COPD Information Forum

COPD Information Forum
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COPD and Surgery

Posted by Joe - Tx on 5/7/2008, 6:21 pm
69.152.107.75

Hi friends. I came home after a 5 day stay in the hospital. Not for Copd this time. I had a Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurism repair. Thats when your main artery blows up like a balloon and will eventually burst. The procedure I had was minimally invasive. I've got 2 2inch scars on my groin and a newly lined Aorta with a Sears Roebuck Guarantee. Here is the web page which has a visual of the procedure.

http://www.cookmedical.com/ai/educationMedia.do?mediaId=1582

This was a life threatening situation and I was surprised they would do it on me. I have a fev1 of 13%. I was intubated and put under general anathesia for 4 hours. Woke up in ICU just fine and started PLB. Did have a few problems. They wouldn't let me leave ICU till I could pass water without a catheter. Tried my hardest to get the jug wet, but couldn't do it. So the 3 nurses decide to put a catheter back in. 1 1/2 hours later none of the 5 catheters they tried could be inserted all the way, so they figure the cardiovascular surgeon screwed up and woke him at 5AM to come in and fix his work. I am in major pain and trauma. I demanded a pain pill. My manhood was black and blue and bleeding. Finally the Dr. gets there at 7AM. Takes him 20 seconds to get the catheter in. The next day they take it out and everything is normal, but awful sore.
I'm home doing fine. Can't exercise for 2 weeks. Can't really say I'll miss it.

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by linda md on 5/8/2008, 9:31 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
66.16.157.202

Joe, So glad you are home recovering from your surgery. Take care of yourself and don't get too comfortable, we will start bugging you to get back on the treadmill as soon as you get clearance from your doctor. Seriously, great to hear all went well. Let us know how you are doing.
Linda

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by c.j. on 5/8/2008, 6:19 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
65.7.42.88

Thanks for sharing Joe. I'm scheduled for laproscopic gallbladder surgery the 19th and I expect to do as well as you. FEV1 is 18. Hope you continue to do well.

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by Joe - Tx on 5/8/2008, 7:31 pm, in reply to "Re: COPD and Surgery"
69.152.107.75

c.j.,

Should be a piece of cake for someone that's been thru the battles we have. My SIL in Minn had a hole in her heart fixed. Drove herself home 2 hours later. Amazing what they can do today. If they only had a new lung they could just put in and blow up it would be so nice.

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by ElizabethMO on 5/8/2008, 6:58 pm, in reply to "Re: COPD and Surgery"
72.128.38.199

Good luck, c.j., with your gallbladder surgery. I too have to have the gallbladder removed but don't know for sure yet whether or not I am a candidate for the laproscopic type. I see the surgeon tomorrow and hope to find out. I will be scheduled very soon, I believe, because I had a pretty serious "attack" last Friday. Let us know how it goes.

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by Don NY on 5/8/2008, 12:28 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
74.47.128.204

I'm glad your aneurysm is repaired, Joe, and I'm glad you are pleased. But I'm horrified that three nit-wits couldn't get 5 catheters in properly. What kind of idiots would conclude that the cardio-vascular surgery would have anything to do with your plumbing? I doubt I would have been so good natured about that fiasco. I would do my best to ensure that three nurses would wish they had chosen a different career path.

Or maybe it's just me. I get kind of weird about major surgery, anyway. It will be five years tomorrow that I had the coronary bypass that put an end to my life as a useful person. I had my pants on and was walking out of the hospital when I let them talk me into staying and having the operation. Now I wish I had kept walking.

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by CarolCA on 5/8/2008, 9:25 pm, in reply to "Re: COPD and Surgery"
67.164.118.40

There was probably inflammation that had occured from the first catheter. That is not uncommon. By the time the Doctor got there the inflammation had gone down or maybe they just liked Joe, a lot.

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by Joe - Tx on 5/9/2008, 11:47 am, in reply to "Re: COPD and Surgery"
69.152.107.75

I swear every one in the ICU had a good look or a try at it. I think they were even bringing visitors up from the lobby. LOL

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by Joe - Tx on 5/8/2008, 3:08 pm, in reply to "Re: COPD and Surgery"
69.152.107.75

Don, wish you were hale and hearty. Shame your bypass didn't work well.
My problems are nothing compared to yours.
For a while there I thought I was gonna have to put old willie in the shop to get him fixed.
Everytime I asked a medicaly trained person what went wrong, they tell me it's a practice. My piano teacher told me practice made perfect. Didn't work, I'm tone deaf.
Those 3 nice young ladies tried their best and I have no ill feelings against them. Just glad it was not a serious thing.
You and Larry/Ga have both bad outcomes. Wish I could make it easier on you.

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by clairefl on 5/8/2008, 9:42 am, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
66.176.243.13

Ouch! The only good part of this horror story is that they caught the AAA before it ruptured. Get well soon, Joe.

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by CarolMA on 5/8/2008, 9:30 am, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
72.74.17.56

Joe, I pleased to hear that you are now home, and doing fine.
Please keep us up-dated on your progress.
It is nice to know that at 13% we can still have these things done.
You have certainly earned your 2 week vacation from exercise. Take Care. Carol

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by Cathy-WI on 5/7/2008, 11:25 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
68.112.186.86

Joe - sure glad you're OK now and don't have to worry about anything rupturing. So just relax, enjoy your own bed in peace and quiet, and recover quickly.

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by Joyce in Tx on 5/7/2008, 9:48 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
166.128.75.109

Glad your surgery went alright.My hubby had this surgery about 2 years ago and is doing great today and I'm sure you will too.
Good luck

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by garyTX on 5/7/2008, 8:33 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
69.46.49.136

Joe....am glad that they got to that aneurysm in a hurry because they can be really life threatening if surprised with a rupture...
Your black an blue, pride and joy will heal soon and then back to exercise for you.... garyTX

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by Luke on 5/7/2008, 8:32 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
65.61.112.27

I am glad you have made it through as well as you have. Ah Joe, pain and humility...sometimes it seems that's what getting older is all about doesn't it?

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by ElaineNY on 5/7/2008, 8:01 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
64.12.117.144

Glad you made it just fine. You were lucky as my husband who was supposed to have your procedure ended up with regular repair. He did fine but longer recovery, etc.
Take it easy for a while - you deserve it.
ElaineNY

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by Roberta on 5/7/2008, 6:50 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
72.222.227.31

So glad this surgery is now behind you. I know you have worrying about it for awhile. Take it easy during recovery -- the exercise will always be there waiting for you!!

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by John O. on 5/7/2008, 6:47 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
69.129.197.8

Like someone else once said, "I feel your pain"... or some of it, anyway. Real good to know that general anesthetic is still an option even with a lower FEV1; that's been a question in my mind. Get well soon.

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by Martha on 5/7/2008, 6:41 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
68.12.91.29

I'm glad to hear you were able to have the surgery and came through okay. I am sorry you had such a hard time with the catheter. Take it easy.

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Re: COPD and Surgery

Posted by lenal on 5/7/2008, 6:26 pm, in reply to "COPD and Surgery"
24.56.21.122

Congratulations on your successful surgery. It is a great help to know such procedures are possible for us.

May your recovery be without incident.

Update us regularly if you can.

lenal

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