My brother's having heart surgery tomorrow

[Dookus]

He's my best friend - we've always lived near each other, even though we're now 3000 miles away from where we grew up.

He's had really bad atrial fibrillation for a few months now - his heart beats up to 200x/minute, sometimes for as long as 48 hours.

So tomorrow, at UCSF, they're performing a pretty cool, rather new surgery. They don't open the chest - they insert cathethers in the groin and neck and snake them into the heart. Then they measure the electrical impulse coming from the nerves and try to locate the source of the problem, then "burn" a little circle around the nerve. The scar tissue stops the electrical impulse and, hopefully, solves the problem.

Wish him well. He's a good guy.

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. Of course he's a good guy

if he's your brother and friend. I wish him a very successful surgery and a quick recovery. And I hope you make it through without too much stress, yourself. He'll be sleeping and you'll be worrying.

[Dookus]

5. true

8 years ago my Dad had bypass surgery. We were all a mess while he was in surgery, but he woke up feeling fine and happy.

[jonnyblitz]

2. I wish him the best..

and you too, Dookus! hopefully this will solve the problem. :hi:

[boneygrey]

3. My thoughts and prayers are

with you and your brother.:hug:

[Jesus Saves]

4. I wish him well

That's a new procedure, never heard of it.

[Dookus]

6. You can actually watch an instance of it

http://www.or-live.com/StJoseph/1316/


They webcast this yesterday, coincidentally.

He was lucky - he thought he'd have to go to Cleveland or Johns Hopkins or maybe Mayo for it, but learned it's now being done in SF. So he contacted them, and they had an opening. He thought he'd have to wait until July for the surgery.

[babylonsister]

7. Dookus, my man, your brother

and your best friend have my heart and soul! It's called love.

[Dookus]

8. thank you very much

I just spoke to him, and he sounds good. But I'm gonna be a wreck.

[Left Is Write]

9. Good luck to him!

I hope it all goes well.

[Solly Mack]

10. Good thoughts coming his way...and yours

[flamingyouth]

11. I'll be thinking of him

And you too. :hug:

[Reverend_Smitty]

12. I wish you and your family the best...

I'll be sending good vibes his way tomorrow

[MidwestMomma]

Sounds like he's getting the latest and best treatment

Sending good thoughts your way....

[jpgray]

13. He's got my good wishes

And those are really at a premium these days, with all the nasty stuff going around.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

14. Amazing technology available these days

Your brother should be fine. Keeping you guys in my thoughts, Pope Dookus I.

[Dookus]

20. Thanks

yes, it is amazing, isn't it?

[JVS]

15. I hope things go well

[CottonBear]

16. My thoughts and prayers are with you both tonight.

Take care and be strong.

[Swede]

17. Well I wish you and your brother the best.

Good luck.

[devilgrrl]

18. Best of luck to your brother.

:-)

[Dookus]

19. Thank you all, very much

[tammywammy]

21. Good luck to your brother

I'll be sending out good brain waves tomorrow.
:hug:

[BikeWriter]

22. Hey, Dookus. I've had them run that roto-rooter into my heart...

a couple of times. The first time they said I was cool. The next time they put something in there. Your Bro will be just fine. :)

[Dookus]

23. Oh

I've been angioplastied myself. It weren't no big thang.

This one's a little riskier because it goes directly into the heart. In fact, they need to poke a little hole between the upper chambers to reach the far one.

The atrial fibrillation itself can cause blod clots to pool in the heart, so they have to be very careful not to send one off to the brain.

Plus, they use THREE catheters - one in each upper thigh, and one in the neck. It's a 7-hour operation.

[BikeWriter]

24. I'm sure his specialists are the best, then. They don't let beginners...

do that. Those guys probably do it several times a week.

[Dookus]

25. that's the funny part though...

every experienced surgeon has to do it a first time. And a second and a third...

[RevolutionaryActs]

26. Good thoughts going his way.

Hope all goes well. :hug:

[Duncan Grant]

27. Good wishes to your brother -

and you too, Dookus.
Some of the most talented and competent surgeons in the country work on Parnassus St. :thumbsup: :hi:

[Dookus]

28. Thank you

yes, I trust he's in very good hands.

