IronmaninTraining
Active member
Prior to my surgery I found the posts providing a day by day log of their hospital visit to be very helpful. I won't do a day by day as my stay had some complications, but I will attempt to hit some of the major concerns most people have. Overall the surgery isn't terrible....it is tough at times, but an achievement once you get through it.
First let me provide a quick summary. Found to have a bicuspid aortic valve at a young age. At age 29 it was time to address the severe leak and ascending aortic aneurysm. Due to being very active I was concerned about being on blood thinners so valve selection was tough. I'm a wuss when it comes to needles (blood thinners as many know require regular testing) so when the surgeon stated I was a perfect candidate for the ross procedure the decision came easy. The plan for my surgery was first to try a repair and if that didn't work continue on with the ross procedure. Unfortunately the repair didn't work and my ventricle collapsed leading me to be paddled before continuing on with the ross procedure (scary to think after the fact). Other than getting readmitted after a checkup for pleural effusion (the procedure to get tapped isn't anything to worry about) the recovery has been great and every day gets better.
My concerns prior and my experience after...
Breathing tube - Due to extra excitement in the OR I remained intubated until roughly 7:30am the next day. Early AM I was awake for periods of time and resorted to the pen and paper where the nurse and wife got a kick out of the pages upon pages of questions i asked. Having it in wasn't bad and the issue of taking it out was quick and painless. I did have some trauma to my vocal cords and in the beginning could only whisper. Now at 7 weeks my voice is almost back to normal.
Needles and more - I asked to get gassed once in the OR so I didn't feel anything being attached. Not liking needles at all I thought it would be awful having IVs in the necks arms and hands throughout my stay, but it wasn't bad at all. My right arm did get pretty beat up with needles during my initial 8 day stay...it is back to normal now. I was at a children s hospital so use of the numbing spray and infant needles I'm sure helped out a lot. Removal of the neck and arterial line wasn't bad.
Chest tubes/Pacing Wires - This was my biggest concern prior to surgery. Throughout the couples days I had them in I hardly noticed them. Removal wasn't bad at all.....My best way to explain the feeling was like getting your shoe stuck in mud and the mud just not wanting to give it back. The tubes were removed and stitched before you know it....the little bit of suction of your body not wanting to give up the tube is weird, but doesn't hurt and is quick. Pacing wires were trumped by my concern for chest tube removal....they didn't hurt at all.
Pain - Initially you will be getting the good drugs so won't have any pain at all except for some coughing. Later on you will move to just pills and as you schedule it right it won't be bad at all.
I placed so much concern with the above items I didn't fully know or worry about some of the below items....
Back and should pain - This was annoying, but nothing terrible. Work with your nurses to get a good medication schedule and the pain will be controlled. Stand up straight and maintain good posture as this will help to avoid any unnecessary pain during recovery.
Coughing - Use the pillow and when you cough despite it hurting get it all out. The quicker you get all that extra fluid out the better it will be down the road.
Breathing - Use the spirometer and take deep breaths as much as possible. I unfortunately had a night or two with the cpap machine and I would have to say that was the worst part of the stay ( the full mask and setting on the machine was just to much for me).
Open heart surgery seems like the Mount Everest of surgeries, but like i detailed it really isn't that bad. Valve selection is a personal decision and would have to be one of the toughest parts. Being at a childrens hospital I saw little kids going through the same surgery and knew if they can do it anyone can. I know i didn't provide a day by day stay as my 11 day stay was unique (8 days initially and 3 for pleural effusion), but I hope i hit the major items everyone worries about.
First let me provide a quick summary. Found to have a bicuspid aortic valve at a young age. At age 29 it was time to address the severe leak and ascending aortic aneurysm. Due to being very active I was concerned about being on blood thinners so valve selection was tough. I'm a wuss when it comes to needles (blood thinners as many know require regular testing) so when the surgeon stated I was a perfect candidate for the ross procedure the decision came easy. The plan for my surgery was first to try a repair and if that didn't work continue on with the ross procedure. Unfortunately the repair didn't work and my ventricle collapsed leading me to be paddled before continuing on with the ross procedure (scary to think after the fact). Other than getting readmitted after a checkup for pleural effusion (the procedure to get tapped isn't anything to worry about) the recovery has been great and every day gets better.
My concerns prior and my experience after...
Breathing tube - Due to extra excitement in the OR I remained intubated until roughly 7:30am the next day. Early AM I was awake for periods of time and resorted to the pen and paper where the nurse and wife got a kick out of the pages upon pages of questions i asked. Having it in wasn't bad and the issue of taking it out was quick and painless. I did have some trauma to my vocal cords and in the beginning could only whisper. Now at 7 weeks my voice is almost back to normal.
Needles and more - I asked to get gassed once in the OR so I didn't feel anything being attached. Not liking needles at all I thought it would be awful having IVs in the necks arms and hands throughout my stay, but it wasn't bad at all. My right arm did get pretty beat up with needles during my initial 8 day stay...it is back to normal now. I was at a children s hospital so use of the numbing spray and infant needles I'm sure helped out a lot. Removal of the neck and arterial line wasn't bad.
Chest tubes/Pacing Wires - This was my biggest concern prior to surgery. Throughout the couples days I had them in I hardly noticed them. Removal wasn't bad at all.....My best way to explain the feeling was like getting your shoe stuck in mud and the mud just not wanting to give it back. The tubes were removed and stitched before you know it....the little bit of suction of your body not wanting to give up the tube is weird, but doesn't hurt and is quick. Pacing wires were trumped by my concern for chest tube removal....they didn't hurt at all.
Pain - Initially you will be getting the good drugs so won't have any pain at all except for some coughing. Later on you will move to just pills and as you schedule it right it won't be bad at all.
I placed so much concern with the above items I didn't fully know or worry about some of the below items....
Back and should pain - This was annoying, but nothing terrible. Work with your nurses to get a good medication schedule and the pain will be controlled. Stand up straight and maintain good posture as this will help to avoid any unnecessary pain during recovery.
Coughing - Use the pillow and when you cough despite it hurting get it all out. The quicker you get all that extra fluid out the better it will be down the road.
Breathing - Use the spirometer and take deep breaths as much as possible. I unfortunately had a night or two with the cpap machine and I would have to say that was the worst part of the stay ( the full mask and setting on the machine was just to much for me).
Open heart surgery seems like the Mount Everest of surgeries, but like i detailed it really isn't that bad. Valve selection is a personal decision and would have to be one of the toughest parts. Being at a childrens hospital I saw little kids going through the same surgery and knew if they can do it anyone can. I know i didn't provide a day by day stay as my 11 day stay was unique (8 days initially and 3 for pleural effusion), but I hope i hit the major items everyone worries about.
