This was supposed to have been a very busy week for me in blogging. I had planned to tell you why I disagree with those who think it is okay for Apple Computer to ignore social media. I also wanted to express my disagreement with motion for closed to open and back to a closed internet is not how I see either the history or the future of the social web.
But I got distracted. Big time. Last Friday, I went for a light run, which caused me a light pain, a tightening in my chest. Being 65, a diabetic and the son of a man who had his first heart attack at my approximate age, I reported it to my doctor who treated my mild report with a great deal of concern.
Last week I underwent a series of tests, each of them more complex than the previous one; each of which indicated greater reason for concern. On Wednesday, I underwent angioplasty examination. Essentially, they dyed my heart and took picture by traveling up the radial artery in my right arm.
Very cool stuff for those of us inclined to geek out. Until you realize that the thing on the flat panel is your own heart and you hear two doctors saying, there, that constriction is at least 90 percent..."
In fact, they found five constrictions, two quite serious and in places too difficult for a procedure in which they insert metal tubes, or stents, to open your heart blood vessels.
I need open heart surgery. I will be going into Stanford Med at 5 am Tuesday morning for approximately five hours of open heart surgery, followed by a week of bed rest.
The good news is that the rooms have wifi and 3G connection. It's also relevant that my surgeon, Scott Mitchell is considered the go-to guy for such procedures. I met him today and immediately liked and respected him. If I were to be making a moving, I would cast him as the dashing and brilliant heart surgeon.
In fact, I've met more than 20 medical staff members at Palo Alto Medical Center and Stanford Med. While I would have preferred attending a tweet up, they are impressive. So is there ability to be transparent with me, to collaborate, to keep my wife around and have some cool imaging toys, that are fun to watch even as they save lives.
I'll then be home recovering for 4-6 weeks. Hopefully I will be spending myt time writing and even doing some consulting. I will be able to start walking in on week, driving in three weeks and light jogging in six.
Chances are you already know someone who has had this surgery. You know that in nearly all cases patients recover and live active, healthy lives for long into a future they might have otherwise not had.
I look forward to being among them.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 62 comments }
I am so glad you're feeling better. Shocked to find you had surgery. That tells me I need to keep up with you more often since we don't run into each other on Twitter as much. I enjoy your books and blog a great deal.
Shel, thoughts and prayers go out to you. I really appreciate your sharing with your community and your courage, humor, and toughness in the face of this really comes through. I'll be in China 5/11-5/30 but maybe I can drop by and say hi afterwards. Blessings to you and Paula during this challenging period.
My dad had triple bypass surgery less than one month ago. It went beautifully! You'll be tired for longer than you want, but you'll be up and at 'em in no time. We'll be thinking of you and your family.
Shel,
OMG. I'm glad it was found in a way that allows you to recover. Best of luck on the surgery! Hope you feel better and look forward to reading the next blog post!
Ray
Dear Shel: Sending you warm and positive thoughts. Get well soon Lionheart!
Cheers!
Arun
God bless Shel -- I've known enough open heart surgery patients in my life to say that I'm SURE everything will go easy breezy and you'll be back to jogging in no time.
Best,
Wayne
Shel, sounds like you've got great medical care; I'm so amazed at it all. My dad had a pacemaker installed and was sitting up in bed eating a sandwich less than an hour after. It's nice to hear that you'll be back jogging in just a few weeks. Good luck on Tuesday. All of us at Dow Jones will be thinking of you.
Diane Thieke
Shel, It was good you listened to your body telling you it needed help. Now listen to the doctors and all will be well soon. Take good care of yourself and try to be a good patient for the hospital and your wife. ;0) warm regards and healing thoughts, Angi Roberts
See you on the other side Shel. Thoughts with you and the family.
Sending good thoughts your way.
Thrilled that you are in a great location where there are world class surgeons.
Godspeed, Shel!
shel - looks like the tweet/blog/social-prayer stream is over flowing with love. adding one more!
Hi Shel:
We are so glad you didn't just ignore the symptoms. Also that you (we!) live in a place where you can get world-class medical expertise. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your wife.
