Bev, This Is WAY Harder Than My Bypass Surgery!
6 June 2002
I'd like to write a bit about my Dad, Ed Wiseman. I consider him to be a fairly courageous guy. He's also a great Dad. He had a minor stroke about ten years ago and quadruple bypass surgery two years ago. He will be 78 this summer. I am his 47 year old daughter.
He had the bypass surgery because they had discovered an AAA while performing an ultrasound on his gall bladder. (funny how these things happen) The aneurysm was 5 cm at that time, borderline for surgery. He also had gall stones. They did some tests on his heart to determine whether or not it was strong enough to withstand aneurysm surgery. They found several minor blockages to his arteries and one big one so they decided to do the heart surgery first and then do the aneurysm surgery six weeks after the heart surgery.
Well, it ended up being 2 years later because my Dad didn't "bounce back" as quickly as everyone would have liked ! The doctors weren't too concerned at the time because the aneurysm wasn't getting larger but this spring, in early May he had an ultrasound that indicated that the aneurysm had enlarged to 5.5cm and his vascular doctor quickly scheduled him for surgery.
I was worried about it because he still seemed to lack what I presumed would be the strength and energy to withstand another invasive surgery. However, he wanted to do the surgery, so the family supported him.
He had the surgery on May 13, 2002 and made it through but his breathing was poor coming out of the surgery and his blood pressure was very high. After a few days in the ICU and a lot of tinkering with medication and breathing apparatuses, he was put into a regular ward and we stayed with him around the clock because he kept pulling at his tubes and removing his oxygen mask. This happened after the heart surgery as well. He doesn't pull out of anaesthetic very well and he is usually confused for several days. However, at least the aneurysm seemed to be fixed and they took his gall bladder out at the same time.
A few days later they were able to remove most of the tubing, oxygen apparatus etc. When he was able to converse he said, "Bev, this is WAY harder than my bypass surgery!" He is coming along finally (it's now June 5th) but has had a VERY slow recovery. He's still in hospital and is just now starting to walk using a walker. For the first two weeks after surgery he refused all solid food, something that I found alarming but his doctors weren't overly concerned. He still isn't excited about food but will eat it. I guess something happens to your taste buds in this surgery? I've heard other people mention that the thought of food after AAA was kind of revolting Anyway, I expect he has lost 10 or 15 pounds but he had a bit to lose so I guess it's okay.
He can't get over how exhausted he is. I had breakfast with him in the hospital one morning and eating consumed all of his energy. He needed a 2 hour nap afterwards. If he has a visitor just before his physio session, he's too tired to do the physio! When I visited him last Friday he was too tired to swing his own legs over the side of the bed. However, when I spoke to my mother today she says that he is using a walker and walking slowly down the hospital corridor. (great!)
Anyway, I'm glad that he's still with us and I hope he recovers well enough to enjoy some of the summer. I'll post more as we go along.
The stories from other people on this page is very interesting to read. Some wonderful stories, some very tragic. I'm certainly glad my Dad didn't suffer a rupture.
Update: 13 Jun 2002
Dad's surgery was one month ago today and I'm happy to report that he is steadily improving. I haven't been able to visit for a while because I have had a throat infection (I certainly didn't want to give him any nasty germs to deal with!). Fortunately my brother, sister and mother have continued to see him frequently.
The improvement that I see is that Dad has more energy and mobility. A couple of weeks ago, if I phoned him, he'd fall asleep after a 5 minute conversation. Now he is able to stay awake much longer without sounding sleepy. His physical progress is slow but improving. His big milestone yesterday shaving standing up. It doesn't sound like much but last week he didn't have the energy to shave himself at all, so shaving himself AND standing up at the same time is something. He is walking, able to get out of bed on his own and can do a few stairs. The physio and occupational therapists are putting him through all of the activities that he will have to accomplish at home. My sister is an occupational therapist and that has helped us prepare the house for his return. Extra railings on the stairs, bars to hang onto in the bathtub etc.....
The hospital has scheduled a release date of June 20th and assuming that date sticks we'll celebrate Father's Day on the 23rd. I'm sure my Dad will be relieved to be home.
Thank you for all your kind e-mails. The support is wonderful and I intend to show the email's to Dad next time I see him. Maybe I'll get him to do the next entry!
If I can be of help to anyone else going through this ordeal, don't hesitate to drop me a line.
Update: 26 December 2004
My father, Ed Wiseman, celebrated his 80th birthday this year and while other health concerns have prevented him from jogging around the block regularly (he now also has a pacemaker/defibrillator) he is still with us and still very sharp of mind.
Discussion, comments, or questions: Bev Wiseman
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