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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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My Dad Had A Heart Attack, Will He Be Okay ?

For the last 2 weeks, my dad has been feeling sick. Today he went in to get it checked out, and they said he had had a minor heart attack two weeks ago! Tomorrow morning he is getting surgery and no one will give me a straight answer about whether he could die. Do you think it is possible or likely? Plesae, please, please answer my question only if you have firsthand experience with this sort of thing, and do not lie, because I have had enough of that already. Thank you and please pray for my daddy with me. -Rachel Sorry about the asking random people on the internet thing, but I don t have anywhere else to go. And yes, some people here are doctors. Again, please do not answer unless you have knowledge or experience with this sort of thing. As long as you make your email available i will email anyone with whatever happens. Heres some extra information: -He is 56 and a little overweight, though he is on a diet. -He is a vascular surgeon himself. -Hee hassn t been getting much sleep lately and been feeling stressed. (Don t know what else to add. Sorry, I am just a kid) I am praying he will be okay. Wow thanks for all the help. I don t think he is having major surgery because the doctors said he would be okay in a few days to a week. i just can t stand waiting. He just got out of surgery and is doing well i think. i am going in to dsee him in a few hours. All these answers are so nice I can t choose a best one. Just vote among yourselves and decide.
Mon, 14 Dec 2009
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I haven't had experience with this exact situation, but my dad had a minor heart attack about 7 years ago, and they put stents in his arteries and he has been fine since then. As for the surgery, there's a risk of dying anytime you have surgery done, because of the anesthesia (stuff to put you to sleep). But, the doctor must feel that the risk is small or they wouldn't be doing it. My grandma has had surgery many times over her life, and always came out of it just fine. But now, because of her age and the fact that she heals slow (most elderly people do) they don't do surgery on her unless that's the only thing they can do. Your dad should be okay; depending on what kind of surgery he's having done, he should feel better within a few days to a few weeks. I know you said it was his heart, but you don't say exactly what they're doing- if it's just stents, he'll probably be out of the hospital within a couple of days and be back to his normal routine within about 3 to 6 weeks. If it's open heart surgery- like a bypass- they'll keep him in the hospital longer and he'll need to take it easy longer once he gets home. But, as long as he follows the doctors' instructions he should be fine. The best thing you can do is try to relax, spend time with him (maybe bring him some flowers or a stuffed animal) and pray. You have my prayers as well.
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My Dad Had A Heart Attack, Will He Be Okay ?

I haven t had experience with this exact situation, but my dad had a minor heart attack about 7 years ago, and they put stents in his arteries and he has been fine since then. As for the surgery, there s a risk of dying anytime you have surgery done, because of the anesthesia (stuff to put you to sleep). But, the doctor must feel that the risk is small or they wouldn t be doing it. My grandma has had surgery many times over her life, and always came out of it just fine. But now, because of her age and the fact that she heals slow (most elderly people do) they don t do surgery on her unless that s the only thing they can do. Your dad should be okay; depending on what kind of surgery he s having done, he should feel better within a few days to a few weeks. I know you said it was his heart, but you don t say exactly what they re doing- if it s just stents, he ll probably be out of the hospital within a couple of days and be back to his normal routine within about 3 to 6 weeks. If it s open heart surgery- like a bypass- they ll keep him in the hospital longer and he ll need to take it easy longer once he gets home. But, as long as he follows the doctors instructions he should be fine. The best thing you can do is try to relax, spend time with him (maybe bring him some flowers or a stuffed animal) and pray. You have my prayers as well.