Heart Bypass Surgery

i had my 11 month checkup today and had blood draqwn in preparation for it. I have been on lipitor since my surgery and after my last checkup 3 months ago added Omacor and Niaspan. my ldl which was 123 at the time of my surgery ad dropped to 62 after 5 monts and was at 65 after 8 months. My hdl was at 43 at the time of the surgery and had gone to 52 at 5 months and 55 at 8 months. my diet has been strict all along so that was pretty constant as was my exercise. Now my total cholesterol went from 137 to 132. my ldl went from 65 to 52- a 20 % drop. And my hdl went from 59 to 65, a ten percent increase. the arrangement of the subparticles also changed. last time there was a pretty equal balance between small, dense ldl subparticles and the large boyant ones. This time I had a preponderance of the large boyant subparticles, which supposedly are too big to penetrate the cell membranes. similiarly, my hdl subparticles remodeled. at 8 months my hdl(2) particles were 10 and my hdl(3)s were 45. now the 2s were 20 nad the 3s were 45. It seems that the only thing s that changed to produce these better results were the Omacor in the case of the LDLs and the Niaspan in the case of the HDLs. Since i saw a post from someone who had no change on no flush niacin, i thought i should share these values since my experience was differrent.

IT helps to lighten up and smile awhile! Kay Lee SPECIAL POEM FOR SENIOR CITIZENS!! A row of bottles on my shelf Caused me to analyze myself. One yellow pill I have to pop Goes to my heart so it won't stop. A little white one that I take Goes to my hands so they won't shake The blue ones that I use a lot Tell me I'm happy when I'm not. The purple pill goes to my brain And tells me that I have no pain. The capsules tell me not to wheeze Or cough or choke or even sneeze. The red ones, smallest of them all Go to my blood so I won't fall. The orange ones, very big and bright Prevent my leg cramps in the night. Such an array of brilliant pills Helping to cure all kinds of ills. But what I'd really like to know........... Is what tells each one where to go!

Hi everyone, just in case you are newbies, I'm Debbie nd had my cabg 1/23/07. I am 51 yrs old, and am having my first Grandchild in June. I was starting to feel great, pain was starting goimg away. I was due to start cardiac rehab this week. But last SAturday I was found passed out and cold on my bedroom floor, by my daughter. Of course I ended up in the ER. After another angiogram, it was determined that I had a blockage in one of my new arteries.It was an abnormally small artery. Thats been my problem from jump street. The Dr and my husband decided that I needed a pacemaker. Oh goody more surgery. I asked the DR If I would be "knocked out". He assured me I would. Okay fine drug me up and lets go. Well it took 4 times the normal amount of drugs to put me under and I kept waking up. I had no pain but was able to hear and had some really cool conversation with the Dr and nurses about rock and roll. I felt some pressure, and heard a rachet wrench. I asked the Dr if he was repairing a car or fixing my heart. Also as I understand it I said some pretty strange things like pass the bong. He though this was funny, so did I. He was the best,a really great Dr. It was an interesting experince. Oh and it turns out I have an abnormally high tolerance for drugs. Another family trait. So I guess I will have to find a support group for bypass and pacemaker recovery. I wondered if anyone else ever had this experience, a 3xcabg, and a pacemaker. Oh and I am feeling incredibly old right now. Although I did make up my mind to focus on the posititve things in life and screw the small stuff. I am so over caring what other people think of me. Not that I really cared before. I think I'll shve my head and get a spider tatatooed on it. LOL Just kidding. DEB

Hello Vipul and welcome to the group! You asked for introductions, so here goes.... I'm Jennifer (63), wife of Walter (72), who had a triple CABG in October, 2006, and is recovering very slowly. Although he had several major risk factors (poor diet, overweight, sedentary, hypertension, family history) he'd had no symptoms of coronary artery disease until last September when he fainted and was discovered to be in atrial fibrillation. We live in Southern California where the weather is NOT an excuse for not exercising outdoors, but he rarely agrees to go for a walk with me. He sits for hours in front of the TV. He does, however, go to cardiac rehab three times a week where he walks on a treadmill for half-an-hour at 2 mph. I'm very grateful he's going, and hope he'll keep doing at least that after the insurance runs out.I hope so much it's not "too little, too late" for him to live a more healthy lifestyle. He also tries hard to make better food choices and has lost about 15 pounds since the surgery. At the moment I know he wonders if it's even possible to change much after all those years of not taking care of himself.. But I consider the CABG a huge wake-up call and hope he can stay alive for many more years. We've been married for only nine months, and I'm not ready to be a widow yet (is anyone ever?) Let's hear from the rest of you! Jennifer in Los Alamitos

YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME SOON PLEASE I HAVE TO KNOW WHATS GOING ON

IT STARTED IN 2002 WITH A HEART ATTACK HAD 2 STENTS PUT IN THEN IN 2003 FOUND OUT I HAD TO HAVE A PACEMAKER GOT THROUGH THAT , WELL AFTER A WHILE I STARTED HAVING A LOT OF PAIN I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG YOUR BODY HAS A WAY OF TALKING TO YOU IF YOU LISTEN,I HAD TO HAVE TRI TRUPLE BY PASS, IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER.THAT WAS 2004, LAST MONTH I HAD TO HAVE A DEPHILOTOR PUT IN THAT WAS FEB. OF THIS YEAR, IM NOT WELL YET IM HANGING ON BEST I CAN , THIS IS VERY HARD IF IT WASNT FOR GOD I WOULDNT HAVE MADE IT IM SURE, I COUNT MY BLESSING EVERYDAY , BUT MY LEGS ARE 100% BLOCKED NO BLOOD FLOW I DONT KNOW WHATS NEXT I TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT . BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND THE PAIN YOU GO THROUGH EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE . WAKE UP PEOPLE WE NEED HELP . WE NEED OUR FAMILS TOO & SOMETIMES THERE TOO BUSY IN THERE WORLD.

My 79 yo dad had double bypass and valve replacement surgery last week. Before his surgery he slept in a recliner. He's home now and still wants to sleep in the recliner. His feet and ankles are very swollen still. I think he should try to sleep in a bed. Any ideas? Also, what other post surgery tips can you give me? Thanks. My dad does not trust doctors and goes to the owner of the local health food store for all medical treatment. This heart attack did get him in the ER and surgery, but now that he's home, I'm worried that he will, again, rely on the owner of the health food store for all his post surgery medical advice. So, I feel I need to beef up my knowledge and pass it on to him myself. Thanks so much. Mary

Hi, I have never heard of the computer thing before. My mom had quadruple bypass surgery last April. She still gets a heavy feeling in her chest and short of breath at times (she also has non hodgkins lymphoma). My mom goes on her computer often and also feels drained of energy and kind of sick when she is finished with the computer. I wonder if there is any truth to that. I would be interested to hear about anybody elses experience with the computer and feeling sick. Cindy caregiver to mom

Hi everyone, I would like to give you a slightly longer perspective on recovery. My surgery was performed in May 2003. They discovered 7 blockages. One of them was the "widow maker" artery and it was 100% blocked. When I entered the hospital, I was told I had only a few hours left to live. But, the surgery saved my life. They were able to repair 4 of the 7 blockages. The other three could not be reached. Despite this, I have recovered reasonably well. My leg still has tingles on one side of the scar where they removed a vein. And, my chest has lost feeling on one side above the heart area, but most of the feeling has returned. I was told that I would have to use a walker and I refused. They told me to apply for disability and I refused. I threw away a cane after two days. I think if you surrender to this, it will overwhelm you. If you refuse to surrender, you can live a normal life. I take 19 pills a day now. Most are not prescription. I take fish oil, vitamins, arthritis pills, etc. along with the heart related stuff. But, I am living and I can work. My wife divorced me during the recovery saying that she did not want to be a widow at such a young age. (48) This was hard to handle, but I recovered from this as well and now I have a beautiful new love in my life. I would like to hear from others who have experienced similar stories of survival.

I am 8 weeks out from AVR and a bypass and in the initial weeks my blood pressure was great. Now it's slowly rising again - today is 148/96. My doctor doesn't seen too concerned but any suggestions as to why it's going back up? I also quit smoking 3 months ago and would think that would help the BP lower a lot.

