Matters of the Heart

Five years and seven months ago, exactly, Jay went in for a quintuple cardiac bypass at Royal Columbia Hospital. The care and treatment were amazing and he is very grateful for the attention and action he received from Canada's medical system.

 

Today, we stopped at RCH because I was concerned about my blood pressure after taking a break from my medication. It seems as though this is common and I will return to taking the two prescriptions that keep me in a better-than-optimal range. 

The year after Jay's surgery, we made a donation to the cardiac center. Jay wanted to thank the staff for his positive experience and to show his gratitude. We never returned to the Royal Columbian, and recently the COVID situation prevented unnecessary trips. Today, we spotted his heart among the names on the donors' wall.

 

Blah!

 

Blah!  The weather has turned 'blah-ish' already. It's not October yet but will be soon, I guess.  Escape planning is in progress ...

We went up to Langley Farm Market to get fruit and vegetables. Well now, there's more emphasis on the vegetables. I always get a little depressed when the Okanagan fruit season comes to an end. We've got new crops of really cheap apples, but the variety of delicious soft fruit has dwindled. The local apricots, peaches, cherries, and berries won't be back until 2022.

In the afternoon, Jay went off to meet his new cardiologist.  His former one retired almost two years ago, and then the COVID situation cut most in-person visits to specialists.  He got on the SkyTrain for a 2:00 pm appointment.

Surprise, let's do a treadmill test!  And the results are that everything's fine.  No need to visit until next year.  The quintuple bypass open-heart surgery was four and a half years ago already.

Exactly One Year Ago

Day 127 - An anniversary occurs when a specific period of time has passed. In some cases, it can mark a tragic event but more often than not, it can be a cause for celebration. Today is being viewed in a very positive light.

Exactly one year ago today, Jay was undergoing open heart surgery. Nearly at this time, because of the time zone differences, my partner was having veins removed from his legs, his chest opened, and was getting five bypass grafts.



His recovery was astonishing. We have had a very, very active year since. We have visited many places on several world cruises and have stayed the current winter in different parts of SE Asia. A year ago, we were not aware that we'd be spending the first anniversary after his procedure on the beach in Pattaya, Thailand!

Nine Months Later ...

Day 37 - Tonight we finished up season 2 of The Crown on Netflix.

I'm happy we brought along my Android box. It used to hit or miss when abroad as to whether we'd be able to keep up on our TV episodes. Now, I just bring TV along with me, thanks to the Internet and some available apps. We caught the first episode of season 30 of The Amazing Race tonight too. Of course, you might be able to see how that fits into our sensitivities, especially as we were watching from Malaysia.



Today also marks the ninth-month anniversary of Jay's heart surgery. I am so thankful for his doctors and the Canadian medical system. After his five grafts, his heart health is now much better than it's been in decades.

The Rain in SE Asia is Hotter

I guess this is the view we are running away from. Well, it's not so much the view as the dark colours and clouds.



We have the whole day to spend at home in New Westminster. We need to head towards the airport at around 9:00 PM tonight. Cathay Pacific 889 is scheduled to leave at 1:15 tomorrow morning.

We will be beginning our postponed trip of last year. We were going to spend five months in Penang and Siem Reap from last December, but had to cancel when we discovered Jay needed heart surgery. A year ago today, he met with a cardiologist after an angiogram. That's all history now. He recovered remarkably and we'll soon be flying towards SE Asia.

Sometimes Normal is Fantastic

It always feels good to do well on a test. In today's case, Jay got a chance to receive the results of his blood work when he visited the family doctor. This was the first set of results since his open heart surgery. Back when he met with his cardiologist, five weeks after the procedure, he had instructions to go to the lab in July.



At the time, July sounded so far away. The month seemed to arrive quickly though. About fifteen weeks have passed since he underwent surgery. Today's report appeared large with many more tests than the ordinary hematology panel. It spilled onto three full pages of paper and part of a fourth. There were lots and lots of numbers!

Everything is perfectly normal.

Good Community Facilities

This week Jay is coming up on the three-month anniversary of his open-heart surgery. He's been doing his supervised exercise program in the Burnaby Hospital's cardiac rehab program. He is nearly ready to graduate back to his own gym. However, as we will be having more than a few months away in late summer and during the fall, he was guessing it wouldn't make sense for him to 'unfreeze' his membership yet.



Today, when going on local errands, we stopped at the Edmonds Community Centre. Run by the municipality of Burnaby, his membership is also valid at the Bonsor Recreation Complex facilities near Metrotown. I like the newer building we visited today. It is new and quite beautiful. Jay was able to confirm that his membership card still has his available funds. However, I think he may be considering simply going to the rehab program until we leave for our first of two cruise vacations.

