and need a triple bypass and would really like to have it done through the MINCABG procedure and offpump. While I have been seen by a surgeon whom I like and believe to be hightly skilled and gives me no worry. However, I just seem to not be able to accept the traditional bypass procedure because of the incision, longer recoup time, cost, etc. Any thoughts on what is most important in selecting the right card thor. surgeon? Thanks

my husband up untill april this year was a well man then he started to get indegestion dr treated for trapped wind but on may the 24 mayhe went back to dr and she said he should have a ecg and chest x ray pi;;s for high colestrol he went back to work at no time did she say to go imediately he went back to work if it had not been for the attention of one of the head teachers he is a care taker at a school i work at the hospital on the cardio ward as the ward clerk i meet them and he had the ecg and with in fifteen mins he was in the resus unit be given alldifferent pain relif etc we were told if it had not been for the head teacher he may not be with us to day his lungs started to fill with fluid after they stabled him he was trans to the heart unit later in july he was transfered to a nother hospital in london for surgery he is home and though get pain in the scare he is on the road to better health our local hospital was wonderful keeped us informed at all times and nothing was to much trouble also at the london hospital we can not speak to highly of yet we feel that our dr should not of let him out of the surgery as he was going to take our car if the head teacher had not took him i know gp as bussy but as he had not had a heart problem they should of seen the sighns but people say we should change dr but it is not that easy like dentist they arte hard to find the only other thing my husband had to have his teeth removed prio to surgery and now we cant find a nhs dentist yes private 800£ so yes we sare realy lucky with our hospital and the treatment but the dentist well we just have to wait untill they have some more cash. but at least my husaband is alive thanks to the dr and nurses at our local hospital and the london hospital and my thanks go to them .

I can relate to that.....It could be as simple as a change of meds, or he needs his car payment. :):) No matter what anyone says you will worry. What I do is tell myself whatever it is I promise myself to do the best possible thing when I find out. Try to relax and I know thats hard StannisRose FREE emoticons for your email! click Here!

Hi again ya'll - I know it's been awhile but the last time I posted, I thought the board had kinda slowed down because I didn't get any responses. Anyway, I hope this finds everyone well and healthy. I'm Missy and I'm 34 from ATL and had a double bypass done in the end of Feb of this year. I've been doing relatively well since then. I had some major fatiuge a couple months ago and the cardiologist ordered a nuke stress test, even though he was sure it was from the coreg. I got the thumbs up on the stress test - then like 5 days later, he called and said that there was a spot he couldn't see as well as he wanted and would like to order a CT angiogram. Well, I scheduled it 2 different times and each time something went wrong - scheduling problems, and a high heart rate - so I had to reschedule yet again. I had it done today finally and it was awful. I'm prone to anxiety and I had an attack on the table..... Anyway, I had a message on my machine when I got home from work from the receptionist at the cardio office saying that the doc who had done the test had called my cardio and he wanted me to come in on Monday to discuss the results. Can't be good right? I'm figuring no, but still - to make someone wait til Monday?? That's torture! I'm gonna call tomorrow and demand to know what's going on, if anything - I'm praying it's nothing serious and I guess I feel that it's not life-threatening at this point since the last time (before my CABG) the doc called me himself at 8 o'clock at night to tell me to meet him at his office first thing next morning after a bad stress test........ Too afraid to be hopeful but wanting so badly to be......what do ya'll think?

In a message dated 9/27/2006 7:02:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, connieque@... writes: Bogie! When I saw this reply, there was my post with it's GLARING TYPO!!! [INLINE] LOL.....I called you "Bobie Baby" instead of "Bogie Baby"!!! [INLINE] Oops.....pardon my PUMPHEAD! [INLINE] WHEW Connie I thought U were bringing up the *S* word again I thought U were calling him boobie Ü rose Ö bad star :(

My subject line might be a bit overstated, but, my diabetic friend with vision problems who is 54, had quadruple bypass surgery and lives alone on a second floor apartment, is doing so well that he is being discharged today, only 5 days postop, but, is apparently not considered eligible for any cardiac rehab according to Blue Cross. What do people do to get well? Hire a litany of outside home care, seek outpatient therapy? I did speak to social services and they just said "well, I guess somebody will have to cook for him!" He was still getting a pint of blood last night. I'm not totally unfamiliar with health care as I went through this with eldercare of my parents. In this case, it just seems that he is being ignored since he is so "young". Is this normal? Any suggestions for what's next on the road to recovery? Thanks in advance. Cornelia

