Hi gang
I'm 5 weeks post op and still waiting for the depression thing to happen. For me it never did. Sure I got emotional but it was more like, "Wow what a ride". I remember very well walking down in my beloved provincial park, which borders my house after being home for about 4 days, snow on the ground, blue sky and the Canadian rockies filling the back ground and suddenly I teared up. My tears were not that of depression, rather relief and thanks for an amazing life prolonging experience!
Sure I had a little set back with AFIB in the hospital and had an extended stay to 9 days, but it was well managed with a 20 day course of Satins drug or Amiodarone. I woke up from surgery with all my faculties and ready to move forward. I would not trade my medical team who worked out of only two OR's dedicated to OHS, for any surgeons at the Mayo. What was to be depressed about? My surgeon worked with me to be the first in my city to be implanted with the On-X, he did his best to square up the sternum so I would not swim in circles, [no kidding, I made this request prior to surgery. LOL!] the anesthesiologist let me see the OR and take it in, he put me under to a song of my choice and brought me around feeling absolutely comfortable and relaxed. The perfusionist kept me alive during bypass with no ill effects. Breathing tube? What breathing tube? It came out that easy after 30 min of being alert. The nurses kept me relatively pain free to attempt sleep and perform the breathing drills. They made sure that what went in would eventually come out. Moved my IV lines, pulled my chest tubes, pulled my temp pacer wires, etc, etc. Every thing was well rehearsed and beyond professional and actually fun! Prior to leaving the hospital, they touched on every item from ACT to when to swim. When I left the hospital I felt as though I was leaving life long friends who new my every intimate detail. My career was waiting for me, family and friends and my faith were their for me, what was to be depressed about?
You all know what really helped to avoid depression? Hanging around VR.ORG pre-surgery, being support by folks like Bina, Al Capshaw, Greg a, Mentu, Neil Brewer Lynlw, protime, normofthenorth, jeff in edmonton, dick036, so on and so on. I was so prepared before surgery, their was no way I could be depressed. Hank, you did an amazing thing starting this forum. Good on ya! Thanks every one, you were/are amazing!
