Dept. of Updates

[kaffy_r]

 The Word Is Bypass

Mac won't know until tomorrow at least what type of bypass (i.e. single, double, triple) or when they're going to do it, but the test they did today confirmed that the biggest occlusion was far bigger than they originally thought. 

Since Halifax is being hit by a monster winter storm right now, I was worried about his cat and dog, but friends are taking care of them. I also managed to get the name of a couple of his doctors out of him, and his girlfriend's phone number. (He asked me "why do you want those?" and I resisted saying a number of very sarcastic things and just said "For the same reason you wanted numbers when Mum was in hospital." A moment of silence followed, and I got the information.)

Comments

[owlboy]

(hugs) :/

[kaffy_r]

Thanks. It's been a fan-fucking-tastic day.

(Also, you're in my thoughts; I just haven't had much time to respond to folks' posts.)

[shanghaied]

He asked me "why do you want those?" and I resisted saying a number of very sarcastic things and just said "For the same reason you wanted numbers when Mum was in hospital." A moment of silence followed, and I got the information.

Oh lady, this made me snarfle! Because, like, human. We're such each-wrapped-in-own-viewpoint, one-rule-for-me-and-another-for-you feckers, even amongst close family :-)

Glad to hear your bro has apparently reached the bored and irritable stage!

I have an idea to share with you, but methinks it should wait until after his successful bypass op. It's certainly nothing bad, but the timing could seem inappropriate...

[kaffy_r]

We're such each-wrapped-in-own-viewpoint, one-rule-for-me-and-another-for-you feckers, even amongst close family

Oh, you have no idea - although all of us in this family have become better about sharing information over the years. I've had to learn to do it myself. But you're so right about that; it seems to be a oorollary of "Do as I do, not as I say."

It turns out, of course, that he'll be in hospital for much longer than expected at the point I'd written this, so I expect to get a lot more information out of him.

And I will be glad to hear your idea; don't worry about inappropriate timing. Very little seems inappropriate right now.

[shanghaied]

Shareage shall happen. Not at the moment though, because going off to earn moneystuff has to happen today :-)

[ameliaponders]

Sending lots of thoughts and good energy and all that kind of wonderful star stuff to you and your brother! I am sure this is quite scary and I wish both of you all the best!

[kaffy_r]

Thank you so much! It's been more than a bit of a rollercoaster ride, so all the thoughts and good energy I've received from folks has actually been of great importance to me.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm trying to remember how many bypasses is better or worse, but it's been twenty years.

re: Asking for phone numbers -- heh. Yeah, that'd work.

re: bypass p.s. -- So no more male modeling for him, his legs will be all scarred (and not in a cool X-Games kinda way).

[bibliofile]

whoops, that was me.

[kaffy_r]

Heh. Don't worry - I've done that occasionally myself!

It turns out that they will be taking artery from the chest wall, or so Mac tells me.

[azalaisdep.livejournal.com]

Oh Lordy, I have only just caught up with the last few posts after several days off LJ. What a horrible shock for you and the family. Thinking good thoughts very hard in your direction, Mac's direction, and those of his cardiologists and the rest of his medical team, for the best possible outcome.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Ah, dang. Here's more warm thoughts and good wishes for a successful surgery and a quick recovery.

[kaffy_r]

Thanks - depending on how many bypasses are necessary, I'll probably worry more or less - but since I actually once got to cover the first two hours of a five hour open heart bypass surgery operation (it was cool!) I'm reminding myself that this sort of procedure, while big, has largely been mastered, to the extent any medical procedure can be mastered. And the guy whose operation I covered told me later that the improvement in his quality of life was almost immediate. These are good things to remember.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Yes, these guys know what they're doing and have had lots of practice, and know a lot about what to do to keep things better, post-recovery. If there's an upside to the prevalence of coronary heart disease, that's it. Hal and both his brothers have now outlived their father by not less than 11 years apiece.

[kaffy_r]

Thanks - that helps to be reminded of.

[kaffy_r]

I know how you feel about being off LJ and getting hit with news. I tend to stay off Facebook a long, long time before checking in - and I discovered an old friend had to go in for an emergency appendectomy a week or so ago.

