Health Minister Khaw undergone heart bypass
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Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has undergone a heart bypass on the advice of his doctor.
The decision for the surgery, which was carried out on Tuesday, was made after Mr Khaw had gone for a coronary angiogram, which is an X-ray test to check the blood vessels and chambers of the heart.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Health said Mr Khaw was fit and well prior to the operation.
She added that the procedure went smoothly and Mr Khaw is doing well now and is hopeful of a speedy recovery.-- 938Live
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Khaw recovering after bypass
HEALTH Minister Khaw Boon Wan had heart bypass surgery on Tuesday and is now recovering in hospital.
He is expected to be discharged in a few days, but will be away from work for some weeks.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said Mr Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, will cover Mr Khaw's responsibilities at the Health Ministry for the next three weeks.
Mr Khaw, 56, who has a history of high cholesterol levels and has been on medication for some years, was advised by his doctor to have the bypass surgery after a blockage was discovered during a routine health screening.
A statement from the PMO said Mr Khaw did a stress electrocardiogram test - which checks arterial blood flow as the patient exercises on a treadmill - that turned up an abnormal pattern.
He was then put through more tests which found 'significant narrowing of a major heart artery'.
-- ST
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he actually has a heart?
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Originally posted by the Bear:
he actually has a heart?
Come on, he is still better than quite a number of the other ministers.
Ok, so he suggested shipping off the old and elderly to nursing homes in JB but he was thinking of helping Singaporeans save money instead of using up all their savings on expensive health care in Singapore.
Give him a break lah.
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. . .. . if he did not state to throw the old folks to Jb . . . I will say recover well
ee!
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Originally posted by charlize:
Come on, he is still better than quite a number of the other ministers.
Ok, so he suggested shipping off the old and elderly to nursing homes in JB but he was thinking of helping Singaporeans save money instead of using up all their savings on expensive health care in Singapore.
Give him a break lah.
which leg?
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It's a rich person's disease.
He must have a very very rich sedentary lifestyle.
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he's not so unpopular becoz of his post, if he's minister for something else..............he'll be cursed as well.........
Wong Kan Seng and Mah Bow Lan must be relieved that Khaw is alright..............
becoz they are the 3 Stooges..............aka.........the 3 Short Farks...............
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Later he become Ironman. Fly out our airforce busy again.
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he's getting old. Send him to JB.
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Hope he recovers well.
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Khaw leaves hospital
HEALTH Minister Khaw Boon Wan, 56, left hospital for home yesterday afternoon, following a successful heart bypass 11 days ago.
He looked cheerful as he shook hands and said goodbye to the medical staff of the National Heart Centre (NHC).
The minister, who has been on medication for years to keep his high cholesterol levels under control, was found to have a blockage in his heart during a routine health check-up.
-- ST
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Originally posted by As romanista2001:
he's not so unpopular becoz of his post, if he's minister for something else..............he'll be cursed as well.........
Wong Kan Seng and Mah Bow Lan must be relieved that Khaw is alright..............
becoz they are the 3 Stooges..............aka.........the 3 Short Farks...............
....... : ) ha ha....so who is he among the 3..........."faster" "cheaper" or "better"?
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Health Minister posts first blog since heart bypass
SINGAPORE : Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has posted his first blog entry in three weeks since his heart bypass surgery.
In his blog, Mr Khaw thanked his many well-wishers and said he was touched by the love, friendship and compassion shown to him.
The minister wrote that a timely CT scan of his heart revealed a blockage in his left main artery, that only a heart bypass can treat. A heart bypass requires the surgeon to split the breast bone, and recovery takes months. Describing it as a "major operation", Mr Khaw said he's now recovering gradually but steadily, and precautions against infection are now his main concern.
During the recovery period, Mr Khaw will also have to guard against accidental over-exertion.
Pictures on his blog show Mr Khaw doing physiotherapy exercises at the National Heart Centre. These include simple stretching and sessions on the treadmill.
He goes to the National Heart Centre for cardiac physiotherapy and supervised treadmill exercises.
These sessions three times a week are about the only time he leaves his house.
Doctors have ordered plenty of rest and discouraged visits by well-wishers. So Mr Khaw says he has also been disconnected from his email network.
He shared how Education Minister and former surgeon Dr Ng Eng Hen made a short visit and instructed Mrs Khaw to "lock up" his PC and notebook.
As he focuses on recuperating, Mr Khaw added that he's beginning to reconnect with the outside world as he enters week four of post-surgery. He will do so starting first with Facebook. - CNA/jy -
Health Minister Khaw admits being "stubborn", delayed heart bypass
SINGAPORE: Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has confessed that he was "in denial" and "played delay tactic" when he was told by his doctors about the extent of his heart problems.
