[black bear]

Hi guys,
I am going to have open heart surgery, sometime this week, I will be absent from the Forums .
For ten or fifteen days, my son will be taking care of my MAG 951 flashlights, shipping orders,
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=1848319

If my friends in the Forum will say some prayers for me, I will really appreciate it.

Thanks to all for the support that I have been getting.

Best regards
black bear

[Byron Quick]

Good luck, Juan. You've got my prayers.

[thereisnospoon]

May God bless the hands of the surgeon and staff and grant peace and comfort to you, your family and friends.

[sfhogman]

Prayers sent.

I've had heart surgery myself. If I can be of any help- questions, etc- feel free to PM me. This was about 3 1/2 years ago, so I've been through the whole deal, including rehab, etc.

My thoughts are with you.

Best,
Jeff

[Golden Saber]

Black Bear - same for me, coming up on three years. PM me if you have any questions, or just want to talk about it once you get back home.

Golden Saber

[TheEgg]

God protect and keep you!

[DR]

I wish you good luck and a speedy recovery.

[Polishrifleman]

Prayers and thoughts going your way.

[skidmark]

BTDT x 2. Wish I could send you my guidebook for surgery - Louis Grizzard's "They Tore my Heart Out and Stomped That Sucker Flat." It's been out of print for years, but I keep loaning it to folks I know who are about to go in for replumbing.

He asked his doctor if it would be OK to have a drink the night before surgery. Doc said "Maybe just one," so he went by the hardware store to pick up a new 10-gallon pail. He got his favorite bartender to pour "just one" beer.

To keep this gun-related - work the rehab on the schedule the therapists set for you. Do not push too hard and try to get back too soon. Recoil is not necessarily the best friend of a still-knitting-together sternum.

Speaking of sternums - WATCH OUT for the nurse known as "the cough lady." She will come around on day #2 and tell you to cough to clear your lungs. There is no way I would cough the day after some guy cut my chest in half!

Prayers on the way.

stay safe.

skidmark

[Fastlane]

Prayers on the way... :)

[Charles S]

My prayers are with you. Speedy recovery!

Charles

[AirForceShooter]

as said before'
Don't rush your recovery. You'll get all better in time, lots better.
But: it's gonna hurt!!!

Be well.

AFS

[HankB]

Black Bear - prayers sent. Best wishes on your surgery and for a speedy recovery. My mother (she's in her mid-70s) had a triple bypass last year. The rehab nurses aren't really sadists, but if you do what they say - coughing on demand, using the breathing machine (frequently!) and getting out of bed and walking as soon as they let you, your recovery WILL be faster.

[KriegHund]

I hope you shall be OK, best of luck with it!

[Standing Wolf]

I'm sending highest hopes your way.

[sfhogman]

What Skidmark said. Here's a link to Grizzard's book:
http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm?qwork=6660290&wtit=they%20tore%20my%20heart%20out%20and%20stomped%20that%20sucker%20flat&ptit=They%20Tore%20Out%20My%20Heart%20and%20Stomped%20That%20Sucker%20Flat&pauth=Grizzard%2C%20Lewis&pisbn=&pqty=39&pqtynew=0&pbest=2%2E95&matches=39&qsort=r&cm_re=works*listing*title

They very best to you and yours,

Jeff

[Joe Gunns]

Prayers have been sent up for that peace that passes understanding for the whole process and a very successful surgery and miraculously fast recovery.

James

[eagle45]

Best wishes, and prayers as well.

[cpileri]

Prayers done!

btw; about that cough, its gonna HURT- and here's the kicker: if you don't cough, they will MAKE you cough HARD! So just do it. Take a hit of your pain meds before it!

You can ask your anesthesiologist for a THORACIC EPIDURAL for post-op pain control. This will help not just with the cough, but tremendously with the post-operative pain in general. I highly recommend it if they will give you one!

C-

[grampster]

Dispatching my guardian angel, Polarius, to be at your side. He's got experience. He helped me get through prostate cancer surgery on July 28th.

[MrTuffPaws]

Good luck

[Gunsnrovers]

Best wishes and a speedy recovery.

[Jubei]

Black Bear,

Good luck, Godspeed, and get well soon. I wonder if it would be a medical fauxpas to breathalize the surgeon before the surgery?

Jubei

[CZ 75 BD]

Good Luck!

[Frandy]

The best to you for a speedy recovery!

[JimLally]

All the best. God Speed.

Jim

[modifiedbrowning]

Good luck to you, prayers are sent.

[GEM]

Ditto on all the best wishes.

[P5 Guy]

Black Bear, you'll do just fine. I had two valves worked on on May 2nd. It is a lot scarier sounding than it really is. :what:

[Agent P]

Keeping you in my prayers...good luck and recover quickly!

[CentralTexas]

that's routine anymore. See ya when ya get back!
CT

[chris in va]

Not open heart, but almost had to.

A month ago I started getting some angina, and fortunately I pretty much knew what it was. Got an EKG and some raised eyebrows, 4 days later had angioplasty and a stent in one of my coronaries.

