My dad is having heart surgery today...can I get some vibes for him?

[huskerlaw]

He's getting treated for artrial fibrillation, which isn't life threatening and I'm told the procedure is relatively routine. But I'm still freaked out.

It's a long procedure, which involves running some sort of line up to his heart through his leg and then cutting through part of his heart, to burn a patch of artery, I believe...in order to interrupt the electric impulses that are messing up his heartbeat.

He's only 59 years old and he runs or bikes every day. I'm sure he's going to be fine, but this is the first time either of my parents has had a major medical procedure, so I'm really nervous.

Thanks. :hug:

[Haole Girl]

1. Of course

Sending good thoughts and vibes for your father.
Try not to worry, though I know it's difficult not to. :hug:

[huskerlaw]

5. Thank you.

I'm sure he'll be fine. The doctor said he could go back to work this coming weekend, so it must not be a big deal. But still. :scared:

[TZ]

2. Good luck

Speaking as someone who had a lot of people in my family with heart issues/heart surgery, I can say that it might be a routine procedure but it certainly won't feel that way to you!
Good luck to your dad.:hug:

[huskerlaw]

7. Thanks

They say it's routine, yet it takes about 8 hours to complete. That doesn't sound routine to me!

(I'm sure it is, but still...)

:hug:

[Midlodemocrat]

3. Anything for you!

Good vibes and prayers headed to your dad and your entire family.

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

8. Thanks, Midlo

Now the waiting begins...freaking 8 hour freaking surgery... :(

:hug:

[SacredCow]

4. Best of luck....

My dad is recovering from open heart surgery (valve replacement).

Hope all turns out well!

[huskerlaw]

9. Thanks

I hope your dad recovers quickly!

:hug:

[SacredCow]

13. He's doing well....

Mom is having to monitor him to be sure he doesn't do anything that he shouldn't. She caught him about to start swinging a hammer the other day, so I guess he feels pretty good!

[huskerlaw]

16. I'm sure my stepmom will have to watch my dad too...

he's already talking about how soon he can go for a run. Silly boy.

I'm glad your dad is doing so well...hammer-swinging is definitely a good sign!

[JVS]

65. That's the worst. It's so hard to make sure they don't over-exert themselves.

People are so eager to climb back in the saddle.

[redqueen]

6. Routine or not, your nervousness is natural...

sending good vibes... :)

[huskerlaw]

10. Thank you

I really appreciate it.

:hug:

[Parche]

11. Good Vibe Hugs

:hug: :hug: :hug:

:hi:

[huskerlaw]

17. Thank you!

:hug:

[Lex]

12. You got it, huskerlaw.

Good vibes coming your dad's way, and for your whole family. :)

[huskerlaw]

18. Thank you.

We're all a little freaked, so the rest of the family appreciates the vibes too!

:hug:

[Shell Beau]

14. Prayers and thoughts heading y'alls way!

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

19. Thank you!

:hug:

Hey...how are you doing? Haven't seen you around here much!

[Shell Beau]

24. I've been out of the office a lot lately. I will be here more here in

the coming months since I am getting to that big swollen part of being pregnant!! :P

How have you been?

[huskerlaw]

26. Oh yay!

That big swollen part of being pregnant means the real fun is about to begin! Congrats!!!

Aside from today's little adventure, I'm all good. :D

[Shell Beau]

33. Good! And this will be okay too!

:)

[mikeytherat]

15. My 72-year-old dad had a triple bypass four weeks ago.

He's a daily runner, very fit, no health problems, then - a heart attack out of nowhere. Now, four weeks after the surgery, he's back to riding his bike every day and he's not looking back!

mikey_the_rat

[huskerlaw]

21. Wow!

God, how scary...but, damn. Good for him, getting back on the bike and kicking that heart attack's ass.

:hug:

[khashka]

20. Sure thing!

Good vibes for your dad!

Khash.

[huskerlaw]

22. Thank you, khash!

:hug:

[snacker]

23. Sending good vibes his way. n/t

[huskerlaw]

27. Thank you

:hug:

[lost-in-nj]

25. good thoughts and vibes

to huskerlaw's dad!!!!

:hug:


:hi:



lost

[huskerlaw]

29. Thanks!

:hi:

:hug:

[BarenakedLady]

28. Wishing the best

for your Dad.

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

31. Thanks, BNL

:hug:

[Shakespeare]

30. Big vibes for your dad!!!

He's in great health, so hopefully this'll be a minor bump in the road for him (and make his health even better afterward). :hug:

[huskerlaw]

32. Thanks!

That's what the doctor says. They gave him the option of not having surgery, but then his ability to exercise would have been reduced (plus, fibrillation is super uncomfortable). He wasn't willing to settle for "feeling ok"...so this surgery is supposed to make him feel like his old self.

I'm hoping it does!