Hi Sharon, greetings from Southern Ontario. Like you my leg is healing well, as is my chest though it remains tender. However taking more pain killers now than the past few weeks though hope this will be temporary. Aching accross the shoulders mainly leading to pretty bad headaches at the back of my head - as if it's tracking up from my shoulders/neck. Better today, I guess its just part of the process? Weather here is a little better that you in Alberta but still cold and a few storms. We had a little window in the weather last week when it hovered above freezing with little wind. I took advantage both days and went for an hours walk...probably around a mile each day. Not fast walking yet but felt I had acheived something. Wind chill of around -11 today so confined to wearing a furrow in the basement floor! I don't see my cardiologist until March 27th but all things considered I am feeling stronger as the days go on, though some are better than others. As an aside, I had planned to visit the UK in July, I am supposed to be Best Man for a friend at his wedding. This, needless to say was all sorted BEFORE the need for my surgery was known. Well, medical insurance for the trip is looking nigh on impossible to get and now I think about it, can anyone advise as to when flying is perceived as 'do-able' post surgery. I am sure my Cardiologist will advise me accordingly but wonded if their was a 'rule of thumb' so to speak, on the basis that you are not experiencing any problems etc? Best to all, Spring is coming and we can all start tearing up the pavement....lol Mac Ontario

Well, it has been one month today since my CABGx4. My legs are healing quite well but my sternum still hurts, but it is better that it was.It is still swolen at the top of the incision and my clothes rubbing on it makes it uncomfortable. It is still very sensitive.And I wish it were summer.I have been freezing since I got out of the hospital. This morning it was -21.No evidence of global warming here in Edmonton. I see my cardiologist next week for the first time since before the operation.I wonder if I will have to have another stress test to see how well grafts are working?I feel that I am getting stronger each day. I haven't suffered from depression. I did more crying before the surgery because I was terrified. Off topic... Does anyone know how to stop all the offensive spam that has been comming to this support group? Will it stop on its own after a while? I just feel that this person has no respect for us. Sharon [INLINE]

Tips and Tricks for a Healthier Heart Don't take your heart for granted. The following are some ways to keep your heart beating strong. Your heart will thank you. * Learn to love pomegranate juice. Buy some and drink up according to the National Academy of Sciences, heart cells treated with it produced 50 percent more nitric oxide, a substance that fights plaque and staves off hardening of the arteries, and may even reverse it. * Consume three servings of dairy every day. Trick: it can be yogurt, milk, or cheese just make sure it's low-fat. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says three servings can lower systolic blood pressure (top number) by about four points in people who don't consume a lot of saturated fat. * Lower your resting heart rate just by eating fish. Your resting rate can be an indicator of heart attack risk, and lower is better. A new Harvard Medical School study shows that people who eat five or more servings a month of fatty fish like tuna and salmon (which are high in omega-3 fatty acids) average about three beats a minute fewer than those who eat little or no fatty fish. * Try tai chi a Chinese martial art that uses slow, relaxing movements to lower your blood pressure. In one study, participants who practiced tai chi for 30 minutes a day for 12 weeks lowered their systolic blood pressure by almost 16 points. * Watch funny movies, or do anything else that makes you laugh because it improves your blood flow. A University of Maryland School of Medicine study prescribes 15 minutes of ha-ha time a day. Tip: Lower your blood pressure by breathing deeply. If you take 10 breaths a minute instead of the usual 16 or more, and do this for 15 minutes a day over a period of two months, studies show you will lower your blood pressure. * Women should get plenty of sleep they should imitate "Snorella," not Cinderella, who danced until midnight then rose at 4 a.m. to go to work. Insufficient sleep plays havoc with women's hormones, blood pressure, and blood sugar, according to a study from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. The study says women who sleep fewer than five hours a night have a 30 percent higher risk of heart disease than those who get eight full hours. * Regulate your body's rhythms with music. University of Oxford researchers say you can lower your heart rate by tuning in to slow, meditative music, and just the opposite you can rev up your circulation and breathing by turning on to tunes that are fast-moving toe-tappers. * Daily soy shooters in your food (marinades, soups, etc.) can help fight heart-damaging substances generated by smoking, obesity, or diabetes, according to a study by the National University of Singapore. Dark not light soy sauce has 10 times the antioxidants found in wine. Trick: use low-salt versions because some soy sauces are loaded with salt, which can raise blood pressure. CRP Test Most Important for Your Heart. Check Your Cholesterol at Home Simple, Safe! Doctor Says Inflammation, Not Cholesterol Can Kill You. NewsMax.com 4152 West Blue Heron Blvd, Ste 1114 Riviera Beach, FL, 33404 USA

I am now to be referred to as Dr. Jenkins haha ;) Took me about a month to get fully accredited, but after ringing these ppl 801 697-0461 they got me setup at an international uni and had me my BA in no time.

My husband had bypass surgery about 3 years ago. The bypass collapsed and stents were put in. then he had to have a pacemaker. He is 62 and a bit overweight. My question is this--is there anyone out there with a similar situation? And do you exercise? We walk but he seems afraid to do anything more strenuous. The doctors say he can exercise but he is very hesitant. If anyone out there has a similar situation and is not afraid to exercise, I would like to hear from you. This would encourage him, I think. pj

Just got my BA and i did not even have to go to the campus for 1 day! Just got a tip from a friend and gave these guys a call 801 697-0461, completed a small amountof paperwork and within a mere 4 weeks I was completely accredited at an internationally Uni! Now I am about to start applyin for some new jobs.

Wow, Bill! I'm very impressed at your creativity. What's that they say about necessity being the mother of invention? I'm sure that suggestion will be useful for many chest surgery patients. Jennifer in Los Alamitos, CA

On Jan 27th my 40 YO husband had a Aortic Disection..He had 10 hours of open heart surgery which involved bypass.. He has had complications..He is in Acute Renal Failure.. He had compartment syndrome in his right leg which lead to them cutting a 10 inch gask in both sides of his right leg.. He has lost a lot of muscle from this.. After 16 days they took hi to the stepdown unit..He was there for 1 day before falling asleep..He was lethargic and unresponsive for 4 days..It turned out that he had a bleed in his brain..On Tuesday they had to go back into his chest for a minor procedure which drained out 1 litr of fluid from around his heart..Now luckily it looks like he is starting to regain some kidney function. He's been in the ICU almost 4 weeks now, and still has a lot of recovery to come..He will have to go to a rehab hospital after the regular hospital.. Hopefully I can find some more support for him from people who have had similar issues. Jen

I am elderly, I did drink coffee, did have a heart attack, am still alive: Who knows? Maybe it does work. I quit caffeine after surgery - for awhile. I'm back up to two cups a day now. Considering the sugar I use in coffee, perhaps root beer would be better for me. Kay Lee Caffeine Protects Against Heart Disease Drinking caffeinated beverages on a regular basis may provide significant protection against death from heart disease in the elderly who have normal levels of blood pressure, according to data from a large U.S. health and nutrition study. Drinking caffeinated beverages may induce a "healthy" rise in blood pressure that counteracts the drop in blood pressure that occurs after a meal, a phenomenon that becomes more pronounced as people age, researchers note. Among 6,594 adults participating in the study, 426 died of heart disease during a nine-year period. For subjects 65 years of age or older, the researchers found that greater daily consumption of caffeinated beverages was associated with a lower risk of death from heart disease. This acted in a dose-response fashion the higher the caffeine level, the lower the risk, and visa versa. People who consumed four or more servings of caffeinated beverages daily had a 53-percent lower risk of death from heart disease compared with those who consumed less than half a serving daily. Subjects who consumed two to four servings per day had a 32-percent lower risk of dying from heart disease. Caffeinated ground coffee and caffeinated instant coffee, both of which have relatively large amounts of caffeine per serving, were the only specific beverages associated with a statistically significant protective effect, the authors note. This apparent protective effect of caffeinated coffee consumption was not seen in people with severe high blood pressure or those who were younger than 65 years of age. Studies on caffeine and heart disease have yielded conflicting results, note principal investigator Dr. James A. Greenberg and colleagues from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. "It is possible that the conflict is due to differences between nonelderly and elderly persons," they point out, noting that one study found that drinking coffee increased the risk in younger subjects and that the level of risk decreased with increasing age. As mentioned, caffeine may protect against heart disease death in the elderly by preventing a decline in blood pressure after meals, a phenomenon that becomes increasing more pronounced with age. If confirmed, the current findings could have important ramifications, the authors conclude, given that coffee is widely consumed and heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the elderly. SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, February 2007. © Reuters. Editor's Note: * Your Gums Can Indicate Heart Disease, Inflammation. * 5 Secrets They Don't Teach Doctors (Could Save Your Heart!)

This is Deb from Fla. I had my bypass (triple)almost four weeks ago. I wanted to know does anyone suffer from not being able to remember the few days that led up to your surgery? Also I had been having some wicked insomnia. The depresion has passed for the most part thank goodness. I was so depressed and weepy. But I feel much better now.