Just one blockage, 95%. I'm also 34. The staff couldn't believe how young I am for this to happen.

Take care and hang in there. Hospital stays are NO fun. :o

[Lt. G]

Good Luck my friend, My father had a Quad bypass,(CABG), done about a year ago and he is much better.He also has a Defib and a pacemaker in place.

[Bruce in West Oz]

Had a triple CABG a couple of years back.

1. They had me on my feet walking on the spot 24 hours after surgery.

2. Morphine is your best friend :evil:

3. Two days later I went into a general surgical room; morphine was replaced with paracetamol/codeine :(

4. Your second best friend is your 'teddy bear'. This is a towel rolled into a large cylinder and taped. Whenever you need to cough, you put it down the middle of your chest and cross your arms over it. It still hurts like hell, but it feels a whole better than without it!

5. The physio and breathing exercises (you'll learn to hate little table tennis balls!) are a pain in the neck, but essential.

6. I went home a week after surgery. It's surprising the number of things you aren't allowed to do when you get home -- gardening is one of them :D My surgeon told me about one his patients -- a farmer -- who decided to work on the gearbox on his tractor. It slipped and fell -- on his chest. He actually heard the "crack" as his sternum gave way again! :what:

7. Get used to the staples (bloody great twists of wire really) in your chest setting off the alarm at airport security counters, if they have it turned up enough. Mine did twice last trip. One guy actually wanted to see the scar ...

In terms of lifestyle -- it's the best thing that will happen to you! I have twice the energy and stamina -- and no pain! Wonderful.

Good luck to you.

[crucible]

I'lll keep you in my prayers-hope everything goes well!

Chris, I had a heart attack at the grand old age of 31 four years ago; the staff at both Loudoun and Fairfax hospitals were equally surprised at my age as they were yours.

Here's to good cardiologists, and even better ICU nurses (whom I came to love dearly during my....incident).

Chris

[esskay]

Best wishes!

[Barbara]

Good luck!

[FrankU in GA]

Just found the forums the other day and saw this message this morning and thought I'd offer my prayers. You will be fine Black Bear. They do real good work nowadays.

I had both major valves done about 3 years ago. It was called the "Ross" procedure. I was 38 years old. My old pulminary valve has been my aortic for 3 years now. I got a human donor to replace the pulminary. I also have a Dacron aorta. Plastics are used for lots of things today. They didn't even have to give me blood. They just cleaned and recirculated my own(a major relief). I was walking in about 36 hours(bored with just laying there) and out in 5 days. Been fine ever since.
Hang in there!!

Frank

[280PLUS]

The best thing you can do is give yourself a chance to heal properly before you dive right back into it. I lost a good friend because he just would NOT take it easy after his surgery. :cuss:

Godspeed

[dinosaur]

Been there, done that 11 1/2 years ago. Just had another stent put in two weeks ago too. Originally they told me I needed a valve fixed but more tests proved that wrong.

You'll be fine but sore as all get out but nothing you can't handle. :)

They gave me a heart shaped pillow, very dense for the coughing. you hug it, don't laugh, and boy does it help! Sorry I got rid of it sometimes. :(

[TimH]

Prayers sent

[1 old 0311]

Hi Black bear,

I just got of the hospital yesterday for the same thing. Right ventrical. Actually it was not a big deal. The food SUCKS, but the nurses are cute :evil: . Good luck.

Kevin

[Missashot]

Prayers sent and best of luck to you for a speedy recovery. :)

[Black Dragon]

Prayers sent :)
Good luck and see you back here soon!

[280PLUS]

but the nurses are cute I thought I told you guys to TAKE IT EASY!!:p

[Lennyjoe]

Prayers sent...

On the other hand, quite a few open heart vets on this forum. :what:

[Riverrat]

Had mine in '91 and never looked back. It's worth the pain now for the improvement in your life. One thing they told me was that I had to "walk" my way out of the hospital. Had me up and walking the next day. As I was walking down the hall the first time, there was all this popping and crackling and then most of the pain went away! Guess it was all just settling back in place! Our prayers are with you.

[brian roberts]

before you let them operate, check out Chelation Therapy. a bypass will only give you clear arteries at the site, what about the other 40,000 miles of circulatory system????

on Google type in: Dr. Cranton, it'll come up: Mt Rogers Clinic
go to FAQ on the top of the screen

When you've read that, go back to Google & type in: ACAM it'll come
up:American College for the Advancement of Medicine there you can find a list of practitioners in your state.

THIS IS NO JOKE.....this REALLY WORKS ...... :) good luck

[GRB]

Black Bear,

Speedy recovery to you.

If you want, I will stop by the hospital for some morale support. I'm in Mineola, probably not all too far away from whatever hospital you will be in. let me know, I'll see if I can sneak in a gun magazine!

Best regards,
Glenn B

[hso]

All the luck in the world Black Bear!

My dad had a quad bypass at 50 and lived to be 80 so you should have a bright future ahead of you.

