[Claude]

Quadruple bypass surgery on Monday, and I went home on Friday! Still on a low dose of pain pills, but Dr says I should eventually be off them and recovered. For those who don't know, when they do this, they saw right up the middle of the sternum (breastbone), and then hook you up to a heart-lung machine for 4-5 hours. When finishing, the sternum is held together with some small wires while it heals. Because of that, it'll be several weeks before I can carve, as the sternum won't completely heal for 3 months. So, can't carve, can't drive, can't pickup more than 8 pounds, can't use my arms to get out of bed, etc. On the other side of the coin, prognosis is good for full recovery as long as I behave myself. My wife has me on a stricter diet than the Dr does, that's understandable - she has to do all the chores until I get better: no salt, low fat and only the right kind, low carbs...not much left to eat but veggies and fish (I don't like chicken or turkey).

No need to respond to this - just consider it an announcement to the public. As always, PMs accepted.

Last but not least - thanks all for all the prayers; I sure they helped!

Claude

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

sounds awful fast getting out of the hospital, prayers must have been answered!! thats terrific

[gene messer]

Claude .. It is so good to hear your home and recovering ....
Just getting out of the hospital is a relief Ia'm sure ..

It is incredible how fast they get you home now ... Sound's like they put you through ringer with surgery .. But I know your going to recover quickly and be carving in no time ..

We already miss those wonedrful piece's you do ..

Get Well Soon

Gene

[squbrigg]

Congratulations! I am sure you will start to feel better and find you have more energy and stamina. That surgery has done wonders for several friends and relatives, and I am always astounded how quickly it is done and they are on with their lives, better than before. I hope you heal up quickly Claude and get back to carving soon, carving is a great relaxer during recovery.

Bob

[Ron Davidson]

Glad it went so well Claude. It will be no time before you will be back to carving and such.

[pallin]

Gosh Claude, if I had known accepting your carving challenge would cause you to have a quadruple bypass I'd not done it.
Phil

[Mark N. Akers]

Claude glad to hear you did well on the surgery,hope you make a speedy recovery.

[Tom H]

Claude, Great to hear everything is going so well. Mind your wife and the doctors. No carving for several weeks! It's a good thing you have the experience that you do. If I had to lay off carving for 3 weeks, I'd have to start learning all over. Tom H

[Thomp]

Claude,
glad to know your back home and recovering nicely...
3 years ago when i got the zipper from my 4way, i went to heart smart or something like that on the web, it got me scared, but day of surgery i was asking which way they was going to do the vein removal in my leg endoscope or exoscopically .... the surgeon looked at me and my records and ask where i studied,
as he answered my questions.
i said ,,, dah! internet.. ha!
he was glad for me to leave after my 3 day stay.. but eating too much salt got me back to the emegerency room for a pair of them long white stockings,,, by the 5th day..

i didnt know for a year they stop your heart ..

get well, remember you can still sketch, make charter ideas and patterns when your not zonked, chasing the ceiling fan with your eyes, cuz them pills they give ya.

have momma take you to the mall and sketch or take photos of peoples faces, and cute gals, for new patterns take it easy with them arms..let the bones heal up properly.

[wood-whittler]

claude,

glad to hear you are on the road to recovery, and also glad to have you back on the board.


bart