DIR for Open Heart Surgery

[jepuskar]

My dad just got out of having a quadruple bypass surgery a couple hours ago..very stressful day for myself and the whole other two members of my family. He is doing well soo far, he is actually responding to his nurse already..etc etc...

I was very distraught to see him for the first time, I noticed several danglies from his hospital bed. Hoses were routed every which way, he just didn't look streamlined in his bed. I am very concerned!

He is hooked up to several new computers that are monitoring him, so I'm sure this is fine. I am actually going back in a few hours, but what can I do to improve his bed time? The chest tube and also the catheter need to be routed properly..it's an embarassment to walk in the room with such horrific routing of hoses.

Any recommendations?

Jason

 

[Kim]

Glad to hear that your Dad is doing alright - hope he gets better really quickly.
As for the danglies - I wouldn't worry too much. I'm sure that as he gets more experience he'll start to loose the unnecessary stuff and begin to look more and more streamlined.

 

[00scuba]

Perhaps you can talk to the Doctors to remove some of the unnecessary tubes and wires, come on now we are talking about how he looks in the bed and what type of bed time he can acheive. There are some experimental hoseless monitors that some hospitals are using in Europe, not yet approved in America, but I have the connection and can have it shipped out tonight if you can deposit to my pay pal account.

Responding well to the nurse, that is a good sign, any diver knows that it is important to respond to potential dive buddies, no matter what situation you are in. Did he bring the discover scuba token into the surgery room or was it placed ever so cleverly at bedside?

Some books that i can adivise you to read are: DIR and BYPASS:Looking Good is Better than Feeling GOOD. or another favorite: Was that a Quadruple Bypass or are you just Really Glad to see me.


My best to Big John...may I cause him to grimace and laugh at me in the very near future.

 

[Kat]

Glad to hear your dad is doing alright after his bypass. It's very hard to be in the waiting room, well - waiting. It is so great that you are able to find something humorous during such a stressful time. What's that old saying? Laughter is the best medicine. Or something like that.

As far as DIR, I hope he at least has the 7 ft. O2 tube. And what about that hospital gown? It's probably some horrible paisley, instead of black.

 

[BigJetDriver]

My dad just got out of having a quadruple bypass surgery a couple hours ago..very stressful day for myself and the whole other two members of my family. He is doing well soo far, he is actually responding to his nurse already..etc etc...

I was very distraught to see him for the first time, I noticed several danglies from his hospital bed. Hoses were routed every which way, he just didn't look streamlined in his bed. I am very concerned!

He is hooked up to several new computers that are monitoring him, so I'm sure this is fine. I am actually going back in a few hours, but what can I do to improve his bed time? The chest tube and also the catheter need to be routed properly..it's an embarassment to walk in the room with such horrific routing of hoses.

Any recommendations?

Jason

Jason,

I am sorry to hear that your Dad is in the hospital. I will say a prayer for his complete recovery. Hang in there.

BJD

 

[jagfish]

Our thoughts are with your Dad...

 

[simbrooks]

Maybe he could average his pulse, that would take out one computer, he has to do it every 5mins i believe to keep an accurate idea of whether he is still alive!

Good luck to your pops.

 

[cowprintrabbit]

My best to your father; my dad had the same op 6 years ago at age 80 and is doing great. I also found that laughter was the best medicine. I would visit him after work and find him flirting with the nurses or telling jokes to the orderlies.

Have you told him yet he is not DIR?

 

[jepuskar]

Father had some internal bleeding and they had to go back in and correct it. Apparently the surgeons didnt take the DIR course on open heart stitching. Seriously though, they said that some people are just bleeders, but man.....its not fun sitting in a waiting room for the main surgery and then a couple hours later having to go through it all again. All is well, but for those who know what I'm talking about....its really something to see your loved one hooked up to everything and completely out of it....not a fun day, but I get to wake up tomorrow and do it all over again. :/

Thanks everyone for the kind words, I appreciate it!

I am just in awe talking to the surgeon afterwards knowing that his hands were just on my fathers heart.....very wild stuff. I go to bed a little aggravated knowing that being able to throw a 95mph fastball or shoot a basketball can yield salarys exponentially higher than people who save our lives and our love ones lives. Think about that!

BTW,
Good suggestions on the DIR ideas, unfortunately nobody would know what the heck we are talking about... hehehe

 

[Aeolus]

I had open heart surgery for an aneurism and a bad valve almost 3 years ago. It has not impacted my diving so your Dad probably has a good prognosis. Just try to be supportive during the recovery as it does take a lot out of you. Having a helpful family can go a long way in recovery. BUT try NOT to do everything for him; he needs to do what he is capable of in order to get better. Sorry, I did not mean to be preachy.

My "heartfelt" (pun intended) best wishes to your Dad and your family, even though I do not know any of you.