Sometimes I think it's a little "safety valve" on the part of the doctors (oh, pardon the pun) because there may be a lot of people who will not agree to the surgery if they were as well prepared as you wish you had been. Not only have I heard it from you, buy my boss now has also said that, if he had known what it was going to be like, he may have not gone through it, yet he is getting better and stronger as time goes on. He still says, "Never again", which is a clear indicator that he very well might have passed on it if he had any full, real idea of all that was going to happen and what everything would be like.

Because everybody's situation is different, just like you felt you had to know as many answers as you could, regardless of bloggers and other friends you know who have been through similar situations, there will be people who may read and learn from your writings but will still need to pursue their own information. But, it is a good thing for you to write everything down because it creates a good record for you and a great reference point for others to use. A lot of people trust and respect you, so they will take your posts seriously and use them when facing their own decisions if there should be a need. Good job, Martin, and, yes, you should keep writing about it.

You are doing a great public service here, Martin. It is good to know all that can and does happen. Whoever needs to know about it should be referred here to your blog. I know that doctors don't communicate enough with their patients. I have an excellent doctor... one of the best, but he sometimes spends only about 5 minutes with me. Well, most of the time he spends about 5 minutes. I learn more from my aunt, the nurse. Hope things are going well for you!

I agree with you totally. The older I've gotten, the less I've thought of doctors generally. And hospitals are not good places to be...the mistakes and the unnecessary loss of life are frightening. You've made it through and are on the mend..thankfully...and it's almost nothing but a bad memory. Hang in there...you never get back to normal as fast as you think you should.

This is good for you, I agree. If I went through something traumatic like that, believe me, I'd be writing my hands off. You keep on recuperating so you can come up and go to Universal when I'm working there, maybe during Thanksgiving. I'll hook you up with another pass so you and a friend can go. Smooches. Deb

I agree Martin. I stiil think its so unbelievable that doctors dont communicaite about these issues... It would be impossible here. Reading your blogs I notice the old Martin is coming back a bit and that makes me feel happy mate.Hugs buddy!

Wow! I totally agree with you on this.

Everyone has different experiences, but it does help to know what to expect before going in the hosptial. I guess Ken was lucky, his doctor walked him thru each step. Told us what to expect, what he would look like afterward...what to do...how it would feet. He was in Saint Thomas hospital in Nashville.

It was informative reading about your pre/post surgery posts. I know squat about open heart surgery so I found it interesting.
Congratualations on remaining smoke-free! Keep it up!!

Laurie

well,when I had this as you know did not talk too much about it
You will be fine these things take time.
I know the feeling there,before the surgery you felt good.
Then after the surgery what is this.Hang in there.
Take one day at a time.

I think writing about it is good therapy, also like you mentioned is gives people that are possibly facing this proceedure a valuable insight to what they can expect Also those of us that hold you near and dear are interested in you and how you are doing

You will get there with it being just a memory. I do not think that you have been posting too much on this topic. I think that it has been answering a lot of our questions and allowing us to feel like we are there helping you a bit. We care and worry, and your posts have helped.
AJ