[__ Prayer __] Update on my mom

[Nikki]

I'm gonna try to explain this the best that I can. The news is kinda good, and kinda not good.

This is an exampe kind of what they did to my mom the first time in March. She had 2 blockages and they bypassed both using a vein from her leg. What has happened now is that one of the arteries in the BACK of her heart has taken on all the work of pumping the blood. That could have happened BEFORE her first surgery or after it. It needed to take on that work that the Left main artery was unable to do.

After her bypass, the new vein still never took on the extra work. The other one was overpowering it and doing all the work FOR it. So, the graph (the vein they took from her leg to replace the blocked one) has narrowed. It's not blocked with plaque....it's just narrowed. That's still not good. They discussed surgery, but first want to try a medication. It's a type of beta blocker. Sometimes, the medication can make the blood flow better, therefore making the graph open wider. They want her to be on the meds for 6 months. In 6 months, if it hasn't opened up, then surgery or a stent will be required.

I asked the doctor why not just do the surgery, but like he said...he wants to take the least invasive route first. My mom is still very young when it comes to having heart disease. Most bypasses are good for a good 8-10 years and the fact that my mom is already having problems isn't good.

IF the meds work, the doctor said he will still want to see my mom every 6 months and they will perform YEARLY stress tests on her. This medication should also help with her getting out of breath and all.

I'm VERY thankful that they found this. My friends mom just died last month. I keep thinking about her because they had no clue that she had a blockage. She just died instantly in her sleep. My mom is a VERY lucky person. We almost lost her once, but by the grace of God, they found the blockage before it killed her. This time, they found the problem before it got worse and killed her. They are now able to closely monitor her. So, I feel very blessed, but I still get sad knowing that eventually we'll be facing surgery again. I'm just hoping it's 8-10 years instead of 6 months to a year.

Sooooo...that's it. My mom is in very high spirits. She was before the surgery too. She had everyone cracking up. I was so embarrased from all the stares, but my mom was so happy. She cried when they took her back and we all made sure to say many "I Love You's".

I'm going to be on her case about walking. That too will help get the blood pumping and help the artery open up hopefully.

Thank you all for your prayers. I truly believe that they are being answered! Now, when you think of her, just pray that the medication will open the artery up. She's not feeling very well at all right now. The medication is causing severe headaches, dizziness and confusion. All common side effects that go along with this medicine. Hopefully those will eventually go away.

 

[lakesider]

That's a very good explanation of the procedure...always heard of it, never really knew what it was.

Praying for your Mom and that medication will do what it's supposed to.