Damn.... my old roommate had a quadruple bypass

[MonkeyFunk]

I was the Best Man at his wedding. We shared a house for years, and worked for the same company.

He's 45 years old. Had some chest tightness, went in for an angiogram and they told him "You ain't leaving." Next day he had a quadruple bypass.

Talked to him today (3 days after the surgery) and he sounds great, but feels like he's been hit by a truck.

[Evoman]

1. It sucks having that shit happen at such a young age.

45 isn't that old. Does he take care of himself? If not, he should start....once you have something that serious happen, you have little choice if you want to see your kids grow up.

By 45, I fully expect to have colon cancer. My grandpa and his brother both died of colon cancer. My aunt just got operated on wednesday for a colon tumour, and my mom has polyps.

[UrbScotty]

2. I feel sorry for the both of you.

How terrible.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. Yeah

he's in pretty good shape, quit smoking years ago. It's genetic - his dad dropped dead of a heart attack at 46.

[supernova]

4. Do you get colonoscopies?

A lot of colon cancer is preventable by removing the polyps, which you said your mom was doing. Normally they recommend starting colonoscopies at 50, but if you have a history, it might be required to start earlier.

The only reason I know this is working for a GI oncologist specialzing in colon cancer for 4 years. Both my mother and sister had breast cancer, so I started mamograms at 35 and I'm 45 now.

[Evoman]

6. No, I don't.

I'm only 27 years old...even with a history of colon cancer, they don't recommend you start getting colonscopies until after your 30. Although they have done tests on my stools to check for bleeding (any sign of bleeding, and they would have done a colonscopy) just to keep on top of it. I make sure I eat a lot of fiber, and I am actively taking steps to prevent colon cancer.

We will see, I guess....

[supernova]

7. Didn't mean to sound so schoolmarmish

Just that with a family history of disease, it's a good idea to start prevention way earlier than the guidelines recommend.

And it looks like you're doing that. :thumbsup: I think the colonoscopy thing is 40 yo with family history.

You said your roomate was 45, that's what made me think you might be older.

[Evoman]

8. No, I'm not the OP...it wasn't me with the roomate....

[supernova]

5. He's lucky the doc caught it early enough

to do something about it.

He will do fine if he takes care of himself. :-)

[Elidor]

9. I have a 42-year old friend going in for a double bypass next week

Apparently, he had a heart attack at some point and didn't even know it. They had scheduled him for a stint, but found two almost-total blockages. And the horrid thing is, me and a buddy have been dragging him out to the disc golf course 3 times a week to get him off his ass. He could've died on us at any time.

And due to recent health problems, I believe there is an angiogram in my near future as well. I hope it doesn't hurt too bad.