In a message dated 2/21/2007 11:06:33 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, bnewman12@... writes: have a beautiful fun filled with a sense of humor life! When did you contribute last. wow mac we are so glad our lil fun banter pulled u into posting glad to meet you Ü many of us have been on here for years and if we want to have a lil fun please dont send us away ... did u ever think life after bypass can always need a lil humor? maybe u should go learn something from kids Ö

Please, get a life!! Keep your childish spats to a board more suitable for the purpose... (kiddies chat room?) Rant over Mac

My doctor said the two worst things I could do are 1. To stop taking the baby aspirin and 2. To fail to exercise. From Living Well After 50 Copyright © 2007, RealAge, Inc. www.RealAge.com Are You Exercising for Your Age? Just as your skin changes with age, your muscles, tendons, and joints change, too. Muscle fibers decrease, tendons become stiffer, and joint cartilage breaks down. Isn't it great to know that a little exercise can help change all that? Regular exercise slows the aging process, so you lose less muscle and your joints stay flexible and strong. Regular exercise also helps strengthen your heart, lower your blood pressure, control your blood sugar and cholesterol, maintain your bone density, and control your weight. Exercise for Your Age The three main types of exercise are flexibility exercise, aerobic or cardiovascular training, and strength training. The average person should have a 2-1-1 ratio of flexibility exercise to cardio training to strength training. But to do the best workout possible for your body, you'll have to adjust the ratio of these exercises for your special needs -- and those needs can change with age. Cardiovascular The RealAge benefits of cardiovascular exercise persist throughout the years, but they are greatest when you are younger. Burning between 2,000 and 3,500 calories per week with cardiovascular exercise makes your RealAge as much as: * 1.9 years younger at age 35 * 1.7 years younger at age 55 * 1 year younger at age 70 So as you get older, it's okay to devote a larger percentage of your workout to other types of exercise, such as strength training or flexibility exercise. Walking on a smooth surface is a great cardio exercise for older adults. Strength Because people often lose muscle as they age, the older you get, the more important strength training becomes. And the RealAge benefits increase as you get older. Engaging in strength-building exercise for more than 30 minutes per week can make your RealAge as much as: * 1.5 years younger at age 35 * 1.8 years younger at age 55 * 1.9 years younger at age 70 Build a strength-training workout right now using the RealAge Workout Center. Flexibility As people age, balance and flexibility exercises become increasingly important because they can help reduce frailty and the risk of falls. They also help with routine activities such as rising out of a chair, as well as more complex activities such as lifting and reaching when gardening or playing golf. Are you losing your balance? Take this quick self-test and find out. Keep It Safe Whatever your daily workout holds for you, be sure to start with a brief warm-up to help your muscles and joints ease into exercise; and stay well hydrated throughout your workout. Exercise must be safe for it to truly do your body good.

Almost 2 weeks into my 5x cabg post op. Having been reading this forum I have to say that my recovery is going very well, even though there have been some "moments" both physical and mental thusfar. One thing has been on my mind that maybe some of you can relate to. I had a balloon done back in 1991 and have had annual checkups with my cardiologist and primary care every year to date. (with a "standard" treadmill test thrown in there somewhere. At each check up my heart was listened to, pulses checked.......nothing invasive. Of course I told the docs I had been climbing, biking (from Vancouver BC to SF 1200 miles back in 1997) without any symptoms, so they slapped me on my back and said , seeya, next year. ( A few years back my cardiologist thought it was a good idea for me to go on a statin (my cholesterol was borderline, but I politely (stupidly?) declined because of the impact I thought the side effects would have on my lifestyle . Well here I am now with a grave condition that was discovered and treated "in time". Should they or I been more aggressive in monitoring my cardiac health and maybe have prevented me arriving at this point? Maybe I would have had multiple balloons by now instead of this bypass? Is the bypass actually better than having multiple balloons? Just curious if any of you guys had the same thoughts about your cardiac "history" that led up to your CABG. Thanks.

I have not seen this problem posted, and wonder if anyone on this board has had to deal with AF (arrythmia) post surgury? I had it in ICU and had a drip of amiodarone. Then it cleared up. I came home and was good for 7 weeks, then the AF episodes came back. I had AF before surgury, and was told it was common to have it after surgury. I have had to go on anti arrythmic meds for it, and I am a nervous wreck. With the side effects of all the meds I take, plus the fear of AF I cannot enjoy my 12th week post op.... I should be up and out by now, as I am pain free, and mobile, but I am emotionally a wreck. I know depression is common after surgury, but the anxiety level is high also.

Hi Everyone, I had my first outing today since my surgery (except for visits to the hospital emergency and the Doctor's office) I am not coughing as much as I was last week, so my bronchitis must be clearing up. But I do have some pneumonia in my lower left lung caused by the anesthetic. My doctor gave me an inhailer and some antibiotics and I have to do my breathing exercises. Anyhow, after my trip there, we went for a drive and to a couple of stores.The drive was rough, as here in Edmonton, they do not plough the side streets, so there are lost of ruts in the ice. It was not painful, but uncomfortable on the sternum. Then we went to a couple of stores. I enjoyed it, but I was a little self consienceous because I knew that I was hunched over. I tried my best to walk straight, but I do not think I quite made it. :) Anyhow,have a good day everyone.And remember that spring is just around the corner [INLINE] Sharon

Wow This used to be such an informative and relatively "safe" group to be a member of. Please, ladies, stop this childish stuff now and lets get back to the "SUPPORT" we are supposed to be members of.... It's enough to raise one's blood pressure all this bickering. Shame on you! :-P Colin Scotland

Has anyone ever had a bad bout with bronchitis right after their open heart surgery? If so, how long did it take to get over it? Was the coughing pretty unbearable as far as pain? Guess I just need some moral support right now to know I'm not the only person that has developed bronchitis after an AVR and bypass. I've had it for about a month now and just keep seeing one doctor after another. Debby Walters

In a message dated 2/20/2007 11:53:35 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, bnewman12@... writes: We were debating the use of seatbelts when Rose decided to be a troublemaker again by bringing up the past. Get your facts straight. Geez Connie all I said was dont say the *S* word u know how it gets to barb Ö Rose

Hi Everyone, I was doing very well, but I now have developed bronchitis.The antibiotic that the doctor gave me belongs to a group of meds that I might be allergic to.A couple of days after I got home from the hospital, my tongue started swelling up. It was determined that I was either allergic to the antibiotic the hospital gave me, or a new blood pressure med, so I stopped taking both. My sternum hurts so much , I feel like I did the first few days after surgery. And all they gave me was tylenol for pain when I left the hospital. It was okay before, but it is not enough now. Anyhow, I am going to see my doctor's replacemant tomorrow. Hopefully we can get the meds right. Any ideas of things to do to lessen the pain would be appreciated. Sharon

Geez, has any once else noticed that all of a sudden one person on this list will comment about a particular topic and then three or four others tell them why they dont have the right to think what they think. Hey, we dont have "thoughts Police" on this list. Gee Whiz guys, just let people think what they want and delete the darn e-mail if you dont like it. Some body I dont remember who and that is not the point anyway, asked if you could get a prescription so that you did not have to wear a seat belt. I answered back that where I live you could as I had a prescription to not wear mine. The type car that I have ,put the seat belt rubbing on the incision which was already "infected". When I rode in my daughter's truck I could wear the seat belt but in my own car it was killing me. I dont appreciate being told that i am stupid for not wearing a seat belt. In fact, I would be willing to bet that no one on this list appreciates being told that their thoughts are stupid, not appropriate or worthless. I deliberately did not make a mental note of the individual who referred to me as stupid but guys LIGHTEN UP!!! That depression will ease up if you can start laughing. I have temporarily banned all unpleasantries in my house. I am only watching comedies on TV and am only having happy thoughts it is amazing what that will do for your attitude. Last night when I read those ugly e-mails saying how wrong I was for not wearing a seatbelt I could feel my blood pressure going up - I had to wait and respond when I had calmed down or the email would have looked like this --- @##$$&**(( )(%$#^&*&%##@@- LOL Guys LOL means laugh out loud-- try it.

