May 26, 2011 - Derek's first OHS, early 30s

[zhpDEREK]

Hi Derek,

Would you mind me asking what you're having done? Is it valve and aorta replacement or just the valve? Did any surgeon recommend to leave your aorta alone? I'm just wondering.

Anyhow, I wish you God speed and a smooth recovery.

I'll be having my aortic valve replaced AND my aortic root (currently at 4.5cm). Because we only discovered these issues this past January, there's no telling what the rate of my dilation was. I hope that answers your questions.

Thank you for the wishes for a speedy and smooth recovery. I'll try my best to not disappoint!! =)

 

[zhpDEREK]

Our families have the tough job of waiting for us to come out of surgery and then watching over us as we manage those first days and weeks of recovery.

Our thanks to all the spouses and family who care for us, too.

Steve, I'm grateful for your reassuring words. I've been mostly concerned about the stress this whole thing has put on my wife. She is amazingly strong and a trooper but even then, it hasn't been easy. Thankfully, her brother and sister have come in from out of town for emotional support. Now I can rest easy knowing that my dearest wife will be taken care of.

Thanks,
Derek

 

[zhpDEREK]

So Derek, tomorrow is the BIG day. Be cool and just take it one minute at a time. Spend some time with your honey doing something that makes you both happy. Sending you lots of positive vibes and good feeling from down in So. Cali. It is gonna be ALL good..

Hi Chris,

Eeek!! Tomorrow is only a few hours away!! It's been a little hectic making final preparations. But I've been with my wife all day...you can't beat that!!

Thanks for the good vibes! I'm feelin' em!!

 

[zhpDEREK]

Thanks, Jason. It seems your surgery wasn't too long ago. How is your recovery been?

 

[zhpDEREK]

Before you know it, you will be 'over the mountain'.

This is good news! I'm eager to get there!!! =) Thanks for the thoughts and wishes.

 

[zhpDEREK]

Derek, keep the positive outlook and make a promise to be patient with yourself after surgery. Healing of all kinds takes time.

I'll definitely heed that reminder. I want to get back to business-as-usual so quickly...but you're right. I'll be patient. As far as keeping a positive outlook, that shouldn't be a problem as I'll be surrounded by a lot of love!!!

We WILL keep you posted.

 

[zhpDEREK]

Derek, heart disease was in my mother's side of the family, most of them past away from heart disease. I came through my OHS with flying colors. I was otherwise in good health so had everything going for me and so do you. You'll be fine, and feel a lot better in the not to distant future.
I thought I didn't have any symptoms, but now that's it done, I can breathe a lot better and seem to be a lot more alert.

I've always felt that with my family health history that I have a loaded gun, so to speak. But you make a good point: aside from this heart issue I AM in great health. And this operation will help insure that it stays that way. Thanks for encouragement!!

 

[zhpDEREK]

Hi everyone, this is Jen - Derek's wife.

Yesterday, his surgery went a little longer than we thought... they couldn't stop the bleeding, found a leak underneath his aorta, sutured it up, and problem was fixed. Thank goodness. We have a nice photo of his graft + new mechanical valve.

Day 1 was today. They sat him up, which made him dizzy and nauseous. (To be expected, I was told.)
He ate solid food for lunch, and vomitted a few hours later. They started him on Zofran.
Got his chest tube and Swan out today, which made him happy! He can't WAIT to get that foley catheter out.
Still in the ICU because they can't nail down his blood pressure (too low) and heart rate (too high). The spirometer is his best friend and worst enemy.

Day 2 (tomorrow) they're planning to transfer him to Telemetry and get him walking. Increase his lung capacity, get that fluid retention reduced, increase his blood pressure, yada yada. Many benefits! He's endured so much so far, and I am constantly amazed that you have all gone through this.

As OHS veterans, what's the best thing your loved one can do for you? I want to help him and cheer him on, but there's so much MORE I wish I could do. I just don't know what.

~Jen

 

[Greg a]

Jen , thanks for the update and so glad Derek is on THE GOOD SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN ....hold his hand , cheer him on and remind him why he is doing this ....for the love of a good woman

Every day he will amaze you and himself oh and YOU are his best advocate

 

[skeptic49]

Sending best wishes to Derek for a smooth recovery!

Jim

 

[Chris M]

Jen, I'm so glad to hear Derek made it through surgery Ok. The first two days are definitely the worst, I was going through that myself last week (surgery May 17th).

I found my husband's visits to be very comforting. Just to see a familiar face and maybe spend a few minutes talking about non-medical things reminded me that there was a world outside the four walls of my hospital room. He focussed on the positive too - how things I had worried about beforehand had not come to pass after all, how every day or every half day little things were getting better (e.g. another tube pulled out, a small shuffling walk achieved etc.). He ticked off all my achievements and encouraged me every step of the way.

My advice would be just to be there for him. He loves you dearly, the sight of your face will give him encouragement and reassurance.

Good luck both of you and remember... he will be feeling so much better in a few short days, bodies begin to heal remarkably quickly in some respects!!

 

[epstns]

Jen - I can only echo what Chris just posted. I'm about 13 weeks post-op, and having my wife at my side was truly priceless. Just the knowledge that she was there helped a lot. In addition to the things Chris mentioned, my wife learned enough about all the proceedings to be my "patient's advocate." For example, she kept track of the meds the hospital gave me and made sure I got what I needed. When the hospital felt I was ready to go home, but I did not, my wife brought all the decision makers to my bedside and convinced them that one more day was really a necessity for me. Without her being there to watch over me, things would have been worse for me, I'm sure.

Thanks for being there for Derek. You're doing just what he needs about now. (Later on there are other things you can do to help, but you're doing fine now.)

