N
NashvilleDave
Hi everyone!
My apologies for not writing back sooner. I ran into some MAJOR complications and had to be admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery. When I was released on 8/26, I was doing okay. However, by the weekend, I was getting very weak. I even passed out the first time they tried to regulate my coumadin. Not fun. I went to the emergency room Saturday (8/31), complaining that I couldn't stand up without wanting to pass out. I also didn't eat for 4 days. I couldn't sleep. I had terrible diaherria too. I was also very jaundice looking. Can you believe the idiot doctor on call would not admit me? He said that it was probably a reaction to the Indocin (anti inflamitory med) and stop taking it. So, I went home. I literally had to crawl up the stairs to get into the lazyboy chair. So, I drank about 2 ensure shakes. When I tried to swallow pills, I started to get the dry heaves (that was literally a living hell). I have never felt so much pain in my life. I kept getting hot, then cold. So, we called the surgeon on call 3 times. Finally, they said, come in Tuesday and we will check you out. Well, Monday night (labor day) came around 10pm, and my wife and father forced me to go to the Emergency room again. I literally couldn't breathe. I really thought I was going to die. I was halucinating really bad from the pain. This time, I was admitted. I had so many doctors around me. I guess they didn't want to explain to someone in court how they didn't admit a 32 year old patient who just had open heart surgery the prior week, and now is dead. Anyway, through numerous tests, they determined that I had developed a lot of fluid around my heart. They did an emergency surgery and drained 1 1/2 quarts of fluid off my heart. I literally felt like a new person the next day! So, I wound up staying another 5 days in the hospital. I was released last Friday. I now feel great. I walk a lot. I even have my appetite back too! I am watching to make sure that I don't gain my weight back. I lost 27 lbs since the surgery. I was retaining ALOT of fluid before and after the surgery. I am even getting my treadmill delivered today. I will start rehab, after my initial follow up visit with the surgeon.
So, that's my story. Only problem I am having now, besides the ANNOYING ticking, is the coumadin regulation. I volunteered to be a tester of those machines that use the finger prick instead of the blood drawing. The coumadin testing place is doing both on me. So far, the finger prick machine shows a .6 higher difference than the regular blood drawing. We'll see how that goes.
Anyway, thanks again to everyone for your prayers and support. This has not been a fun ride!
P.S. I am going back to work next Tuesday for 1/2 days for the 1st week! I can't wait. I am going stir crazy at home!
Take care
Dave
My apologies for not writing back sooner. I ran into some MAJOR complications and had to be admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery. When I was released on 8/26, I was doing okay. However, by the weekend, I was getting very weak. I even passed out the first time they tried to regulate my coumadin. Not fun. I went to the emergency room Saturday (8/31), complaining that I couldn't stand up without wanting to pass out. I also didn't eat for 4 days. I couldn't sleep. I had terrible diaherria too. I was also very jaundice looking. Can you believe the idiot doctor on call would not admit me? He said that it was probably a reaction to the Indocin (anti inflamitory med) and stop taking it. So, I went home. I literally had to crawl up the stairs to get into the lazyboy chair. So, I drank about 2 ensure shakes. When I tried to swallow pills, I started to get the dry heaves (that was literally a living hell). I have never felt so much pain in my life. I kept getting hot, then cold. So, we called the surgeon on call 3 times. Finally, they said, come in Tuesday and we will check you out. Well, Monday night (labor day) came around 10pm, and my wife and father forced me to go to the Emergency room again. I literally couldn't breathe. I really thought I was going to die. I was halucinating really bad from the pain. This time, I was admitted. I had so many doctors around me. I guess they didn't want to explain to someone in court how they didn't admit a 32 year old patient who just had open heart surgery the prior week, and now is dead. Anyway, through numerous tests, they determined that I had developed a lot of fluid around my heart. They did an emergency surgery and drained 1 1/2 quarts of fluid off my heart. I literally felt like a new person the next day! So, I wound up staying another 5 days in the hospital. I was released last Friday. I now feel great. I walk a lot. I even have my appetite back too! I am watching to make sure that I don't gain my weight back. I lost 27 lbs since the surgery. I was retaining ALOT of fluid before and after the surgery. I am even getting my treadmill delivered today. I will start rehab, after my initial follow up visit with the surgeon.
So, that's my story. Only problem I am having now, besides the ANNOYING ticking, is the coumadin regulation. I volunteered to be a tester of those machines that use the finger prick instead of the blood drawing. The coumadin testing place is doing both on me. So far, the finger prick machine shows a .6 higher difference than the regular blood drawing. We'll see how that goes.
Anyway, thanks again to everyone for your prayers and support. This has not been a fun ride!
P.S. I am going back to work next Tuesday for 1/2 days for the 1st week! I can't wait. I am going stir crazy at home!
Take care
Dave
