P
plexxer
Hello all! Thanks for the all the supportive messages while I was in the hospital. Here's the story of how it all went down...
Arrived at the hospital at 5:00 AM. I've been there before early in the morning for Cath procedures, but for some reason, everything seemed to be going really quickly. I think I was just kinda outside myself not believing that I will have one of my major organs stopped, cut open and fiddled with by a man that I met 2 weeks before
Got weighed, some blood work done and an IV line started, then finally led back to a bed. Didn't realize they had to shave the ENTIRE front of my body, but talking with the nurse that did that prep work and some of her harder cases (one guy was so hairy, she said, the surgery had to be delayed) helped ease my tensions a bit.
I was able to have my family wait for me while we spoke to the the members of the surgical and anesthesiology team. They asked a bunch of questions, explained what would go down ( I would have a breathing tube and TEE during the surgery - didn't think I had enough space down there for both), and before I knew it, I was giving my goodbyes (I teared up on the one to my wife pretty bad) and wheeled back into the OR. I remember seeing the OR, but things went black quickly after that.
I was later told that the surgery lasted about 5 hours, and I think every different family member that was there that spoke with the surgeon in the consultation room afterwards had a different report on what he said, so I guess I'll try to get the details when I see him in a couple weeks. I can't blame them, I understand that is a tense emotional time.
The next memory I have is a hazy one of seeing my wife and brother in the VCU (Vascular care unit). I do remember the breathing tube still being in and that I kept putting my fingers on it and the nurses saying how much they didn't like seeing me touch it. I think they thought I was going to try and pull it out. I know I wasn't going to, but it is really uncomfortable to have this think in there AND not be able to communicate about it. (my wife said she did understand when I pointed to it, then to my butt that I was saying it was a pain in my A$$ ) I do remember getting the tube out, but the whole experience in the early hours of the VCU is still kinda hazy, so I can't give too many details. I want to say I had a scrub down by two very cute nurses, but I could have dreamed the whole experience. I do know that I was in pain and couldn't get any rest, and that the morphine actually made everything hurt worse. An anti-sweeling agent, Topropol(?) seemed to work much better). The nurses I had at the VCU were the best - on top of everything and ready to answer any questions, meet any need or just talk. I was up eating a 'liquid' breakfast in a chair by the next morning, and the cardiologist came by and said I was "setting the curve" for recovery, which made me very hopeful.
I had all of my catheters removed, but the drain tubes were still attached, and it was up to my normal room by lunchtime. A couple Percocets at night allowed me to get what seemed like something resembling continuous sleep in the evenings. which I think really helped with my recovery. After 2 days in the hospital room, I was getting antsy and the bed was becoming very uncomfortable. I finally had my drain tubes removed (didn't hurt but very strange feeling), and was waiting for the final go-ahead to go home. I met with the Physical therapist, but I had already been roaming the halls some once my drain tube was removed. My brothers even came over on Sunday and watched the Steelers game with me (no beer and nachos, unfortunately). I thought for sure I'd get to go home on Monday and after getting discharge permission from the cardiology group, the only thing needed done was the removing of the pacemaker wires. I sat around for hours waiting for someone to show up and losing hope of going home that night until a Dr. from the surgeon's group finally showed up at 5pm and pulled out the wires (which I swear I actually felt tugging on my heart a bit). I gathered my stuff, went over the discharge orders with the nurse, got my scrips (coumadin, lopressor and darvocet) and finally made it home by 8pm!
The first night home was kinda uncomfortable. It was too late to get the prescriptions filled, so I had no pain pills to get me through the night. But, I did get to nap about an hour in the early morning with my son, which pretty much made my day It seems my emotions are all over the place today, and I can't seem to get comfortable. I am trying to constantly remind myself to stop and slow down, but when you're at home, you get in routines. I got my prescriptions today, and I am hoping a couple of the darvocets will help me get some solid time in tonight.
Thanks for reading! It was quite an adventure, but it truly is not as bad as you think it's going to be. My ON-X is clicking away solidly, and I even seem to be more alert and on top of things even with the less sleep. Maybe my body is beginning to take advantage of the better blood flow already. Here's hoping!