Gingered Pork Chops 4 - 6 sirloin boneless chops with fat trimmed 4 cloves chopped garlic 2 tbsp. evoo (extra virgin olive oil for all those who don't watch rachel ray [INLINE] ) 1 tbspLOW sodium soy sauce 2 tbsp brown sugar water (amount is determined by what you want to do - if you are going to use it on rice also, add more) corn starch to thicken 1 1/2 tsp ginger brown chops in oil, add garlic and sautee for a couple of minutes - combine soy sauce, brown sugar and ginger in bowl, then add to meat and garlic - when meat is done, remove from skillet, add water and cornstarch to mixture in skillet - bring to boil, lower heat and stir till desired thickness. Pour sauce over chops and/or add to rice. For a change, we sometimes use wheat fettucine with peas. **NOTE: Even low sodium soy sauce is about 24%, so make sure there is nothing else with salt in the meal.

boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken tenders (about a 3 pound bag in the frozen food section) evoo for "frying" chicken and potatoes 2-3 pounds potatoes washed and sliced into large slices ( a little thicker than steak fries) Peeling is up to you rosemary (chopped fresh is best, but the dry from the season rack in the store works well, also) Cover bottom of skillet with evoo - add chicken, sprinkle rosemary on chicken - and cook over med - med high heat - when thoroughly cooked and nicely brown on both sides, remove chicken from skillet (remember to turn off the heat under the skillet at t.his point Boil clean sliced potatoes until "firm" but done, drain, turn heat under chicken skillet to med - med/high and fry in the chicken skillet. You can make gravy or sauce after the potatoes have browned on all sides.

Very lean cut of beef - make sure all fat is trimmed evoo 3 - 4 cloves chopped garlic 1/2 cup chopped or thinly slice onions 1/2 to 1 cup sliced mushrooms your choice of red cooking wine water cornstarch heat evoo in large skillet - add meat in a med skillet sautee garlic, onions and mushrooms in evoo till tender (garlic needs to sautee longer than onions and mushrooms - for a special meal - I sautee the mushrooms in a separate skillet - letting them cook on one side until they are a nice golden brown, then turn them - if you turn them beforehand, they won't be as "pretty" When meat is browned to your preference on both sides, add sauteed veggies, and cooking wine (how much is up to you - we usually use about a cup for this meal)

2-3 pounds potatoes washed and cut in 1 - 1 1/2" chunks - peeling is up to you 4-5 cloves chopped garlic 1/2 cup melted low salt/no salt butter/margarine 2 tbsp evoo 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 3/4 cup parmesan/romano blend 1/4 cup milk boil potatoes till done, but firm while potatoes are cooking, sautee garlic in butter and oil till tender When potatoes are done, drain, add garlic, butter/oil, cheeses and milk - mash till chunky or smooth - your preference - no salt needed, no salt substitue needed, no pepper needed, but can be added if you really want to.

boneless pork sirloin chops with fat trimmed 1 pound sliced mushrooms cooking wine of your choice evoo brown chops in evoo sautee 'shrooms in evoo either until tender or golden brown (to do this do NOT turn the shrooms until they are browned) when chops are browned add sauteed mushrooms and wine - cook until chops are done - if more liquid is needed add a combo of water and wine this is great with the garlic smashed potatoes

Carole, we made the transition to no salt/low salt with no problem - there are so many wonderful spices like rosemary, garlic, basil and such that we don't even miss it - Mike had quad bypass in April and is an over the road trucker - he's now making most of his meals in his truck instead of eating in the truckstops. I'm currently working on recipes to post to this and another website for low fat, low/no salt recipes - You might try pasta like rotini, 1/2 cup low fat ricotta cheese, 1/3 cup parmesan/romano cheese blend, 1 15 oz can of no salt chopped tomatoes, 1 small no salt can of tomato sauce, 2-4 cloves of chopped garlic, 1 tsp chopped basil. Cook the pasta as directed on the package. In a separate pot combine tomatoes, sauce, garlic, and basil. If you would like to add chopped onions or green or red peppers, you would put them in the sauce, and cook this over med/low heat (do not boil) while the pasta is cooking. When cooked, drain pasta, add the cheeses and stir till pasta is coated with the cheese - then pour sauce over the pasta/cheese mixture - and you're done. For the bread I saute 3 -4 chopped cloves of garlic sauteed in 1/4 cup of margarine or low salt butter (be sure you check your packages for the lowest cholesterol and salt content - but I'm sure you already knew that) - Separate refrigerated biscuits and dip each one in the garlic and melted butter - bake according to package directions. I've used leftover chicken (white meat -no skin) in the sauce, as well as turkey Italian sausage, and both taste great. Have fun!! Linda and Mike

