Has anyone had side effects from the Heart/Lung machine?

[Nancy]

Hi Mindy-

Joe and I also use rather dark humor to cope. Sort of laughing at the devil. We laugh about anything and everything. Even when he was at his sickest moments in the hospital, there was something to make us both laugh.

I think it's a good coping mechanism, others think we're crazy. It does let off steam and relieves tension.

Underneath it all we're extremely serious though, and we both pay attention to every detail of his care. Especially me, I'm a terrible hawk and stay on everyone's case.

 

[ticktock]

Nancy
My humor seems to come out at the most inopportune times!!! My family is all that way though, so its ok. I once wrote "open here" on my chest, with an arrow pointing to the top of my sternum. Never told a soul! It was a great hoot, and the entire operating room got a laugh. They all came to meet me after, to see the "chick with the sense of humor".

I could do an entire stand up routine, no kidding. One Doc asked me to remove my pj top after surgery, with 5 interns in the room. I said I would as soon as he dropped his pants. You cant believe the jokes I have played.... I wont bore you.

You are right about it being serious business.... it is. No one can dispute that. But if I didnt balance that off with a little humor, I am afraid I would be one depressed, dark awful person that no one would want to be around. So thanks for the support
mindy

 

[hensylee]

When my Joe was dying of cancer, we spent a year of laughing and crying. Joe was an accountant. He, one night in bed, said "I guess I ought to send my clients a letter." I asked him what he would tell them and he said "Well, that I am dying, I guess." We both fell out laughing - can you imaging your accountant sending you a letter that he's dying!! We had so many memorable moments of that sort, taking the edge off the horror we were going through. It was very good medicine for both of us.

 

[Peter Easton]

Humor me

Humor me

I love the humor. More power to you! The best medicine for sure. Am telling people now that I am going in for valve replacement in a week, but plan on getting an oil change and ring job at the same time just to make sure everything is shipshape. Matter of fact, with two kids heading into the teen years, I think I need the shock absorbers checked as well.

I remember my uncle showing us kids all the scars he had from his skin cancer operations. I got this one, he would say, in the Civil War, and that one was in the War of 1812...

Peter

 

[ticktock]

Hi Girlfriend!

Hi Girlfriend!

Janie
One of my favorites, "Love doesnt die, people do". Your comment reminded me of it.

Humor cures a lot of ills.

 

[darkoosh]

Valve job......

Valve job......

Peter, if your kids are not quite teens yet, you should also be prepared to clutch a lot and be heavy-footed when it comes to putting the brakes on.

As long as you are seeing the specialist for your valve and ring job, I'd highly suggest that you have him reset your idle. You'll need it set high to keep up with the teens.

I'm sure the repari man will also tell you to avoid all additives in your fuel line, keep an eye on the carbs, and watch the tach so as to not get too revved up about anything. Those pressure gauges are important and aren't something to ignore, as we all know too well. Further, your friends out there wouldn't want to see you 'pop the clutch' or anything like that!

When the maintenance light comes on to be sure to get in for the oil and lube job. You'll probably want the technician to plug the system into the computer, check for leaks in the hoses and run a compression test, too.

I'm not even going to make recommendations as to the dip stick or exhaust!

Never stop laughing, Peter! You'll do famously next week and we'll all be anxious to hear about the final consensus on which type of valve you ended up with.

Light your tires on fire and spin right on in and out of that hospital. Leave 'em smokin! We'll be with you all the way!

Deb Arkoosh

 

[OrlandoTommy]

I mess up sometimes while im typing, i have to re read things, when i worry about messing up i seem to mess up more. I have a very complex and technical job that I have to be very sharp for, so this messing up while reading/typing is really annoying to me.
I was on the HLM for 5 hours during my AVR.
Hopefully these weird symptoms go away soon, more annoying than anything else.

Tommy

 

[hensylee]

a memory lane thread from 2001

a memory lane thread from 2001

this brings back many memories to those who were members in 2001 and will bring some of you up to date on 'how the members were then'........

I don't think even Ross was a member then.............

We were certainly polite, weren't we? BR (b-4 Ross).

 

[sue943]

What was the question?

I did a few daft things, have some senior moments, have a burnt saucepan but mostly I am alive. Without the heart/lung bypass I wouldn't be alive so it is a small price to pay.

Just blame every lapse on pumphead even if it isn't.

 

[geebee]

What was the question?

I did a few daft things, have some senior moments, have a burnt saucepan but mostly I am alive. Without the heart/lung bypass I wouldn't be alive so it is a small price to pay.

Just blame every lapse on pumphead even if it isn't.

Hey Sue,

I blame everything on either pumphead or senior moments - either way I have things covered.