BS: Bypass surgery

Subject: RE: BS: Bypass surgery
From: C-flat
Date: 26 Oct 10 - 11:35 AM

One of things that is spurring me on is the knowledge that I'll eventually come of out this feeling better than I've felt in a long time.
This thing has crept up on me, sapping my engery and my lust for life and made me lazy and disinterested. It's taken a mild heart attack to get my attention and the realisation that I can get my life back.
Thanks for the support.

Subject: RE: BS: Bypass surgery
From: olddude
Date: 26 Oct 10 - 11:22 AM

I have many friends that when through it. Although not fun at all .. they are doing so well. My buddie Garry hikes and fishes and works out in the fields ... He said after his it was like a lead weight off his chest. Just has so much more energy ... Now he had his is 1989 .. and is still just crusing ... I think if your docs tell you that you have to have it done I would listen. The alternatives is not pleasant to think about ok ... No surgery is fun, I had a ton of surgeries but things heal and today they are so darn good. I don't think your doc would tell you to do it if he thought he would lose you ... listen to your docs ok

We will all be there for ya

Dan

Subject: RE: BS: Bypass surgery
From: C-flat
Date: 26 Oct 10 - 11:21 AM

I saw the robot in another article I was reading!! Not available in North east UK as yet. Looks weird! Like R2D2 working on you!!
I'm expecting to be getting fixed this side of xmas, but no date yet. I've an imminent meeting with the surgeon and a final decision on my treatment will be arrived at then.

Subject: RE: BS: Bypass surgery
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Oct 10 - 11:16 AM

You might ask around to see if there is anyone using the Da Vinci Robotic Surgery System. That's what they used on Spaw when no one else would touch him as it was too dicey. They didn't have one here, yet, when I had my new valve put in, but if they ever have to do anything else, I will lobby for that, as the least invasive, before submitting to a second jump start as bb mentioned.

Regardless, please keep us posted as you are able and good health to you!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Bypass surgery
From: C-flat
Date: 26 Oct 10 - 11:15 AM

Bruce, I understand your aversion the open heart surgery. It may be unavoidable in my case. The angiogram shows a long stretch of artery that is completely blocked and there's no way of knowing if it can be opened up sucessfully. I have the choice to gamble that it can be done, but I'm also advised that, even if it can, these proceedures are often revisited and frequently require bypass as an ultimate solution.
Like you, Bruce, I'm understandably less than keen on having my heart stopped and have read a bit about possible damage to brain function whilst undergoing treatment on life support. Hence my interest in "off pump" methods, also an option offered to me, where the surgeon works on a beating heart.
My memory is bad enough without further impairment!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Bypass surgery
From: C-flat
Date: 26 Oct 10 - 10:58 AM

No doubt bobad, but it's nice to hear other peoples experience and keeps a sense of perspective for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Bypass surgery
From: bobad
Date: 26 Oct 10 - 10:57 AM

I should think that your consultant's advice would be more informed than any you might receive on Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: Bypass surgery
From: beardedbruce
Date: 26 Oct 10 - 10:56 AM

4 Plasties and 9 stents here- anything to avoid the bypass.

The new "mini" bypass seems a lot less invasive, but with having my heart stopped once, I tend to avoid a second restart.

Check around to find someone who will attempt the stents- they wanted to do a bypass before my first two, and then later. But I "shopped" the films around and found someone who could do it with stents.

Feel free to PM.

Bruce

Subject: BS: Bypass surgery
From: C-flat
Date: 26 Oct 10 - 10:33 AM

I know from reading various comments here that there's a few regulars who bear the scar of a heart bypass.
I'm currently facing the same operation and I'm finding conflicting information regarding the benefits, or otherwise, of "off-pump" proceedures, stenting, etc.
Whilst stents would seem the obvious choice, in my case the length/extent of one of the blockages makes it difficult to ascertain how successful it might be. The consultant seems to be steering me away from stents towards bypass and I'm not in a position to offer an argument one way or the other.
So I suppose I'm really just looking for any advice from personal experience and, given that I'll only be hearing from survivors,as oppose any other type, I'm hoping it'll encourage me.