67walkon
Well-known member
Made it! Yahoo!
Surgery was Friday, July 6. Today is Tuesday, July 10, and we just figured out my wife's computer will work in our room.
It's hard to know where to start, except that you guys are such a blessing. And for the people that go home after 3 or 4 days, you are my newest heroes!
The incision paid is absolutely nothing to fear. The discomfort and not knowing what expect was the worst, and you helped with that.
I went under as soon as they got my IV hooked up and when I woke up, it was about 6 hours later--I need to check the time. My wife was with me, the tube was still in, but I never panicked. She made the wise decision to make our kids wait a few hours to see me--she said I looked pretty dead at first.
The first night was a blur. They gave me morphine, but I didn't sleep. ICU is noisy, bright and my neighbor was in a bad way. They cut off the morphine the next morning, which was about 12 hours after surgery finisihed.
Every day since has been better, although this is really only the morning of the 4th day. Weird complications occured because my body, like everyone's, is a unique gift from God. My aortic valve and the ascending aorta were replaced, but the surgeon ended up using a bovine vavle instead of the 1 piece shentless porcine valve and ascending aorta. I had him draw me a picture, but my understanding is that I have 2 kind of misplaced coronary arteries very close to the root. By preserving the root, he believes it will be easier next time, and yes, I knew going in there will be a next time if I live long enough. But all the bad parts are gone, replaced by bovine tissue and dacron.
I had a maze procedure done on Friday too, for a history of atrial fibriallation. As is typical with the procedure, I flipped into afib last night and got real discouraged. I''m still in afib, but it is probably my fault; I had talked to the surgeon about continuing the prophylactice afib meds I have been taking for a couple of years, and even brought them, but forgot them. He said it is expected and is going to put me back on the meds and wean me within a few months. The maze is about 95% effective.
I'll post more later. The irregular heart rate caused by the afib saps my energy even more, but I am pressing on.
See you guys later, and God bless each and every one of you!
John
Surgery was Friday, July 6. Today is Tuesday, July 10, and we just figured out my wife's computer will work in our room.
It's hard to know where to start, except that you guys are such a blessing. And for the people that go home after 3 or 4 days, you are my newest heroes!
The incision paid is absolutely nothing to fear. The discomfort and not knowing what expect was the worst, and you helped with that.
I went under as soon as they got my IV hooked up and when I woke up, it was about 6 hours later--I need to check the time. My wife was with me, the tube was still in, but I never panicked. She made the wise decision to make our kids wait a few hours to see me--she said I looked pretty dead at first.
The first night was a blur. They gave me morphine, but I didn't sleep. ICU is noisy, bright and my neighbor was in a bad way. They cut off the morphine the next morning, which was about 12 hours after surgery finisihed.
Every day since has been better, although this is really only the morning of the 4th day. Weird complications occured because my body, like everyone's, is a unique gift from God. My aortic valve and the ascending aorta were replaced, but the surgeon ended up using a bovine vavle instead of the 1 piece shentless porcine valve and ascending aorta. I had him draw me a picture, but my understanding is that I have 2 kind of misplaced coronary arteries very close to the root. By preserving the root, he believes it will be easier next time, and yes, I knew going in there will be a next time if I live long enough. But all the bad parts are gone, replaced by bovine tissue and dacron.
I had a maze procedure done on Friday too, for a history of atrial fibriallation. As is typical with the procedure, I flipped into afib last night and got real discouraged. I''m still in afib, but it is probably my fault; I had talked to the surgeon about continuing the prophylactice afib meds I have been taking for a couple of years, and even brought them, but forgot them. He said it is expected and is going to put me back on the meds and wean me within a few months. The maze is about 95% effective.
I'll post more later. The irregular heart rate caused by the afib saps my energy even more, but I am pressing on.
See you guys later, and God bless each and every one of you!
John