 

[Greg a]

In my prior post I forgot to say (residual pumphead) that my wife read news items and brought in a radio as well as put together a family album (I was in a LONG time) so I could share personal aspects of my life therefore I was not just a chart at a central station

 

[carolinemc]

Tell Derek to just take slow and easy when gets home. Just do what the doctor and surgeon tells him to do. The next few weeks will go by quickly, he will be fine. Just wishing him an easy time for now.

 

[epstns]

Caroline - You bring up a good point. It seems now that one day I was counting the days of week 2 post-op, and the next time I thought about it I was counting week 5. Once things get going, it does go quickly.

 

[zhpDEREK]

Thanks so much for the replies - all of your advice and insight is wonderfully helpful.

Derek was just transferred to Telemetry yesterday. His vitals are pretty stable, but he's been vomiting every day since surgery. Has anyone had this problem? He still tries to eat, bless his heart, but now he's getting squeamish for fear of throwing up again.

Anyone else go through all this nausea?

He also has grey spots in his vision - first it was in both eyes, now it's just in his right eye. The doctor said it could be an air bubble that traveled into his retinal artery, and hopefully go away.

On the up side of things, he walked 100 feet yesterday!! I feel like once he starts walking, everything will get better...

~Jen

 

[Chris M]

Sorry to hear of the nausea, I had a couple of days of that myself. In my case I think the problem was a combination of too many tablets being taken at once, residual effects from the anaesthetic and pain meds (oral morphine first two days) and a sickly syrup they were giving me to help me open my bowels. The latter was definitely too much for my delicate stomach and provoked repeated vomiting. I had to refuse it in the end so I could keep a little food down.

Have you asked if there is anything that can be given for the sickness? I'm sure it will pass but in the meantime it's a shame Derek can't enjoy a little food and keep his strength up.

Good luck and I hope this passes soon... the eye business too!

 

[zhpDEREK]

Hi Chris, that's helpful to know that you went through the same. I think it's also because of all the pills + pain meds (they started him on beta blockers, blood thinners, diuretics, potassium, and stool softeners all at the same time).

Unfortunately, they would give him anti-nausea AFTER he vomits - once it's too late. Last night, we were pre-emptive and asked for it before he ate. So far so good, but he said he still feels really queasy. :-( Everything he's eaten, he's thrown up since the day of his surgery. I'm hoping today is a brand new day.

He admits he feels depressed about everything now... so I've been reading him all the posts on this website to help ease his mind. Please keep them coming!

 

[Chris M]

Yep, I can remember feeling up and down for quite a few days. There is so much to take in, the cocktail of drugs you have to take, the endless poking with needles, sleeping can be poor etc. A few tears of frustration and self pity are to be expected... been there done that myself. {{{hugs to Derek}}}

Please tell him that it really DOES get better!! By day 5 or 6 I felt well enough to get out of my room at mealtimes and found socialising with other heart patients helpful. On day 8 I went home and began to feel a little more human and normal. On the drive home I felt battered and bruised on the outside but curiously elated and optimistic on the inside... I had pulled through and had everything to look forward to!!

Now I'm 12 days post-op and I actually had a respectable night's sleep last night - not too uncomfortable or disturbed. Worth mentioning because I feel good for it and it makes me want to go "Yay for me!".

Baby steps is what it's all about... little by little you do a little more, achieve new goals. They may be small and I still have a very long way to go yet but I hang on to the thought that I'll be going for my check up in just over four weeks time now, that soon I'll be back to driving, and that perhaps in a few months time I will find myself feeling better than I ever have done before.

So, chin up Derek and hang in there! The very worst bit is about over now, I think you can probably look forward to feeling much better over the next few days!

 

[zhpDEREK]

It's the end of Day 3, and I swear - there were miracles all day long!

I'm vocalizing all the goals he's been achieving... thanks for the tip, Chris ~
"Wow, you walked all the way THERE?!" (>400 ft each time, 5 times today!!)
"Yay, no more Foley!!" (he really hated that catheter)
"Don't you feel so much better now that you can move your neck around?" (when his Swan-Ganz and CVC lines were removed)
"I'm so glad your nausea is subsiding. Amazing." (switched from Norco+Zofran to Ultram+Reglan)
"Look how well you're getting out of bed now!" (it's improved drastically from the effects of his diuretics - all those trips to the bathroom...)
"I can't believe you ate food." (he really did folks - and *knock wood* he hasn't vomited today)

Steve, I know what you mean about being a patient's advocate. I'm so glad you were able to stay that extra day!! When we were trying to figure out the perfect cocktail of pain and anti-nausea meds, it took some negotiating... some RN's are happy to dose him up, while other RN's take softer, natural approaches. We're trying to find that happy medium, and I did my best to help Derek not become a groggy zombie from all the meds.

Greg, instead of reading news items, I've been reading to him all the content on this website. I think it makes him feel better to hear of other people's experiences - people who know EXACTLY what he's going through. (And instead of a radio, I brought in a small ukulele. We'll see if he's up for some live musical entertainment.)

Caroline, the "slow and easy" chant is a wonderful idea! I've been using it constantly, when he shuffles to the bathroom, when he goes for a walk down the hallway. Although, I'm afraid of all the people coughing in the other rooms... he's sanitizing his hands like crazy.

Current update:
With food in his stomach, his spirits picked up - as well as his energy. He not only walked several times, but he also had his FIRST SHOWER!! Such big accomplishments to be celebrated.

His heart rate and blood pressure are not optimal, however. They did an EKG today to see if he had any pericardial effusion. No answers yet.

They also started him on breathing treatments from an RT, 3x a day. His surgeon said he really needs to work his lungs and breath deeper, so the IS also got some royal treatment today.

And lastly, his vision spots have become 'auras' - similar to when he gets migraines, except his head does not hurt. ?