[Rhodes22-list] Matters of the heart.

Fri Dec 19 22:44:34 EST 2014

Rummy:  Sorry to hear
about your heart issue.   Our thoughts and prayers are with you. 

Hang in there;
the medical community has come a long long way with these procedures.  My Agent Orange medical issue (not heart, but
leukemia) was diagnosed back in January 2007 when I was placed on what they
call “watch and wait.”  Had blood work every
few months but the shingles attack in late November of ’12 destroyed my immune
system and the leukemia kicked in.  When
I was diagnosed the standard of care was chemotherapy, something I did not
want.  Well long story short, I am on a
newly approved oral medication and doing very well.  

My brother just had his prostrate taken out
at the VA hospital in Augusta – another Agent Orange related cancer.   He was in the central highlands while I was
up at DaNang, where the Ranch Hand unit was located.

Both of us have been rated by the VA.  So if you have not submitted a claim be sure
that you get your claim in as soon as possible as benefits begin on the date
that you submit your paperwork.  The area
Veterans Administrative office in Greenville or Anderson should be ready and
willing to assist you.  I did not know
that my leukemia was AO associated until I attended a reunion and wound up
loosing a couple of years of VA benefits. So do not delay. 

Bob 
On Friday, December 19, 2014 4:58 PM, The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:

Rummy:

Make sure you get a good anesthesiologist. Somebody who monitors your EEG
as well as
 your  heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.  You want the
lightest dose possible and the EEG is the only way to tell how deep you are
under.   Heavy anesthesia can result in cognitive impairment that takes as
least as long to recover from as the surgery itself.

Cheers,
Shawn
s/v Sweet Baboo (Recycled 86)

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 1:14 PM, The Rhodes 22 Email List <
rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:
>
> Rummy:
> Perhaps I should have also mentioned that for me, and many others, the pain
> is actually much less than I expected. I was sent home
 with a bottle of
> morphine tablets and never used or needed any of them. Coughing hurts and
> there are lots of ached and pains but I was told by my anaesthetist that
> the
> pain with a broken leg is much worse and I believe it now.  This was
> important to me because I am a wuss about pain.
>
> Weakness was the worst part but you will be amazed how much you improve
> from
> day to day. The one good thing about all of this, other than the repair to
> your arteries, is that the whole family will be very attendant and
> sympathetic for a few weeks.  After that you will go back to being
> irritating again so enjoy it while you can.
>
> The other good thing, if your response is
 similar to mine, is that you will
> sleep like a baby at the drop of the hat any time of day or night. I had
> wonderful sleeps that I now miss very much.
>
> All the best,
> Graham
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of The Rhodes 22
> Email
> List
> Sent: December-19-14 2:54 PM
> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Matters of the heart.
>
> Thanks Graham. I do have a recliner, but I've ordered an incline foam
> cushion for the guest bedroom where I will sleep until I'm ready for the
> master bedroom. I've heard the same advice from numerous people.
>
> Rummy
>
>
> In a message dated 12/19/2014 11:48:49 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org writes:
>
> Rummy:
>
> Sorry to hear that you have to go through this. I had  this same surgery a
>
 year ago last June. It is not a procedure that I would  recommend unless
> you
> need it but once done and with a few months of  recovery, you will feel
> much
> better. My surgery was in June and by  September I was able to do fairly
> light work on the boat - like sanding and  painting the deck. Not being
> able
> to lift anything or drive is a  frustration as you will feel much better
> before the restrictions are  lifted. But in the great scheme of things, and
> considering what you will  have gone through, all that is manageable.
>
> My only advice is to make  sure you have a really comfortable recliner at
> home. I ended up sleeping in  mine for the first month as I was unable
 to
> get out of bed on my own and  felt trapped when lying on my back largely
> unable to move. In addition I  needed to visit the can numerous times in
> the
> night and being able to get  up by myself and without disturbing my wife
> was
> a great relief for both of  us. Get one that gives you good support,
> reclines almost flat and is  relatively easy to get out of. I just happened
> to have such a chair and  often wondered during the first month of recovery
> how I would have managed  without one and why during the preparation phase
> no one ever mentioned this  to me.
>
> I expect that you will be back online in short order - like  within a week.
> Just because
 your body is sore and weak doesn't mean you  mind is as well
> and computer work is one of the low exertion things you can  do to fight
> off
> the boredom. Waiting to heal is like watching grass  grow.  Besides, we
> need
> your constant stream of good advice.
>
> At  least this isn't occurring during the sailing season.
>
> I wish you all  the best and a speedy recovery. We will all look forward to
> your  return.
>
> Graham
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:  rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]  On Behalf Of The Rhodes 22
> Email List
> Sent: December-19-14 6:33  AM
> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Matters of  the heart.
>
> I just wanted to let everyone on the list know that I will  be out of
> commission for a while. Monday I'm having heart bypass surgery. I  will be
> in the hospital recovering for about a week and then two months at  home
>
 before I can  even drive. The prognosis is good and I'm confident  the
> procedure will be  successful. My problems are both hereditary and
> exposure
> to agent orange in  Vietnam. Hopefully the VA will step up  and provide me
> with extended medical  benefits in the future.
> You  all behave yourselves. I will probably be monitoring the list in  the
> hospital, but not able to  respond.
>
> Rummy
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