Surgery in 4 days

[amy]

My husband had his preadmission testing this past Friday. On Monday, he will have a cardiac catherization and Wednesday, an aortic valve transplant. If the catherization reveals blockage, then the surgeon will do a bypass at the same time as the valve surgery. Part of the preadmission testing, was a "class." We met with a nurse, respiratory therapist, cardicac care coordinator and volunteer from mended hearts. They told us what to expect. It is starting to really hit now that this is really happening. After the surgery, my husband will be in cardiac intensive care where each patient has a private cardiac nurse for approximately one day. Once the surgeon feels he is ready, he will be moved to a stepdown unit on the cardiac floor. The nursing ratio on that floor is 1/4. He will have physical and respiratory therapy daily. He will be home in about 7 days, once cumidan levels are regulated. It is hard to believe that at 46 years old, my husband is undergoing such a majoy proceedure. Our children (13 and 16) are starting to get very nervouse about the surgery. Right now, our emotions are all over the place. The fact that he is having his surgery on our 19th aniversary doesn't help. Our future aniversaries will have very special meaning.

 

[Ross]

I just sent you a PM.

Hang in there kiddo.
I'll test the waters before he to make sure things will go smoothly.
I'm right there with you and the emotions. I forgot to put the seasoning packet in my Rice-a-Roni at dinner time. Don't do that. It tastes terrible.

Praying for you both,
Ross T- 30 hours and counting for me.

 

[amy]

Good luck Ross. I will be praying for you.

 

[fdegranville]

Your Children

Your Children

Hi Amy,
Every one here certainly understands your apprehension. Tell your children about this site and the more than 400 people on here that have been through it and are today thriving. As they say, the worst part of the whole thing is the wait. Before you know it you will be bugging him to use his breathing machine and to walk more.

Best of luck,
fdeg

 

[EVELYN]

HI AMY

HAVING RECENTLY (6/26/02) AS THEY SAY "BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT" I JUST WOULD LIKE TO REASSURE YOU THAT YOU BOTH WILL GET THROUGH IT AND GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. YOU HAVE ALOT OF PRAYERS GOING OUT TO BOTH OF YOU. I FOUND THAT ONCE YOU LET IT GO WITH GOD, AND YOU REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON THAT TABLE, IT'S MUCH EASIER TO DEAL WITH....GUESS THAT'S CALLED FAITH. LOOKING AT YOUR HUSBAND'S AGE, I'D SAY HE'S GOING TO DO FINE. TYCE WAS 59 AND HE'S UP AND ABOUT AND DOING REALLY WELL.

PLEASE KNOW THAT IF I MAY HELP YOU IN ANY WAY EMOTIONALLY, JUST EMAIL ME. WHAT EVERYONE TOLD ME ON MY LIST WAS 200 PERCENT TRUE....TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, TOO, YOU DEFINITELY NEED THAT ...I FOUND I CRASHED AFTER TYCE WAS HOME FOR ABOUT A WEEK....I THINK IT'S JUST THAT YOU BEGIN TO RELAX AND THEN IT ALL HITS YOU, BECAUSE BEFORE THAT YOU ARE DEFINITELY ON AN ADRENALINE RUSH.

I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH IT, BUT IT WILL BE OVER BEFORE YOU KNOW IT AND HE WILL HAVE REACHED THE "OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN," SO THEY SAY. I GUESS I NOW THINK OF IT AS A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE THE NEXT 25+ BETTER THAN EVER.

PEACE

EVELYN

 

[Nancy]

Hi Amy-

Your husband's surgeon is an expert at what he does. He does heart operations almost every day. He'll take good care of your husband during surgery and afterwards. The anesthesiologist is a specialist in heart operations and will take every precaution to watch over your husband's vital signs during the surgery. The OR will be manned with many surgical assistants and probably the surgeon's PAs.

He'll be in good hands. You'll be amazed at the technology of the ICU and the expert care given there. These people are highly trained to take care of all the different aspects of post surgery care.

You will be surprised when they get him up and walking very soon after surgery, you won't believe it's possible to do. But it will reassure you that the humnan body is not as fragile as we think.

He'll do just fine and so will you and your family.

Best wishes. Let us know as soon as you can, how thing went.

 

[JenniferO]

Amy:

When you are going through this process of heart surgery, it all seems very surreal and scary. It is hard to believe that the human body can go through such an assault and yet recover as well as it does. It is also hard to understand how the surgeons, the operating teams and the nurses deal with these huge responsibilities every day. Yet they do, and they are very good at it, quick thinking, courageous and steady under fire.

Your husband will be in very expert hands that have done these procedures hundreds, sometimes thousands of times. You will get to the other side; just go through it as we all have done.

Your husband's youth is very much on his side. He should do fine.