My husband will be finally coming. Can you give me any ideas of what I am to do and look out for? Would like to know what to cook, etc. He will be on that wonderful no salt/low salt diet. Thank you. You guys are the greatest. Carole

hi, read your responce, and he was hurting this morn.and still argues with me its still heartburn.I told him he dont know that.S i called his cardio.doc.and hes going to see him tommorrow,since he does have corenary artery disese.do you think really bad heartburn all the time is a symtom? HE also has pain with it. thankyou; Tammy (mamaw)

i will be praying for you today. God bless: Tammy

A Little Catholic Hospital Humor Heart Attack A man suffered a serious heart attack and had an Open heart bypass surgery. He awakened from the Surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at a Catholic Hospital. As he was recovering, a nun asked him questions Regarding how he was going to pay for his Treatment.She asked if he had health insurance. He replied, in a raspy voice, "No health insurance." The nun asked if he had money in the bank. He replied, "No money in the bank." The nun asked, "Do you have a relative who could help you?" He said, "I only have a spinster sister, who is a nun." The nun became agitated and announced loudly, "Nuns Are not spinsters - Nuns are married to God." The patient replied, "Send the bill to my brother-in-law." .... .... Had that post in my mail box... thought of sharing with you all. On a serious note, I am having a mild pain in my left shoulder since last night. Had a similar complaint some 2 months back, little over a month after my cabbage. After that pain I had to spend two nights at the hospital. Pray...this is not all that serious! Hope everyone had a pleasent weekend. It's Monday mid-day already and I had my monday morning blues. Subir

hi group, just an update on charlie... he had 3xCABG in april of this year... it took him 6 weeks to recuperate. after that he was FINE! we went to las vegas 8 weeks after surgery, walked everywhere in the 106 degree temperature. since then, we've gone camping, to myrtle beach and in just a week, we're goin' to kentucky (just cuz we've never been there before!).. i've read all the emails from this group, and most of the time it seems everyone is having complications. it's very informative because i like to keep a check on charlie's health and your problems seem to keep me alert, so thanks again! but i'm just wondering... is my husband unique, in that he seems to be doin' great... or is it the norm for all the complications? he did go to the doctor a few weeks ago and found out he had blockages in both legs that they feel is just part of the "hardening of the arteries" culprit. the vascular surgeon just wants to monitor his progress for now... but all they gave him was a drug to lessen the leg pain and that seemed to do the trick. charlie has a great attitude and i think that may be helping his recuperation. take care... kay

hi all, i think that i explained i was supposed to have an angigram on thrusday the 21st and possible surgery on my neck. but on sunday night or really 4 am monday morning i was having problems sleeping like a lot of us do or some of us do. any way my blood pressure went to like 176/112/95 so i called the hospital and a friend suggested i come in and get checked out which i thought i could just take another BP pill to try and get it down but he said it could be something wrong with my kidneys. anyway i went in and they ended up keeping me because of my BP spiking up and down and they called my cardio and he said to keep me. on tuesday they did the angigram then more or less emergency neck surgery for the artery that was 99 percent blocked with a clot ready to turn loose. i went through the surgery ok and they sent me home wednesday at noon. they finally got the surgery started at about 3:30 PM tuesday evening. but what i am having is high blood pressure since the surgery. i had it in the hospital and they finally put an IV of some kind of blood pressure med that brought it down. come to find out that all the time i was their they was giving me half the strength of BP meds that i was used to taking. so i figured that must be the reason it went high. i got out and came home and i took my BP thursday during the day and it was like 172/103 so i called the nurse and she suggested taking half again the amount of toporol that i was on which would make 75 mg twice aday. she told me she would talk to the dr and make sure it was ok but never called me back. i checked it late today and it was 172/1o6/86 so i went ahead and took the 1 and 1/2 or 75mg of toporol. i waited 3 hours and took it again giving the meds time to work but it just took it down to like 150/92 and that is on the left side my right arm gives me 10 points higher than my left side which should be right the oppisite or so i was told. has any one had this kind of surgery and this kind of radicial blood pressure along with it. i was taking 50 mg of toporol in the morning along with 5 mg of zestril and 50mg of toporol at night it seemed to keep my BP down in the 120/65 to 75 range but they stopped the zestril. it just seems that if they cleaned out the artery that my bp would kind of stabilize some instead of going up like it did. the surgeren also told my daughter that the right side was 40 percent plus blocked and that i would need to get it checked in like 6 months, she took it that since they cleaned the left out that the right one might blockup at a faster rate. does that make any since. any info would be helpful. thanks ahead of time for anyone with any info. sorry i know i probably repeated some of the info here that i put on an earlier post but felt like i needed to go from the time i got to feeling bad. is 4:00 in morning here in texas so another long night or a short day if i get to get some sleep. ron