:hug:

[I Have A Dream]

34. I'm sending good vibes his way.

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

39. Thank you!

:)

:hug:

[ailsagirl]

35. Best of luck-- we're pulling for him :)

[huskerlaw]

40. Thanks!

Having all of this support means a lot to me.
:hug:

[devilgrrl]

36. Sending good vibes to your dad!!!

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

41. Thank you!

:hug:

[siligut]

37. Of course, good vibes.

You know, the 8 hrs may be the total time, including recovery, which is usually the longest period of time. Having a catheter run up thru the femoral artery means a hole in an artery. The person rests on their back, flat, with pressure on the site and keeps the leg straight after the procedure.

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

45. oh really??

God, if that is included in the eight hours, I'd feel MUCH better about this.
Unfortunately, he is in another state and my stepmom doesnt have a cell phone, so I won't know anything until its done .

[WildEyedLiberal]

38. Prayers on the way

:hug: for you and your dad.

[huskerlaw]

46. Thank you!

:hug:

[AAARRRGGGHHH]

42. Best of luck...

I will keep your father and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

[huskerlaw]

48. thank you!

how is your dog doing? Your family is in my thoughts too!

[AAARRRGGGHHH]

52. Thank you so much ...

She's not doing very well, I'm afraid. I came home from work at lunch to check on her, and she couldn't get her legs under her at all. My wife is on her way home now. I'm afraid that this may be the end, and it's coming even sooner than we expected.

Thank you so much for asking, especially considering how tough this day is for you and your family. I really appreciate it.

[huskerlaw]

54. Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that.

I've been there before...losing a pet is so intensely painful.

I hope that if it is Gizmo's time, she passes quickly and peacefully.

:hug:

[malta blue]

43. good vibes for HuskerDad

((((((vibes)))))

:loveya:

We're here for you if you need us :pals:

[huskerlaw]

49. thanks, it means a lot

to have people here to talk to.
:hug:

[CottonBear]

44. Here are some good vibes for you and your dad!

:hug: I hope that all goes well and that your dad will be better soon! :hug:

This sounds like a "routine" procedure but it still a serious surgery. The surgical technology of today is just amazing. There haave been so many heart surgery and treatment advances in the last 20 years.

I lost my father and grandfathers to heart disease. You are so very lucky to have both of your parents!

[huskerlaw]

50. I know I am...

many of my friends have lost parents already and I can't even imagine.

I know the doctors know what they're doing, I just want the surgery to be over.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

47. Of course, my dear huskerlaw...

He will be fine!

I understand your nervousness...

As heart surgeries go, this is one of the less invasive/traumatic ones...

Let us know how he does, OK?

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

51. thanks, Peggy

I know that...intellectually. I just want the surgery to be done!

I will post an update as soon as I know anything.

:hug:

[Rambis]

53. Vibes

:hippie:

[huskerlaw]

55. Thanks, hippie!

;)

[Rambis]

57. Solid! (nm)

[graywarrior]

56. Coming from my part of the planet

Here's to your dad...:toast:

[huskerlaw]

58. Thank you so much

:hug:

[JVS]

59. Make sure to wait on him hand and foot when he gets back.

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

60. I wish I could...

but he lives about 7 hours away.

Of course I'm there in a heartbeat if anything goes wrong!

:hug:

[JVS]

62. Will there be anyone living in the home with him for the first couple of weeks?

I took time off for my mom. It wasn't that she was in peril at home so much, but around 9:30 PM she would get achey and tired as a little kid and I'd have to help her get to bed. I set a bedtime of 10:00 and had her start getting ready at 9 so that she'd be able to get settled before the exhaustion hit. I would stay up a couple of hours watching TV in the next room before checking in and going up to bed.

PM me if you want to know what to expect, I just got done dealing with this.

[huskerlaw]

63. Yes, my stepmom will be there

She's one of those people who steps in and takes control of situations (in a good way), so she'll be fine taking care of him. If he lets her. ;)

[JVS]

66. Oh good. They need someone to keep them from trying to do too much themselves.

[av8rdave]

61. Vibes sent for a speedy and full recovery!

[huskerlaw]

64. Thanks!

:hi:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

67. Lots of good vibes coming his way!

And some for you too. :hug:

[huskerlaw]

68. Thanks DTBK!

I'm getting antsy for news...even though I know it could be HOURS yet. Sigh.

:hug:

[davsand]

69. Sending you all well wishes!

This heart stuff is creepy as heck, but the heart docs are a lot better than you might think. If they are able to go in with a catheter this will be minimally invasive and he's probably gonna feel a LOT better once it is done. The major issue with this kind of stuff is keeping him horizontal for a few hours after it is done so the incision will seal properly.

He will end up with a HUGE bruise that will spread over the course of the next couple weeks, but even that looks a lot worse than it actually is.

This is gonna feel like it takes forever. Hang in there!

:hug:





Laura

[huskerlaw]

71. Thanks for the information!

I know the catheter is SO much better than cutting him open, it just gives me the heebie jeebies.

And I know the doctors wouldn't have suggested it if they didn't think it would make him feel better. They did say he could forgo surgery and just live with it. But he wanted his normal life back, which makes perfect sense. He's only 59, after all!

