Philip
Well-known member
Hello everyone. I am alive and at home! I was discharged from Ochsner Wednesday, May, 3 a few days later than planed after a Thursday April 27 surgery. Surgery
went well and I was able to be ex-tubated while in the surgery area so I have no memory of the vent. Soon after my BP dropped to some where in the range of 73/49 and it was decided that pain meds must be discontinued or greatly reduced. Due to the amnesia effects of the anesthesia I fortunately have little memory of this but I do have vague memories of begging for pain meds and people telling me to ?open my eyes and stay awake? while in more pain than I felt that I could endure. Now this is just like a bad dream that you still remember but in this distant past. On Sunday they removed the offensive central line in my neck and on Monday they removed the chest tubes so I got to take my 1st shower!
My liver is apparently very health or just loves anti-coagulants so it took extra days to get me in the therapeutic range for release.
Notes and observations:
? For those in the waiting room with there life effected by their valve, this is the most difficult time. Surgery is the easy part. This will pass.
? Tubes, wires, and connections: These were not as offensive as expected and the dreaded removals were minor compared to the dependency that they create. In the scheme of things these were relatively insignificant.
? Mechanical Valve Noise: My valve was apparently installed with an amplifier attached. I always hear it in quite areas and many times in louder environments. It is rapidly becoming background noise and doesn?t bother me. I envision this to be a great conservation starter in elevators!
? Hospital Food: You would think that in a city known for its food that even hospital food would be a cut above. That is not the case; all hospital food sucks.
? Home: You feel instantly better once you walk through the door. Last night no one woke me on two hour intervals. It is amazing how much more rested I feel
? Taekwondo, Hapkido, and distant running: It is hard to get in more than an hour at a time 1 week post-op. Kidding, I hope that much of that will return to my life but am now content with my short walks in the spring sun followed by sofa time with the cat. I AM ON THE MEND!!!!
? Friends and family: I saved the best for last. VRcom. You guys have been great. Some of you I have gotten to know; my VR rocks, thanks for getting me through the rough spots of waiting. There are others that I have had little dialog with but you are always there for all of us, the ?first responders? those always there with a greeting, or encouraging word. Thanks.
Other than my wife, children and 86 year old mother in law. I have no close family other than my mother, a retired RN living in another state. She has tagged teamed my care along with my wife. Never having been ?sick? except for the garden variety virus that I seem to catch every few years I always thought that if in the hospital I would want to be left alone. I now know better. Every visitor would bring ?happy tears? to my eyes. Friends have been a blessing in keeping life close to normal for the boys, getting them to school, and their many events, keeping them entertained. Even bringing home cooked meals. I?m getting spoiled. How long do you think I can milk this?
I am sure I am leaving out something but it will have to wait. The sofa is calling.
I hope to soon get caught up with all PM?s and emails??One step at a time>
Philip
went well and I was able to be ex-tubated while in the surgery area so I have no memory of the vent. Soon after my BP dropped to some where in the range of 73/49 and it was decided that pain meds must be discontinued or greatly reduced. Due to the amnesia effects of the anesthesia I fortunately have little memory of this but I do have vague memories of begging for pain meds and people telling me to ?open my eyes and stay awake? while in more pain than I felt that I could endure. Now this is just like a bad dream that you still remember but in this distant past. On Sunday they removed the offensive central line in my neck and on Monday they removed the chest tubes so I got to take my 1st shower!
My liver is apparently very health or just loves anti-coagulants so it took extra days to get me in the therapeutic range for release.
Notes and observations:
? For those in the waiting room with there life effected by their valve, this is the most difficult time. Surgery is the easy part. This will pass.
? Tubes, wires, and connections: These were not as offensive as expected and the dreaded removals were minor compared to the dependency that they create. In the scheme of things these were relatively insignificant.
? Mechanical Valve Noise: My valve was apparently installed with an amplifier attached. I always hear it in quite areas and many times in louder environments. It is rapidly becoming background noise and doesn?t bother me. I envision this to be a great conservation starter in elevators!
? Hospital Food: You would think that in a city known for its food that even hospital food would be a cut above. That is not the case; all hospital food sucks.
? Home: You feel instantly better once you walk through the door. Last night no one woke me on two hour intervals. It is amazing how much more rested I feel
? Taekwondo, Hapkido, and distant running: It is hard to get in more than an hour at a time 1 week post-op. Kidding, I hope that much of that will return to my life but am now content with my short walks in the spring sun followed by sofa time with the cat. I AM ON THE MEND!!!!
? Friends and family: I saved the best for last. VRcom. You guys have been great. Some of you I have gotten to know; my VR rocks, thanks for getting me through the rough spots of waiting. There are others that I have had little dialog with but you are always there for all of us, the ?first responders? those always there with a greeting, or encouraging word. Thanks.
Other than my wife, children and 86 year old mother in law. I have no close family other than my mother, a retired RN living in another state. She has tagged teamed my care along with my wife. Never having been ?sick? except for the garden variety virus that I seem to catch every few years I always thought that if in the hospital I would want to be left alone. I now know better. Every visitor would bring ?happy tears? to my eyes. Friends have been a blessing in keeping life close to normal for the boys, getting them to school, and their many events, keeping them entertained. Even bringing home cooked meals. I?m getting spoiled. How long do you think I can milk this?
I am sure I am leaving out something but it will have to wait. The sofa is calling.
I hope to soon get caught up with all PM?s and emails??One step at a time>
Philip