Hi everyone, I have a very special friend who is going to hospital today to perform a few tests before his coronary artery bypass. He hasn't told me this and it has come as a shock to me. He's only 31 and is so healthy - not overweight, infact underweight if anything. I'm really upset as I have no idea what this actually means. When he told me, I was in tears, thinking that heart surgery is a high risk and he may not survive. Can you guys give me some comfort that this surgery will be okay from your experience? Is it very safe? Is there a real risk that he may not survive? I just want to know that he's going to be okay. I'm the worst person right now to support him. Infact, it looks like he's supporting me more...telling me he will be okay. If you can give me the following info and tell me what site I could go to, that would be much appreciated: - - - - Thanks everyone.

thanks folks for all the concern over me. i think i will be fine. thanks to a few good friends [who know who they are] and some very nice nurses i got my juju back or my positive attitude which ever you want to call it. i usually pop back in no time and i am hoping that i do this time to. i just need time for the insision and artery to heal then it will be back to normal till 6 more months then i have to go back to get the right side checked again. i havent answered or remarked to many posts in the last couple of days because i have had to take so much meds or pain meds i should say and i dont want to say something stupid which i usually do anyway. but to all that are having trouble i wish you the best. and to the lady with the pain and numbness in the left side. the nerves they cut grow back at a very very slow rate if they grow back at all. my first bypass in 2000 i had all the numbness and hurting but after this second one in jan this year it just seemed to disappear. i hope it doesnt raise its ugly head again because i am enjoying that one part of my body not hurting and giving me problems. God bless and watch over you all in this time of need and i will be saying a prayer for all of you that he will watch over you and take care of your needs. and to mamaw his doctor needs to know that he is having problems. and it isnt nagging it is concern that you want him around for a long time and no one is bullet proof and he needs to get it checked out if not for his sake for yours to take some of the stress off of you. we sure dont want to hear that you had to go in from all the stress. you might ask him that if it was you instead of him wouldnt he want you to get it checked out just to make sure nothing has gone wrong. sorry but if i had a wife i would want her to get checked and not put it off till something bad happened. he might just need some meds changed around or something simple. just my two cents worth. night all. ron thanks to you all ron

thanks rose,i hate to be a nagger but he wont listen, i will call the doctor. bless you, thanks. Tammy

Does anyone have an update on Ann? last I heard she was having problems breathing............I sure hope she is ok. Mimi