Eight Weeks Later

Jay's open heart surgery is slowly fading into history. It seems hard to believe he was undergoing a quintuple bypass exactly eight weeks ago. April 4th was a much more stressful Tuesday than today.

The first couple of weeks at home were the hardest. Things really seemed to improve a great deal after the first month. I understand why doctors suggest that many people can return to work after 6 to 8 weeks. Of course, that might depend upon the nature and type of the work. It's not a concern as, thankfully, we grabbed early retirement back in 2014.



Actually, Jay did start attending a cardio-rehab program at Burnaby hospital today. He's primarily interested in the monitored-exercise program. He went in for the 1:00 PM session. Qualified nurses checked his heart rate and blood pressure during his warm up and use of the machines. He plans on attending on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a while. He is younger and healthier than some patients and will probably participate for a shorter period of time than others. He can most likely return to his normal exercise routine at Burnaby's Bonsor Recreation Complex in Metrotown or the Rec Center in Edmonds fairly soon. He can easily 'un-freeze' his membership.

Let's Not Rush Recovery

Jay's open heart surgery was a day more than six weeks ago. Apparently, many new mileposts are reached at about this point in time. He can be a bit less careful about this breastbone as it should adequately healed for an increasing number of activities. Also, all the medical staff and the literature say that he is finally fit to drive and should be allowed to hit the road now.



I'm not so sure about that though. He doesn't have a driver's licence and has never driven here.

Five Weeks after Surgery

At 9:30 this morning Jay went off by himself to meet with his cardiologist for the first time since his surgery. Surely it is positive news that he needn't go back for an appointment for another six months. His beta blocker was renewed at half the strength he'd been taking and this will be his final month on it. It was very effective in reducing his pulse after surgery but it does cause him to get more easily fatigued. Five weeks ago today, he was under the knife for a quintuple bypass. Modern medicine is amazing!

When he came home, we walked next door to vote in the provincial elections. Then, we drove uptown to pick up his prescription at the uptown Walmart.

Nearly a Month after Surgery

Wow, already? Yesterday marked the three week point of Jay being released from Royal Columbian Hospital after surgery. That means he will have had his cardiac bypass a month from tomorrow! That sounds like a long time, but I can't say it has felt that way. Yet, these markers act to remind one of the improvements. For example, within the next month, his sternum, or breast bone, should be healed sufficiently for most normal activities.

Today, he had an appointment to meet with a nurse at the Healthy Heart Program. The Cardiac Rehabilitation office at the Burnaby Hospital left a phone message prior to Jay's release from hospital. Eventually though, we arranged for today as his first trip just to go over his case history with a nurse. This cleared the way for appointments with a dietitian and a doctor to authorize admittance to the exercise programs offered on the 7th floor there.

That hospital is under Fraser Health and runs the program for this area. (There are more local programs for continued participation in New Westminster too.) We'd never seen the area where the Burnaby Hospital is. The office wing looks older than we are.



We weren't sure how long he'd be, so we took transit. The SkyTrain trip to the Patterson Station was only one zone and the bus took another 10 minutes to get down the hill. Jay now has some new paperwork to look over. Next week, he has his first post-operative appointment with his regular cardiologist.

Three Weeks After Surgery

Three weeks ago yesterday, Jay was inside the operating room at the Royal Columbian Hospital.

I find it hard to decide if this seems like a short or long time ago. I do know that he seems to improve each day. Having a quintuple bypass operation is a pretty major event. So many parts of his body are working to heal! He still gets tired quite easily and this may also be due to the fairly strong beta blocker he is taking.

Getting in the truck for usual errands seems pretty normal now. For example, it is habit enough for him to automatically grab his 'heart' pillow before heading out the door. It must be placed on his chest prior to fastening the seat-belt. Eventually that collar bone will mend. Today, we took an opportunity after rush hour to drive over to Queensborough for a little shopping at the Bulk Barn.

After One Week at Home

I drove Jay home from the Royal Columbian Hospital a week ago yesterday. Since that time, he's been healing with startling daily improvements.

Yet, to complicate things a bit, he came down with a case of the flu after being home a few days. This is probably not terribly surprising considering how much stress his immune system must be under. There are just so many places to heal! His coughing yesterday was uncomfortable, but not dangerous. Today he's already much better after taking lots of Tylenol Cold and Flu medicine.