Thanks for your good thoughts; they are so very appreciated!

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Hard to type with crossed fingers....

K. [are you the only sibling?]

[kaffy_r]

Yup. The one, the only, the eldest. He's my baby brother by 15 months.

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Bless him...gods, I am keeping my fingers crossed for him and for you, lovie...

*HUGS*

[kaffy_r]

Thanks, my dear; this, combined with a particularly heinously stupid call from a heinously stupid upper manager (perhaps I'll RAEGRANT about that later) made today double plus ungood. On the other hand, I am wearing a multipcolored propellor beanie as I type this. That actually makes things a great deal better.

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

OMG...do I ever understand Stupid and the forms it comes in. I recommend Ranting, does make one feel better (to an extent...the rest can be cured by beverages of choice and a good lie-in).

LOL!! That image made me smile. And I more than needed that! So I suppose wearing is even better than hearing about it!

*HUGS*

[kaffy_r]

Oh, everyone should have a propeller beanie to wear when things get stupid. Heh.

*hugs back, and gratefully accepted*

[earlgreytea68.livejournal.com]

Continued good thoughts your and his way.

[kaffy_r]

Your good thoughts are very much appreciated.

[ladymercury-10.livejournal.com]

Best wishes for you, for him, and for his medical team. I hope whatever kind of bypass he needs goes well and he recovers speedily!

[kaffy_r]

Your hope and my solicitations to the universe are coinciding - and I remind myself, as I told akirlu that I've seen open heart surgery, and talked to its successful beneficiary, and that, with the caveat that nothing is ever guaranteed) modern heart bypass surgery is generally a good thing.

[clocketpatch]

I'm continuing to send hugs and prayers in your direction.

[kaffy_r]

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart (and on behalf of my baby brother's heart.)

[time-converges.livejournal.com]

*hugs* to you, and lots of good vibes for your brother!

[kaffy_r]

Many thanks! And my brother says to say thank you to all the people he doesn't know, who've been pulling for him!

[livii.livejournal.com]

Just catching up on LJ - so sorry to hear this, hon. Hoping all will go well. Is he at IWK? It's a great hospital, or at least was when I lived there.

Billy's dad just had triple bypass as I think I wrote on LJ. He is doing really, really well and so I hope things will go as well for your brother. If there's anything you'd like to know about the surgery that I can provide info on, let me know. HUGS.

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Wow, a stent plus a bypass. Isn't he the lucky patient!

Kansas City fan Jim Murray is home following bypass surgery. Heart attack on the Ides of March; triple bypass on St. Patrick's Day, and home watching baseball on TV by Friday night.

Good on Mac for giving you those numbers. Don Fitch (Bless His Sweet Heart) gave me the name and phone number of his cardiologist the year he came out to Minicon a couple of months after having a stent installed. I never needed to use the info, but it certainly was reassuring to have. (I asked for it after we had a bit of a scare when I picked him up at the airport. Fortunately, nitroglycerin under the tongue did a good job of dealing with that.)

More prayers, thoughts, wishes for good cheer, strength, and more went flying on those strong northwest winds that blew through Toad Woods and the rest of Massachusetts today. As I wrote to Gavi Wednesday afternoon: "No snow here, but, wow, is it ever windy outside!" I'm quoting that because of her response: "And it is here, too—gloriously and violently so! I nearly fell off my heels a couple of times."

Here's to everyone staying upright and secure through the rest of Mac's medical rollercoaster ride ahead.

[cathica.livejournal.com]

It's okay, it was really just a political storm--lots of wind, bluster, inconvenience, but no damage we can't handle. Contrary to the rumours, it was not as bad as White Juan. That was *cold.* The sun is out here, and the roads are being opened. Things are moving again. Maritimers are tough; you and your brother are no exception. Keeping a good thought for you both...

[kaffy_r]

Thanks - I just posted again, after learning that he's going to be undergoing quintuple bypass surgery. But you're right; Maritimers are tough, and he's one of the toughest I know. So I'm hanging on to that.

[thisbluespirit]

I've been sending some more prayers in your direction. ♥

[kaffy_r]

All of them are precious to me. Thank you.