i know i e-mailed you personally but i will go ahead and say this on the group since things have quitend down. i had no sleep sunday night and felt bad mainly a real bad head ache. i thought it was my right cardioric arterty that was blocked but i was wrong. i checked my blood pressure several times during the night and at about 4 am i call a friend that helped save my life when i had my open heart surgery. i told him my blood pressure was like 176 over 112 and asked him whether i should just take another bp pill and see if it would take it down and he told me no that i should get to the heart hospital if i could because even thought i was having no chest pains to speak of that my kidneys could be acting up. i took a quick shower and then drove the 12 miles or so to the hospital and they took blood and started montering me. my blood pressure went down and they was going to send me home but then it spiked again and the doc said sorry bud but you are here for a while. i laided in the hospital room all day monday and at 9 am on tuesday they did an angigram on my neck and the left side was 99 percent blocked. they schuelded me for surgery the same day. was supposed to go in around noon but two emergency bypasses came in and it was like 3:30 when they took me in. they split my neck open and split the artery open and cleaned it out and sewed it up and glued ther artery they put disolvabale stiches in my artery before they glued it and then glued my neck together and put a stitch at each end. and put in a drain tube. i dont think that even the tubes they pulled out of my chest in heart surgery hurt as bad as the one they pulled out of my neck. their was a clot about the size of a good sized green pea about ready to turn loose where it was blocked the most, about half way up so i guess i got chance number 4. i do have a numb chin now and they said that most likly will keep it for a long time unless i get lucky and the nerves grow back but i can live with that. i guess i have about a 4" cut in my neck now so i guess that is one more i can add to my other scars. my daughter took me to her house wednesday about 12 pm and i stayed their last night but am back at home tonight.sore and hurting but alive. thanks for the talk the other night i finally got my attitude back up and flirted and cut up with all the nurses. but the right side is about 40 or so percent blocked and i got told to go back and get it checked again in about 6 to 8 months to make sure that since the left side got cleaned that the right side doesnt deciede to speed up blockage if that makes any since. again thanks *hugs* and that was a friendly hug so no one gets any ideals. i owe you. ron

cant help but notice how quiet the group has become since that flair up. it seems to have knocked the heart right out of people . No one seems to want to talk about their problems and so many have had their feelings hurt . Why do these things happen in a group that one day every one is helping each other and helping themselves at the same time then bang off goes someone's temper who is just more than likely having a bad day and should have stayed away from the computer . and we end up talking about TV shows ??????????????? I can decide what shows I want to watch on my own but I had found the discussions here helpful in me understanding what actually has happened to me and I was expecting to much of my self having had my bypass in the middle of July. I though I would be over it long ago and figured I was babying myself along feeling sorry for myself when it has actually only been two months since I had my bypass. I had heard stories from people who had the operation and was out gardening the very next week or off on camping trips only 3 weeks after theirs . this group showed me the reality of my problem and I no longer go off to the doctors demanding to know why I still hurt like hell. it was a wonderful experience for me and I am so sorry for people like myself who will go having the operation and not knowing what they are in for and have no where to turn to find anything out that it is normal and they are not the only one and yes it will go on hurting for a long time whether we like it or not and the ones who get over it very quick are very lucky . Anniep

Connie I've been watching dancing with the stars my husband likes ncis so I record them we have a Dr so we can record two and watch a third recording loll talk about addicts but it seems all the shows I like are on at the same time.. I'm thinking about putting another Dr box in my granddaughters room she's lived with us since a baby and is 16 now she likes my computer loll so she has to share her TV ... she has her own PC but my husband has to reformat it and put windows xp in it..I decided I would catch house in reruns loll no room for another show.. I'm also looking forward to the bachelor ha ha I know its junk TV but I'm hooked...as you can see I'm having one of those nights im still awake ...I hate that.. so what happen to the where are we from and year of bypass? if you all want to start over I will grab it and then put it on the site if I can if not we can add new people as they join I am 4 years into it and it seems often like 4 months.. I have lots of nerve damage so this time of year I have a lot of pain and can feel the wires as though there being tightened .. anyone else feel that with the change in weather? Ill add this now I guess.. I have never had typing lessons at anytime .. I have neuropathy in my legs and hands so typing is painful..I realize I sort of run together but please bare with me... sometimes I use my dragon program but it always seems I have to retrain it .. anyway's thanks for understanding...maybe we can look at chat programs and do a live chat with some of us sometimes Rose

Hi Gail: I just had a tooth removed about 3 weeks ago. A back molar that broke off at the gum. I was soooooooooo scared...The dentist called the cardio and I had to stay off plavix for a week before. I took xanax before I went in. The dentist was good and except for the 1st needle it didnt hurt at all. I did not have that one replaced. There were no complications at all. I had a bottom one crowned or I couldnt chew on that side. I have dental ins from work. The total for the crown was 895.00 and the insurance paid half. I almost fainted when I found out how much it costs. Drs, Dentists, PT, and they all have me by the short hairs if you know what I mean. Help me Im falling apart..... Stannis Rose FREE emoticons for your email! click Here!