[Red Dragon]

Good luck to you and here's hoping for a full and speedy recovery :)

[Moonclip]

My dad went through it last year, while not a walk in the park, it went over very well. These operations it seems the doctors have got them down pat nowadays and I'm sure you will be just fine. Keep us updated and let us know you are ok when you are able.

[black bear]

I AM GOING IN TOMORROW

What wonderful replies I have get from you guys!!! Thanks for the moral support and the well wishes and your prayers.

By this time I am an old hand at surgeries, I have my first triple bypass done in '82 and my second in '95.
I am sure I will be okay as I have a lot of confidence in the surgeons.
And in the prayers that have been said for me give me a strong hope and the guarantee of a speedy recovery.

Thank you so much to all

black bear

[Monkeyleg]

Belated prayers and wishes of good luck to you, Black Bear. You seem awfully calm about it, which is good.

[GT]

Best of luck Bear!

Prayers for a speedy recovery.

G

[MICHAEL T]

Mine will be 2 years this coming monday Good luck, you will be ok They give you a little pillow and the 2 of you will become very close. Don't over do your self when you get out. Ask Questions Now! what can I expect How long till I back to normal . Do People have problems after operation if so, what %. Oh if you smoke you won't after this.
I say ask questions because I didn't and wasn't prepaired for after operation.

[Navy joe]

Best wishes, I'll expect to see you back here soon, always been a pleasure corresponding with you.

[aerod1]

I have been there, also. On November 14, 2001 I had a quadruple bypass surgery. I went deer hunting between Christmas and New Years. All my surgeon would let me use was a .223. So I took an 8 point buck and a doe that week.
I feel soooo much better now. I was a little peeved that my surgery had to fall during deer season.
Hang in there. Our prayers are with you.

Jim

[katonk]

Good Luck! My thoughts and prayers to you and yours for a speedy recovery! :)

[mnrivrat]

Hey - Best Wishes For A Speedy Recovery !

First time I used a pillow but didn't get it to my chest in time - broke the sternum loose with a couph 8 days after surgery ! Then damn thing wouldn't heal.

Second time I wore an elastic belt about 12" wide around my chest - also had double the wire . I suggest the elastic belt to everyone ! It doesn't have to be super tight, just snug enough to help.

[Valkman]

Good luck and have a speedy recovery! :)

[Johnny Guest]

I had my heart attack in September '99 and they did a quadruple bypass on me. My hospital furnished a large, heart-shaped pillow to hug for the coughing.

Hope your recuperation is easier than mine - - Had a post op infection which necesitated further surgery. I thought I'd never be able to stand heavy recoil again, so I sold my .338 the next year.

A year after that, though, I'd recovered enough to where I was shopping for another big bore. :rolleyes:

Be a patient patient - - Health will return in due time.

All best,
Johnny

[black bear]

I am back from the Hospital!!!

And thanks to your prayers and well wishes, everything went BETTER than I exepcted

I had two previous triple-bypasses done, one in '82 and another in '95.
This time I knew that one of those had collapsed, and I was expecting OPEN HEART SURGERY again!!!

But the Angioplasty showed the most important right coronary artery to be clogged 80% and the cause of most of my troubles.
They opened the clogged vein and placed two stemts during the Angioplasty procedure.

I still have a collapsed by-pass, but they decided that was not important enough to do a open heart surgery for only that, as the adjacent area was well irrigated.
Besides, I am running out of veins, as my two legs and the mamarian gland have been harvested of veins for the previous by-passes.

The placements of the stemts was a really difficult procedure and I am convinced that the hands of Dr. Pretrossian were guided by Divine intervention, thanks TO YOUR PRAYERS

I owe all of you guys, my most profound and sincere gratitude.

By the way the proccedure was done at St Francis in Roslyn N. Y. one of the best Hospitals for heart surgeries.
The nurses and technicians were fantastic, even the pretty nice girl that shave me before the Angioplasty :evil:

Once more I want to say:

Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes

regards
black bear

[Psssniper]

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[Byron Quick]

Good news, Juan. Thanks for the update.

23 years from the first multiple CABG? You're doing well.

[Big_R]

Black Bear: Glad to hear you're OK. What kind of stents did they use?

Ryan

[sfhogman]

ALLLLRIGHT!!!
Good to have you back!

Jeff

[TheEgg]

Good News is always welcome! Congratulations!

God always answers our prayers -- in this case I am happy to see that the answer was "Yes". :D

[mnrivrat]

Hey - Thumbs Up ! :D :D :D

[Shaun]

Best wishes go out to you - My ex's dad had a quad and 6 weeks post surg. he took an elk

Follow doc's orders and you should recover well

[P95Carry]

BB - glad to hear the good news.

I missed this thread originally, not having been here quite so much, so no chance to add to the ''good luck'' wishes but at least I can enjoy seeing you are back with us - and with much less ''knife work'' than you expected. :)

[Fastlane]

Black Bear...great news thanks for the update... :)

[Charles S]

Thanks for the update,

Don't underestimate the value of cardiac rehab.

Good luck.

Charles

[hso]

Good to hear everything went well. (23 years on a CABG! Dang!!)