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CathyK.

Since I found out I will be put off till the beginning of the new year I have been busy trying to think of everything I need to do in the next 3 months. I have seen my dentist and he is going to do all the work in Nov. that he would anticipate I would need done for the next 6 months. I talked with my Priest and husband about a living will and my wishes. Have things lined out for work. Any thing I am missing??:rolleyes:
 
Cool and Calm......

Cool and Calm......

Hi there, Wow I hope I can be as calm and 'together' as you when ( if ) I have to face surgery. ( probably when ) Sorry I dont have any sound advice, but I do have '''BEST WISHES''' for you, and look forward to hearing how everything went for you in the new year. How wonderful that will be.
 
Seems like you took care of some important things and all that makes going into surgery a lot easier. One thing that I made sure of was to keep myself physically and mentally in good shape. Altho my card made me quit running as soon as we found out how bad my valve was, he did allow me to walk. I walked anywhere from 3.5 to 5 miles four or five times a week and continued to do my stretching and core muscle exercises. I don't know your attitude or even your ability to exercise but I truly believe that it helps get thru recovery a lot easier. I'm now three weeks out and walking 3 to 3.5 miles two times a day. Of course, this is my 2 cents worth and hope it is at least some help to you.
 
In addition to a living will, you should have a medical POA. My SO and I have agreed that we will "pull out" the medical POA before ever indicating there is a living will. That is because we do not want a living will to necessarily take precedence if there are little things we talk about that may alter the living will at the last moment. A medical POA gives your loved one the right to handle your medical care according to your wishes. The living will will "force" the hospital to handle serious matters should their actions be contradictory to what you have decided.

Of course, you need to make sure you really trust the person you give the medical POA to.;) :D ;)

I hope this makes sense to you.

Other than that, it sounds like you have calmly covered all your bases.
 
Kodi - I am active but do tire easily. I walk alot at my job and still do all the mom duties at home. I have noticed that I get chest discomfort upon lifting so I won't lift anything very heavy.

geebee - I assumed ( you know what they say) that my spouse is atomatically my POA. Is this wrong?

EireCara - Thanks for the support. You will get there. Just have to go through the emotions and end-up where I am. I am still worried about stuff, but this is something I don't have a choice in so all I can do is get myself and everyone else prepared.
 
Your husband should have a DURABLE Power of Attorney. The regular ones are limited in scope, but also limited in what he would be able to do for you should you be somehow unable to do for yourself. And that would include getting access to any medical records, doing any banking, etc.

The Durable POA was invaluable when my husband was recently hospitalized for quite a while and could not sign any paperwork, or checks that came in.

You should also have not only a Living Will, but a regular will drawn up.

Get yourself a shower chair and a recliner if possible.
 
Nancy - I do have a built in seat in the shower already, but working on the recliner. Thanks for the info on the POA. I will do some checking on that.
 
Alon - huh, didn't think about the "unimportant" stuff. Good advice, will be thinking about that stuff, too. Thanks!
 
Cathy

Cathy

You don't say how old your children are? maybe I missed it in another thread?...If they are school age..someone to drive them back/forth..family/friends to prepare food..for several weeks.someone to do laundry? .You will not be able to lift wet clothes out of dryer..for about a month. I had a great Hubby that did that for me..still does.:D Not laundry..but loves to cook. Do you live near a mall, Wal-mart, ect. that you can do some inside walking if the weather is bad? Enjoy the Holidays...You will do fine when the time for surgery comes.:) Bonnie
 
Bonnie - Children are 18, 16, 15. All boys. No driving for them will be necessary however I already told the two that are at home, the other one is off to college, that we will be having laundry education in the near future. It will be good for them. My husband doesn't mind cooking either. I do have a super center Wal- Mart not far from me. I was wondering what I was going to do if weather didn't permit for outside walking. Great suggestion, I didn't even think about them.

Phyllis - thanks for the web site. I will check it out.
 
Cathy,
Someone else posted this a while back - I found it helpful/interesting. The section about the actual surgery , and the Life After OHS was also helpful.
Thanks for the post - this info is helpful to me as well:)

http://www.heartsurgeons.com/ed4.html
 
CathyK. said:
Do you know if they have one for Missouri? Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Not sure:confused: But, I live in Tennessee - and I still found the general info really helpful - I am sure the basics are probably the same.
 
kodi said:
Seems like you took care of some important things and all that makes going into surgery a lot easier. One thing that I made sure of was to keep myself physically and mentally in good shape. Altho my card made me quit running as soon as we found out how bad my valve was, he did allow me to walk. I walked anywhere from 3.5 to 5 miles four or five times a week and continued to do my stretching and core muscle exercises. I don't know your attitude or even your ability to exercise but I truly believe that it helps get thru recovery a lot easier. I'm now three weeks out and walking 3 to 3.5 miles two times a day. Of course, this is my 2 cents worth and hope it is at least some help to you.
Click to expand...

I defintely second that! Being in good shape before surgery makes for a speedy recovery.
 
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