Beekeeping And ByPass Surgery

[Romahawk]

Here is a question I have never seen asked on any of the bee forum boards. Are there any beekeepers here who have had or know of someone who has had bypass surgery and continued with beekeeping? If so how long after the surgery was it possible to get back too working the bees?

[Brian D. Bray]

I haven't had bypass but I do do it from a wheelchair. Does that count?
That's 1 of the major reasons I went to 8 frame mediums for everything.
I have a neighbor a few blocks away that is 95 and still keeping bees.  He has reduced the sizes of box to a medium nuc so he can still handle the supers. 

Where there's a will, there's a way.

[thegolfpsycho]

I think you should talk to your doctor.  Some of the drugs they prescribe for heart conditions can react badly to bee venom.  I don't remember the particular drugs, and hopefully your doctor will have an open mind and not slam the door on your beekeeping without some thoughtful consideration.

[Zoot]

I had some thoughts on my switch to 8 frame mediums today while I was removing full supers: my biggest hive was stacked 8 high and I needed a step ladder this time to get to the top. Handling a solidly packed medium at that height was precarious indeed. Got me wondering if the strain was any different that lugging off bigger, heavier supers at a more sane height.

[Tropic]

I have had very complicated bypass surgery that left me sort of unable to lift much for about three months... but in about 6 months I was back to normal and could handle most of my beekeeping chores. Naturally, one has to be a bit more careful about handling heavy loads and I decided to go light with my hives. Bee stings certainly have had so major effect on me and my slower pace with the hives has been welcomed by the bees. My one problem is handling any load when it is hot and I am under some heat stress.

[Michael Bush]

>Handling a solidly packed medium at that height was precarious indeed.

Time to harvest.

[Romahawk]

Bee stings certainly have had so major effect on me and my slower pace with the hives has been welcomed by the bees. My one problem is handling any load when it is hot and I am under some heat stress.

Tropic it looks like you are saying the stings are no bother after your recovery period but the heat is a problem. That is good news to me. I'm not sure yet if I will have bypass or just an angioplasty on the first of the month. Doctor says it depends on what he sees when he does the catherization. I have five nucs coming on Tuesday and was debating on whether to cancel them or not. I believe I will take them and get them installed before the first of the month and go from there. I think I will throw three boxes of drawn comb on all of them and hope that it will be enough to last them until I can go back to work them if indeed I do have bypass instead of an angioplasty. Worse comes to worse I can always let them set out there producing swarms to build the local feral colonies.. :-D

Thanks for the other responses also. I do take heart drugs now and have since 1970 but it is a question I will be sure to ask the Doc. Maybe I should hand him a nice bottle of clear golden colored Mead when I ask...  :evil:

Brian I certainly do admire a person such as yourself who doesn't let what some folks might consider a major handicap in this hobby to continue with your beekeeping. I probably won't go to eight frame mediums but will start using mediums for supers no matter what type the surgery is that I will have next Friday.

Strange, my two brother in-laws have both had bypass surgery in the past year. Wonder if it's all that rich Italian food we have been fed over the years.. :'(

[Michael Bush]

The best thing for the heat is a Golden Bee Products suit.  Wear just a pair of shorts under it and you'll have a nice breezy day instead of a stifling hot one.