Vernon Emergency

[Chris Allman]

What can I say but ' Thank You ' again Roger. Poor Vernon he is having a rough time of it. but as both Keith has said here and Richard has said in another Thread, he is in good hands and in the right place. My thoughts are with him and his family and I can only but wish him the very very best of luck in the coming days and weeks. Vernon is a fighter and I am sure that he will come out of this well and be back here to us all soon. He is as has been said before and from my own personal experience, a very generous man both in mind and materially and I really look forward to his happy return here as I suspect, so is he. So Vernon when you get to read this I hope you see just what a great backing you have here on site and how everybody is rooting for you. Take care my mate.

Chris.

[Mike Hall]

I would also like to pass on my good wishes to an old Friend of 10 years or more.
I like everyone else want to see you back on site and doing what you do best.
In the meantime you (Vernon) concentrate on getting better and behave with the nurses.!!
All the best my Friend.
Mike

[Rodney Mills]

Roger and Co:

I havn't been on site for a few weeks. I just checked in only to find out about Doc. Tell him please I apologize for being tardy with my best wishes for a speedy recovery, but as he is aware my wife has health problems too and we have been at the doctors or hospital many times these past few weeks. I will try and log on even for a few seconds to follow his progress...Kick ass Doc, and hurry back!

I too have heart valve problems. It started out as a heart murmur ten years ago and has developed to a dodgy valve. I had a full blown exam, full body CT scan and multiple blood tests two weeks ago. My valve condition is classified as sever, but without symptoms of stress. Because I do not have any symptoms it doesn't warrant treatment. I am 81 1/2 years old, I am (now) 5'91/2" down from 5'113/4", weight 148lbs. I do thirty minuted of floor exercises every morning which include 3x35 pushups (I call it 100) and the same of leg-lifts, plus other body exercise. Then I do a ten mile bike ride and do not use gears, freewheeling. My normal pulse rate is in the low sixties at the conclusion of my ride it is 105 beats per min. The proper exercise cardio range for my age. I asked the specialists, plus the cardiologist, plus my family doctor if I should stop or cut back they all said no way, actually increase your cardio exercise. I can't as I have back pain too. They all had one caveat though, stop if I am panting, short of breath or any pain and call them straight away.

Now the point of the above. They told me that due to my age they will not do open heart surgery. the recommended procedure is a catheter to repair the valve.
However like all invasive procedures there are risks. So they are holding off until I have physical discomfort—shortage of breath, pain. My next check-up is in six months.

I asked what does the actual treatment involve. I would go into hospital for the op and just stay overnight for observations. They told me the procedure is similar to my having had a stent put-in (thirty minutes tops). I had one about 12 years ago, it did the job instantly and is still doing the job. They said that would be the same with this treatment. I said why can't you do it now then and they told me there is a chance in a thousand that something could go wrong and as a matter of fact their thousandth patient had problems just that week. So they do not do any procedure unless it is absolutely critical.

In addition to being heart surgeons and a cardiologist and a gerontology family doctor, all four are full teaching professors at the Medical University of South Carolina, which not the top like Harvard etc. is rated up in the top group of teaching hospitals. So I have a lot of faith in their diagnosis.

I hope this is of interest to those with similar conditions.

Regards, Rodney

[John Pruden]

Rodney I finaly received a letter from my cardiologist today with the names of the two drugs he told me was killing me and sent my doctor the same after the stents they put in it all should be on the mend nebivolol and doxazosin are the names of the medication ? jp

[John F Collier]

A short time ago Brian Probetts said in a post how hard Vernon works for the site, after reading Roger's
latest update, you have to wonder how he kept going for so long, I can only think it's the love he has
for this site and the dedication he has shown by soldiering on. Wishing you a Happy Birthday and many
more to come Doc, I know hospitals can at tines be lonely places but never forget you have a very large
crew of shipmates giving you their support and best wishes. All the best Doc, John F.
Many thanks Rodger for keeping us all up to date on Vernon's progress, he has a true friend in you, cheers

[Charlie Hannah]

Get well soon Doc. Hope to see you back on site soon. Speedy recovery.

[John Pruden]

doc you have helped me out a lot over the past few years and I have a belief in good deeds given good deeds returned you are a natural doc try and have a good birthday but you will be back on deck soon do what you are told take it slow and you will be fine I am rooting for you my friend have a happy birthday.. jp

[Richard Quartermaine]

Roger, you might mention to Vernon tomorrow that my March, 2005 quintuple bi-pass at Westmead Hospital has worked wonders. It's the first year in ages I haven't sent a card for his birthday but nonetheless my best wishes are strong as ever. Richard

[happy daze john in oz]

We will be away from Thursday for just over a month, going to Norway on a cruise then Ireland and London to catch up with the out laws and a couple of good mates.
I will endevour to look in via the net to see any further developments, but in the mean time have written to Vernon wishing him all the very bvest.

I know from Rogers post that he is a very sick man, but modern day surgery is so good that I have no doubt he will be fine.
As Richard said, a quintriplet bay pass can be done.

[vic mcclymont]

Have a good trip.
Global warming has been switched off John, more like the monsoon season over here.
Vic