My Dad 02/28/24
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (85053)
United States
February 28, 2024 7:45am CST
I wanted to post a quick update about my dad's surgery. Everything went well, with the procedure taking about 3 1/2 hours. When I first got to visit him, he was still not awake in the SICU, but he was beginning to wake up.
He took a long time to come out of it, which worried me at first, but the doc and the nurse said for a surgery like that, it was normal.
He was in a bit more pain than he should be, but the issue is that they have to carefully monitor his pain medication intake since he has COPD and too much pain medication slows his breathing too much, that they are concerned too much and he may stop breathing altogether.
He seemed in good sprits. I told him as he was coming out of the anesthesia that he looked like a new man, and he flipped me off.
To me that's a positive sign.
I will be visiting with him some more today and then the plan is to return home tomorrow. If anything else develops I will post about it, and again, thanks to everyone for their support and concern.
I truly do appreciate that.
***Image is me and my dad in 2017.
15 people like this
15 responses
@moffittjc (120850)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Feb
That's great news to hear that your dad made it through the surgery and seemed (mostly) to be in good spirits. If someone flipped me the bird after 3 1/2 of surgery, I would take that as a positive sign as well.
1 person likes this
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@moffittjc (120850)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Mar
@porwest Awesome, I'm glad everything seems to be on the up and up. Is he still doing well and getting better and better?
1 person likes this
@porwest (85053)
• United States
7 Mar
@moffittjc He got to home on Monday the 4th and his only complaint was that they didn't give him much to work with on the way they prescribed his pain meds, so he has a bit more pain. But I think being in his creature comforts will help with the healing process.
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@porwest (85053)
• United States
29 Feb
@LadyDuck He is. But he's also surprisingly accepting of it. His stance seems to be, "This is what I have to go through to live." I give him a lot of credit for that. I even think it gives me a new level of respect for him. He's determined to get through this and get back to living. I am really proud of him.
2 people like this
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@Marilynda1225 (81807)
• United States
28 Feb
Glad all went well with your dads surgery. I'm sure he's happy that you're there even if he's in pain. Flipping you off is a sure sign of love
You look just like your dad
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@Marilynda1225 (81807)
• United States
29 Feb
@porwest my family has a weird sense of humor too and would consider being flipped off a sign of love
hope your dad is feeling a wee bit better today.
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@Happy2BeMe (99355)
• Canada
28 Feb
Wonderful news. So glad surgery went well...it is a long difficult recovery but soon he will be good as new.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99355)
• Canada
29 Feb
@porwest that is great. Hid determination will his recovery. Since I have been through it I am always so proud of somebody who goes through it and has that fight. He is now a fellow member of the zipper club.
1 person likes this
@porwest (85053)
• United States
2 Mar
@Happy2BeMe The zipper club, hey? lol. I will tell him that. He should get a kick out of it.
1 person likes this
@BearArtistLady (6038)
• United States
28 Feb
Any kind of surgery is miserable, and for your dad to flip you off is super. If he does get to go home tomorrow, you'll need to really watch him closely as some really serious problems can develop quickly, if they start to show the sooner they are caught the better. I'm looking on the bright side and that your dad will continue to improve and not have any problems, my prayers are with both you and your dad. ![](/Content/images/emotes/hugs.gif)
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to you both.
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1 person likes this
@porwest (85053)
• United States
28 Feb
So far as I know he will be in the hospital for about a week before he can go home. I guess it all depends on how things go in the next few days how the doctor's decide what's best. But there are some definite good signs and hoping he's a little better today. But I understand if he's still quite a bit under the weather considering it's such an invasive surgery and he went through a lot.
@BearArtistLady (6038)
• United States
29 Feb
@porwest The thing is he will be under the weather when he gets home too. Anymore it's kind of like a production line process, get them in, do the surgery, get them up and around and a bit better, send them home.
When my dad had open heart surgery back in 1967 the process was a LOT different. His surgery was done at the Sacramento Medical Center. He was opened from just below the neck down to his belly button. His rib cage was cut open and so on. The surgery took almost 8 hours and when we finally got to see him for a few minutes all he could say was he had a headache in both his heads. We left and the doctor and nurses all told us to go back to our motel and get some rest and come back later the next morning.
When he was finally able to be moved they sent him back to Vandenburg AFB just outside of Santa Maria CA. (Dad was retired military) We didn't get to take him home for about 6 weeks. He had a lot of pain but they wouldn't give him any strong pain medications. They only let him have Tylenol regular strength. That's the only pain medication he took his entire life. He wasn't allowed aspirin because he was on blood thinners. That is all he used through the rest of his life, except for his blood thinners that the doctor prescribed.
Take good care of your dad and give him plenty of love and support. When he can handle it, give him plenty of hugs and some extras from me.
1 person likes this
@porwest (85053)
• United States
2 Mar
@BearArtistLady Thank you very much and I do appreciate your thoughts. Dad seems to be doing well so far. I will post another update soon.
@MarieCoyle (34016)
•
29 Feb
It's such a hard surgery, very invasive. That long incision, and the ribs have to be spread...a long heal time. If he had the sass to flip you off, he's a tough fellow and he will do what he has to do to be better. Good for him!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (34016)
•
29 Feb
@porwest
It's really overwhelming to think about having such a surgery. Good description, a can of tuna! He sounds like a corker! Let's hope it all improves his quality of life, and gives him many more good years.
@FourWalls (65390)
• United States
28 Feb
So thankful everything went well!!! Thanks for the update!
1 person likes this
@porwest (85053)
• United States
29 Feb
I think they are saying he will likely be in the hospital for at least 7-8 days. He's really handling it well despite a lot of pain. But he knows the pain is what he has to endure in order to get on with a new life. I really admire him for the strength and toughness he is showing.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41067)
• United States
2 Mar
That's such good news about your dad! When will he go home? I pray he's still recovering well.
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@Beestring (14133)
• Hong Kong
28 Feb
Nice picture. Good to know that the surgery went well.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (170715)
• United States
29 Feb
I am so glad your dad is OK. That's a tough surgery for pain. My husband went through that in 2004. I hope he feels better soon. That's a great picture of the two of you. Keep us posted!
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