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79 replies

Save your life

ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
I am going in for heart surgery on Friday and I can use all the prayers I can get

It's looking like I need a double bypass thus far...

I had a heart attack at age 45 in June of 2005 and that caused me to have a stent inserted. The one positive outcome of that is that I quit smoking and have not touched them since. I have not been myself for few months - energy wise and went and had a heart catheter procedure yesterday where they found that the stent was blocked and another artery was as well.

I hope I have a positive message for folks out there. Heart disease is mainly a heredity disease. Smoking is the main lifetsyle thing that can affect it but basically it is inherited. My mother brought her family history into the hospital last night to share with my heart doctor and it was almost shocking. My Dad's side of the family was relatively unscathed. On her side... her mother and father died from heart disease. Two brothers died from heart attacks. Two of my first cousins have had heart attacks and another one died because of one.

Sit down and think. Call your parents or other family members and review your family history. If you have a history on either side of the family, go get your heart checked even if you feel ok. It could save your life.
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G gotwood4sale10,000+ posts
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You're doing the right thing CD. And you've offered good advice.

Considering I had open-heart surgery back in '04 (at the time of the previous tsunami) I can speak with credibility. My surgery involved repairing a valve damaged by rheumatic fever decades earlier.

My advice to you and others...
    Be a strong advocate for yourself. I picked up a post-surgery infection in the hospital that required two major surgeries to correct. I understand that the infection almost killed me. I was aware of something being wrong within a couple of days of being discharged. But when I followed up to various healthcare providers they did not respond as they should have. It wasn't until weeks later that a surgeon finally saw me and he immediately scheduled me for corrective surgery. I deferred to the professionals and they, for myriad reasons, let me down time after time. If you think something is not right then speak up! Keep pressing until the issue is resolved. This is so very important. My problem could have been easily corrected early on with a regimen of antibiotics. Despite what I have described above, the surgeon I had was top notch and I would recommend him without hesitation. It was too bad that he, just like other surgeons, was not more actively involved in any of my follow up visits.


    Keep focused on a month or so in the future. My initial surgery was the first time I had been admitted to a hospital. Nervous? Not really. I kept my mind fixed on a month in the future. I imagined what it would be like to be well along in my recovery. I seldom thought at all about the present.


    Follow all discharge instructions. If you have any questions or doubts call your surgical group. Make sure they understand your concerns.


    If any rehabilitation services are offered then take advantage of them. None to speak of were offered to me. I guess my insurance didn't offer these type of services in their coverage. If they had been offered I'm quite certain my infection would have been recognized and treatment undertaken much, much sooner.


    Familiarize yourself with complications that may occur following surgery. You will be in a good position to be your own best advocate after becoming as knowledgeable as you can.

I hope this helps you CD...and others too!




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Last edited by gotwood4sale
S SpeedsDad10+ posts
Good Luck and Speedy Recovery CD. My thoughts are with you. If it's any consolation my brother in law is an invasive cardiologist here in NJ and he is always marveling at how far we have come in these procedures over the past 10 years. I'm sure you will be fine and back on the Message Board sharing your heart felt wisdom with those of us who rely upon it to get us through.
Three BaggerThree Bagger1,000+ posts
Thanks for sharing CD--Praying that everything will come out well. Do follow post operative instructions for the proscribed time. My wife is the nurse in charge of surgery at a large hospital in a nearby city and you can be sure that very often the surgical folks are some of the most skilled in a hospital. So good luck and get back to us soon.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
Dan,
The Kopp family is praying for you. I know you will get through this and be ok.

Last year, my husband had a stent placed in one of his arteries, though he didn't have a heart attack, an avid runner that eats well and in great shape for an old man of 62, his mother had a heart attack at a very young age (40). It was 70% blocked so instead of treating with medication, they unblocked and put in the stent.

Thanks for sharing your story, it's important for us to know our families history and most important to follow the correct diet AND stop smoking (if you do).
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