I'm Home

[Diane]

Well I made it! I have been home for about 5 or 6 days now. I have been online a time or two but haven't really felt up to typing. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers.....it really helps to have people rooting for you.

The surgery went very well. Dr. Hanley was very pleased and impressed with Dr. Cooley's handiwork on my original TOF repair in 1959. They said that I had gotten a really good result and that that good of results aren't even usually gotten in today's era of modern medicine. I told them that they had better have done a "bang-up" good job because I'm not doing this again! They said "next time we won't give you so much time to think about it". To which I said, "no, you don't understand, I'M NOT DOING THIS AGAIN!!"

I had wanted to be put out in pre-op because I didn't want to know when they took me back to the OR. But they were unable to get an IV started in pre-op so I was wide awake when they took me back. I almost panicked, jumped up off of that hard table, and told them to forget it before they could get me knocked out. The next thing I knew I was having a horrible hot flash and was fighting to breathe enough for them to take that awful tube out of my throat. Once that tube was gone, I knew I had made it and everything else would be OK. I have a hematoma at the top of my incision that they are watching. They have made me an appt to have it followed with "one of their own" (a dr that they trained) that is at the Childrens' hospital in my area. He is Dr. Hanley's asssitant when he comes here to the Childrens' hospital every couple of weeks to do their more complicated cases.

The 3-4 hour ride home was very tiring but I know it was worse for my mom than it was for me. She HATES to drive, especially in traffic. She had to drive for almost an hour on CA highway 101 through the Bay area traffic. She was a nervous wreck. Fortunately, it was lunch hour traffic which isn't as heavy as the morning or afternoon commuter traffic. Then she had to drive over a mountain pass with some truck traffic to get us back down into the valley. Once we were back on the valley floor, the traffic eased up and she was OK.

I feel so debilitated! No lifting, no reaching, no pushing, no pulling, no twisting......its amazing how many of those things we need to do to carry on our everyday life! I am very fortunate to have my mom here to help me. But I feel bad that my 70-year old mother has to carry the groceries, cook the meals and clean up after, do the wash, etc. I even have to have her help me with my hair because I can't reach the back. And taking a shower and washing my hair is such an ordeal! But I am getting stronger every day so hopefully I can begin to help her a little more each day. For now, I am just focusing on my recovery so she won't have to do so much.

Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers!

Diane

 

[Ross]

Welcome to your new life! While I know you don't like to watch mom doing everything, you darn well better get used to it for a few weeks. At this point, she's much more fit then you are! You dont need to be doing anything to have a set back, after all, you said you aren't going through this again.

 

[tobagotwo]

Don't worry too much about mom, because I'm sure she wouldn't have it any other way. Unless you have siblings, it's unlikely she'd even have done that drive for anyone else.

You'll be back to the drudgery all too soon as it is. Try to gently expand your movement every day, if you can.

It's good that you're home and recovering.

Best wishes,

 

[Karlynn]

Diane, let yourself be spoiled. No matter how old children are, Moms love to spoil them. This is also a big reminder that no matter how old you get, you still need your Mommy.

These first few weeks you have only one job - that's to walk, sleep, eat and breath. Everything else will come with time.

 

[brendamarlene]

Diane, I know what you mean about someone else doing things for you. At my first surgery, my mother was there to help me. At this past surgery, my daughter was stuck with the dirty work.

I am 2 weeks post op today, so if it is any encouragement to you, I feel really good. My only problem is the coumadin challenge.

BTW, a friend bought me a long handled brush to use on my back in the shower, and it is a help---it has one of those nylon brushes.

I try to keep up a walking routine everyday---even in the house, if the weather is not good (even in Florida, it is sometimes not sunny and warm)

Continued best wishes for a good recovery!

 

[hensylee]

Diane - Mom is always there. And she will make sure you are fine. Sounds like you made it over the mountain without too much difficulty. Now, just do your exercises and breathing tube and get better as quick as you can. You'll be up and about in no time. Just have to put up with the restrictions, but they pass rapidly.

 

[Bionic Man]

welcome back

welcome back

Sure glad to hear you're back. It's tough but you're past the worst now.

My mom is 78 and has had a major surgery of her own (breast cancer) a while back and she still tries to mother me after my surgery. What she went through made me feel like my experience was pretty minor. I sure wish the doctor had taken as much care with her scar as they did with mine.

Anyway, we all like to hear success stories. Sounds like you were one.