I'm so bad at waiting under regular circumstances, but this is just crazy. I'm about to call the hospital and see if they can track down my stepmom. But I don't want to bother her if she doesn't know anything yet. Ugh.

[davsand]

73. He may be awake for this.

They often give the patient some kind of mild tranquilizer but leave them awake. Sometimes they do get drowsy--just depends on the person, I think. Hubby was pissed off that he couldn't see the monitor during his procedure (he had a heart attack and got four stints a couple years ago) and he actually bitched at the docs to move one of the machines so he could watch! Oddly enough, he went to sleep shortly after that...

:eyes:

Anyhow, the waiting really IS terrible. I think, in some ways, that wait is worse on the family than the actual procedure is on the patient. In your case, not being able to be there makes it feel even worse. I've been down that road too, with my Dad, and the feeling of not knowing is just so painful...



I'm sorry you are stressed. Please know I'm thinking about you all!



Laura

[mvd]

70. Sending good vibes!

Your dad will have many good years left. :hug:

[huskerlaw]

72. Thanks

I know that...I do...I just want the surgery to be over so he can heal and get back to normal.

:hug:

[SeattleGirl]

74. You got 'em!

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

81. Thanks!

:hug:

[DFW]

75. Been there, had something similar

My wife and daughters freaked out, too, but I came through it.

It's amazing how routine that stuff is these days. I didn't even
realize how close I was to checking out permanently until after
the procedure was over, and THEN the surgeon showed me the before/after
images.

But don't worry--if the medical staff tells you it'll be OK, then it
probably will. They'll be up front with you if there looks like there
might be a serious complication.

The part that got me was when the doc casually told me, "OK, we're fooling
around in your heart now..." I said, right, whatever you say (the patient
is usually fully conscious throughout, depending on what they are doing).

But hey, I'm still here, even if I almost wasn't, and that was 4 years ago.

Your dad is sure to join me in the select club of people with a second birthday.
Keep a level head, both for your sake and his, OK?

[huskerlaw]

82. I'm glad you're ok!

Still no word on my Dad, but I guess my stepmom isn't home yet...

[Zavulon]

76. Bonne chance. Viel Glueck.

To both you and him. Best vibes possible from the D.C. Metro area.

[huskerlaw]

83. Thank you!

:hug:

[Brigid]

77. (((vibes)))

I had heart surgery this winter, so I can relate. :hug:

[huskerlaw]

84. Thank you

How are you doing? I hope your recovery was fast and relatively painless!

:hug:

[Lavender Brown]

78. I understand your worry, my Dad had heart issues at the same age

It's scary no matter how routine it may be. Sending good vibes to you and your family. :hug:

[huskerlaw]

85. Thanks

Still waiting for word...but I guess that's a good sign...

:hug:

[Pierre.Suave]

79. I do not know how to send a "vibe"

but I sure hope your dad pulls through and recovers fully.

:hug:

[huskerlaw]

86. Thanks!

Vibe is just meant to encompass however everyone wishes to send positive thoughts. ;)

:hug:

[GOPisEvil]

80. I hope he comes through things well!

:)

[huskerlaw]

87. Thanks

me too!

:hug:

[applegrove]

88. Vibes for your dad. I'm sure it will go fine.

[otherlander]

89. Good luck to him!

:hug:

[orleans]

90. how is your dad doing? good i hope. n/t

[bobmorr1]

91. good vibes coming

Good vibes coming you way. Hoping for the best.

[YankeyMCC]

92. I've gone through waiting for my Dad to undergo heart surgery

many times. The techniques and technologies are so well advanced now the odds are well in his favor particularly if he's otherwise healthy and fit. That doesn't always comfort the anxity of course but you have good reason to be optimistic, I'm sure all will go well.

All the best to you and your Dad.

[old mark]

93. Huskerlaw: I had a quad bypass in '03,

and the fact that I exercised was a real advantage.I survived 2 heart attacks,had the surgery, went back to work in a few months.
Doctors are getting really good with this stuff-be glad they found the problem and have the ability to fix it.
All the best to him and your family.
Please let us know the outcome.

mark

[huskerlaw]

94. UPDATE: He's fine!

Thank you ALL so much for the kind words and good vibes. They worked!!

I spoke to him yesterday morning and he's tired and sore, but otherwise fine. So far the surgery was a success. His heart is "in rhythm" and we hope it stays that way!

Thanks again, your good vibes and wishes meant a lot to me.

:hug:

[JVS]

96. great

[Midlodemocrat]

97. Awesome!!!! I know you were nervous.

So glad things are okay.

:hug:

[Haole Girl]

98. I'm so glad everything went well!

:bounce:

[Inchworm]

100. Yay!

I still am keeping you guys in my thoughts even though a little late ;)

:hug:

[Wapsie B]

95. Good vibes on the way.

[Inchworm]

99. You guys are in my thoughts

and may your dad have a speedy recovery.

:hug: