I am pleased to inform you that the stitches have now been reomoved. On medical examination it is found that there is no complication of any kind. Thus by God's Grace and Pujya Gurudev's Blessings all is well with me. Drs have given me the recovery plan which I shall follow. My recovery will be faster if I do not receive any more advices in this regard!!
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Pujya Guruji's brief to devotees on his return to the Ashram on May 10th after his Bypass surgery.
May 12, 2010
Hari Om!
I am giving this update to allay the anxieties that all have experienced while I was in the hospital.
I was on my New Zealand and Far East tour, where I experienced tightening in my chest during my Jakarta stay in April. The doctors there immediately performed several tests and a CT angiogram revealed that my coronary arteries were blocked. However, the good news was that the heart muscle had not suffered any damage, and as such I was able to complete the remaining five days of my tour without any problem.
On my return to Mumbai, I was admitted to the world renowned "Asian Heart Institute". An angiogram was performed by Dr. Sudhir Vaishnav, which showed that 5 of the arteries were blocked. As such the option to put in stents was discarded, and the decision to go ahead with a quadruple coronary bypass surgery was taken.
My surgeon was none other than the world renowned Dr. Ramakanta Panda, recipient of the Padma Vibhushan award for excellence and innovation, in what is called the "Beating Heart surgery".
My surgery took quite long. I did not need transfusion from any donor. My own blood was transfused to me due to its high heamoglobin content. My heart was beating all the while that the grafting on my arteries was taking place. Another unique feature of Dr. Panda's technique was that blood vessels for grafting were taken from the chest itself, avoiding thereby another incision in the legs.
Dr. Apparao was present inside the operating theatre, and told me later how impressed he was with the doctors and the procedure that they had conducted. It was truly creditable that Dr. Apparao had flown in for 24 hours from USA despite his recent foot injury.
By the Grace of the Lord, Pujya Gurudev's blessings, and the prayers of everyone, my recovery went at a pace that was satisfactory to the doctors, without any complications.
I was operated on the 3rd of May, and stayed in the ICU till noon of May 6th, when I was shifted to my room.
Our Manisha stayed with me throughout my stay in the hospital.
On the 7th post operative day, I was discharged from the hospital, and am now required to go back on the 17th for follow up and stitch removal.
As of now I anticipate being in Mumbai till the 20th of June and the last ten days of June I hope to be at Vibhooti.
I have been advised plenty of rest, exercise and a healthy and balanced diet. Therefore at present I will not be doing any active work.
I will be meeting devotees and visitors everyday for 5 - 7 minutes at the Gita Mandir, morning between 11.30 am -12 pm and evening between 5.30 - 6.00 pm
With Prem and Om,
Swami Tejomayananda