I've often wondered if increasing medical risks despite a myriad of new drugs, have anything to do with how dirty our environment is becoming. According to this study, maybe so... Low Air Pollution Raises Stroke Risk © Reuters. Low environmental levels of fine and ultrafine particulate matter, as well as carbon dioxide, increase the risk of stroke, but the heightened risk occurs only during warm weather months, Finnish researchers report. Previous research has linked air pollution with a higher risk of fatal and nonfatal stroke, according to a report in the rapid access issue of the journal Stroke. However, the Finnish study is the first, to the authors' knowledge, to examine the impact on stroke risk of ultrafine particulate pollution, defined as molecules with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns. Dr. Jaana Kettunen, from the National Public Health Institute in Kuopio, and colleagues compared air pollution levels from 1998 to 2004 with the number of stroke deaths among elderly subjects living in Helsinki, a city known to have relatively little air pollution. A total of 1,304 stroke deaths in the warm season and 1,961 in the cold season were logged in during the study period. During the warm season, every 6 microgram per cubic meter increase in current-day levels of fine particulate air pollution was associated with a 6.9 percent increase in deaths from stroke. The corresponding stroke death rate for previous-day fine particulate increases was 7.4 percent. However, particulate air pollution had no effect on stroke during the cold season. Previous-day levels of ultrafine particles plus carbon monoxide were also linked to stroke mortality. However, Kettunen commented in a statement, "these associations were less robust" than those seen with fine particulate pollution. "Coarse particles were not statistically significantly associated with stroke deaths," she added. "Our results suggest that the levels of combustion-originating particles rather than coarse particles explain the association between particulate matter and stroke," the authors conclude. "Thus, regulatory efforts should be focused on reducing emissions of combustion particles."

Last Thursday I had a stress echo test. It showed I have two blockages. Doctor must have thought me unable to digest any intelligent information as all she would tell me is that I have a blockage on the bottom of my heart, and a blockage on the side. Geez. Didn't she think I knew at least left from right at that point? She did state I needed to have surgery (what kind I don't know), told me where I'd be having it (Abbott Northwestern in Mpls.MN), and told me to make an appointment with my family physician for the follow-up visit sometime soon so he could refer me to a cardiologist. Luckily I am able to get in to see my family physician Monday afternoon for a follow-up and he'll be able to tell me more. I do not know which arteries are involved. I was diagnosed twenty five years ago with mitral valve prolapse, and don't even know if the valve is still doing well or not at this point. I've taken a temporary leave of absence from my job at this point as it is a very physical job. I don't even know if I should have or not. Any advice anyone could give me on what questions to ask my doctor on Monday would be appreciated. Thank-you.

I was so happy to find this group, so many folks are going through the same thing I am. At least I know I'm not insane. I had an emergency triple bypass on 1/23/07. Didn't even know I had a serious heart problem, and had an ekg the day before. But had chest pains the next day, not sharp "hollywood" type pains just mild achy discomfort. woke up in recovery and could not remember why I was there. Also I have very few memories of the days leading up to my bypass. I was in the hospital for three days before they did the surgery. And I can't remember anything except being transferred via ambulance to another hospital, and waking up in recovery. has anyone else had this kind of short term memory loss? I also am experincing some mild depression. And lots of being scared s***less, thinking about this whole thing. I went on "you tube" and watched a film showing a bypass surgery. Interesting, but not a really smart thing to do. Deb

Hospitals the 8^th Leading Cause of Death Beyond the potentially life-threatening reasons you might enter the hospital, many new perils and pitfalls await you once youre admitted. Here are just a few facts that hospitals dont want you to know: FACT: Hospital complications and errors comprise the 8th leading cause of death in the U.S. (exceeding even motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer and AIDS) . . . FACT: Hospital-acquired infections account for 100,000 American deaths each year . . . FACT: Medical complications kill 30,000 more people a year (and cost us over $9.3 billion) . . . FACT: Medication errors lead to 7,000 deaths annually . . . FACT: Elderly are more prone to in-hospital complications and to require readmission to the hospital after discharge.

I'm sorry if any of you were ofended by my "lab rat" comment". It was not my intention to ridicule, or embarrass any of you in your struggle. I would hope that you can excuse a little "poor me" slipping out now and then. Sorry.

In a message dated 2/15/2007 7:44:28 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, ginomanc@... writes: Will these meds and their associated side effects render me a lab experiment for the rest of my life?? Please help. yes Ü

Hi everyone...........69 yr old married male..............look 55 (pre- op), hard core climber, backpacker, and most importantly grandad to 3 (who live right here in town) How good is that. Noticed some shortness of breath and a little discomfort in my chest where none was before. Resting EKGs normal. All other "numbers" were good. Long story short. 5 blockages bypassed on 2/8/07. Everyone tells me I did fine......expect complete recovery. Experienced absolute terror (could not close my eyes at night without experiencing images so bizarre and scary that I dare not close them. Sleep deprived for the first 48 - 72 hrs. Been home 3 days and have been making tangible physical imnprovement but still a wreck mentally. (Is there a future for an adventurer like me after "recovery"? Should my remaining years be filled with never taken before meds, MDs directing my life? I want to be the person I was before respected for my abilities as a climber, ski patroller , EMT. Will these meds and their associated side effects render me a lab experiment for the rest of my life?? Please help.

Just got my BS and i wasnt even required to turn up! Just called these people 1-801 697 0461, filled out a few forms and a bit of paperwork and was accredited within 3 weeks at an internationally recognised Uni! How good is that!

I just want to let you know how great all you guys are.The support I recieved from you guys before my bypass was phenominal. I was never so frightened in all my life. Right now, I am going through a period where I can lie on my right side and feel nothing, yet when I lie on my left side , I can feel every beat my heart makes.Normally, I would be really scared but I remember some of you mentioning that the same thing happened to you. So, I don't worry about it. I remember after my heart attack 16 years ago that I was quite depressed afterward, but I seem to be doing okay after this surgery.Maybe because I am not going through cigarette withdrawl now, like I was back then. I am taking little five minute walks in the house. I wish I were recouperating in a warmer climate, so I could go outside. But with the cold, snow and ice, I have been told to stay inside.So I pace like an expectant father used to do. Quite boring. Anyhow, Happy Valentines Day to all of you. Love Sharon :x

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day with lots of hugs. Stay well and live well. Subir

A new procedure for predicting heart attack, developed by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center physicians, will be demonstrated in a live webcast Tuesday Feb. 20 at 5 PM on www.OR-Live.com. By speeding up the magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) scanner and creating new software, Medical Center researchers have made it possible for physicians to see heart movement within seconds after it happens compared to an average of five minutes to see images previously. Wake Forest Baptist is one of two sites nationwide using the software, called CardioVue. The software analysis system is particularly useful in emergencies due to its rapid real-time capabilities. This unique tool enables physicians to perform a real-time evaluation of a patient's cardiac system by taking a large volume of raw cardiac magnetic resonance images and transforming them into superior images previously unavailable.

I got my Hospital Bill today for my 1st visit $116,000 and my Bill for the ONE day return visit 2 days later, $6,000. Good grief, its enough to give a person ANOTHER Heart Attact. How do these Bill's compare to yours ?

Thanks for the information re returning to work. It's good to know others feel the same. I'm still in week 7 and taking very little pain pills, and week 8 i plan to quit the pain pills completely. It hurts, though, and sounds like it's an individual thing - the amount of time there is pain. I don't want to go back to work. I want to rest and have no stress.

Question: "I am a healthy 70 year old man (5'10, 230 lb). I have had an angioplasty and have 4 stents. My problem is hypertension. I am a firm believer in supplements and presently take ginkgo, hawthorne, and bilberry. I haven't worked out in the gym for about 4 years and lead a sedentary lifestyle. Dr. Johann Georg Schnitzer claims idiopathic high blood pressure can be lowered by draining out a little blood every week for three weeks. I mentioned this to my doctor who advised against it and wouldn't authorize it. What is your opinion?" Allan H., Penn, N.D. Your Doctors advice is on target. In my opinion, Dr Schnitzer is wrong! Phlebotomy (blood letting) used to be a popular treatment in the 1800's for a variety of maladies. We are now in the 21st century, and phlebotomy for hypertension control has been long retired from recommended treatment. You need to focus on the basics. You may be a believer in supplements, but you need to control some of your risks especially given existing cardiac disease. Some of your supplements may even be working against you, and you need to review them with your doctor. Remember, your stents are simply opening previously narrowed and diseased blood vessels. You have active coronary artery disease, and would be well advised to modify some outstanding risks: 1) reduce your weight 2) engage in some regular exercise daily and with your doctor's clearance 3) engage in some graduated supervised aerobic exercise. Your sedentary lifestyle and previously active gym life is unfortunately very common, so be sure to know your limits. Work out your exercise in conjunction with your doctor and do not be surprised if your doctor advises a low level stress test first. Above all, have fun. Find some activity you enjoy while benefiting from the exercise. Ask your doctor if you may benefit from a cardiac rehab program. The fact that you have had prior heart failure emphasizes my advice even further. 4) Your blood pressure needs much more attention now to reduce the load on your heart and reduce the chance of recurrent heart failure. Be aware that supplement use, especially ginko, is usually discouraged given its medication interactions and an adverse effect on blood pressure in cardiac patients. 5) Reduce your salt load in your diet. Be sure to consume adequate dietary calcium which has also been associated with improved blood pressure management. 6) Review your blood sugar and lipid (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL etc.) targets to be sure you are at target levels since both targets have been recently lowered , especially for patients with existing cardiac disease. You are a high risk cardiac patient. Listen to your doctors! Do not waste your time and energy on pursuit of phlebotomy for blood pressure management. You owe it to yourself and your family to safely optimize your heart function with sensible lifestyle modification and aggressive blood pressure and weight control. Dr. Hibberd Dr. Peter Hibberd is a doctor of medicine whose advice is based on over 25 years of outpatient and hospital-inpatient experience. He is a fellow and active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, a career emergency medicine consultant, and an active member of the American College of Emergency Physicians. The previous are questions from our readers and answers from Dr. Hibberd. If you have a question, e-mail the doctor at askdrhibberd@.... Dr. Hibberd will not reply directly, but look for your questions and his answers in future e-mails. Editor's Note: * High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease Caused by Your Salt and Sugar-Filled Diet.

