Heart: Diet, exercise will aid recovery

At 58, Barry Furgason is the same age as former president Bill Clinton.

And Furgason had a quadruple bypass, too, in 1996.

But Clinton had one advantage over the East Lansing attorney: warning signs in the form of chest pains and shortness of breath.

"I suffered cardiac arrest and was fortunate just to survive the attack," said Furgason, who was four months into a new diet and exercise regimen when was stricken.

The former president, recovering in a New York hospital from a quadruple bypass operation Monday, is among a half-million Americans annually who undergo bypass surgery. Former Lt. Gov. Connie Binseld has had one. Former MSU president Gordon Guyer has had one. He's doing so well that he couldn't be reached for this story because he's on a bear-hunting trip.

When arteries that serve the heart become clogged, surgeons graft on veins or arteries from elsewhere in the body to reroute blood flow, said Dr. Divyakant Gandhi, a Lansing cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon.

The patient's chest is opened and blood is routed through a heart and lung machine.

"He'll probably feel like a train hit him for the next few days," Gandhi said.

But the surgery is just the beginning. The real work starts after Clinton is released from the hospital. Without complications, that could be within a few days.

"A lot depends on lifestyle changes," Gandhi said. For Clinton, that could mean eating a low-fat diet and reducing stress. For others, it may mean more exercise or no more smoking.

After his surgery, Furgason learned all he could about heart disease. He was never a smoker. Now, he exercises and stays away from fats, especially transfats such as those found in margarine and other hydrogenated oils. He also takes low doses of the anti-cholesterol drug Lipitor and aspirin. Furgason keeps an eye on his weight and his cholesterol readings, and subscribes to a monthly cardiac newsletter.

During the first few weeks of recovery, patients should limit lifting and activity to ensure proper healing. Some may suffer temporary memory loss; others may face post-surgical depression.

Furgason says it took a good six months to completely recover from the surgery, but then was amazed at his increase in energy.

"I could walk miles around friends of mine and up hills," he said. "It's just like getting a new engine."

A typical vein graft lasts eight to 10 years, while an arterial graft can last as long as 25 years, Gandhi said. That may be shorter or longer depending on lifestyle factors and individual anatomy.

"Some patients may need repeat surgery as soon as seven to 10 years from now; others may not need it for 18 to 20 years," he said.

Arlo Wasson, 86, of Holt, has had two bypasses. The first was in 1983, the second in 1996. His wife, Shirley, helped him start a low-salt, low-sugar, low-fat diet. They winter in Florida so he can walk year-round.

"Arlo said to the doctor, 'Why am I having this second operation, because I've done all those things? I've dieted and walked,' " Shirley Wasson said. "The doctor said, 'If you didn't do these things, you would have been in here much sooner than 13 years.' "

Contact Kathleen Lavey at 377-1251 or klavey@lsj.com.

Photo: (not available)
Associated Press
Road to recovery: Former president Bill Clinton said he was "a little scared, but not much" of undergoing heart bypass surgery, but was looking forward to a swift recovery.