News from SgtWookie

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007
22,230
Wookie, I know that that laser drilling was not appropriate in your case. I was trying to make a rather feeble attempt at humor (obviously, I’m still not a very funny person) in that Wookie was up and about so soon.
Ahh, OK - I missed that you were trying to make a funny. I was quite tired and somewhat stressed when I read that entry, so my sense of humor was off.

Good doctors and general health condition are really important in this situation, but being tenacious and strong-willed are almost as important. Now I’ll be nice and say it’s the Marine “can do-will do” training coming out rather than what I’ve often observed as normal male stubbornness.
I was fortunate in that what I had was more routine surgery rather than emergency surgery. I really had to twist my doc's arm to get me a referral to a cardiologist; once that happened things started falling fairly rapidly into place; and by the time I was on the slab in the lab, the surgeon had a great deal of information to work with, and no surprises. Also, he is the chief cardiac surgeon at the hospital, and has performed over 10,000 bypasses.

It sounds like Beenthere's operation was really an emergency, with surprises thrown in. While what I went through wasn't exactly "a walk in the park", I certainly had a far easier time of it than Beenthere did.

Those of you that have been on the site for a number of years might remember some years back when Beenthere dropped out of sight for a period of time (this was several years before the cancer stuff). He had an emergency quad bypass (two 80% blocks, two 100% blocks) with a valve repair thrown in. They had to put him on an external pump to keep him alive while they got a “special” specialist in to do the surgery. He was given a 10% chance of surviving the initial surgery. His surgery lasted somewhere around 10 hours. He was intubated (breathing tube) for 2 days, sedated for 3 days, sat up at 4 days, in ICU for 12 days then 3 more days on the regular floor. I’m sharing this to emphasis how well Wookie is doing by comparison.
Keep in mind, my doc went in there with multiple road maps, while Beenthere's doc would have had to more or less "go with the flow". My surgery was also far less complex, as I did not need any valves repaired.

With the coughing, I’m assuming they showed you how to clutch a pillow to your chest and cough.
Yes, but even with using the pillow as a brace, it was still quite painful.

This was something that they forced Beenthere to do on a regular basis. I think it had something to do with warding off buildup of fluid in the lungs.
This. The 1st lung drain tube was removed 10 hours after surgery. The last one came out this morning.

Oh, and they gave him a big red heart pillow (with anatomically correct drawings) to use. I guess that’s better than a giant stuffed teddy bear.
:)
 
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R!f@@

Joined Apr 2, 2009
9,918
Hey Sgt.

And Hello to Miss Beenthere (am I saying this right ) :D

I too was wondering who this 1chance guy was. Never knew he was a Lady. My apologies.

The way She said things about Beenthere had me :eek: not to mention Sgt.

Nice meeting you.
 

DerStrom8

Joined Feb 20, 2011
2,390
I'm sorry if my post sounded unfriendly or insensitive, 1chance. I am happy to meet you, and I hope you and your family are well :)

Best wishes for the new year!

Regards,
Der Strom
 

Audioguru

Joined Dec 20, 2007
11,248
Best wishes, Wookie.
During my heart attack I think it was the youngest, prettiest and friendliest nurses who kept me going and young. (Don't tell my wife who also keeps me going and young).
Now that I am fixed I am very young again.
 

1chance

Joined Nov 26, 2011
46
Thank you DerStrom8 and R!f@@. Next week one of my sons, his wife & child (my 6 yr old grandson), along with myself will be traveling to Florida for the purpose of casting Beenthere and his parents' ashes at sea. Beenthere spent his early childhood on Anna Maria Island and elementary days in the Ft. Lauderdale area. We have chartered a sailboat for the ceremony as Beenthere enjoyed sailing in his younger days and we are staying on Anna Maria Island in the hopes of giving the grandson a similar experience to that enjoyed by his grandfather.
 

JoeJester

Joined Apr 26, 2005
4,390
After my quad bypass, and after they removed the tube and it was time for my walk ... they had a big ol' boy to assist me. I was so drugged up when he came to make me walk, I told him that I think I could take him. Yeah right ... I could barely walk. At least he laughed when I said it.
 

spinnaker

Joined Oct 29, 2009
7,830
Thank you DerStrom8 and R!f@@. Next week one of my sons, his wife & child (my 6 yr old grandson), along with myself will be traveling to Florida for the purpose of casting Beenthere and his parents' ashes at sea. Beenthere spent his early childhood on Anna Maria Island and elementary days in the Ft. Lauderdale area. We have chartered a sailboat for the ceremony as Beenthere enjoyed sailing in his younger days and we are staying on Anna Maria Island in the hopes of giving the grandson a similar experience to that enjoyed by his grandfather.

Sounds like a wonderful tribute. Sailing is one of my favorite sports too.

Just make sure the EPA doesn't catch you. ;)
 

1chance

Joined Nov 26, 2011
46
I am quite aware of the federal and state laws. To cast at sea legally, one must be at least 3 miles out. We are booked with an operator that does this quite frequently. Each state has its own regulations for casting on land as well. I should thank Wookie for pointing me in the right direction on this, when I mentioned my initial plans to him some time back, so that I could get this done properly.
Now for my macrabe and very sick sense of humor: I will be traveling with 3 somebodies and 3 no-bodies. :confused:
 

Thread Starter

Wendy

Joined Mar 24, 2008
23,415
I am loath to disturb him this soon after surgery, so I will use other sources. I got a email from 1chance that he is going though nausea today, which is not good. Sounds painful as a matter of fact.

Many people don't realize it, but chronic indigestion and nausea is a frequent symptom of heart disease. Men, being who we are, blow it off. I had a friend die like that a long while back.

The fact he is on the up hill climb is extremely encouraging.
 

magnet18

Joined Dec 22, 2010
1,227
Thank you bill, for this thread.
I hadn't noticed it until a couple days ago, because I don't usually look at the stickies (because they rarely change), but R!f@@'s card thread brought it to my attention.

As with everyone else, I am wishing wookie the best of luck and a speedy recovery, he is in my prayers.

He is also such a critical part of this forum, I think we would all be lost without him!
 

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007
22,230
I feel like hell. I have a blockage in my intestines. I had hiccups for most of the day; that really sucked.

my temp went up to 103, they gave me ice packs and ibuprofen to bring the temp down. They are supposed to be taking me to get a CT scan soon.
 

DerStrom8

Joined Feb 20, 2011
2,390
Thanks for the update Sgt. I hope you get well soon. It pains me to hear about what you're having to go through :(

Keep your spirits up, though. That is really important to both your physical and mental health.

Best wishes,
Der Strom
 

thatoneguy

Joined Feb 19, 2009
6,359
Hiccups sucked when I has some broken ribs, I can't imagine what it's like for you.

Keep us updated, and I I'm sending all the positive waves I can to you.
 

magnet18

Joined Dec 22, 2010
1,227
Wishing you all the best!
Get plenty of rest, and keep positive!
You'll be back and posting with us before you know it! :)
 

spinnaker

Joined Oct 29, 2009
7,830
I happen to have access to Wookie's latest CT Scan




Wookie,

Regarding the blockage. You know you didn't need to go to the lengths of swallowing your project components just to finish it in the hospital. I'm sure the nurses would have allowed you to bring them in your brief case. :)
 

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