All the best,
Mark Yolton
I hope the surgery goes well and you are back to blogging and tweeting - the real way of living the life! My best wishes to your surgery and the 4G recovery!
Shel - I know it is going to be ok. You are one of the toughest persons I met.
You did the right thing by going to your doctor on time.
I will be thinking of you on Tuesday.
Come back soon.
All the best to you and your loved ones.
Hi Shel - just saw your news on Twitter. So great that you went in at the first signs of trouble. A lot of people don't! My thoughts are with you. I know it will all go well on Tuesday. Just make sure you let yourself get tons of rest!
Shel, so glad that you listened to your body and got things checked early. Love, laughter, and a positive spirit will help you recover faster, but keep listening to your body and give it time to heal.
You'll be in the best of hands at the Stanford Medical Center. Sending healing thoughts your way.
Hi Shel, sorry to hear this news, but I'm so glad you went to the doctor when you had symptoms. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you on Tuesday and best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Chip
Shel,
You could chose worse than David Letterman, quite frankly, to keep you company. Same surgery, amazing results!
Thoughts are with you, will see you soon when you are up and about again...
Esteban
Be well. Recover quickly. Read something inspiring.
Shel: I'm so glad you sought counsel when you did. My thoughts will be with you and also your wife Tuesday morning. My father went through this 12 years ago and the frequent updates from the surgeon were a source of great comfort. It's great that your medical team is so proactive and transparent. All the best and while we look forward to hearing from you soon, don't rush back to tweeting!!
Shel. I am so happy you found it now, when you can do something about it.
Dr. Dean Ornish was on The Dr. Oz show and showed how you can lower arterial blockage through eating low fat and managing stress,
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/excerpt-dean-ornishs-spectrum?page=2#copy
So sorry to hear this news! We're sending lots of prays, hugs and good vibes from Spain!
Shel: My stepfather went through open heart surgery last year. His arteries were 95% blocked. It was a great shock to him, as he is an active, strong man in his mid 60s who does a lot of volunteer work. In fact, he was helping a church member move out of her house during his heart attack. He didn't know what was happening at the time; he thought it was indigestion. He shrugged off the pain and waited several days to get it checked out; he felt increasingly weak. His doctor had to demand that he come in to the hospital. He pulled through and is thriving again today. You are fortunate you went in at the first sign of trouble. Doctors can do amazing things. Open heart surgery is a miracle. When your loved ones see you right afterward, they might be shocked. It takes a lot out of the body; the recovery is not pleasant at first. But it is an amazing miracle to witness, and in time you will feel even better than you did before.
I do indeed know someone who had quadruple bypass, stents, the whole thing: my mom, back in the 80s. She did great; said she didn't realize how lousy she'd felt until after surgery and rehab. I can only imagine how things have improved since then.
What she told me is what you're about to learn up close and personal: it's all about the rehab. There will be times when it is No Fun At All. Just remember: It only sucks for a little while. (When I had knee replacement surgery, I said this often, and at times, aloud. Sometimes REALLY loud. People looked at me funny, but I swear it helped.
Hang in there. I'll watch your future tweets even more closely now. :)
I do know someone who has had this surgery, my dad. Survived and thrived. Best wishes to you. I will donate blood in your honor.
Shel - adding my prayers and love to those being sent your way. I know you'll rebound from the surgery and your ticker will be just fine. Tell the docs not to get too carried away with your superstar status and tweet instead of operate. ;-)
"See" you soon.
Shonali
Hey Shel wishing you a speedy recovery & glad you took heed of the warning signs. :)
Here's to a speedy recovery my friend, glad you acted on your instincts.
Shel, hope all goes well. At least you'll be able to get on line if you feel up to it. Hope you get better soon.
Shel,
Good for you for staying fit in the first place and seeking out help right away. Your great attitude and approach to life is clearly such an asset when life throws you a curve.
- Julie
Shel
We will be wishing you the best during your surgery. We know you'll be out and safe in no time. Best wishes to you, Paula, Brewster.
From Jeremiah, the wife and Rumba!
