ajc1991
Well-known member
The time has come! I'm finally able to post in the "Post Surgery" section of this forum! My surgery was on Thursday, January 15th (3 days ago) and I feel great! Surgery took place at Ronsld Reagan UCLA in Westwood, California. I had my severely leaking bicuspid aortic valve replaced with a St. Jude mechanical valve with a minimally invasive approach. All the doctors are saying I don't even feel like I've been through surgery. My surgeon told my mother it was a "Textbook surgery", easy to do without any bumps. Chest tubes are out, neck tube is out. All that is left is a couple IVs in my arms for the Hepadrin, blood drawing etc.
The first night was awful for me, was starting to feel the pain and figured out I was lying down too flat. Now I lay down elevated and feel much better. Was taking Oxy for pain the first couple of days and have discontinued taking them. I've been good with the pill form of Tylenol. I have discontinued all narcotics. I mainly feel pain mid afternoon and just before I go to bed, so that's when I take the Tylenol.
I was so glad when they removed the chest tubes, they were very uncomftorable. Never got to see them while they were in me though. The nurse gave me a shot of some good pain meds before removing them
. Incision site looks real clean and well done.
Walking feels great! Even the first time I got on my feet I felt good, no dizziness. Now I feel even better. Been walking without any issues and feel good. I'm still in ICU although I've been eligible to go to a step down room since yesterday. They just don't have a bed for me yet. Hopefully I get one tonight or tomorrow. They're also waiting for my INR time to stabilize.
My heart rate is a little fast though, so I've been on beta blockers, sometimes my blood pressure raises a bit too. I'm guessing that's expected after heart surgery? Since there was stress put on the heart?
Either way I'm glad the worst part is over. I was awake for a bit during the breathing tube part. It wasn't bothersome at all. I wasn't even sure if I had it in or not. I tried to reach up and feel if it was over my mouth or not. I then heard one of the nurses say "We'll take the breathing tube out soon...." so that's how I knew it was still in. Didn't bother me at all though.
The first night was awful for me, was starting to feel the pain and figured out I was lying down too flat. Now I lay down elevated and feel much better. Was taking Oxy for pain the first couple of days and have discontinued taking them. I've been good with the pill form of Tylenol. I have discontinued all narcotics. I mainly feel pain mid afternoon and just before I go to bed, so that's when I take the Tylenol.
I was so glad when they removed the chest tubes, they were very uncomftorable. Never got to see them while they were in me though. The nurse gave me a shot of some good pain meds before removing them
. Incision site looks real clean and well done.Walking feels great! Even the first time I got on my feet I felt good, no dizziness. Now I feel even better. Been walking without any issues and feel good. I'm still in ICU although I've been eligible to go to a step down room since yesterday. They just don't have a bed for me yet
. Hopefully I get one tonight or tomorrow. They're also waiting for my INR time to stabilize. My heart rate is a little fast though, so I've been on beta blockers, sometimes my blood pressure raises a bit too. I'm guessing that's expected after heart surgery? Since there was stress put on the heart?
Either way I'm glad the worst part is over. I was awake for a bit during the breathing tube part. It wasn't bothersome at all. I wasn't even sure if I had it in or not. I tried to reach up and feel if it was over my mouth or not. I then heard one of the nurses say "We'll take the breathing tube out soon...." so that's how I knew it was still in. Didn't bother me at all though.