I had double bypass right before Christmas so this is the 8th week. I really don't want to return to work right now because I work in the afternoon, 12:30-6:30, and that is when I am so tired that I nap for two hours every day. I'm almost done with pain pills but still have some pain - when will that be over? 12 weeks?

We are very fortunate. 80% blockage LAD, got stent. 30% and 40% others evidence of heart attack. Plavix and Nitro. This on Friday. Yesterday we both came down w/ fierce stomach bug....One more battle. 13 yr old son- heart ablation 9-12-06 18 yr old son- brain surgery 11-10-06 Me-gallbladder sx 2-1-07 Hubby- heart patched up 2-9-07 time for our home to be healthy........

I am now to be referred to as Dr. Jenkins haha ;) Took me about a month to get fully certified, but after ringing these ppl 1-801 697 0461 they got me setup at an international uni and had me my BA in no time.

I was sent home with the voldyne and instucted on how to use it, I also have asthma very bad and a Hiatial hernia. For some reason, after having surgery 2 weeks ago, it seems more difficult to use the voldyne now then in the beginning. After a few breath's I have a hard time continuing. My sleep at night is labored even if I sleep elevated. If I dont exert myself the breathing is easier. Anybody have an idea ? Rick

My question may sound foolish, but to me it seems quite serious... They did emergency surgery, four bypasses but had to leave a leaky valve, so I guess I'm not really in the best of shape. I'm doing very well now though, nearly six months after my surgery, but there is something that is on my mind an awful lot... The meds. Prior to the heart attack, I never took medicines. Heck, I hadn't even seen a doctor in 15 years. After surgery, I came home from the hospital with a deep bag of medicines, but my doctor and I have got them down now to 5 - well, six counting the baby aspirin. I've studied the side effects of each one of them, and over the long haul, these pills could really take my health down. I tried to wean myself off and began having palpatations that the doctor said was 'heart failure'. He said I'd die if I didn't take the pills. I understand I have to take care of my heart or I'll be dead, but if I take these pills for very long, I could have all kinds of kidney, liver and other problems that could leave me alive for awhile but suffering. It sounds like it boils down to quality or quantity. Have any of you had these thoughts? Kay Lee

Dont Ignore Stroke Symptoms: Study A long-term research project taking place in the Stroke Belt shows that fewer than half of the people who experience symptoms of a stroke actually seek medical attention. The latest findings from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study were presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2007 by principal investigator Dr. Virginia J. Howard from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The REGARDS study involves whites and blacks aged 45 and older enrolled since 2003. They are all residents of the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana. Investigators are attempting to understand why stroke occurs more often in this region of the country and why stroke death rates are higher among blacks. For the current report, Howard's team focused on what subjects did when they experienced stroke symptoms, and what specific symptoms they felt. The study included 451 patients who had been diagnosed by a physician as having a stroke and 2,124 people who had had stroke symptoms but had not received a stroke diagnosis from a physician. Of the latter group, more than two-thirds had experienced one symptom of stroke and nearly one-quarter had at least two symptoms. The most common symptom was sudden numbness in an extremity, which was experienced by approximately 47 percent of the subjects. Howard reported that over 51 percent of subjects with undiagnosed symptoms did not seek medical care. "The message for both physicians and patients is to pursue stroke symptoms," Howard told Reuters Health in an interview after her presentation. "We need to get away from the mindset of waiting to contact a physician only if symptoms persist," she asserted. "We need patients to get away from that fear of calling." For their part, doctors should "tell their patients about the symptoms of stroke. There's a lot to remember, so that's why using (mnemonics like) FAST face, arms, speech and time are important . . . Also, patients should be told about the importance of the suddenness of a symptom, or if there are multiple symptoms." NewsMax Health Editor's Note: * Study Reports More Stroke Deaths From Statins Than Placebo!

Calcium Lowers Heart Risk for Dieters Dieters can lower their risk of cardiovascular disease by taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. Researchers at the Laval Université of Medicine studied sixty-three obese women on a low-calorie diet over a fifteen week period. At the beginning of the study, their average calcium intake was 700 mg, well below the recommended 1,000 mg. This is nothing unusual, said study leader Dr. Angelo Tremblay. More than 50 percent of women dont get the daily recommended dose. The women were divided into two groups. One group was given tablets containing 1,200 mg of calcium along with vitamin D to help the body absorb the calcium. The other group was given a placebo. At the end of the study, levels of LDL or bad cholesterol had dropped in the group receiving the calcium and their HDL, or good cholesterol, had increased. Weight loss alone didnt seem to have any effect on cholesterol levels. Previous research by Dr. Tremblay has shown that people who have low amounts of calcium in their diets have a higher percentage of fat in their bodies, wider waists, and higher bad cholesterol levels than those who have moderate or adequate amounts. Dr. Tremblays research also showed that people who reduced their dairy consumption over a six-year period gained weight, body fat, and increased their waist size. The researchers concluded that people on diets who do not have an adequate intake of calcium should consider taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. NewsMax Health Editor's Note: * Trans Fats Causes Heart Disease, Not Cholesterol.

I just want to point out something here - Since I've had my heart surgery in September 2006 and really became aware of the efforts in the field of research on heart problems, I've posted several Heart Disease Awareness emails to all the 33,000 people I talk to on a nearly daily basis. Many of them have responded with gratitude, support, even to pledging money to research and wearing red this month for Heart Disease in Women awareness. They don't ever tell me to take it off list. Now why do you think it is that this list would be more hard hearted than the others? Maybe because we are in pain, it makes it harder to care for people who are not? ...No that can't be it because the people I write about are in pain too.

I just got home the hospital after bypass surgery. the first hospital said I was to weak for surgery. I was tranfered to a heart center and a week later, I had surgery. The doctors said they was very please with the surgery. I know I do feel better than I have in years. I am a diabetic that has neurpathy in the legs and feet that is very painful and I was very depressed. What got me to the doctor to have a bypass is I am in a wheelchair and I was trying to get out of the chair and fell and broke my hip in four place.My wife called 911, in er they said that there was know way I could have surgery on my hip. Because my heart was in to bad of shape. But I did have heart surgery. I still haven't had any hip surgery, I am in traction now. But I did get to come home until I am strong enough to have hip surgery. Of coarse I am in a hospital bed. Now the doctor are trying to do what they can to help me with my neuropathy. Lonnie

first of all I would like to say hi to all of you.. everyone here has been through so much and I wish everyone the best of luck... My question is is anyone here from Wisconsin... Near Green Bay area????

COLD CHAIN MANAGEMENT STOCK.. Symbol: TFZP Price: .11 LOOK AT THE CHART!!! READ THE NEWS!! DO YOU KNOW THIS INDUSTRY? THE POTENTIAL? WATCH IT LIKE A HAWK FRIDAY!!!

This is my 1st input to this forum. Im 73 years old, and had my surgery Sat. Jan 27th went home Feb. 1st. back to Hospital Sat.Feb. 3rd to have a quart of fluid drained. I am now breathing easier, but still tired all the time. I now can also take a FULL breath, although it is hard at times. How long do you think it will be before my braething will allow me to get back out on the Golf Course ? Rick

Hi Everyone, I am back. I had my surgery(cabgx4) last Friday and came home today. There were no complications . I'm off the narcotics and just on Tylenol.My diabetes is now being controlled by insulin only and no oral drugs. Anyhow, I am giong to go lie down as I have been up all day.I hope that I can sleep tonight. Sharon

I had 1 bypass and an aortic valve replacement done on 1/3/07 and seem to be healing properly. But I cry all the time, at the drop of a hat. Is this normal?