Mr Khaw said that with a high calcium score and an abnormal ECG stress test reading, it was obvious to the cardiologists that he would need a coronary angiogram as soon as possible.
"But I was in denial," Mr Khaw wrote in his blog, titled "Living At Cliff's Edge".
He said a staff from the National Heart Centre called up a few times to schedule an angiogram session.
"I played delay tactic," Mr Khaw wrote.
He said he went to Penang one weekend for Qing Ming (Chinese tradition of ancestral worship at graveyard) and kept the information from his siblings.
"My sister noticed a package of medicine in my luggage, including aspirin which she recognised and probed. I did not want to alarm the siblings and I still thought that it was all a false alarm, so I did not disclose the facts," said Mr Khaw.
Mr Khaw said he confided in Labour Chief Lim Swee Say who was most alarmed and thought that he was wrong to postpone the angiogram.
Mr Khaw even intensified his exercise routines to prove that he was in top physical form.
"I used to run on treadmill three times a week; I increased it to five. Each time, I ran at my usual pace of 8 km per hour for half an hour," said Mr Khaw.
The minister said he faithfully carried the Glytrin spray with him wherever he went, but only for a few days.
"Then I told myself: I am not going to get a heart attack; I am not going to carry this. And I actually left it on the shelf," he said.
While he had spoken to many patients in denial when confronted with an illness, he said he went through such an experience himself.
"While it is understandable why I did what I did, it was sheer stupidity and madness. I am just fortunate that nothing adverse happened in between," said Mr Khaw.
Mr Khaw also highlighted the recent comments of a general practitioner (GP) with over 30 years' experience.
The GP had noted that patients who comply well with his advice, especially in taking the lifelong medication, are largely still around.
Those with an adverse event, a heart attack or a stroke or some other major complications, come largely from the group who do not, or comply half-heartedly, either in denial or over-confidence of their physical health.
"I was stubborn and was not a good patient for nearly six weeks. I am making this confession so that hopefully, it can be a life-saving reminder to others.
"Please do not follow my example," said Mr Khaw.
"Get a second opinion by all means, or even a third. But when the overwhelming medical evidence points to a particular approach, do work with the doctors and follow their advice."
He is grateful to his doctors who persisted and finally scheduled a session for May 3 for him to sit down with the doctors to run through the evidence and the options.
"That session pulled me from cliff's edge and got me back on the rational track," said Mr Khaw.
Mr Khaw underwent heart bypass surgery on May 4 and is recovering well. - CNA/jy -
Don't follow my example: Khaw
NEARLY four weeks after undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan confessed on his blog that he had been in denial about his condition and put off going for tests and treatment for six weeks, against his doctor's advice.
In his blog entry dated May 27, Mr Khaw said cardiologists had told him he needed to have an angiogram as soon as possible due to his high calcium score and abnormal electrocardiogram stress test reading. A coronary angiogram would allow doctors to inject a dye into the arteries to ascertain blood flow in the heart.
But despite calls from the National Heart Centre to schedule one, Mr Khaw said he put it off and even went to Penang one weekend for Qing Ming.
Denial is quite common among patients, said cardiologists, and Mr Khaw's experience is a reminder not to delay health check-ups and follow-up treatments. Most patients experience denial especially when they still feel fit.
In fact, to prove to himself that he was in 'top physical form', the 57-year-old minister went against his doctor's advice to ease up on his exercise routines and did the opposite. 'I used to run on (the) treadmill three times a week; I increased it to five. Each time, I ran at my usual pace of 8km per hour for half an hour,' he said.
The stubborn Mr Khaw also stopped carrying his Glytrin spray, a medicine applied under the tongue to dilate blood vessels and make it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body. He told himself: 'I am not going to get a heart attack. I am not going to carry this.'
-- ST
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Originally posted by QX179R:
Don't follow my example: Khaw
NEARLY four weeks after undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan confessed on his blog that he had been in denial about his condition and put off going for tests and treatment for six weeks, against his doctor's advice.
In his blog entry dated May 27, Mr Khaw said cardiologists had told him he needed to have an angiogram as soon as possible due to his high calcium score and abnormal electrocardiogram stress test reading. A coronary angiogram would allow doctors to inject a dye into the arteries to ascertain blood flow in the heart.
But despite calls from the National Heart Centre to schedule one, Mr Khaw said he put it off and even went to Penang one weekend for Qing Ming.
Denial is quite common among patients, said cardiologists, and Mr Khaw's experience is a reminder not to delay health check-ups and follow-up treatments. Most patients experience denial especially when they still feel fit.
In fact, to prove to himself that he was in 'top physical form', the 57-year-old minister went against his doctor's advice to ease up on his exercise routines and did the opposite. 'I used to run on (the) treadmill three times a week; I increased it to five. Each time, I ran at my usual pace of 8km per hour for half an hour,' he said.
