MsMesS -

Yes. Fine. No. Short form...

Sounds like we have something in common. I had what was technically bypass surgery last week of the left common illiac artery (to the left leg), right common illiac artery (to the right leg), and the abdominal aortic artery (the Big one). It's called bypass. It really is, but I'd like to think of it as reinforcement. I had aneurysms. Also called blockages. I wish docs would get their terminologies consistent... Whatever... Bypasses - 8" big dude, 4" each on the illiacs.

I've had MS for over 20 years now. Do I qualify?

This surgery was a walk in the park for me. I had an ascending aortic dissection 4 years ago. Dissected right at the heart. That was serious surgery. Open heart - lower your body temp to 60 degrees, run your blood backwards thru your arteries/veins, mechanical lung and heart living for you...

Let me know what you're looking at and I'll tell ya what I know about it. I am, unfortunately, intimately familiar with vascular surgery procedures and techniques. The surgeon and I have become friends as we share mutual interests. We're constantly battling the same organization for funding - Congress. Me for NASA. Him for the NIH.

My MS is RR. I have exacerbations regularly - fall and spring. I don't recall a relapse after the Big One 4 years ago. I think I was too pre-occupied. This time, jury's still out. MS hasn't really been that big of a deal for me. I still live/work/play a normal life. This vascular stuff, however...

My surgery took a little less than 2 hours. I woke up about 30 minutes after surgery. I was walking with a walker the next day. Without a walker the day after. Solid foods after 3 days. Released from hospital morning of the fifth day.

Tom