Hi it is Sandy lol I have a friend that would like to join our group , but I dont know how to tell her to find it lol ( Im blond teehee)

Hi Everyone, I haven't posted for a few years now, I think. But wanted to pass on some info. I had my Double bypass in 1999 and just this past February I had the sterum wires removed. I could not believe the difference I felt! The Surgeon thinks I had an alergery to the nickel plating on the wires used to wire my sterum together. He said it is way more common in women than men and they are just starting to realize it is a greater problem then they first thought. I complained for years that my chest hurt, but it was not until one of the wires started to pook through my skin that the surgeon agreed to remove the wires. With in weeks I felt better that I had in years! Now if I can get my back and thyroid working as well, I'll be a happy camper :) Cheers Sandy W

Well I think also that tammy said she never read ALL the emails.....which needs to be done before she decides. Mimi Tammy let me assure you it had nothing to do with your question or the topic. It was a completely different issue that someone else's emails had sparked and had nothing to do with you or your question. The more I tried to explain it without naming a name of the person whose email posts actually upset me, the worse it got because others' (randomly selected samples below) emails that followed made it sound like it was your question that I was uncomfortable with when in fact the problem had first started in emails posted before you ever asked your question. I could go further into detail . . . . But let's not unleash the dogs again, none of us need that. Barb In a message dated 9/18/2006 10:12:02 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, connieque@sbcglobal.net writes: Rose, Tammy had been away from her computer and returned to find the barrage of emails and had read through them. She was concerned that her question regarding the effects of meds on her husband's interest in sex had sparked the wildfire. I was just reassuring her that she had no reason to worry about asking anything here. of course Tammy question was fine I agree and certainly did apply..and when U ask something it may be a question other would like to ask but don't and it helps them as well so never be afraid to ask anything here .. just know there are always one or two that whine about everything .. now who was making that list aboutt where everyone was from etc we haven't heard anything about that lately Rose

I tried the unsub to see why so many don't seem to understand how to unsub and guess what it just sends an email asking to unsub lol and as we have no mod to do it I guess they are stuck if any one wants I can take over that function of unsubbing people if any one knows how I would do it but I do not want to moderate the group discussions Anniep

Hi Connie,been away from my computer for awhile, and wow when i checked my mail and read all the posts.When i responded a week ago to the posts on toprol, and asked did it affect ones love life,because the doc. said it would and it has tremmuously.I didnt know it was going to cause such a rucus.And i appologize, for even posting it.I love reading these posts and everyone has been so helpful on here, especially you ron and a few others.From what ive read only one has been offended by it.But oh well i guess youll have those type of people on here.I think you have been such a wonderful caregiver on here,and are so blessed to be able to do that.I dont think i asked in a wrong way do you? god bless you and all the others on here that care. Because even though it wasnt me thats been through all this,it has impacted my life, and its just so great that i can get on here and talke about it.thanks for listening. Tammy

Please unsubscribe. Thanks

Note: forwarded message attached.

In a message dated 9/16/2006 9:05:23 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, appledumplin582002@... writes: Is this something I should just " forget", sorry but I cant , so I guess you people will have to listen to me babble about it lol ,I just dont understand where he is coming from .Sandy sandy it is very hard for someone who loves you to picture you so close to death... and honestly no one who hasnt been through it seems to understand what all it entails.. I dont think its because he doesn't care though Rose

Does this mean this subject is FINALLY closed??????? Thank the lord!!!! Mimi you both have won the wooden spoon award for stirring it up

U have a serious problem lady I said kidding I DONT LIE ILL TELL U THE TRUTH NO MATTER HOW HARSH IT IS now get some damn therapy ... the only one who lied here is Y O U look at the message board U posted to Connie on list not off list you are one weird sister... and I was entertaining myself with your whining .. life is to short to boo hoo about johns feelings on sex sex sex .. hot steamy sweaty passionate sex ... U should be on your hands and knees thanking god for a second chance to live not whimping because someone else wants to ... now im finding U a cold fish list cuz bypass is the least of YOUR problems ... now sleep well.. Rose

oops hangs head in shame.. my husband didn't say anything he doesn't read my email i was just kidding about that...and i have not spoken with anyone privately about you on this day or any day for that matter I cant speak for anyone else.. Rose

