Pushing May 8 surgery date back a bit

[Fast Eddie]

Hi folks

After a lot of research here and other places, I have decided I need to push my aneurysm repair and valve replacement back. It will be May 29 at the latest.

The reason is simple: I need one more gum graft procedure. This is normally a one hour procedure in the periodontists' office. They snip a flap of skin from the roof of your mouth and sew it onto your gum where there is recession. Then a week later you go back and they remove the stitches. But now having realized that procedures like this are complicated by being on Coumadin, I think it wise to get it done before ACT enters my life.

While there is some risk of aneurysm rupture in the extra week or so that I will need, I think that risk is fairly low as I have toned down my once insane levels of biking to the point where I now get passed by little old ladies with baskets and bells on their bikes! It's embarassing.

I see the periodontist tomorrow to decide when he can do the procedure. At that point I will reschedule the surgery. I talked with his assistant today and she said she believes he does the procedure while on Coumadin if the INR is low enough. But I'd like to just get it done as simply as possible and be finished with it.

Wish me luck....

Fast Eddie

 

[Phyllis]

Sorry for the delay, but it is probably best to get all dental work done before surgery. I took you off the calendar for the 8th and will put you back on when you have a definite date. Will be thinking of you and be sure to check back and let us know how you make out with the dentist.

 

[Blanche]

What a difficult decision you had.

What a difficult decision you had.

It seems to me that you have made a productive decision, one that will serve you well. Eliminating a concern before surgery is a good way to go. Congratulations on taking this bull by the horns...
Kind regards,
Blanche

 

[Philip B]

Dental Work

Dental Work

Hi Eddie,

I tried to get all needed dental work done before my surgery. Unfortunately, I guess I made numerous attempts to chew through the breathing tube that connnected me to the ventilator after surgery and they stuck some hard plastic wedges in my mouth to keep me from biting through the tube. The result was a broken tooth. The tooth gets fixed next week.

Good luck with your dentist.

-Philip

 

[WayneGM]

Sorry for the delay but good decision. Best wishes.

 

[Susan BAV]

When I read your other post about the need for the gum repair, I was wondering if you could delay your heart surgery to get the other thing done. You'll need a pre-op note from your dentist saying your teeth are tight enough for the vent for the surgery anyway; and you want to go into heart surgery with the healthiest gums and teeth possible.

Anyway, the way you decided to do things, the order, makes sense to me. No straining or lifting in the mean time though, okay?! Take care and keep us posted.

 

[susieq14]

Hi Eddie,
Hope your visit to the dentist went well and they can get you in sooner rather than later so you can move forward with your heart surgery. Sounds like you made some good choices. Does your surgeon agree? Must be frustrating to be almost ready to go in and then have a change in plans. Take Care! Susie

 

[temp69]

good plan!

good plan!

sounds like a plan eddie, good luck. May 29 is right around the corner. I had my AR and AVR and a bypass last year on June 29 and surprisingly, I was up and traveling in August, going on trips, walking well, living life.

I now exericse almost every day and am feeling about 85%. And the little things you keep telling yourself aren't your heart, they might be, because I feel normal again. Here's hoping everything will go great for you. It's all in your favor, my man, so enjoy every breath! And keep us posted.

 

[Karlynn]

I'll also echo that it's a good idea to get dental work done prior, if possible. I'm pretty sure your doctor would let you know if he/she didn't think it was wise to delay.

Best wishes!