It's official, I'm having heart surgery on Feb 18th...wow, it's real now.

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What time is your surgery on the 18th Revvy? I'll pray for you during...

I had an opposite experience... During cataract surgery, my heart slowed 'way' down.. scared the crap out of the anesthesiologist.. I first felt faint, and then nauseous, so I figured I better say something to the surgeons, knowing that tossing up my cookies while under the gas can be deadly...

They gave me a drug to speed up my heart.. then proceeded.. but after the surgery, the heart did not slow down when the drug wore off (should have taken less than half an hour).. four hours later a cardiologist came in, and they saw an abnormality on my EKG.. the P wave was missing (whatever that is)..

So the cardiologist told me that he was going to give me a drug, that would give me a feeling of impending doom, but not to worry, it would pass in a few seconds... He gave me the drug and my entire left side of my face tightened up, I could barely breathe, my chest was in knots, and my left leg hurt terribly.. a few seconds later all was well, and my heart rate slowed back down from 160 to normal.. He had induced a mild heart attack...

He then told me that I had a genetic condition where the 'wiring' on my heart has a short circuit that sometimes causes the signal to get caught in a feedback loop..

When I was a kid, I scared the crap out of my mom a couple times, in that you could hear my heart sloshing from across the room when I was laying on my side..

Several times in the couple years prior to the event during surgery, i would have panic attacks.. I thought I might be having heart attacks... Sometimes this feeling would last for minutes, or hours, and a few times for days... I would go into the emergency room and they would check me out and find nothing... Of course I would always be feeling fine by the time I got there and got hooked up to the EKG...

What was happening, is that I was experiencing this short circuit and my heart was racing...

The heart surgeon told me that it was not really dangerous, and more of an annoyance than anything... he gave me some cholesterol drugs, that although I did not have a problem with that, have a side effect of slowing the heart rate... He said if the problems continues or gets so bad I can't stand it, they can do a simple outpatient surgery, where they go in through a small incision and 'cut the wire' that is causing the short circuit (it's not supposed to be there)....

So, in the end, although the situation on the operating table was very serious at the time, it turned out to be a blessing, because now I know what is wrong with me, and that it is not life threatening or life limiting... And I also now know what a heart attack 'really' feels like (It is 'not' fun, extremely painful, immobilizing, and scary as hell)...

The other benefit to it, was that they did a thorough sonogram (I forgot the name for it, but it's specific for the heart), and the tech said he saw 'nothing' abnormal or unhealthy in my heart.. No plaque or hardening, or restrictions of any kind...

So in the end, I got a clean bill of health and peace of mind...

Sounds like when you're through this, you'll have all that too..

God Bless you man, and may the Good Lord do a great. problem free work through the hands and minds of all involved with your surgery.. It's miraculous what they can do with modern medicine nowadays...
:mug:
 
Just saw this, good luck Revvy. Kind of amazing you've had it your entire life and it never came up.

Prob already been asked several times but...will you still love bacon?:D
 
SpanishCastleAle said:
Just saw this, good luck Revvy. Kind of amazing you've had it your entire life and it never came up.

Prob already been asked several times but...will you still love bacon?:D
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I kinda figure I love it so much, that this the first step towards becoming it.


You know what they say........



You are what you eat. ;)


FYI. I am planning to do this one the way home from the hospital.

geico-pig-e1284131506320.jpg
 
Oh the reason it never came up is that I'm a man...and that means I try to avoid checkups whenever possible. ;)

But actually part of it had to do with the health insurance I had for years working here at the medical school. Basically it was the in-house plan for the Detroit Medical Center, and it meant I could see any doctor, even a specialist without a referral. And since I knew most of the doctors it usually meant I could just stop by one of my buddie's offices and have them treat me. So if I had broke my knows, I could see an ent, without being seen by a Primary Care Physician...

Which also meant I never SAW a primary care physician and never got regular checkups.

A few years back the Med School and the Detroit Medical Center were "feuding" and it became harder to actually be seen by DMC docs. So I switched to blue care...Which meant that I needed to be seen by a PCP before I could see a specialist. And when I broke my nose umping vintage base ball, I had to see a PCP and ended up with my first checkup in a way long time.

