Unusual Question

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I thought I would tell my friends here about this.

I have minor heart problems - have had for years - and they do not impact my life.

The problems are with 2 heart valves not operation exactly the way they should. My Doctor says these problems have worsened in the last year and are near or at the stage where they should be corrected.

He wants to do some more tests but will most likely recommend surgery within the next couple of months...his position is that although I'm nearing 75 years of age, I am fit, strong and otherwise in good health so I'm a good candidate for the surgery.

My position is that I am near the age by which all of the men in my family have been gone only one brother lived much older than I am right now. So I am concerned mostly with the prospects of complete recovery if I get the surgery - doctors always seem to be optimistic when they tell you how long you'll be sick after this sort of thing.
 
my father in law had a leaky heart valve his surgery was done when he was 81 lived for another 13 years. Never could run the 100 yard dash under 10 second after the surgery bUT his never could before either. He had a normal life after the surgery Could not go into high elevations; such as Lake Tahoe.
 
My position is that I am near the age by which all of the men in my family have been gone only one brother lived much older than I am right now.

Got to look at the other side too Smitty... Maybe they didn't have the right preventative measures done to make sure they lived longer.
 
Smitty,
I'm only a few years younger than you and also from a family in which most of the men died of heart problems... My father died of a massive heart attack at 74, he never had any heart surgery, but two of his brothers did and lived to be well into their 80's and beyond. His older brother had a double by-pass and lived to be almost 90... his youngest had open heart and lived to be 85 or 86... on my mother's side her two brothers have both had open heart surgery and one was just over 80 when he left us and her younger brother is well past 80 and still going strong... still working - he has a sign business that he works with one of my nephews.

I have several friends that have had heart surgery and they have recovered and doing well...

I know it's a fearsome thought to think that someone is going to open you up, open your heart and cut on it, but with today's technology, it's pretty much routine and if you are otherwise strong and fit, you will come through with flying colors and give us many more years of your wisdom..
 
LeRoy, take Chucks advise, I like Chuck am just a couple of years younger than you and have had two stents, no surgery's but agree with others , todays medical procedures are so much further along than just 10 years ago that heart surgery has become routine.Besides we need you around (nobody can argue like you can:biggrin:).


Smitty,
I'm only a few years younger than you and also from a family in which most of the men died of heart problems... My father died of a massive heart attack at 74, he never had any heart surgery, but two of his brothers did and lived to be well into their 80's and beyond. His older brother had a double by-pass and lived to be almost 90... his youngest had open heart and lived to be 85 or 86... on my mother's side her two brothers have both had open heart surgery and one was just over 80 when he left us and her younger brother is well past 80 and still going strong... still working - he has a sign business that he works with one of my nephews.

I have several friends that have had heart surgery and they have recovered and doing well...

I know it's a fearsome thought to think that someone is going to open you up, open your heart and cut on it, but with today's technology, it's pretty much routine and if you are otherwise strong and fit, you will come through with flying colors and give us many more years of your wisdom..
 
Go ahead and make yourself a good quality shaving brush before the surgery. I've had a number of shaving brush sales to folks who had surgery or planned surgery. The soft bristles make "scratching" or cleaning the incision area much easier. :biggrin::wink:
 
Here is a post on this subject form March 2006:

http://www.penturners.org/forum/550471-post23.html

Intended to reply to your message on the 22nd but had a regualarly scheduled stress test set up a 10:00 that morning and thought I would reply when I got home.

Well the stress test was stopped about 5 minutes in because I went into vtack which can be an instant killer. I came out of it on my own but Doctor scheduled a cath test for the next day (Thursday). Failed that too so he scheduled open heart surgery on Friday at 7:30. Spent Saturday in level 1 ICU and Sunday and part of today in step down ICU and just got home today about 2:30 three days after quadtruple surgery.

Chuckie
 
I can answer a lot of the questions you may have Smitty. I run ventilators in OR and work with post heart patients every week getting lungs back into shape. Feel free to PM or call...I think my # in in profile.
 
Smitty, I am still mad at you for slamming California, but I want you well. I wish and hope and pray for the best.
After three heart stents and pacemaker I am chugging along, making pens.
 
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