What a way to head into Thanksgiving

[Barry Loos]

Try this one on for size. Did my annual physical last March. My doctor said I

 

[Bruce Freeman]

Hey Bear glad to hear your going to be OK. My father had a stent(not sure of spelling) put in last year (67) A buddy had one this year (39) and It may not be right for me ask you..But the pain was it in your left side shoulder and arm like down to the elbow? I have had a dull pain for about 2 years now, physical went OK, Chiropractor says its stress and my insurance Dr. gives me muscle relaxors.

BF

 

[Rich D]

Great news Bear!



Rich D

 

[Barry Loos]

Bruce:



It was in the left shoulder and on the inside of my left bicep. What was odd about it was many times I didn't have a pain but sometimes I was really aware of it. Never sharp pains but sort of dull roars.



I remember thinking "how could I wear a 50 lb backpack and hike 8 miles uphill on some days and other days I could feel a dull pain in my neck, chest, or arm, just walking up the boat ramp.



The doctors told me that they have no reason for the blockage except maybe from the years I smoked. Who knows. The doctor said at my age the pain could have been caused by anything so that is why they wanted to search for it.



Lucky for me we have a great cardio hospital in the area and my doctor started by checking my heart. If I knew how pain free all of the tests were I would have had them done much sooner. I admit I was afraid of the procedures and what might be found.



I don't want this message to scare anyone but I just thought it was worth sharing with my friends.



Let me know if you have any other questions.



Bear

 

[Bill McElroy]

Wow Bear,..that's something to be thankful for forsure!!!

We all hope you have MANY more Bass Season's in your future!

Take good care of yourself and give a special thanks for that Dr. and your family!! You're a lucky guy!!!

Best,

Mac

 

[Texas Transplant]

Great deal, other than no fishing for awhile. At least it's not springtime!



Need to get a physical scheduled, as it's been a long while, and I'm in your age group.



Tex

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Good news. Could have been much worse. Here's being thankful for doctors who care enough to look deeper into the problems. So you have 6 weeks of football and fishing on TV! Not so bad.

 

[Staci Matheis]

Barry -



I went through almost exactly the same scenario 12 years ago..... Except that I was only 40 at the time and had a quintuple. My heart problems were part of the many complications arising from being a diabetic since age 10.



I was out of the hospital in a week and back in the office 10 days after surgery! Yeah, the Doctor told me to stay home for a month - but after 2 days of Oprah, I HAD to get out!



The surgery was in February; my biggest concern at the time was whether or not my chest would be healed enought by April for me to go turkey hunting and withstand the impact of a 12 gauge!



Now..... One thing that you may find as I did..... Depression and fear hit me hard. Very hard. Comming face-to-face with my own mortality was not an easy thing. Even today, 12 years later, it's still there..... I wonder every night if I'll wake up in the morning..... I keep Tigger's food and water bowls full all the time - I wouldn't want him to go hungry if it took a while before someone came to see where I was..... All the rationalization in the world doesn't make it go away. I just have to live with it and realize that my fears and feelings are "normal".....



By the same token, this has also given me a deep appreciation for life and everything and everyone I encounter along the way!



God Bless you, Barry!

And all of my Friends here on the board!



me!

 

[Staci Matheis]

P.S.



If you get muscle cramps in your back.....



Roll a bath towel into a log.

Put it on the floor.

Lay on it on your back with the log running along your spine in the shoulder and chest area.

Now, hold your arms out to the side and stretch them back to the floor.....



I kept getting all those cramps and the doctors and nurses told me that I'd just have to live with them for a week or two. A lady friend, who's father was a chiropractor, told me how to relieve them!

 

[Barb Baggott]

Glad your still with us Bear! Now you can catch up on the soap operas! LOL!



Barb

 

[Craig Roberts]

Hey Bear, glad to hear all is well. Had the same thing 10 years ago (I was only 32). Went to the doc feeling tired all the time. Did the same stress test, came off the treadmill, and the doc said " sit in this wheelchair, and we'll get a room ready for you." HUH? Had the surgery the day after Thanksgiving, and haven't looked back since. Take it easy a couple weeks. BTW, if your Insurance pays for the cardiac rehab program, do it. It's a good, monitered work-out, and the pretty nurses are good for the heart, too!



Craig

 

[Bill McElroy]

Wow Craig,..I didn't know you had that surgery too!! Would've never guessed it either by the way you run all over that Service Center everyday....you must've healed up just fine aye??!!!...BTW,..the buffet at Camp Neeley probably would've made your Dr. turn his head!! LOL...

Good thing it's only once a year aye??!! Have a good one!

HI to your bride for me too!! Seeya

Mac

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Thank Goodness for Dr's that still care and know what they are doing. Glad you are ok.



TOXIC

 

[Craig Roberts]

Ya Mac. If my doc would have seen THAT buffet, he would be on the "table". But hey, it's only once a year. I really try to be good the rest of the year, especially now with the diabetes thing. Just need to find more time to exercise. I just found out the clubhouse at home has a workout room, but they don't have any available keys, so I'm on the waiting list for one.



Craig

 

[Staci Matheis]

Oh, YEAH!!!!!

The Nurses in the rehab unit!!!!!

VERY fit young ladies!!!!!



There was one that took care of me while I was in ICU..... Prettiest lady I thought I had ever seen! But I kept thinking while I was in there that she was mighty tall..... Looked her up a bit after I got out of the hospital and got together with her..... Actually ended up dating for a while..... Turns out she was only 4'11"! Your perspective gets all messed up when you're on your back looking up at the world!



me!

 

[Bill McElroy]

She just had your bed lowered all the way to the floor!! :O)

 

[Barry Loos]

I really feel great and I have had super support from my family and friends and the folks at the medical center.



Scott:



I received a lot of information from the professionals about the mental effects of this operation. Most say that dealing with the emotions of the operation is the toughest part of the operation. I must admit that I figured if I lived through a year in Vietnam that I was invincible. But the operation answered that and one other thought for me. First, now I know that I am mortal. Second, racing up the river at 30 mph in my tin Tracker is all the boat this boy needs to enjoy life. Tin wins.



Craig:



You bet on the Cardio Rehab unit. I first have to be cleared by my surgeon but I will be going there. Great looking staff members with positive results.



Thanks for the well wishes guys.



Take care and have a great Thanksgiving



Bear

 

[Mike Levesque]

Wow Bear, hope the 6 weeks of rehab/recovery fly by for you, and here's wishing you and yours a happy Thanksgiving....

 

[Staci Matheis]

I didn't find out that others went through the same depression until after I had been battling it for some time..... Just knowing that I wasn't alone made a huge difference in the way I viewed it.



Regarding the physical recovery..... It was SO easy! I would never have believed that I could recover so quickly from such a major invasive process! True, I was stiff, sore and weak for some time - but not in any way incapacitated! I may have gone into the office after 10 days, but I didn't stay long at first; I tired very quickly. I seem to remember that it was only 2 weeks after I first went back to the office that I was back full time.....

 

[Rich Stern]

Bear, great to hear it worked out well for you. Old Doc Boyd sounds like a good man to have around!



Stay healthy!

 

[Marke Cicero]

Happy Thanksgiving Bear. Make you sure you bring the Doc fishing with you this summer. If he cares about you this much now then just imagine the care you'll get as a fishing buddy.



Marke