Arrived at the hospital at 5:00 AM. I've been there before early in the morning for Cath procedures, but for some reason, everything seemed to be going really quickly. I think I was just kinda outside myself not believing that I will have one of my major organs stopped, cut open and fiddled with by a man that I met 2 weeks before
Got weighed, some blood work done and an IV line started, then finally led back to a bed. Didn't realize they had to shave the ENTIRE front of my body, but talking with the nurse that did that prep work and some of her harder cases (one guy was so hairy, she said, the surgery had to be delayed) helped ease my tensions a bit.I was able to have my family wait for me while we spoke to the the members of the surgical and anesthesiology team. They asked a bunch of questions, explained what would go down ( I would have a breathing tube and TEE during the surgery - didn't think I had enough space down there for both), and before I knew it, I was giving my goodbyes (I teared up on the one to my wife pretty bad) and wheeled back into the OR. I remember seeing the OR, but things went black quickly after that.
I was later told that the surgery lasted about 5 hours, and I think every different family member that was there that spoke with the surgeon in the consultation room afterwards had a different report on what he said, so I guess I'll try to get the details when I see him in a couple weeks. I can't blame them, I understand that is a tense emotional time.
The next memory I have is a hazy one of seeing my wife and brother in the VCU (Vascular care unit). I do remember the breathing tube still being in and that I kept putting my fingers on it and the nurses saying how much they didn't like seeing me touch it. I think they thought I was going to try and pull it out. I know I wasn't going to, but it is really uncomfortable to have this think in there AND not be able to communicate about it. (my wife said she did understand when I pointed to it, then to my butt that I was saying it was a pain in my A$$
) I do remember getting the tube out, but the whole experience in the early hours of the VCU is still kinda hazy, so I can't give too many details. I want to say I had a scrub down by two very cute nurses, but I could have dreamed the whole experience. I do know that I was in pain and couldn't get any rest, and that the morphine actually made everything hurt worse. An anti-sweeling agent, Topropol(?) seemed to work much better). The nurses I had at the VCU were the best - on top of everything and ready to answer any questions, meet any need or just talk. I was up eating a 'liquid' breakfast in a chair by the next morning, and the cardiologist came by and said I was "setting the curve" for recovery, which made me very hopeful.I had all of my catheters removed, but the drain tubes were still attached, and it was up to my normal room by lunchtime. A couple Percocets at night allowed me to get what seemed like something resembling continuous sleep in the evenings. which I think really helped with my recovery. After 2 days in the hospital room, I was getting antsy and the bed was becoming very uncomfortable. I finally had my drain tubes removed (didn't hurt but very strange feeling), and was waiting for the final go-ahead to go home. I met with the Physical therapist, but I had already been roaming the halls some once my drain tube was removed. My brothers even came over on Sunday and watched the Steelers game with me (no beer and nachos, unfortunately). I thought for sure I'd get to go home on Monday and after getting discharge permission from the cardiology group, the only thing needed done was the removing of the pacemaker wires. I sat around for hours waiting for someone to show up and losing hope of going home that night until a Dr. from the surgeon's group finally showed up at 5pm and pulled out the wires (which I swear I actually felt tugging on my heart a bit). I gathered my stuff, went over the discharge orders with the nurse, got my scrips (coumadin, lopressor and darvocet) and finally made it home by 8pm!
The first night home was kinda uncomfortable. It was too late to get the prescriptions filled, so I had no pain pills to get me through the night. But, I did get to nap about an hour in the early morning with my son, which pretty much made my day
It seems my emotions are all over the place today, and I can't seem to get comfortable. I am trying to constantly remind myself to stop and slow down, but when you're at home, you get in routines. I got my prescriptions today, and I am hoping a couple of the darvocets will help me get some solid time in tonight.Thanks for reading! It was quite an adventure, but it truly is not as bad as you think it's going to be. My ON-X is clicking away solidly, and I even seem to be more alert and on top of things even with the less sleep. Maybe my body is beginning to take advantage of the better blood flow already. Here's hoping!