Try not to dwell on your OR experience. (I had people critiquing my body when I was fading out... not the kinda thing you want to remember) At least I hope you didn't have that. I think they like to have you awake as long as they can. (I thought the OR was pretty cool and very high-tech looking. Quite interesting)

At least we faced our fears and beat them.

Welcome back!
David

 

[geebee]

The one nice thing about my surgeries is they made my mom feel like she did when I was a kid. She was able to really feel like a doting mom again. Once we are all "growed up" our moms can't "mother" us quite the way they could when we were young and dependant.

Let her enjoy this. Other than suffering for your pain, I am sure she is feeling very useful.

The one thing that always bothers me, when I think about the possiblity of OHS in the future, is my mom won't be here to help.

So glad to hear you are home. All the limitations are temporary and will be behind you soon.

Take care.

 

[Diane]

I had my appt with the dr at the Children's hospital today. I felt kind of silly, being 47 years old and being a patient (not a parent or visitor) at the Children's hospital! The dr said the incision is looking great and he thinks the hemotoma will eventually resolve itself. He said my lungs sounded good and clear but ordered a chest xray because he mentioned President Clinton's complication and wanted to make sure that there was no start of anything like that. He called later and said that the chest xray was fine.

I have been trying to do all of the things that I am supposed to. How long are you supposed to do that breathing machine thing? I have been doing 10 breaths about 3 times a day and can get to my target level with almost every breath. I am probably not getting in as much walking as I should but I think I am doing pretty good. My mom has been going with me......she is afraid I will fall down or pass out or something. Truth is, I worry about her.....her knees and hips aren't that great and she has more SOB than I do. She was having trouble making it today.....now how am I going to pick her up off of the pavement and carry her home?! We got some real "el-cheapo" pedometers. Today (13 days post-op) we went just over a mile (according to the cheap pedometers) and walked for about 22 minutes. The dr asked me about my walking progress today and seemed pleased with that so I guess I am doing OK.

Counting today, I have been out and about 3 times in the 8 days that I have been home. I went to my hospital to visit my co-workers for about an hour and then on to a dr appt on Monday. On Wednesday, we went to a store for a little while, out to dinner, and then stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things on the way home. Today, when we left the Children's hospital, we went to eat and then went by the convalescent hospital to see my grandmother. It makes me a little tired but its nice to get out of the house. I seem to be sleeping fairly well. One night I woke up and was awake for a couple of hours. Otherwise, I have slept through every night except the 2nd and 3rd nights in the ICU. Most days I have taken a 2-hour nap in the afternoon but I didn't take one today.

My bathroom and dressing area has too many mirrors! I am very squimish and can't stand to look at my chest yet. The few glimpses that I have caught accidently are not pretty. As my mom says, I have bruises on my bruises! I look like I was on the losing end of a very big fight. I don't think it will be so bad once its all healed up but right now its disgusting-looking.

If I can just learn to look at my chest and get through this "no lifting, no reaching, no pushing, no pulling, and no twisting" thing, I think I will be OK. I feel so dependent......its been a long time since my mom had to help me bathe and dress myself. I have to have my mom wash my back and help me with my bra because I can't reach around to my back (yes, they were most insistent on the "bra" thing......said the breasts need to be supported or they will pull on the sterum).

Anyway, each day gets better and hopefully I will feel up to speed soon.

Diane

 

[Ross]

Diane you can probably forget about your spirometer now. Make yourself walk as much as you can possibly stand. You doing great! Don't let that scar thing play with your head. Think of it as a badge of courage and know that you are special. Only we special people have zippers. Yes it will fade and look better in time, so don't let it get to you.

 

[Karlynn]

The few glimpses that I have caught accidently are not pretty. As my mom says, I have bruises on my bruises! I look like I was on the losing end of a very big fight.

Ah, remember, you've won the fight. Think of what the loser must look like!!!

Sounds like you are doing very well. Keep up the good work. All the movement restrictions now will be something you look back on now and again and think "Why can't I have those restrictions now?" particularly when you're folding laundry or vacuuming, or putting away dishes!

 

[inlaguna]

Diane,

Looks like you are doing everything right. The exercise is key so keep up the good work. My 73 year old mother traveled from Philly to Boston to help out with our 4 year old. I think she would have rather dealt with me quite frankly, but she loved every minute of it. This was her second time around at my bedside and she wouldn't have had it any other way.

My scar is already starting to look much better after 3 months too. I'm sure you will be in the same boat.

Dan