upcoming cardiac surgery

al <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi! Last angiogram showed blockage in the same location as previous
stented area. Will have double bypass next Monday since meds and
angioplasties have not worked well. Would appreciate information from
people having had this procedure as to what your recovery was like, how
long to return to "normal"?, what could/can you do?,
Problems/difficulties with recovery?
Thanks Al

You might find the following group useful:

[email hidden]

I wish I had known about the above when my husband had his
bypass op. There are lots of people with lots of bypass experience
on there.

I think the main element in recovery is how long it takes the
sternum to heal. [About six weeks for it to be stable. About
three months for it to be "good as new".]

People vary in how quickly they recover. My husband was
almost back to normal after three months, but he was better
after six months and much better after a year.

Anna

reply to: chatelaine at lineone dot net

Hi! Neither were tried. 2 regular stents added last Nov. to each end
of a occluded 1 year old stent to reopen it, plus one stent july 02 also
now occluded. Coated to have been used this time but bypass thought
more likely to be a long term solution.
Al

Dr. Andrew B. Chung said:

al <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi! Last angiogram showed blockage in the same location as previous
stented area. Will have double bypass next Monday since meds and
angioplasties have not worked well. Would appreciate information from
people having had this procedure as to what your recovery was like, how
long to return to "normal"?, what could/can you do?,
Problems/difficulties with recovery?
Thanks Al

Out of curiosity, did you fail brachytherapy (radiation) and/or a
drug-eluting (rapamycin) coated stent?

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com

Thank you Al

Markthree said:

I was also going to mention Brachytherapy. I had a stent restenose twice and
then had brachytherapy proceedure at stanford. worked like a charm has stayed
wide open for over a year now. I have another stent which restenosed. It was
reopened with a cutting balloon a couple of months ago. If it closes again I
guess a will go the brachytherapy route again. My cardiologist tells me that
the new coated stents do not work too well when insterted inside a restenosed
old type stent. I also have a brand new coated stent in my third, and I hope
final, narrowing of the LAD.

In article said:

Hi! Last angiogram showed blockage in the same location as previous
stented area. Will have double bypass next Monday since meds and
angioplasties have not worked well. Would appreciate information from
people having had this procedure as to what your recovery was like, how
long to return to "normal"?, what could/can you do?,
Problems/difficulties with recovery?
Thanks Al

I have had bypass twice. I am 56 years old. Had first at 40 and second at
49. If you would like someone to chat with email me at [email hidden]
Knowing what to expect the second time around help my recovery quite
a bit.

al <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi! Neither were tried. 2 regular stents added last Nov. to each end
of a occluded 1 year old stent to reopen it, plus one stent july 02 also
now occluded. Coated to have been used this time but bypass thought
more likely to be a long term solution.
Al

Perhaps you should look into getting a second opinion.

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

sternotomy is one surgical option, minimally-invasive is another
possibility. when speaking to your surgeon, ask about it. for some repairs
(certain valves and arteries)
they can make a portal between your ribs, instead of breaking the
breastbone. this heals in three weeks, as opposed to three months. i had
this done for a valve repair and i vouch for it.

do a google.com search for "minimally invasive".

--
Dave Mausner / v.+1-708-848-2775 / f.+1-708-848-2569 / c.+1-312-wake-my-i
Anna <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

al <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
I think the main element in recovery is how long it takes the
sternum to heal. [About six weeks for it to be stable. About
three months for it to be "good as new".]

People vary in how quickly they recover. My husband was
almost back to normal after three months, but he was better
after six months and much better after a year.