I'm home!

[DaveEM]

I got home on Saturday 13 Dec mid-day after my AVR on 10 Dec. Still on constant pain meds, but am walking three times a day for about 5-10 minutes each around the house. I'm faithfully doing my breathing exercises ever hour, despite the pain (when I cough). I have to say the hospital experience was a nightmare, and the first 36 hours at home were really rough. Had a great sleep last night, though, and some of my worries (water retention, aches in strange places, fear of fever), etc., have gotten better. I've had two showers, one at the hospital that was a freezing suckee quick shower they made me take before discharging me, and a luxurious one at home last night. My heart cath went fine (that was my last post), but the next day had to call the ambulance to take me to the hospital because the "collegen plug" they used to plug the femeral artery busted out somehow, and I immediately began internal bleeding into my leg. I applied immediate pressure (thank goodness), but the doofus medics with the ambulance made we walk down stairs!! Anyway, at the hospital the put a clamp on my leg for six hours, and they also pressed down by hand on the apple sized clump of blood in my groin to get the blood dissipated. That was the most painful experience I have ever had in my life (including the just concluded AVR)!! But it worked, although I have massive and quite impressive bruise running the full width of my upper leg near my groin. Yikes! Anyway, my energy is running out, so I'll go for now. Thank youo for all your support and I'll fill you in with progress in awhile.

Best regards,

Dave

 

[escargome]

Welcome home. Glad you were able to post a little. Wow, sorry about that awful situation with medics and bleeding. But, hang in there, it does get better. I know this sounds like a broken record, but sleep, breathe, eat, rest does work. Keep us updated when you feel up to it.

 

[Dawn-Marie]

Hi Dave ~ I'm sorry to hear of the problems you had. Hopefully, now that you're home, things will be better for you. My best wishes and prayers for a smooth recovery,

Dawn-Marie

 

[Phyllis]

Glad you are home and you have had enough bumps in the road so I am wishing you a speedy and uneventful recovery now.

 

[WayneGM]

Welcome home. Best wishes for a bumpfree recovery from here on.

 

[woodworker5280]

YAY! Home is so nice, eh?

I'm amazed at your quick hospital stay. Seems like all the folks who recently had surgery are getting home very quickly. Makes me wonder why I took 7 days in the hospital as compared with 3-4 days for people (and sorry to bring it up) twice my age. I guess my stay was longer because I went into V-fib after they stitched me up and had to re-open in the OR. They then ordered a nuclear stress test and an electrophysiology test (of some sort) to see if there were any blockages.

All that aside, it's awesome that you're back in your "comfort" zone. All the best in your recovery!!

From the frozen tundra that is Denver

Aaron

 

[marie]

Glad to hear you're home and may you have a smooth recovery going forward.

 

[skeptic49]

Welcome home, Dave. Get some rest and enjoy being out of the hospital and back in familiar surroundings. Sorry about the burst plug - bummer!

Best wishes,

Jim

 

[TFBruce]

Welcome home Dave! I had my surgery (RP) same day and went home Saturday, too. Another episode in the fear of the unknown: home, post-surgery.
We will all get through this together, my friend. Feel free to shoot me a private email any time you may want to compare experiences for the next little while. I am officially home alone, with the exception of Erica coming home for lunch, tomorrow. SCARY!
Congrats on being on the "Post" surgery side of things

 

[Eva]

Welcome home, Dave

Sorry about the bumps you had, but I hope things will improve quickly every day from now on. Remember not to bend down, not to get up using you stomach muscle, nor to lift anything heavy (I was not allowed to carry anything over 8 lbs). I did not carry anything at all. Continue your small steps walks and increase them every week.

Good luck

 

[zipper2]

My bruising from cath stayed one month

My bruising from cath stayed one month

Nothing like home after the bit of glitches you encountered.

wishing you a happy uneventful recovery at home now.

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[ottagal]

Hi Dave,
Welcome home and I hope that it is a smooth recovery from this day forward. Take good care and sending positive thoughts your way.

 

[nancym]

Glad that everything is over. It will only get better from now on. I am 5 weeks post AVR, and it's amazing the progress that I've made. I still have a lot of aches and pains in my back and neck, and I still get tired faily quickly, but otherwise, I really feel almost back to normal. And it's wonderful!!! I am so glad that th surgery is done. You're going to feel better every day. Take your pain pills if you need to and something to help you sleep if you need to--you need to rest in order to heal. Welcome home!

 

[ponygirlmom]

I'm amazed at your quick hospital stay. Seems like all the folks who recently had surgery are getting home very quickly. Makes me wonder why I took 7 days in the hospital as compared with 3-4 days for people (and sorry to bring it up) twice my age.

You have better insurance!

Seriously, if I didn't have the set-up I had at home, I would have preferred to stay in the hospital longer. I had three adults to help me with everything and a totally sleep-able recliner. When I was discharged I was definitely not ready to do much for myself. (Although I wasn't as incapacitated as my brother thought I would be. He thought I would be in bed all the time and need help to get to the potty!)

 

[Glenda]

Dave I'm glad you are home and getting better. Believe it or not things will get better, it just takes time. Remember not to push yourself too hard. Hugs & prayers coming your way.

 

[Scrappergirl]

welcome home Dave. Glad all went well. I think we are getting close to discharge if all goes well and we don't have any other surprises. Stay healthy and keep up the exercises.
Landon's mom

 

[deano89]

Hi dave sorry your hospital stay wasnt good ,but now thats behind you, you concentrate on a good recovery good luck Dean

 

[ponytaila1a]

Dave...sorry about the plug issue. I too had the plug(in September) and worry about it every day. Not sure how many of us have had the plug. I had not heard of it before my cath. I'm still in the waiting room. Glad to hear you are home. Best wishes for a smooth recovery.

 

[DaveEM]

I think the plug dissolves

I think the plug dissolves

Dave...sorry about the plug issue. I too had the plug(in September) and worry about it every day. Not sure how many of us have had the plug. I had not heard of it before my cath. I'm still in the waiting room. Glad to hear you are home. Best wishes for a smooth recovery.

Sorry you're still in the waiting room...in some ways I wish I was there, again! Regarding the plug, I was told by my cardio that it comletely dissolves over time and the "wound" in the artery completely heals up because the plug is made up of natural collegen. So, I don't think you need to worry about it now since I'm sure by now it's dissolve and no longer exits. You might want to ask your cardio about it. At least that's one last thing to worry about!

Best regards,

Dave

 

[DaveEM]

Agree

Agree

You have better insurance!

Seriously, if I didn't have the set-up I had at home, I would have preferred to stay in the hospital longer. I had three adults to help me with everything and a totally sleep-able recliner. When I was discharged I was definitely not ready to do much for myself. (Although I wasn't as incapacitated as my brother thought I would be. He thought I would be in bed all the time and need help to get to the potty!)

I agree absolutely. If my wife and daughter weren't here to help me in every way, I don't know what I would do. Also, we just gotour sleep-able recliner (power driven!), and it's made a huge difference in my sleeping comfort.

Dave