I'm sure apple can wait. You've been a big part of writing the history of social media and will be an even bigger part of writing it's future. Good luck on Tuesday. xx from your London followers and friends.
Shel,
I've known you a long time, and am happy to hear I'll know you even longer.
Get well soon.
Dear Shel:
I heard some rustling on Twitter that something was wrong, so came over to your blog. I read your entry out loud to my wife Celeste.
So sorry to hear of the complications that pester your progress in life. But it sounds you are in the best hands there at Stanford Med.
I have a friend/colleague Robin Black (you may have seen him in some of our blogs) who had open heart surgery 5-6 years ago and he's been spry ever since. Be encouraged.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
And laugh...don't forget to laugh. Laughter is the best medicine. But it might hurt so go easy. I am reminded of one of the pictures someone took of you and I yucking it up at your Twitterville Book Launch party. http://www.flickr.com/photos/unitedlinen/3898016116/ Use this to help generate a laugh if need be.
Celeste and I will be checking in to see how things are going. We know everything will be just fine.
Your friends,
Scott & Celeste Townsend
Hi Shel!
Thanks for letting us know. I’m sorry to hear that this is happening. Always tough to get this kind of diagnosis. Based on what I get from your post, you have an optimistic outlook. As well, catching this early is a very good thing!
I did know a man with who needed open-heart surgery. In his case, after a his diagnostics, they told him not to go home. He was admitted and had the surgery the next day. After a similar recovery, he has been enjoying a vibrant and active life – for 14+ years, and still going strong!
Sounds like the stars have all aligned for you. Still, will be sending good thoughts your way. Look forward to your first tweets when you regain your strength!
Warm regards,
Walter
All the best to you, sir. Heart disease and diabetes are hereditary events in my own family, my dad had his first of two bypass surgeries before he was 40. As Mr. Winer says, don't rush recovery, rather, find a way of enjoying the downtime. We will be here waiting for your return.
Peace.
- Jody
Shel,
Although we haven't met, hopefully one of the silver linings of stories like yours here is greater levels of support and community can emerge.
I'm so glad you find the early warning signs - my dad didn't get to do that, despite his rigor and passion for good health. But, I myself, am a walking miracle, just about a year to the day, in fact, and so I'm hosting a little juju transfer, from my fairy godmother to yours, with the wish that all will be well, in all the ways you need it to be on Tuesday and beyond. For what it's worth, my good thoughts, prayers and best wishes go with you.
- Lucie
What a wise man you were for paying attention to what was going on in your body and seeking out your doctor, even though you thought symptoms were mild. I have every confidence that you will make a full and brilliant recovery from this. When anyone battles illness, whether through surgery or acute conditions, it is a positive demeanor and a glass-half-full life view that gives you the winning game plan. I fully expect to be dining on vegetarian duck with you again soon :) You are in my thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery. Hugs.
Read this earlier today while on the go and just getting a chance to come back and comment. Thank GOD, that you had the sense to go see a doctor and look into your symptoms. Because of that, I'm confident that we'll be enjoying your witty rapport for years to come. My uncle had a 5-way bypass a few years ago and thank god he did, because he's been outpacing the rest of us half his age since then. It's truly miraculous, heart surgery these days. I'll will remain on standby with a compelling reading list and my funniest lines, at your service during your recovery! :)
I sincerely wish you the best. Thank you for producing insightful articles all the time. We are looking forward to hearing your fast recovery and in the near future, blog entries on timely social issues. It is touching that you still care about us, the readers, in difficult situations.
Wishing you all the best for the procedure and a smooth recovery afterwards. Will keep you in my thoughts.
My thoughts are with you man.
Shel, I know someone who had that surgery -- me.
They'll have you walking sooner than that. You'll probably be out of bed some of the day, the day after your surgery. They'll have you walking the halls of the hospital two or three days after.
But I doubt if you'll feel like consulting or doing much work in the weeks after the surgery. Your body will have a lot to recover from. The surgery is a serious business.
That said, you'll probably feel much better in some ways as soon as you've had the surgery. Your heart isn't getting good blood supply now, and after the operation it will be getting lots of blood.
