Open Heart Surgery

My cardiologist has put me off work. I had an arteriogram done Tuesday (I already have 2 stints) and the results aren't good. I am now waiting on my cardiologist to pick a surgeon and for the surgeon's office to call me and schedule open heart surgery. Hopefully this will be in the next few days. As most of you know, if I don't drive, I don't get paid and right now I'm looking at a minimum 12 weeks off.

I know there are many drivers out there who have already been through what I am now facing. I would appreciate hearing of any support groups for cardiac patients in general and especially those for drivers who are cardiac patients.

Thanks,
Rick

 

No, I don't qualify for any disability pay because my heart problems were pre-existing when I started with this company. I had already had 2 stints put in back in the summer of 2005. I started here in October 2005.

But God will provide and we'll make it. We won't starve or lose anything because of my time off. In fact my safety director said that I may even come back to a new truck. I'm going down Saturday to clean out my truck. I was going to do it tomorow but I have to go to Little Rock for pre-op testing then meet with the surgeon. That'll eat up most of the day.

If anyone knows of a truckers open heart surgery support group, please let me know.

Rick

 

Well, I'm all set. I went to the hospital in Little Rock today for pre-op testing and registering. After that it was to the surgeon's office for a consultation.

We're dealing with at least 5 blockages including two totally blocked arteries. What it amounts to is that I'm in pretty bad shape. The doctor wants to use two arteries from my chest, one from my arm and one from my leg for grafts. He says that it makes for a lot more work for him but a lot better outcome for me. When I asked him how long the surgery would be lasting he said five to six hours. If all goes well I should be home in 3-5 days. That's not bad all things considered. But please excuse me if I don't sound real enthused about the whole thing.

I must look at it all this way though. I have two choices.

1) I can choose to do nothing and probably die within a very short time.

OR

2) I can choose surgery and quite probably live for several more years.

I have a lot of people who care for and love me and a huge church family.
I don't have the right to let them down. I choose #2.

Rick