[Fridays Child]

29. Vibes of wellness to your brother.

((((((((((:loveya:))))))))))

[MrScorpio]

30. He'll be in my thoughts, Dook

Keep us informed

[Vektor]

31. Best of luck to your brother...

I'll be wishing for his speedy recovery!

[Dookus]

32. thank you

if all goes well, it should be quick. Doc says he can go back to work a week later. He'll spend one night in the hospital afterward.

The biggest likely problem is the bruising and soreness from the catheters in his neck and thighs. When I had my angioplasty, that was the only annoyance. It hurt like hell and I was bruised in places I never wanted to be bruised.

[Vektor]

33. Does heart disease run in your family?

I'm sorry to hear both you and your brother had to endure this. How are you doing now?

[Dookus]

34. yes it does

I'm doing fine, thanks. I had one blockage in one artery - found when I was 41. The rest of the arteries looked fine - just one small section was blocked.


My brother's problem, though, is not what people typically consider "heart disease". It's an electrical problem of unknown origin.

[Vektor]

37. Oh...I'm sorry to hear that.

I'm glad they caught yours early and they were able to repair the damage with somewhat minimally invasive procedures. My Dad had a pretty major heart attack in his late fifties and had the dreaded quintuple bypass surgery. He's 65 now, and doing great. Apparently he was a real mess, but they fixed him up quite well!

Best of luck again to you and your bro!

[Dookus]

38. My dad

had a triple bypass about 7 years ago. He's been doing great since then.

He was lucky - no heart attack. Just some pressure in his chest he mentioned to his doctor. They did the surgery and now the docs say his heart will outlive him.

I was similarly lucky. The docs said most people in my situation first learn of their problem via a massive heart attack. I just had some transient pain and pressure.

[Vektor]

40. Definitely a good thing they got it early.

My dad has the whole fear of doctors thing going on, so when he began to have symptoms of M.I. he hid it from my mom. Luckily, she is a very astute and experienced R.N.. She noticed pretty quickly something was amiss, and hauled him to the doctor. It was just in time.

How old was your dad when he had the surgery?

[Dookus]

42. He was 69 or 70.

Yesterday was his 77th birthday, and he's in fine health. He's having a carcinoma removed next week, but it's nothing to worry about (at least I keep telling myself that.)

[Vektor]

45. Carcinomas, luckily are often very treatable.

Especially basal cell - he should do great. Sounds like it's "medical procedure week" for your family. Hang in there! :-)

[Dookus]

46. oh yes, it is

my sister-in-law is undergoing chemo now for a VERY small lump found in her breast. It's been removed, but they're treating it very aggressively.

Yeah, it's medical time here. My mother's taking the brunt of it - she's a worrier.

[Vektor]

48. Oh my...

Your poor Mom! I will most certainly have your family in my thoughts and will be wishing them well.

[Skittles]

35. he is going to be fine, Dookus

we all wish him well :)

[Dookus]

36. Thank you Skittles

I believe he will, too. It's just sorta stressful waiting for confirmation.

[Skittles]

41. I know what it is like, worrying about a brother

you be good to yourself

[Dookus]

43. yes

I remember. I'm still very sorry your family had to experience that.

[KitchenWitch]

39. I am sending your brother energy

Hope the procedure goes well for him and takes care of his problem.

[VOX]

44. All good thoughts and wishes to your brother, Dook...

This procedure does sound very cool, from an observer's point of view, of course.

My mom had "atrial fib," and it eventually led to a severe stroke, so your brother's doing the right thing. Plus, UCSF has **great** docs.

Glad you can be there for him, and that you guys are so close. :hug:

[Dookus]

47. damn

sorry about your mother.

Yes, my brother is very lucky.

[Bunny]

49. Wow. I hope all goes well.

That sounds like an interesting way to approach the problem.

[freebird1]

50. The very best of luck to your brother.

Isn't it wonderful about the way heart surgery has changed !

:hi: :thumbsup:

[BlueIris]

51. Another well-wishers! n/t