The best advice I can offer is don't try to be too normal after the surgery. Everyone will want you to be normal, but be yourself, and don't push yourself too hard. This is a perspective-altering event.
Our thoughts are with you Shel. My mom went through a double bypass, (is also diabetic btw) and came out of it just fine. Struggled the first few weeks but has been doing wonderfully after.
Second the thoughts of everybody here who applauded you for getting it checked.
My mom is a fighter and I am sure you are as well.
All the best.
Hey Shel sorry to hear you have not been feeling too great. You will romp through the surgery no problem, it sounds like you will be in the best possible hands.
Keep us up to date with your progress and take it easy.
Best wishes,
Mike
Best wishes, Shel. I am sure that it will work out fine. My own Dad, who is 80, had a similar procedure done just before Christmas (after a heart-attack) and he is up and about better than ever again. Hopefully you will be the same. Maybe even feeling better & less tired than you have done for months, because of increased blood flow and less strain on your heart....
But please don't try to do too much too soon. You have lots of time to recover and convalesce - take the opportunity to rest and build your strength up.
Keep well.
John P
Shel, best of luck with the operation, as someone who also deals with diabetes, I'm worried about all the related problems that can come with the disease and whether or not I'm smart enough to listen to warning signs; thankfully you were smart enough to make that call and catch something before it became worse. Thoughts and prayers are with you for speedy recovery.
Shel - our thoughts are prayers are with you. Rest, recover and we'll hope to see you up and around soon.
- Adam
Thoughts with you, Shel
Schnikies! You are going to get through this great, and then you'll have the heart of a 19 year-old.
I am so glad you are in such good hands, and that you didn't ignore the warning. Love to you and Paula, and a pat on the head to the pupster.
Can't wait for your first post-surgery Tweet.
xoxo
BL
Wow, Shel, will have you in my thoughts - we had some close friends go through similar problems here in Austin and, well, our hearts were in our throats about it. :) Stay strong!
Shel- good thoughts heading out your way. Thank goodness you are fully aware of what is going on with your body- so many people just ignore early warning signs that something is wrong.
Shel,
I'm so glad you caught the early warning signs, and that you are in the expert care of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and Stanford Med. Richard and I will be sending you and Paula our best thoughts, meditations and prayers for healing and a good recovery. Although *you* might be able to tweet through your open heart surgery (just kidding...really!), I hope you will get some rest and peace instead. If you need anything or want any visitors, just give us a holler (or a DM)...seriously. Our biggest, gentlest hugs come your way, with heartfelt appreciation for all you are—and give—every day to the Twitterverse and IRL. Be well, and let everyone take good care of you.
Love, Cathryn & Richard
Shel:
You are going to do great man, and will be up and enjoying life again in no time. Godspeed and look forward to seeing your first post surgery tweet.
lenn
Blessings for a successful operation and smooth recovery, Shel! So thankful you contacted your doctor when you did. Take care!
Shel,
Thank you for sharing this with us - which gives us courage. I look forward to your tweets afer a few weeks rest and our best wishes are with you.
Shashi
Shel-- Glad you didn't ignore the warning signs. Wishing you a smooth surgery (or maybe that part's for your surgeon) and a quick recovery.
Best,
Daria
crikey...stay tough Shel and try not to tweet the whole thing! seriously, thinking about you and will be doing so even more on tuesday!
Steve
I'm glad your hospital room will have wifi/3G - because we couldn't stand not knowing what is happening with Twitter's favorite seasoned citizen! (I can only say that because I'm in the same corner of Twitterville with you.) Best wishes for smooth sailing through this surgery. You will be in my prayers.
All the best for the procedure. We all will look forward to the normally scheduled programming :-)
Shel - my goodness! I'm so glad you were proactive and didn't think "ah, this isn't anything." GREAT lesson for everyone to learn. Will be sending good vibes and prayers from your home state back East next week.
BTW, "they died my heart and took picture" was shocking to read...maybe "dyed" is a better word in this situation? ;) Keep your great sense of humor and you'll be home before you know it. Be well, friend.
Comments on this entry are closed.