you both have won the wooden spoon award for stirring it up

In a message dated 9/15/2006 7:18:17 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, bnewman12@... writes: Rose, I am not angry at all and quite relaxed. I did not swear once--but someone else did. I guess my grandmother instilled old fashioned manners and ways in me and if you want to discuss it in a manner which is not demeaning, then I would happily participate. But, if you want to bring it down to a lower level and call it humor, I find it distasteful and I would tell that to you or anyone else. And, in some cases, I tried to keep this outside the group by emailing people directly only to have them reply to the open group. And in no way did I suggest that by emailing John directly that you would do anything to violate your marital vows because emailing someone to discuss a sensitive subject and leave others out, is not wrong. Love is a beautiful thing between two people--I have not been arguing love, I have been arguing sex--big difference. My disagreement was centered around comments that were not made to solicit information regarding impotency or meds decreasing libido. It is quite frustrating Rose that you cannot understand that the discussion deteriorated and the excuse of humor was intervened. John was not wanting to discuss love or how it is affected by bypass surgery. He wanted to go elsewhere. So once again, if you want to continue this please feel free to email me directly and not put the rest of the group in distress. Barb I know I have offended Connie too but dog gone it, her emails just go on and on and on and also included things I wrote to her in private. I didn't know we were not allowed to email people directly on sensitive topics. And in response to another group email about my husband, just so you know, my ex-marine's father signed him up when he was 17 because he got tired of beating him at home--so he really didn't choose to go into the Marines and go to Viet Nam. He turned 18, 19 and 20 there. And, I do know POWs and amputees and lots of homeless vets since we go to group at the VA hospital every week and support several veterans groups here in town. The majority of our homeless here are Viet Nam veterans so I have seen and heard it all. barb i do not want to discuss sex in private with you ... u say ( And in no way did I suggest that by emailing John directly that you would do anything to violate your marital vows because emailing someone to discuss a sensitive subject and leave others out, is not wrong. ) yes for me it is wrong barb i do NOT disccuss sex with men in private must be those old values instilled in me who are u to decide what violates my vows ? and i love connies posts there colorful and interesting and so neatly typed for someone like me who never really learned to type I love seeing her neat posts and connie is correct you did email her that on list check the board yourself...sex is part of love barb like trust honesty etc... and I am not going to talk with you about connie behind her back another reason we wont have this discussion in private as far as your husband goes no child could be forced into our military .. no one was sent over seas under 18 unless they lied about there age when they entered you could not join the military during nam unless u were 18 unless u lied ... so why do u feel your husband was forced to kill looks to me like he made a lot of choices to be in the marines and to be in war and that's what happens in war aND THATS THE END OF THAT i WILL NOT DISCUSS OUR VETERANS YOU DONT HAVE YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT Rose counting lil white hairs on puppies tail Ü

In a message dated 9/15/2006 6:46:33 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, bnewman12@... writes: Rose if you would have read my other email, I will not be responding to anymore of your comments out of respect to our fellow group members. If you want to discuss this further, email me privately as I had the respect to do with you and not involve the group. Conversations like our's should not be forced on the other members in the group. To the group members, I tried to keep this disagreement between us by answering privately in some cases , but Rose and Connie seem to want to make it a public forum by answering the group instead of me. Once again, I apologize to the group and ask Rose, Connie, John, Sandra and anyone else that wants to continue our disagreement to email me and leave the others out of it so as not to upset them. Thank you! please do NOT email me privately unless invited to barb my husband doesn't like it Ü i also think connies answer to you was awesome so just read it and that's my answer also

Hi People I have enjoyed the posts re the s...... thing so I am nor complaining about the content of that post but I am getting worried about the bickering about that can we please begin again and focus mow on our own problems and the problems of others than who said what to whom about what . we should not need a Mod on line we are adults and should be able to moderate ourselves if we don't like it ......don't read it .......if we find a person offence .... delete their mail don't read it .. we are supposed to be helping each other not fighting I know at times we feel like we need to speak up but this is caring it to far. having problems other than heart does come out and we cant help that as a lot of it causes the heart problems and we need to spout off to some one but enough is enough already Ann

loll its called spam and all lists get spammed unless it is totally moderated

i really cant believe people would get upset over sex...its all part of life ..it is something we should all have in some way or another...we're probably beatting a dead horse here..but lets leave this open discussion for all..eveyones different..heart disease causes many side effects..no one promblem is less imporant then other ones..ask questions..leave answers,,we can all benifit from it.....and some on here articulate there views better that others..so be understanding of all..to bad we all cant hug.....lolo Mark...