I joined the group last Sunday and appreciate your posts. My husband is diabetic. We are waiting to hear today if he'll need to be admitted on Thursday, to flush his kidneys.....anybody else have this experience? Betsy

THE GOOD AND THE BAD OF IT ALL In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives. Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan said, "You want chocolate with that?" And Man said, "Yes!" and Woman said, "and as long as you're at it, add some sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled. And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14. So God said, "Try my fresh green salad." And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons! and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast. God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them." And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof. God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it "Angel Food Cake," and said, "It is good." Satan then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food." God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds. Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds. God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald's and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, "You want fries with that?" And Man replied, "Yes! And super size them!" And Satan said, "It is good." And Man went into cardiac arrest. God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery. Then Satan created HMOs.

Just got my masters in Science and didnt even have to turn up to class... how good is that? Just phoned these fellows 801 697-0461 and they got me fully accredited at an overseas uni in less than a month! Very happy right now.

Hope you all don't mind, but I just had to say how proud I am of the COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!! Why? Because I am from Indianapolis!!! It has been a long time coming and I am so glad to be alive to see this. Carol

Yes, a very good support bra is a great idea. The hospital actually called me one morning before I left to visit my mom after her bypass surgery and asked if I could bring a good support bra for her. They had a wrap around thing on her after surgery but the nurses got it wet one morning and had nothing else to put on her. Some pictures of family from home to look at when they can't be there with you might help you also. I brought some for my mom and she looked at them a lot and showed them to people. She did get very bored at the hospital. She was in for around 4 or 5 days. A good pair of slippers is also good. You don't want to walk on that hospital floor. A robe also for when they take you on your walks so you don't show off too much.

In a message dated 2/4/2007 7:19:58 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, ysmjb@... writes: I hope I have come to the right group.....His cath is sched. for this coming Friday, and I am a little anxious. Betsy welcome betsy we are survivors as well as family memvers so u sure do belong here.. over look some emails that are spam we dont get many but our list was deserted years ago we dont have a moderator but we are not leaving we are here for each other as well as anyone who needs us...these heart things are coomon is diabetics i had the same diagnosis it was my shouledr well 19 month into it my heart stopped and my shoulder didn't do it.. dont wait around i had the massive heart attack first now i have heart damage and ventilator induced COPD i was 49 many here are much younger then that... had mine been caught before the nheart attack i would not have all this damage .. thank god he is fining out before hand... God bless and keep your family Rose/Indiana

Greetings, This is my 1st post. I had triple bypass surgery 22 months ago. Since then I don't seem to be able to breathe as easily as I did before surgery. I don't seem to be able to take a full breath in as easily. It is very subtle and hardly noticeable. I've always wondered if they put everything back as they should have, or if there is scar tissue interfering. I've had exercise stress tests, and lung CT scans and everything is normal. I know that I have harmless PVC's and when I exercise and they kick in, I sometimes feel short of breath and somewhat light-headed. Has anyone had or have a similiar problem? Thanks.

Has anyone experienced missed beats, or arrythmias since the by-pass surgury? I am told that AF is common after surgury. Anyone had that experience? MandyofCA

Last week I wrote that my surgery was cancelled at the last minute and tentatively rescheduled until this Friday. I already have a suitcase packed, but now I am wondering if I packed too much. Will I be able to blow dry my hair and style it or will raising my arms hurt my incision? Will I be able to wear my own nightgowns or will putting them on and taking them off hurt? Should I just stick to the hospital gowns? I know that after other surgeries, I always felt better after styling my hair, putting on some makeup and wearing my own pajamas or nightgowns.But this surgery is a lot different. Will I be able to wear a bra when I go home or will the rubbing hurt or cause an infection? I only know men who have had this surgery, and I can not ask them these questions. Thanks Sharon [INLINE]

no bra .. no raising your arms up like that no blow dryer no styling maybe 1 nightgown a robe... will keep you in my prayers God bless and keep u see u soon Rose

My uncle went in for a bypass surgery on january 12. During the surgery they found he needed a triple bypass surgery. He is 82, but lives a very healthy life. he played tennis every day and watched everything he ate. How could his arteries clog if he was so healthy, and is it normal to still have shortness of breath after the surgery?

Hi Mandy, Don't lose faith. It is slow going at first, but, before you know it, you'll wake up and discover you actually feel almost normal. You'll have ups and downs for several months more, but continue to improve. I would say that I am physically stronger now than I was at 40 (I'm 52). I can lift anything, do a bunch of push-ups, run all over the place...it's just the psychological issues I have to deal with, and they're not all that bad. I'm not a doctor, but I don't think the fluid thing is that serious...certainly not uncommon. I have a feeling you're going to be O.K. sooner than later. Tom

A surgeon was checking on a patient who had a hernia operation three days before. The doctor asked the man why he had not gotten out of bed. "I hurt," the man said. "You don't know how it feels." "I know exactly how it feels," the doctor said. "I had the same procedure last month, and I was back at work two days later. There's no difference in our operations." "Oh yes there is," said the patient. "You had a different surgeon."

Thank you for your responses...wow, maybe my brain if also altered, but I am unable to detect the difference? Maybe I was just "always" stupid and forgetful...why do you suppose the brain is affected? Does it have something to do with blood flow or interrupted flow?

Are any of you approaching the one year mark? I'm 52...are any of you younger? I'm curious to note what your general feelings are at this stage.

Search/Reach out for some help! Even talking to an EAP counselor through your work (if it's available) will be of help! Ask your doctor if there are support groups in your area. Start looking at the bright side of your life, set some goals (mine is being able to go on a Cruise and being able to enjoy every minute of it) and start looking for something positive! Do you have a pet? If not, why not give it some thought...I know my two nurse maids, Shadow & Rocky (a Lab mix and a Lab) have been my "savior" they don't leave my side for 99% of the day, and are constantly giving me reason to get better and go forward with my life. I don't think I would have made it as far as I have without them, and each day I cannot imagine a day without them. They are my "rock" (no pun intended) and give me a WONDERFUL reason to get out of bed each day, do my exercises, and take my medications! They have filled a void that would have normally been impossible to fill. Unconditional love has had great healing power for me, and to be quite honest, sharing a bed with close to 150 pounds of "fur persons" makes me feel special! Best of luck! You will make it through this, and with P.M.A. (Positive Mental Attitude) you'll feel better before you know it! Alan

One of the MANY things that I have read regarding our recovery is that Depression is VERY VERY common and should be immediately addressed with your doctor as it is so counter-productive to our recovery! I know that we all take a lot of pill (I'm looking at my cup 'o pills for this morning that I have yet to take), but one more, one that would help the depression certainly would be worth it! My doctor has recommended, and I have taken Lexapro. It's relatively new (about 2-3 years) but the best thing about it is that it has NONE of the side affects of most of the other anti-depressants on the market. Ask your doctor about it, as your mental health is most certainly as important, if not more so, than your physical health. 1 small pill a day does and can make a big difference! Linda, Please, please, please, talk to your doctor about this issue! It cannot be stressed enough that depression hurts your overall recovery and can easily be controlled. Look and see if the hospital you had your surgery at has a support group (I go to my first meeting at my hospital tomorrow). Lots can be done to help you if you search out the help! Please reach out and find some help! Get Well! Alan