Today, felt like a big step forward though. I drove him to a 10:30 appointment with the family doctor. This was his first visit to see Dr. Decouto after bypass surgery. He brought a little package from the hospital. The doctor used it to remove all 89 surgical staples. Jay had veins removed from both legs to use for the grafts. So the total number of tiny pieces of metal was greater than for many patients. The picture shows his lower legs soon after surgery in the hospital.

Our doctor was pleased with how the incisions are healing. In fact, the next appointment, with any medical professional, is for his cardiologist in three weeks.

Jay's Surgery: Hospital Discharge Day

I definitely took my last ride on the SkyTrain to the Sapperton Station for a while. I cannot say how many times since Tuesday, I've been back and forth between home and the Royal Columbian Hospital.



Before discharge there were a few remaining goals to complete this morning. Jay had to do the 'two-staircase' test wearing monitoring equipment. He has a lot of core strength and blew right through the exam with solid heart-rate results.



Jay also needed a final chest x-ray. Oh, and we had to watch a 20-minute 'preparing-for-home' video before all the discharge paperwork was done. The staff were very good at explaining the steps involved during recovery at home. For example, in one week Jay will need to have an appointment with our family doctor to have his 33 chest staples out and the total of 56 in the left and right legs. We've already had phone messages about signing up for the two different programs for cardiac check-in and exercise.



We also received his prescriptions so we could pick them up on the way home. We went right into the Walmart before coming home. Jay has had a very large amount of exercise today. I dropped him off at our front door at around 2:30 and went around to the underground parking. Since then, we've been home unpacking, watching TV, and simply relaxing.

Jay's Surgery: Day 4

Jay was all un-bandaged, wearing his robe, and eating breakfast when I got to the hospital at 8:30.

His pulse still remains a bit high compared to other patients, but the staff seem happy enough. The monitors in the hallway display each patients' data because of the device they wear constantly. We know that before surgery he most always had around 68 bpm at rest. The number is now much higher. Yet, a notable percentage of patients experience this phenomenon after open heart surgery. It can sometimes take weeks or even months for the heart to adjust to its completely new situation.



The staff seem more concerned that simple activities, such as walking, don't change change that base level much. Today, Jay walked around the 'circuit' of rooms with a nurse wearing the small device that measures pulse and blood oxygen. He was cleared for permission to get to this morning's daily class on his own.

I would not be surprised if he is given his flight of stairs test and is discharged tomorrow.

Jay's Surgery: Day 3

Is this really Day 3? That hardly seems possible. Our booklet has just four days listed for hospital recovery, so hopefully, that means discharge will soon be upon us. Some friends are driving in from Richmond, so I'll again be going to the hospital shorty.

Jay didn't get as much exercise today as some patients because he continued to have a very high pulse. The nurses didn't want to risk pushing it higher. This is not uncommon, especially among younger patients. His heart is strong and surgery has given it quite a trauma. Now, the beta-blocker medication is taking effect. He had off some of the chest bandages, so I got to see the incision a bit.



I have to say we are comfortable with this section of the Royal Columbian Hospital now. I know shortcuts to get around to the second floor of the Columbia Tower quickly. Today, a First Nations guy from Prince Rupert went in for value replacement and to mend a hole. He has been one of the patients in Jay's room since he arrived in it on Wednesday. As it's a big provincial hub for cardiology, we have gotten to see folks from both near and far.



I was pretty accurate in yesterday's entry. Jay had a nutritionist talk during the morning classes today. He wasn't very impressed with her knowledge or presentation skills! We, however, have ticked off a number of hospital surveys about food, housekeeping, and linen. Everything has been rated good or better.

Jay's Surgery: Day 2

Fraser Health provides a booklet for bypass patients detailing the expected progress both in the hospital and after release. This is the second day after the surgery, so Jay is ticking off goalposts which we've know about for a few months. Today, when I first turned the corner, I noticed he didn't have those tiny oxygen tubes in his nose.

He had just received breakfast when I got there, it was mostly gone except for the bran muffin. He didn't say but I expect he thought it might be laden with transfats! If there's one post-procedure area in which he won't need to study, it's nutrition. In fact, he might be able to teach the teachers a thing or two. Jay has always been terribly conscious of a proper diet. In fact, one doctor commented had he not lived such a healthy lifestyle he might have had a heart attack in his 40's.

This morning, Jay was able to wash and shave. I helped. He appeared much improved after getting off the stubble. He should be doing a lot of walking, yet his pulse goes a little too high when he's up and about. I told him it is his heart jumping for joy after receiving a 100%-supply of oxygen for the first time in decades!

I rolled him into a class in a chair. They have a series of classes at 11:00 each morning.

