Hi Bobby,

  I think my doctor's initial concern re: open heart surgery is that he considers
me "frail" from a medical perspective. Conduction problems, in and of themselves
aren't particular serious and can be controlled with drugs, but what he's
thinking is the pacer-defibrillator combo unit would be more useful to me. There
are two grade 2 leaks (on a scale of 3) and valve repair/replacement poses the
bigger risk of future infections, etc. I'd rather opt for the 2+ hour pacemaker
surgery, although in my case, it would be under full anaesthesia with an
overnight. Suppose they'd let me bring my Bailey's and a scrabble board?

Cheers!

Carla


Bobby Greer wrote:

> Carla,
>
>     Please don't dismiss open heart surgery outright. I had it in '83 and if
> a man can stand the pain, surely a woman can!! How's that for a challenge???
> Believe me, Carla, it is no picnic, but between that and a "dirt nap", I
> would choose the "cabbage".
>
> Bobby
>
> In a message dated 4/4/01 4:56:05 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> << Bobby,
>
>   I see the ticker doc on 10 April to discuss "fix" options re: quirky heart.
> Seems
> like the pacemaker is the most obvious choice given my total distaste for the
> notion of
> having my chest cracked open like a bloody lobster. Besides, any lengthy
> hospital stay,
> such as open-heart surgery would indicate, could do me in. Those hospitals
> can kill ya!
>
> Cheers! >>