Mandy: I too had an issue of excessive fluids in my lungs following my surgery. There were two main reasons for this, the first and fore most was because of my 20+ years of tobacco use. I've always known as a smoker that I would, at some point, have issues with my lungs. The second cause was related to the fact that I was kept intubated for 24 hours following my surgery and sedated. This allowed extra fluids to accumulate in my lungs. The treatment that worked for me was extensive respiratory therapy while I was in the hospital using a drug called Xopenex (which was kind of ironic as I work at the factory that makes Xopenex, so it was kind of odd using a drug that I had actually made. This did WONDERS for clearing the crud out of my lungs! Also, I have been diligent in using my two exercise tools to do breathing exercises since surgery; the "airlife" the apparatus that you inhale through with a plunger that you try to raise while inhaling, giving yourself a goal to breathe deeper every day. The second piece of equipment is called an acapella. It is a relatively new tool used in respiratory therapy for heart patients ( a very skilled, caring, infant respiratory therapist that covers the country) introduced it to the hospital a few months ago and the results have been amazing. This piece of equipment you actually blow through which creates an "echoing" effect in the lungs that helps "break up" the crud that has settled in. You might want to ask your doctor to prescribe some home respiratory therapy and an acapella tool and be diligent in your exercises every day. As of my last Physician Assistant's visit, she was only able to hear a decrease of about 5% in one left lower lobe, and the rest of my lungs were very clear, compared to the almost complete lack of sound in the lobe following the surgery. Granted breathing still causes me a significant amount of pain each and every day (especially first thing in the morning, hence the pain pill before I get out of bed), but I do my exercises every day, and they really seem to help. A third piece of advice would be to take your "heart" pillow given to you at the hospital, the one to hold against your chest when you were coughing, etc., and to spend 3 or 4 times a day, 5 minutes at a time doing nothing but coughing to help bring up whatever is trying to settle in. It's important to get the crud out as soon as you can, as you don't want to face the possibility of future pneumonia. I was fortunate to be one of the 20% that didn't have an AF or irregular heart beat following my surgery (the doc told me that 80% of all patients have some form of problem) so I can't offer any advice on that topic. I wish you luck! And talk to your pulmonologist about the two pieces of equipment I've mentioned and ask about some home respiratory therapy with Xopenex (it worked for me, plus I'd like some job security when I get back to work, LOL). It might just do the trick! Alan

Well, today is day 30 since my quintuple by-pass. I'm still not sure if I'm doing better or not, but assuming what all the doctors (well, actually the Physician Assistants) have been saying is that I'm right on course as to where I'm supposed to be and not to worry as I am healing exactly how I'm expected to be. So, I guess that is good news. I've been reading and occasionally responding to individual posts in this forum, but am a little disappointed in the overall content. I have been hoping to see more posts from people stating what kind of problems and issues (besides legal) they have been encountering, so I guess I will take the "bull by the horns" and bring up some nagging questions that I have. I have been having a real issue with the incisions on my leg healing properly. I have a visiting nurse come in twice a week to do dressing changes, but the incisions are getting wider and not healing well. I continue to have issues with my leg swelling during the evening, and quite sharp pains in my ankle at night when I use my foot to walk. I've also been having quite a few cramps in my calf. Is anyone else having these kind of problems and have you found anything that helps? I've noticed as well as my nurse that I've lost almost 30 pounds (I can spare the weight) since surgery, but I'm constantly being urged to eat more and more. It's hard to force myself to eat when I'm not hungry, and since I'm alone and don't spend a lot of time on my feet, I often (90% of the time) eat Lean Cuisine meals for their convenience and for the reduced calories since I was overweight at the time of the surgery. I try to snack and it just doesn't help. I don't really want to add weight, and would actually like to lose some more. So, has anyone else had issues with eating and what have you done about them? My only other "question" is about pain management. It's been hard to get motivated to do much, and every time I do something, i.e. dust, I end up in more pain than before! (I had a HORRIBLE sneeze when I was dusting and it took 8 hours to get the pain back under control). I'm down to taking pain pills every 6 to 8 hours, but still need them to be able to function. The first thing I do in the morning, before I even get out of bed, is pop a pain pill to kill the pain that has accumulated while I was asleep, and then to stave off the pain from getting out of bed and standing up. I don't mind having to take the pain pills, but they do make it hard for me to keep a clear head, and I am constantly battling boredom. You can only watch so much TV, and read only so much (books are a bit hard to follow, so I've been doing a lot of magazines). I play some computer games on-line, but after a while, I just get tired and take a nap. So, anyone have any opinions on pain management? I have learned a few things that might be useful to others. 1. I learned from my Disability insurance adjuster that when you have open-heart surgery you are "automatically" qualified for a 90 day coverage with no questions asked regardless of your occupation. It's the minimum amount of time needed for your breastbone to heal, and any kind of "over work" of your upper body, something as simple as lifting a lap top, or twisting to reach into a file cabinet can pull the staples loose, and then you are facing another surgery. Since I have a physical job, my adjuster told me that I would probably get 4 to 5 months without much question as they don't want the exposure for additional lost time should I go back to work too soon. So basically, don't worry about the amount of time that you need to take off of work, worry more about getting healthy and feeling better, otherwise it's just wasted energy (that your body needs to heal itself) and focus on long term goals. 2. For those of you that are watching your fat intake, and can't stand the taste or texture of fat free milk otherwise known as blue milk, I've learned this little trick. Buy a gallon of fat free milk, and a quart of fat free half and half (sounds odd I know, but it does exist) and mix the two together. You'd never know it was completely fat free, and it tastes just like 2% milk, goes great inc cereal or with cookies and there are no added calories! Plus there is no guilt either. 3 Don't over-do. Plain and simple. If you try to do something that is too strenuous on your body, i.e. lifting laundry, shoveling a little snow, trying to reach something off of the top shelf, or trying to use your arms too much, the pain, and recovery time from the pain are WAY TOO MUCH over whatever little benefit you may have obtained. Like I said earlier, I now have someone come and clean my house (especially dust) as I cannot go through the pain and agony of another hearty sneeze. I was afraid I was going to end up in the Emergency Room after that last sneeze (my first and only since surgery) that I vowed that I wouldn't dust again until I was healed regardless of deep the dust gets! Granted I have a unique situation where I don't have a lot of family support or help, but I'm doing my best to cope with what I have been faced with. Because the alternative to not having the surgery far out weighs what I have gone through. I would certainly like this forum to "open up" and get more people commenting on their day to day situations/issues so that we can all use this forum to make our recoveries better. I look forward to reading how everyone else's recovery is going or learning new "tricks" on helping our diets, or whatever insight someone has gotten from going through this process. I know this has been a long posting, but thank you for taking the time to read it, and I hope I've inspired some of you to add your 2 cents to this forum! Good Healing! Alan

Speaking of medicine - Beta Blockers vs thiazides and calcium channel blockers From Newsmax Health Beta Blockers Less Effective for High Blood Pressure Beta blocker drugs are commonly used in the initial attempts to lower blood pressure. However a Cochrane Review shows that they were not as good at reducing death or the severity of disease as other classes of drugs. Drugs that perform better include thiazides and calcium channel blockers. Starting with the best therapy is important because even a modest reduction of blood pressure in people with hypertension can significantly reduce their risk of suffering from stroke or cardiovascular disease. The Cochrane Review gathered data from 13 different randomized controlled trials that together involved over 91,000 participants. The effect of beta blockers was not significantly different from placebo in terms of total mortality or coronary heart disease. Beta blockers did, however, reduce the risk of stroke by 0.5 percent when compared to placebo, but in trials that compared beta blockers with calcium channel blockers (CCB), patients on CCB drugs had fewer strokes. The available evidence does not support the use of beta blockers as first-line drugs in the treatment of hypertension. This conclusion is based on the relatively weak effect of beta-blockers to reduce stroke and the absence of an effect on coronary heart disease when compared to placebo or no treatment, says lead review author Charles Shey Wiysonge, who works at the Ministry of Public Health, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The beta blocker given to 75 percent of these participants was atenolol, and more research is needed to determine whether different beta blockers have different effects. SOURCE: Cochrane Collaboration, Jan. 24, 2007 Editor's Note: * Discover the Secret Weapon Against High Blood Pressure.

Hi everyone I am fairly new to this group,and although I have been reading all your posts, this is my first time actually writing one.I am 57 years old and had a heart attack when I was 41. A receint stress test showed I had angina, although I never had any pain. I do get short of breath. I then saw a cardiologist, who did an angiogram on me and that led to where I am now. I have not had my surgery yet, although, this past Wednesday I was prepped and I had my insulin drip and was ready to go to the OR, when the nurse came out and told me that my surgery had been cancelled because there weren't any beds available in the ICU. Ihad been so frightened, but at that point I just wanted to get it over with. I just burst into tears.This not only affected me, but also all my family,my work and my husbands work.All the plans we made were ruined. Now I am rescheduled to have it done next Friday. I have to continue staying off my Plavix and ASA, which frightens me. And I could be cancelled again. Anyhow, I went to see my family doctor yesterday. He told me that there is one thing I could do to keep my blood thinner, and that is to drink lots of water. He also wrote a note for my work that I am to be off work until I am reassessed the end of March, and he gave me a perscription for a sedative,to take if I needed it.I felt a lot better after seeing him. All of you seem very brave and have gone through a lot more than I have.It is just a very stressful time for me.Thanks for letting me vent

I was just wondering if anyone had been prepped, had their IV in and was waiting to go to the operating room, only to be told that their bypass surgery has been cancelled? That happened to me this past Wednesday. I am now rescheduled for next Friday.The reason I was cancelled was that there was no bed in the ICU . I know that this forum is for people who have already had their surgery, but you guys would probably understand what I am feeling more than anyone else. Even having to stay of my blood thinners for another week frightens me. This is not only hard on me , but hard on my family too. I just want to get it over with. I am tired of being afraid. [INLINE] Thanks for listening Sharon