So a big lesson to all....GET REGULAR CHECKUPS!!!!
 
Revvy said:
I'm told I'm the first surgery of the day. I'll get the call on Thursday. But I was told to be there at 5am....
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So probably 8am or so...

Oh the Durable Power of Attorney is done.... *sigh*
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I'm gonna pray that you experience peace and confidence, and the whole thing is anxiety free....

You're gonna do fine... The best years of your life are still ahead of you :mug:
 
I don't know how it is that I'm just now reading this thread!!! Revvy, good luck and Godspeed to you brother. I look forward to reading your "I'm recovering quite nicely" posts.

-Ed
 
annasdadhockey said:
I look forward to reading your "I'm recovering quite nicely" posts.
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and the "Damn, this barleywine is fine!" posts.

Edit: oh, and I think you're gonna have to change your avatar to the piggie with head out of the car window...
 
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Your contirubution here is very much appreciated. I look forward to seeing you back here shortly.
 
Revvy, Godspeed to you, we are all pulling for you, countless homebrewers, or at least the 6 or 7 of us that are your virtual family here at HBT, and as a sort of prayer for you, I will enjoy a nice BLT for lunch on the big day. nice thick cut peppered & home smoked bacon, fresh picked tomatoes and lettuce from the garden, the tomatoes have made it through 2 frosts, and one sliced into a salad the other day was sweet and superb! I have had a "test sandwich" to be sure it is up to standard. Magic on two slices of toasted bread! In all seriousness, best of luck friend, I am praying for your safe return to health.

Pat-o

Is there a proxy who can keep us updated on your progress while you are recovering?? Or do we wait for you to get the use of your fingers?
 
azscoob said:
Is there a proxy who can keep us updated on your progress while you are recovering?? Or do we wait for you to get the use of your fingers?
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Yeah, My GF is going to update my facebook status, and then AZ_IPA said he would convey a message here, so I guess Friday keep an eye out. I don't know if it's better to post it here, or maybe Az will start an update thread or something....
 
Sorry to hear that, but the surgery should get you back in shape again.

Just a curiosity: Did the doctor(s) confirm it was congenital? How old are you, do you mind? It just seems very unusual that a congenital condition would manifest so later in life, especially with a history of smoking. Just a thought.
 
I missed this thread somehow, and haven't been in the Tap Room much.

Sorry to hear you need the surgery, Revvy, but glad to hear you're on the road to mending. I wish you good drugs and cute nurses. 5 AM admitting is really early, but it makes the pre-surgery fasting easy, since you can sleep through most of it.

Incidentally, my doc gave me a couple of valium for the night before kidney surgery. He told me it's be OK to dry-swallow them so I could get some sleep. If your doc is so inclined, good drugs can make the night before surgery go better for you.
 
WTF. I just got a call from my surgeon. They bumped my surgery til Monday. The surgeon's got two critical patients "in hospital" or "in house" or something, so everybody is shifted.
 
Revvy said:
WTF. I just got a call from my surgeon. They bumped my surgery til Monday. The surgeon's got two critical patients "in hospital" or "in house" or something, so everybody is shifted.
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arg! what a crock man... well, best to have him fully into you instead of worrying about other things.
 
Crap! Nothing like adding stress to your weekend. Must be time for a beer. :mug:

Hang in there Revvy, try and stay relaxed. Got you on the prayer list man....
 
Prayers, Good thoughts, Chanting, Good Karma, and hefting brew in your honor. I think that should cover you for good will and predominant deities.

That sucks on the changed date, as I'm sure you get your headspace all ready for the event, and now you have to delay it. Try to stay relaxed and keep your mind off it. They wouldn't have bumped you if they thought your condition warranted immediate attention.
 
Revvy said:
WTF. I just got a call from my surgeon. They bumped my surgery til Monday. The surgeon's got two critical patients "in hospital" or "in house" or something, so everybody is shifted.
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Just wait until the docs find out that Monday is a "holiday" - better plan on Tuesday ;)
 
Sucks being bumped.

I have a special beer and prost planned for you. I just moved it to Monday, too.

We will be thinking of you...
 

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