My dad (donor) having heart bypass op today

[lainiepop]

Well almost 2 years to the day dad was in theatre having a kidney removed to donate to me and now he is in theatre having a heart bypass op.

Luckily the heart attack he suffered in December was only mild, and caused no damage to the heart muscles, and he had his pre-op last week which cleared him as perfect health for the test (he passed the tests as a healthy person would.)

His kidney function is fine, but they did warn him that during the op, they remove a vein from his leg to transplant into the heart valve, and as messing with veins can temporarily halt kidney function they have a mini dialysis machine in theatre in case its needed. They said he'd be at no more risk of needing this than anyone else.

Just hoping and praying it goes well after all he's done for me and my family, will update you when i know anything.

Marie

[willowtreewren]

Thinking of you! 

[Poppylicious]

Hope it's all gone well, lainie.

*huggles*

[Ninanna]

Good luck to your dad, I hope all goes well!

[lainiepop]

Thank you everyone. The surgery went well, mum saw him yesterday, a day after the op and he was out sat in a chair looking fine. She said he asked the physio when he could play tennis, they said not for 6 months Mum said he looked really well (compared to how he did after the kidney donation! I guess this time he was receiving something to help him, instead of his body having to get used to having something being taken!)
Hopefully he'll be out of the ICU soon. Im no expert on heart ops, and for kidney tx i was straight on renal ward anyway so timeframe unknown, but hopefully soon !

[cassandra]

Great to hear all went well.

   



Love, Cas

[okarol]

  Good news!! Best wishes that he recovers soon! 

[lainiepop]

Hi all, well the day after i posted mum said he'd had a bad night, i a lot of pain and sent him for a chest x ray, that day he didnt get out of bed all day and didnt eat, luckily turned out to be just gas and constipation issues. Yesterday (day 3 post op) he was much better out of bed again and eating a bit and well in himself, so today they moved him to the ward with 3 nurses to 1 patient from 1 on 1. Mum said today he looked great really well but getting bored. However his bloods have shown a raise in creatinine from around his usual 130 up to 190. I dont think they're concerned at moment, as they did say function can worsen with op, but should improve and stabalize, so am really hoping and praying it does. they're taking more bloods later and if stable or improved they will move him to a normal ward tomorrow. Im very worried and dont want to thnk about what will happen if he bloods dont improved. Am feeling stressed and guilty xxx

[okarol]

Do not feel guilty! As a parent I would do anything for my kids, and I am sure your Dad is grateful he was able to help you.
The heart issue is something that would have excluded him from donating, if it was happening at the time.
We never know where our health we be in a year or two. That's the way it is when you get older.
I hope your dad recovers well and am sending you lots of {hugs}  and prayers!!

[cassandra]

Well said Okarol.

Lots of love, and well wishes to your dad, and you, and family, Cas

[lainiepop]

Thanks cas and karol. I know you are right, my mum and dad were relieved this happened after the donation and not before to rule him out, even tho that sounds horrible when u think about it, but he was such a good match, with such a good working kidney he was the better option than mum (funny really as he went into it thinking mum would do it, u know what men r like lol), but it turned out better as he would not have coped looking after me mum and 2 kids when steve went back to work! And although i dont know what it feels like to have a child who is ill as  i have always been the ill one (!), it breaks my heart reading and seeing things about kids as young as my daughter needing dialysis and transplant and i would rather give up this kidney for them than have them suffer (i know that wouldnt be allowed but u get my drift!) As my mum put it when they were being tested ' ive lived my life, if something goes wrong it goes wrong, but u need to be well for your family' probably sums up how most parents feel and i know my dad would do it again even if he knew what would later happen.

Sorry drifted off the update! Dad has been moved to a normal ward and has had all tubes out, neckline coming out today, cath staying in. He is fine i spoke to him last night, he said his chest is very painful, much worse than donating, but mum says he is looking well. Dont know blood results but assume they are ok as they said they'll look to have him home on saturday

Am hoping he will recover well, but it will take time and he will turn 69 in september. All being well with me and him, we are planning to go to disney florida for christmas 2015, my son will be 8 and daughter 4 and a half so shold be lovely ages. It will also be mine and hubbys 10th wedding anniversary in 2015 and obviously dads 70th, so hopefully we will be well and can mark some special occasions and make some memories
xxxx

[okarol]

Go DAD!! 

[MooseMom]

How's he doing today?  I'm hoping he is continuing to improve!

[lainiepop]

Hi he is fine spoke to him today. He is coming out monday they wanna check his creatinine once more but it has gone down to 160. He was v happy with the card we sent handmade by kids complete with hand and footprints and tons of stickers. I put some pics of me and kids inside too. Mum said he told her to take all others home but wanted to keep ours there, prob to show  the nurses the grandKids x

[lainiepop]

Dad is home Creatinine down in the 150s, apparantly it was actually over 200 straight after the op. Ive told him to keep drinking lots of water! Hes going back in 2 days for bloods, as the ramopril can raise it so they might switch. not sure why hes on this as his blood pressure is very low, as is cholestrol. xx

[cassandra]

So glad to hear this news!! And a 150 creatinine!!! Have they ever explained why he has to take Ramopril? I think it could be to 'regulate' his heartbeat but not sure.

Anyway, good news. Enjoy the day, and love to all, Cas

[Charlie B53]

Wife and I both had by-passes.  She had a quad Nov 05, I had a triple end of Jan 06.  Both of us are so fortunate that our problems were found early and no heart damage.

It is a serious amount of pain having your chest cracked open.  Splitting the breastbone and hinging them apart puts a serious hurting down your back where the ribs hinge.

They keep you very well drugged those first few days, mostly unable to remember much.  Both of us were sent home on the 6th day.

Kkeep Dad comfortable.  Make sure he doesn't exert himself too much.  NO LIFTING or doing anything that stresses the wire stitches holding the breastbone together.

A friend of mine tore those stitches out, had to have another surgery to re-stitch, and start his recovery all over.

Lots of 'Guys' have made that mistake.  Don't let Dad do it.

[lainiepop]

l talked to Dad On Skypc today, saw his scar! t
He looks fine!
Creatinine down to 125 gfr 50 which it Was before, they're happy With that given his  age and him missing  a kidney and all
His iron is only 9 tho So thats  why he's so tired xx