Today I made the greatest step forward in reclaiming my life after heart surgery. I am no longer able to teach dance as I have done for the past 20 years. I was terrified that I would not find work. I also felt like I was cheating someone by not mentioning that I had major surgery and would be a heart patient for the rest of my life. I finally sucked it up put on a high neck shirt and went for an interview for a job that totally sounded like it would be fabulous for me. The money is good, benefits great and I was just hoping - well, I got the job. I start Monday and I am thrilled it will certainly be good to have something to do besides be sick. Its in the health field and I feel like the luckiest person in the world. Keep plugging guys, you can get to the end of the tunnel too!! Kathy in WPB Florida

Sharing an event. My daughter just fought breast cancer, and now may have cancer on her liver. During all this we learned how successful the huge 'pink ribbon' effort for cancer awareness was. Now it's our turn. 'Go Red for Women' Day is an event men and women both can make successful. On Feb. 2nd wear something red for women's heart disease awareness. Hmm, it does seem a little lopsided, but maybe they have a Red for Men's day as well. If not someone ought to begin one. Kay Lee Make Heart Health Your No. 1 Resolution Happy New Year from all of us at the American Heart Association (AHA)! Last year, you showed us that you took a personal interest in your heart health by seeking information from Go Red For Women on how to reduce your risk of heart disease. This year, step up your heart health by taking action in the fight against heart disease by attending a local event, planning a Go Red For Women Day, taking the Go Red Heart CheckUp, joining an American Heart Association fitness or nutrition program, or simply by encouraging your friends to join the movement!

Miles, My husband is your age and had 6 bypasses done last month. He was healthy (we thought) right up until his surgery. His recovery these past 6 weeks has been wonderful, and he's already back to work half days, feeling great. Please feel free to ask any questions that we might be able to help with. Pam

Haven't posted in a while but I've got a question . . .my husband had a quad bypass just over a year ago at age 47. His health has plateaued. He is cold all the time and gets very sleepy/tired in the afternoon (sometimes even slurrs his speech). They are going to test his thyroid function in a month or so. (He just went for other blood tests so they told him to wait a month.) Last night he woke up with a very sore throat - felt like he swallowed a golf ball. He was snoring something fierce, too! Today it looks like his throat is swollen - he's got a double chin now. I've been researching his symptoms and am coming up with hypothyroidism/goiter. Anybody have any similar problems or symptoms? I want him to call the doctor but he's hesitant. Thanks. Maria

Even discounting heart problems, this article could be very useful. Breaking from NewsMax.com 8 Ways to Avoid Germs (Youll Be Shocked by How Close Germs Are) Germs bacteria and viruses not only threaten us, they can kill. New scientific evidence is emerging that such germs have been linked to heart disease and even cancer. Do you have a program for limiting and reducing the number of germs that touch your body? The winter cold and flu season may be upon us, but fighting germs is a yearlong effort. [Editor's Note: Bacteria and viruses has been linked to inflammation, a primary cause of heart disease. Read full report Go Here Now.] Recently, WebMD magazine offered some helpful tips for minimizing your chances of picking up a bad bug. Some of their findings are most surprising! Here are some ways to stop germs: 1. Don't Touch the First Floor Elevator Button! In an elevator, the first-floor button harbors the most germs because more people touch it than any other button. If you can, let someone else push it so you don't have to touch it, said Charles Gerba, Ph.D., professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona. If you're alone, use your elbow instead of your finger to press the button. [Use your elbow even if others are there. Be safe don't be worried about what others think!] 2. Dangerous Shopping Cart Handles Shopping cart handles are prime culprits in the spread of germs. Some supermarkets now offer germ-killing towelette dispensers in the cart area. Bring your own if they don't. Use them to sanitize the cart handle. And never put fresh produce in the cart seat, where diaper-aged children often sit. 3. Watch Those Escalator Handrails Escalator handrails are loaded with germs. Don't touch them if you can manage without it, Gerba advises. 4. Use the First Toilet Research shows that most people use the middle stall in public bathrooms, so avoid those. More use means they're the dirtiest and have the most germs. 5. Office Coffee Pots Dripping With Disease Your office coffee pot and mug may have been cleaned with a sponge dripping with germs (more on these later). Hang on to your own mug, and use a dishwasher when it's time to clean it. Another trick: Keep apple cider vinegar in the office and pour a water-cider solution through the coffee machine weekly. It will help kill bacteria. 6. Kitchen Woes Be aware that kitchen sponges, dishcloths, the kitchen and bathroom sinks, cutting boards, and even the bathroom floor carry more germs than the toilet seat. New research suggests that if you want to sterilize your sponge, put it in the microwave for two minutes. A team of engineering researchers at the University of Florida found that two minutes of microwaving on full power killed or inactivated more than 99 percent of bacteria, viruses or parasites, as well as spores, on a kitchen sponge. 7. Your Desk Is Dirtier Than the Toilet Get this: The typical office desk area has 400 times the amount of bacteria than the average toilet seat. Worst offenders: first, the office phone. Then the desk. Finally, the keyboard. Use a disinfectant wipe to clean the desktop, computer keyboard, and phone. 8. Avoid Hand Shaking, Kissing This may be an impossibility for some. But, try to avoid shaking hands or kissing during the flu season. While there are many steps in preventing disease, perhaps the most important is to wash your hands frequently. Scrub your hands with warm water and soap for at least 15 to 20 seconds after using the bathroom; eating, working or playing outdoors; playing with pets; or coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Anything less than 15 seconds won't do the job. Incredibly, 95 percent of people say they wash their hands after using the bathroom, but only 67 percent really do it. Worse, only 33 percent bother to use soap, and only 16 percent wash their hands long enough to remove germs. One last caveat: Everyone is doing the "antibacterial craze" getting soaps and wipes that kill germs. Dr. Russell Blaylock suggests occasional use of these products is fine, but frequent use may be bad. Why? The antibacterials also kill the good bacteria on your skin that your body needs to defend against the bad bacteria. Other important health links: You May Be Fighting Hidden Infections CRP Test Will Tell You If Your Heart Is in Danger See More Here. Find Out About the Cholesterol Myth and Your Heart. Why You Need Good Bacteria in Your Gut Find Out About Probiotics. Doctor: Cancer Can Be Prevented and Defeated. Diabetes Is an Epidemic, Dont Become a Statistic.

It seems to me - and I have to admit I am new to the chemical medicine scene - but it does seem to me that there's lots of dangerous choices to be made concerning the medicine we take, legal or not. Does anyone know the medical reputation of Dr. Blaylock? Doctor Warns of Hidden Dangers With Cholesterol Drugs Over the past two years, renowned nutritionist and neurosurgeon Dr. Russell Blaylock has been warning NewsMax readers of the dangers of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins. With new evidence of their dangers emerging, we urge you to get Dr. Blaylocks special report on the cholesterol myth. Click Here Now. More Links: Doctor: High Cholesterol NOT the Cause of Heart Disease. CRP Test the Most Important for Your Heart. Stealth Viruses Linked to Heart Attacks, Disease. Discover the Secret Weapon Against Hypertension Go Here. Cholesterol Shocker The Diabetes Link.

As I'm trying to make decisions about my personal medical care, I have to evaluate the harms of all the legal drugs I am on. To be honest, I'd be a bit disturbed that there are no safe choices if quantity of life were my goal. Kay Lee Breaking from NewsMax.com Cholesterol Drugs May Cause Parkinson's Report Shocking new research showing a strong link between Parkinson's disease and low levels of "bad" cholesterol are so worrying that U.S. researchers are launching a 16,000 patient study to look into it. Click Here for Full Story.

Hope everyone is feeling good this morning. Here's an old one that might make you smile - unless you're a politician. Surgeon Preference: Five surgeons are discussing who makes the best patients to operate on. The first surgeon says, "I like to see accountants on my operating table because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered." The second responds, "Yeah, but you should try electricians! Everything inside them is color coded." The third surgeon says, "No, I really think librarians are the best, everything inside them is in alphabetical order." The fourth surgeon chimes in: "You know, I like construction workers. Those guys always understand when you have a few parts left over at the end, and when the job takes longer than you said it would." But the fifth surgeon shut them all up when he observed: "You're all wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There's no guts, no heart, no brains and no spine, and the head and the rear end are interchangeable."

My wife had 5+bypass 9 years ago. Today she ha