Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Regis Philbin Readies For Heart Surgery

Regis Philbin, co-host of “Live With Regis and Kelly,” announced on yesterday’s show that he is scheduled to undergo heart bypass surgery this week.

“Well, listen, I gotta tell you something. ... I had been feeling chest pains, you know, and, uh, shortness of breath and all those little symptoms that you hear about,” Philbin, 75, informed the show’s audience.

After numerous medical tests, doctors ended up recommending bypass surgery, The Associated according to AP reports.

During the show, Philbin said that he was hoping to have angioplasty because “you know, you get in - bang, bang, bang - they blow it open and you leave the next day.” But, he said, “there’s some plaque in some arteries and I’ve got to get it cleaned out.” Not surprisingly, Philbin is not looking forward to the surgery.

“Darn it, I don’t want to do it,” Philbin comically exclaimed. “Nobody wants to do it, I guess. And I had a second opinion, I did all those things, and so they’re all in agreement that it should be the bypass. And so that’s what I’m gonna do.”

His co-host, Kelly Ripa, said that she plans to give Regis some special attention.

“My primary job will be, like it or not, get your pills ready… your sponge-bath nurse,” she said.

The quick witted Philbin quipped: “Why don’t you give me a quick dip before I go?”

One thing’s for sure, Regis still hasn’t lost his sense of humor!