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24-6-2009 - My Dad's heart cath - Not the best news

My mood while writing this blog: ehh

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Today was sooooooo grueling! My dad, sis and I didn't go to bed until about 1am and I set my alarm for 5:30. I drug my butt out of bed and threw on the clothes I had laid out and chugged a cup of coffee. I had gotten everything ready the night before for Darwin so all I did was go grab him around 5:50, dress him quickly, and out the door by 6am. We got to the hospital and my sis went back with my dad to get him prepped for his heart cath but they wouldn't let me go back right away because I had Darwin with me. THANK GOD I was smart enough to bring the stroller or I wouldn't have survived the day!

They had to stick my dad well over 15 time to get ONE IV in and they were supposed to put in two, but they just gave up on the other. They took him in for the procedure while sis and I took Darwin to McDonald's (just through the drive through). Thankfully, D napped in the car. By this time it was around 9am and he slept for about 35 minutes.

So we get to the waiting room and the waiting room attendant says that someone called for us asking for "the family of David C-----". She gave us the number because they have caller ID. So I call back and it's Dad's nurse who called from her personal cell phone telling us the doctor wants to meet with us about the results of his cath.

So she takes us to this room and the doc comes in with pics of Dad's heart and sits at the table and THIS is how he starts...

"So his blood pressure inside his heart is very high, which is a sign of heart failure...." He proceeds to write this next to the pictures VERY slowly. "And his heart is moderately enlarged, which is a bad sign." He writes this. "His heart muscle is very damaged." He writes this. Then to the pictures. "The main artery to the right side of his heart is completely blocked." He shows us where. "He also had blockages here..." He draws an arrow. "Here..." Another arrow. "And here..." On to a different picture meanwhile, my sis and I glance at each other wondering if Dad is okay, alive, conscious, what... "The left side is almost completely blocked here..." A circle this time. "He also has blockages here..." Arrow. "And here." Arrow. "So with the condition of his heart, stints are not a good option. My recommendation is double bypass surgery." Sis and I look at each other in horror. My dad has been adamant for YEARS that he will NOT undergo open heart surgery. His brother, sister, and mother all died as a result of open heart surgery and Dad is petrified to do it. My heart was pounding in my chest thinking, "Oh my God, I can't make this call!"

I asked the doctor, "What is the prognosis if we just go with the stints." His answer was, "I can still do stints, but with the condition of his heart there is a high risk of complications and the benefit would be short-term and liekely not very effective." SH*T! So at this point I'm starting to panic and I see it in sis' face too. Then the doc adds, as if an afterthought, "But he has time. You don't need to make the decision now. He's in the recovery room and I'll explain this all to him when he's more awake." YOU A$$HOLE! You just NOW decide to tell us that he's in recovery, conscious and okay????! What's WRONG with you?! But sis and I just looked at each other in relief.

I guess in a way the way he told us was a good thing because it almost made the news seem like GOOD news! Dad had to have 6 hours of IV fluids so we were there ALL DAY! I walked Darwin around the hallways, even got him to nap in the afternoon in his stroller! He was such an unbelievably good boy that I was shocked! I am SO PROUD of him! He didn't cry ONCE all day!

Anyway, Dad has to see a bunch of doctors. He has to get his kidney function tested in three days to make sure the dye didn't do any damage, then get his aortic aneurism ultrasounded to see if it can be repaired while they are repairing his heart, then see a lung doctor to see if they can help his breathing, then to the surgeon to get his meds changed to try to strengthen his heart muscle because according to the surgeon, "Your heart muscle is in very bad shape and we can't operate until we can improve it's condition..." Then in three weeks he will see the surgeon again to be reevaluated to see if his heart is any better and either they will schedule the surgery or they will change his regimen again and come up with a longer term game plan. Regardless, the surgeon hopes to have Dad scheduled for double bypass in three to six weeks with the actual procedure to take place within the next few months.

I am hopeful that this will help Dad as he's on oxygen all the time now and still has a really hard time getting around. Dad seems to be pretty scared and I feel badly for him, but he also has agreed to the surgery because he trusts the doctors and he wants to get well. Please, if you believe in the power of prayer and/or postive thoughts, send some my dad's way. He could really use them.

I hope that he is able to get into good enough shape for the procedure, that he comes through it okay, that his health is improved afterwards, that he has the strength to make lifestyle changes to maintain it and that he not be fearful any step of the way.

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14 Comments on My Dad's heart cath - Not the best news


soon2be3 - Saturday, 27 Jun
Tbt, I am so sorry to hear this about your dad! I am sending the power of positive thoughts your way. Miss you all! So happy to hear D did so well. Doesn't he continually amaze you?

Rachel918 - Thursday, 25 Jun
my grandpa had a quad bypass it was scary but it def changed his life for the better. He improved his eating and drinking and is in his late 70's now. he is doing great, has had many other obstacles to come by and many other health issues but he has made the best of it and is very grateful for the decisions he has made along the way. I will be thinking of you and your dad an hoping that he gets through all of this and can continue to enjoy life.

3girls2008 - Thursday, 25 Jun
tbt- im so sorry! i will def say a little prayer for him!

BraxtonsMommy0516 - Thursday, 25 Jun
I will definitely be praying for him and your family. I hope everything goes well.

Cherryb0m - Thursday, 25 Jun
I'm soo sorry, I can only imagine how you are feeling. You guys are in my thoughts and prayers.

military~mommy - Thursday, 25 Jun
Hope all is well, I am glad Darwin was so good! I will keep your dad in my thoughts (sorry, no prayers here...) and I am sure all will be fine.

amy011 - Thursday, 25 Jun
Hey, that sounds like such an awful day. I hope everything works out. Good luck and thinking of you all xxx

anzel - Thursday, 25 Jun
Hey there, have you guys in our thoughts. My FIL had a triple heart bypass about 5 years ago, it made a big difference.
Give him lots of love and reassurance

colombianmama - Wednesday, 24 Jun
I'll be thinking of you and your family. I really hope everything goes fine and that your dad will be back to normal soon. YAY for Darwin being such a good baby!

momof2hopfully3 - Wednesday, 24 Jun
I am so sorry ur dad and familyhave to go threw this .i no nothing i say will make u feel any less scared or upset about it but i will keep you all in my prayers. YEAH for darwin for being suck a great boy in such a hard time!!! Again i am truly sorry and hope the furture is brighter.

roxy1120 - Wednesday, 24 Jun
I will be thinking about you and your family

Amanda-is-Rebekahs-Mommy - Wednesday, 24 Jun
I'll keep your dad in my prayers! Heart surgery is scary, my mom went through a triple by-pass almost 8 years ago and then had to get a stint (I think it was in the 4th main, though it's been a while so my memory is fuzzy) one a year later. It's scary but if they can get his heart in good enough shape for the surgery he'll feel quite a bit better after. My husband's grandpa went through a triple by-pass a few years ago and you'd never know today if he didn't have the scar.
And a special Yay! for Darwin being such a good boy! I think they can feel our stress and know when to not push buttons so much when it's really important. Bekah behaved surprisingly well when my mom was in the hospital this last time.

nmck - Wednesday, 24 Jun
Yikes!! I will pray for him and for you and your peace of mind as well! I really hope the surgery will get him feeling good again. I'm so glad D was good! You didn't need any more stress.

cpalmer - Wednesday, 24 Jun
oh hun :( im sorry about the bad news and i will be praying for him and your family <3 big hugs to u!!