The stubborn Mr Khaw also stopped carrying his Glytrin spray, a medicine applied under the tongue to dilate blood vessels and make it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body. He told himself: 'I am not going to get a heart attack. I am not going to carry this.'
-- ST
Being a minister, he should set a good example. Having exposed this makes me think otherwise.
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Exactly....how can he formulate about healthy lifestyle and work out health policies for Singaporean and he is not willing to follow his own policies but preach others to follow.......
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Khaw Boon Wan relates how he went from denial to facing heart problem squarely
SINGAPORE: Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has continued on in his blog to relate how he went from denial about his heart problem to facing it "squarely."
In an update posted on Monday morning, Mr Khaw said that he went for a CT angiogram on April 29 which revealed a blockage in the Left Main Artery.
At this point, he said, "the revelation ended my denial phase."
Doctors at the National Heart Centre had also send him many articles about heart disease and treatment options which had been useful to him.
The next step was to do a coronary angiogram to ascertain the exact nature of the blockage, in preparation for a bypass operation.
When Mr Khaw and his wife met the medical team on May 3, he said he was "calm and took a detached and clinical approach in the discussion."
He proceeded with the coronary angiogram that same afternoon, with a view for a bypass the next morning.
Mr Khaw then went home to pack and took a long shower, and was mentally and physically prepared for the open heart surgery on May 4.
In his previous blog post on Thursday, Mr Khaw had admitted that before the April 29 CT angiogram confirming the blockage, he had been in denial.
When early tests showed an abnormal ECG stress test reading and high Calcium Score, Mr Khaw said he played "delay tactic" when asked to schedule the angiogram.
He even intensified his exercise routine.
Mr Khaw said he was sharing how he was stubborn and not a good patient for nearly six weeks, hoping it can be a life-saving reminder to others not to follow his example.- CNA/vm
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He could have practised what he preached by going to JB instead of Singapore.
Chay, no respect to this kind of never practise what he preaches kind of minister.
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Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan says his heart bypass took 52 minutes
SINGAPORE: Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said his heart bypass surgery four weeks ago took just 52 minutes.
He gave this update in his blog on Tuesday.
Two heart surgeons, Prof Kenny Sin and Prof Chua Yeow Leng took two arteries, one from Mr Khaw's chest and one from his left arm, and grafted them to provide the bypasses.
Mr Khaw said his heart was stopped and its functions taken over by a heart-lung machine for 29 minutes.
He also used a unit of his own blood for the surgery.
Mr Khaw is a regular blood donor and the blood that he donated was still available.
He said he's indebted to all those who gave him a new lease of life. - CNA/vm
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Originally posted by hasene:
He could have practised what he preached by going to JB instead of Singapore.
Chay, no respect to this kind of never practise what he preaches kind of minister.
thats a good one.....ha ha ha. if he runs for next election ask him to run for JB.... : )
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'It's wonderful to be back'
HEALTH Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who underwent a major open heart surgery six weeks ago, returned to his office on Monday to a rousing and heart-warming welcome from his staff and colleagues.
Declaring that it's wonderful to be back at work, Mr Khaw thanked his colleagues for having kept the ministry 'running smoothly in my absence, without missing a (heart) beat'.
'I am proud of them,' he says in his latest blog posting on Monday.
'While I was away, there were some 800 emails built up in my inbox. I have used the last two weeks to systematically reply to the old emails. As a result, I have less than 20 outstanding emails today, not so stressful. Would have been bad, otherwise, for my heart, I presume.'
While his office remains unchanged, he says his daily routines have undergone some changes.
'First: I am still on cardiac rehabilitation, with regular visits to the National Heart Centre, three times a week. Just now, I brisk walked 2.5 km on treadmill, besides various stretching and weights exercises.
'Second: I have adopted a fully plant-based diet plan, avoiding all meat, not even fish or dairy products. Today's lunch was bought from SGH food court: salad with no dressing, vegetable sandwich (on wholegrain bread) and fruits. This morning's breakfast was oats, wholegrain bread and fruits.
'Third: I have cancelled most meetings this first week to allow me to adjust gradually in accordance with my level of physical health.'
So far, he has been able to cope with his first day at work, says the minister, adding that his colleagues have helped to ease his adjustments a lot.
But his community and political work at Sembawang will have to wait a while longer.
'I am not physically ready to climb a lot of stairs and do house-to-house visits. I am also not yet able to man the Meet-the-People's Session, but I will start vetting and signing the appeal letters based on the interviews conducted by my Branch activists,' he says in his blog.
'They are experienced and know how to gather the key points to strengthen the residents' appeals. We will not fail our residents at their hour of need.'
-- ST