 

[Bill Hall]

Amy - Good luck to you and your husband. I went through this surgery last year and was age 47 at the time. It is not that bad an experience and recovery is quick, especially at your husbands age. I must admit I really needed my wife to get me through the three days in the ICU (normal is one day), but it was real easy after that (even with the aches and pains and lack of sleep). I think these next few days will be difficult, try to be calm for your husband. I will say a few prayers for you both on surgery day.

 

[hensylee]

Amy and Alan - you are on ready, set and go is coming up fast. And with that may come more anxiety. With today and tomorrow you will be very anxious and Wednesday, Alan won't be, but you will. Prayers are with you at this time. God bless

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi amy!
i remember the days preceding joey's surgery.... they were the worst!
the anticipation and anxiety and worry was just dreadful. everyone here is so right, though, these surgeons are really trained to do this so perfectly; it's like driving a cab_ they can probably do it blindfolded at this point.
where is alan having his surgery and what is he having done (avr)? mechanical?
you are both in our thoughts and prayers. it will, as mentioned by someone before, be hard for you while you wait. alan will be in surgery and asleep. i hope you have some company while you wait. will your kids be around? we found it very helpful for our girls to be around and see joey immediately (as soon as they were allowed to in icu). they felt much better just seeing him and touching and holding his hand and talking to him.
wishing you all the best, sylvia

 

[Jennie]

Hi Amy,

Just wanted to say that I will be praying for you and your hubby, with his surgery this week. I hope the cath showed that no bypass is necessary. It is very abnormal, very strange, to be going into open heart surgery, it seems like the totally wrong direction to be going when one is trying to get to a place of better health. He has youth on his side, and these surgeons can do wonders, and it won't be long until he is back to his old self again. Just hold on, and you'll be surprised how soon this will pass by! Take it one step at a time. Congratulations on your anniversary, may it be a very happy one this year, with many more years ahead of you. Please keep us posted. I'll be praying and thinking of you.

best wishes,
JEnnie

 

[amy]

had his cath

had his cath

My husband's cath confirmed significant aortic leakage. It also showed that there was mild to moderate blockage in a few arteries. The films have been fowarded to thee surgeon to determine whether a bypass is also indicated. One of the people who prepped my husband said that his surgeon operated on Yeltzen. If that is true, then I guess we are in good hands. It is hard to believe that in one day, my husband will have surgery.

 

[EVELYN]

HI AMY AND ALAN.....PLEASE KNOW THAT EVERYONE ON THIS LIST IS FEELING EXACTLY WHAT YOU BOTH ARE GOING THROUGH TODAY....BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY THAT THIS SURGERY TAKES ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN. I REMEMBER WHEN TYCE HAD HIS SURGERY, AND ALL OF THE EMOTIONS LEADING UP TO IT AND I'M SURE YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THE VERY SAME TYPE OF SITUATION.

KNOW THAT IT WILL BE OK VERY SOON. TAKE STRENGTH IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING, HAVE THE RIGHT SURGICAL TEAM, AND TRY TO LET IT GO IN GOD'S HANDS. WE'RE SUCH A SOCIETY OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING, AND BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU, ONCE YOU REALIZE THAT YOU CAN'T BE IN CHARGE AND THERE IS SOMEONE WATCHING OVER US ALL, IT MAKES IT SO VERY MUCH EASIER.

PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN OUR PRAYERS, BOTH TODAY, TOMORROW AND FOR A BIT....PLEASE LET US ALL KNOW HOW THINGS HAVE GONE WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE TO POST. IF YOU GET A CHANCE, PLEASE READ THE THREAD ABOUT TYCE AND AVR SURGERY, THE HINTS I RECEIVED WERE WELL TAKEN AND USED, ESPECIALLY ABOUT WHAT TO BRING IF YOUR HOSPITAL IS A DISTANCE. THIS IS A GREAT LIST, FILLED WITH TRULY CARING, LOVING PEOPLE. KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US.....GOOD LUCK TOMORROW AND GO IN GOD'S HANDS.

EVELYN AND TYCE

 

[Granbonny]

Camping

Camping

Hi Amy and Alan..I just had open-heart surgery less than 4 months ago and just returned home last night from a long week-end of camping in Cherokee, N.C. with my 10 year old Grandson. The oonly thing I didn't do was to go white water rafting with them but I thought that may be just a bit too soon Tell then for me that their Daddy will be up and playing with them real soon and for them to make him walk, walk, walk, that nasty medicine out of his system. He will feel better the more he is up and walking. Bonnie

 

[amy]

I want to thank everyone for their support and kind wishes. It is very hard to believe that tomorrow is the day. My husband had his catherization yesterday and wanted to go into work today. It took a lot of convincing to keep him home. Everyone at the hospital asked him why in the world he would even think of going in to work today. They used a St. Jude plug instead of the sandbags which allowed him to go home about 3 hours after the catherization.