A little background, Just been reading thru here and there for a while, I post here and there once in a while, I started here back in July 2003 with my heart attack and 3x bypass, then found a group with Connie, Deb, Russ, Gail, and I post there too. Connie, I glad to see that you are posting again, you are a very compassionite(sp?) woman. How is Deb? I worried about her for a long time, she had so much on her plate. Gail is still have lots of trouble, I don't know if you have kept in touch or not. Russ is still the moderator of the other group. All these different names are getting confusing, laughing... how about Steve? How is he? September 12th was Jim and I 42nd anniversary, just like Bob. But sex...I read everyone of those posts, has been non-exsistant with my husband being on Narcatics for 10 years. He was having a plan, less pills, then he could have sex or so he thought. I thought damn, good idea, finally ! But anniversary night, he had a idea...we just got a new bed too, and new silky type sheets, well, he tried and good for a little bit, then he slid off the sily sheets, we got the giggles, went and had a Pepsi then. So we had laughs, hugs, kisses and giggles. Best sex I've had in a long long time. Now today September 15th, he's 62 today. Been to tons of Drs this week, I fell and broke 2 bones in my hand, my 7th cast on my hands in 5 years, ugg.. but my heart and by-pass and stents are doing fine!! I got my spirit back, what a good life now !! Giggles, Donna

Ann, I feel what you are saying is appropriate for discussion. I just took issue with ONE comment that sent the entire discussion south to the gutter. My spouse and I have had several discussions with both our doctors about intimacy. It was hard at first as we all got the giggles but we worked through it and now we can talk about it with any of them :-) Mimi I was actually very thankful for the posts they have given me insight that it was not just "me" but to see that the lack of feeling was hindered by my meds and it kept me reading and laughing , when it was the last thing I was feeling like. so please people don't get so self righteous that we cant see the wood for the trees. I don't think any one was getting smutty believe me if it came to that I would just cancel my membership and look else where for a group but I have found this group to be more than helpful in every way there are some of us who would not ask a doctor about such things at our age. I know I am not what you would call real old at 55 but its always been a taboo subject for me ,its my upbringing I know being an Irish Catholic. but I was getting an education lol and was thankful for it. who knows maybe some day I will meet the man of my dreams and want to have a relationship with him maybe then I will go seek help from my doctor but it would take a hell of a man lol Ann [INLINE]

Connie is right we don't have a moderator and it seems this list is much closer for that reason because we are adults if we need to talk about it we do and if we don't we delete it and sex is part of life at least part of most peoples lives and to some it is a huge loss and they just want to know what's happened ....it is ok to want to know if it is med's or something else etc Rose

Back from a self-imposed sabbatical. There were so much of backlog of mail messages and now I really don't know where to start. Belated but warm welcome to the new contributors in this support group. For the uninitiated I am also a relatively new member and on Sept 15, I complete 3 months since I had my CABG X2. Well, touch wood, my recuperation process is continuing well and am attending work everyday. Eating a Low-fat Low-calorie meal, walking, exercising and using the Spirometer has remained part of the daily schedule. The daily cocktail of meds is consumed as per advice. Besides good wishes and prayers from all the well-wishers around me, one single & large factor which helped me in this process of faster- than-usual recovery has been a +ve attitude towards life after my `cabbage'. I was smoking moderately well, traveling out and eating all those I was not supposed to. Getting stressed, meeting those `deadlines' and not taking a break and `switch-off', continuing to live with so much of uncertainty all these proved bad. I have managed to stay away from that smoke thing and I better do so!! Ron, Connie, Madeline, Craig, Bruce, Ann, Bob... and all... good to read those posts and learning so much. All these really help to cope up with some of the difficult situations we are facing after having the zipper. A database of members was being made have we got that as yet? Live healthy and live long. More later....from the other part of the planet Earth. Subir

sex????????whats that??????it has a familure sound to it......hmmmmmmmmmmmmm somewhere in my pumphead brain......Is it a new pill?????a cure all????????Guess I will just have to wait and see in my next life.... StannisRose FREE emoticons for your email! click Here!

hi ron thanks for the reply,and am sorry about all the bad things thats happened to ya,i do try to pray for everyone, and will keep you in my prayers.i couldnt help but laugh when you said you dropped your pill. my mike did the same thing and the dog almost got it, it was his toprol too.im not planning on leaving him , ikinda feel whats hes going thru. i went thru it with my dad too.i just couldnt leave himin his time of need,because gods never let me down in my time of need.g