I returned home at around noon for lunch. Friends are coming from Vancouver in the afternoon. They'll SkyTrain here to the apartment first. We can go back to the hospital as the 1:00 to 3:00 quiet time will be over.

Jay's Surgery: Day 1

I knew that Jay was going to be moved out of the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit at around 10:00 this morning. I called to say 'hello' at around 8:30 AM when he was still eating breakfast. I knew the trip to the Cardiac Step-down Unit would take a bit of time, so I called ahead and found out what room he'd be in.

I got there at around 11:15 and he was looking pretty tired still. Last night I saw him responsive but he was a bit too drugged to carry on much of a conversation. In fact, this morning he asked me, "Did you feed me yogurt last night or was it a dream?" I had done so, actually. RN Janet had started giving him her own and she handed it over to me for a few spoonfuls.

Jay said he did not get a lot of sleep last night as the SCICU is pretty busy and they have to constantly monitor patients. Today, he looked pretty sluggish too, at first. Finally, when lunch came around at 12:30, he convinced himself that he really should get out of the bed. Previously he'd turned down staff offers for a walk saying he was too dizzy. I guess they did give him some plasma today although he didn't use any during yesterday's procedures. He's not a big guy, and I guess smaller people contain less blood. So when some is lost, it has a larger impact.



He had to be helped to the chair but ate lunch under his own steam. It's good to get a lot of food into the body to get everything back to normal. The fasting prior to surgery sort of messes things up a bit. Also, what a lot of trama to his body, from healing a broken collarbone to all those incisions on legs and chest! The catheter is still in today so they can measure his fluid output. As he finished eating, it was almost one o'clock. That ward has quiet time between 1:00 and 3:00 PM. That is really the only main rest time. I came home for my own lunch.

I'm going back to arrive at his dinner time at 5:30.

Jay's Surgery: Day 0

We had a call last night at 6:00 PM and reminder at 9:30 PM. It seems as if there was an additional change with the schedule for Jay's open heart surgery although this time it was a welcomed one. It did mean getting up at a time we've not seen for ever so long.

An alarm rang at 4:30 and Jay couldn't eat or drink anything. He had to repeat a shower with the same special antiseptic soap given for last night's cleaning. We boarded the 5:37 SkyTrain towards Production Way. Access to the hospital is quick with only a three minute trip on the SkyTrain. Sapperton is the next stop from our building. We waited and they called heart patients first. Jay still wasn't called and it was about 6:30 and then a nurse ran down to see if he was there. Apparently the change from his previous schedule didn't make it down to the hospital registration staff. All sorts of staff were anxiously waiting for him!



We were taken to a room in the cardiac ward and again Jay underwent another whole-body cleanse. Then he got on a stretcher and had blood taken and other speedy tests. We discovered he was supposed to be in the operating room at 8:00 am. Good. Quicker is good. We rolled him towards the OR at around 7:10. He looked so small on the big stretcher bed!

As it's a hop-skip home I first came back to return Jay's clothing to the house. I stayed only a half hour to return to a waiting room near the OR. One of the nurses also said as it was a close trip I could go relax and return at around noon. So I returned to our apartment from 9:30 to 11:15 too.

Jay didn't get out of the operating room until 12:40. So each graft took close to one hour as he had five! By the way, that's called a quintuple bypass. The nurses set him up in ICU and although there are no visiting hours between 1 and 3 they let me go in to see him. They keep a patient sedated while they monitor them often for quite a few extra hours. So, he won't remember that visit at all. RN Janet was a charmer. I felt very comfortable with her. Jay was surely hitched up to a lot of equipment. Just seeing him, despite the appearance, made my own heart sing.


As they probably won't start waking him up until 8 tonight, I will go back after they've completed the evening shift change. I'm going to call Janet later in the afternoon though.

I am very impressed! And tremendously relieved!

Hurry Up and Wait!

We haven't had a finch family on our balcony since I killed the last cedar tree by neglect. Just the other day, a male came around scouting. He spent a few minutes on the railing and, seeing nothing, moved on.

So when we were uptown today and noticed this little bird house, we thought it might be worth a try.

All the news from today wasn't welcome. At around 11:30, we got a call from the hospital saying that Jay's scheduled surgery time was cancelled. We'd sort of got all prepared mentally to head to registration tomorrow morning at 9:00 am. It seems as if emergencies have bumped around the schedule for the semi-elective procedures with Jay's surgeon.

It's not a problem really. We have no personal schedules to change while we wait to hear of a new date. I am not sure when the surgeon's office will get back to us with an updated time. It was disappointing as we'd had gotten all set emotionally. Honestly though, waiting really isn't that bad.