My dad has to have open heart surgery. I'm so scared!

Now I might need hip surgery and happened to see your post on open heart

Hi Louis, the same thing happened to me 2 years ago. I ended up having a quadruple bypass. I thought I was fine a week before that. It's amazing what they can do. I'm perfectly fine. I don't even feel like I had open heart surgery. Will be praying for you and your family.

Hi Louis, @loumac,

If you would like to make an appointment for him at Mayo Clinic, please call one of our appointment offices. You can also request an appointment online.
The contact information for Minnesota, Arizona and Florida can be found here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments

How is your dad?

My mother had two bypass surgeries. The first one was a quad, the second a quid,(one of the first arteries had to be repaired again). She had two angioplasties as well. She did fine on both. The last one was 20 yrs. ago. Im sure this surgery has been perfected so much by now. Recovery is long, but they have them sitting up the next day. No more laying around.
Its good to be scared, that shows your great concern for your dad. Im thinking he will be alright. Blessings.

Well, my friend, you are in good company. I, also have had two CABGs. First, at age 49, three arteries. Second, at 61, five. Will your father be all right? probably. If not, do you love him? Have you told him so? If you have not, tell him now. If have had a passel of heart stuff, including 30 catheterizations. At one time I had 24 stents in my heart. A good young lady cardio in Las Vegas put in 17 one time. It saved my life. After a few years the surgeon took out several of them. Said they had done their job well.

Louis, @loumac, I entirely agree with the encouraging posts I read, in particular I was moved by the post of @predictable.
my experience is that close relatives are more scared and/or nervous than the patient themselves.
I decided to have my cardiac surgery (mitral valve repair and surgical ablation) at an early stage.I did not want to wait for a deterioration of my heart function. my husband and my relatives understood my decision. a day before the sceduled operation I was told that they needed an additional information about the right side of my heart. maybe an open heart surgery was necessary in stead of a minimal-invasive operation. I had full confidence in their skills, so I was not nervous, but my husband was..I was the only one in the ward with a minimal-invasive operation, most of the other patients had bypass surgery and needed a partial sternotomy.an operation is an operation,, for sure! the time at the intensive care is "cloudy" (in my memory), but after the transfer to the normal ward improvement goes quickly, not only for me, but also for the bypass patients. they walked around quicker than I could do. they all were relieved.
I hope my words can reassure you a bit.

I just had to add my best wishes to to you, your dad and your family. I'm 63 and I've had many friends and family members over the years who have had this surgery. It's amazing how much more routine it has become since those early years and the doctors and their teams have become better and better at it. Your dad will undergo some rehab and you can be there to help and encourage him. You say this came from out of nowhere but I'll bet once he's recovered from surgery he'll notice how much better, less tired less winded than he used to be.

Louis, two years ago I was just fine according to my heart doctor, then six months later I was told I need a aortic valve replacement and maybe a bypass from BSA Amarillo. I went to KC, MO./ St. Lukes and got a second opinion. It came back the same conclusion. Was I worried you bet, to ease the worry I simply laid the problem in my Lords hands, ask him to help and heal me. I then laid my worries aside, really for got about the upcoming operation. I did make plans for my wife and family if I was to be called home. Those next few weeks I just moved on with my life. The day I went in January 20th my wife, and friends were there with her. Our Pastor came by and sit a bit with her. I was out of the operation in six hours with a new aortic PIG valve and a double bypass. Out of Heart ICU the next day, I was back to work on the ranch by March and been working full time + ever since. By the way I am headed for my 72nd birthday. If you are a Christian lay it at the Lords hands. You will find a calmness in the mind and soul, if not talk to a pastor of a King James 1611 Bible teaching church. Also that same month or landscaper at the ranch, and a brother in our church all had the same operation by the same doctor at BSA. We are all doing well.

Hello and Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, @raymiller.

Thank you for sharing your kind words with @loumac. There is nothing more comforting that talking with someone who has "been there".
Can you share with @loumac- what was the most helpful thing that someone did for you during your recovery? Maybe this will help @loumac with some ideas of what he can do for his Dad.

I hope you have a lovely 72nd birthday!

After 7 bypasses in April '14 I got back on the bike with friends and worked up to 81 miles by August 6. Nothing like friends and exercise.