I have a date for my AVR

[JodyC]

Well, they finally called today. I am going in for my AVR on May 22nd. My surgery is at 8am and I have to be there at 6am that morning. I was surprised I didn't have to be there the night before. I have my pre-op testing on the 19th. I am starting my disability through work today. I took a weeks vacation last week because I just couldn't do my job anymore. Too much walking and lifting and I just couldn't cut it. I pushed myself really hard for a long time and I know when I have reached my limit. I am relieved to have a date set and although I am scared to have the surgery I know I have to have it to survive and have a good active life with my daughter. She is going to be 8 in a few weeks and she is really into sports and I just can't play with her anymore. Just being with her and watching her grow up is my focus and my goal to get through all of this. My house is just about ready and I just have a few things left to do before I will feel really prepared. My parents and my daughter will be at the hospital the day of my surgery but I figure once I am out of surgery and hopefully off the vent they can head home. We live about an hour and half from the hospital and I don't want them driving home too tired. How long does and AVR with root take? I didn't even think to ask the surgeon that. I know my daughter won't be able to see me that day and I really don't want her to see me until I am looking myself so I don't scare her. I have a list of stuff to pack so that will keep me a little busy while I wait but otherwise I plan to just rest and visit with friends. Thanks for all of your support and advice, I am so happy I found this site.

 

[brd]

Best wishes to you Jody. I'm glad you won't have long to wait. I don't know the answer on the length of time for the surgery but someone here will have an answer for you soon.

I agree, this site is wonderful.

Take good care. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Barbara

 

[Phyllis]

Jody, I am glad you have a date and will put it on the calendar. My prayers and best wishes are with you for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery.

 

[Jkm7]

Jody.... Sounds like you are well on the way to a successful surgery and are getting everything organized. Don't worry about bringing lots of things to the hospital. I think most of us discovered we really didn't use most of what we thought we'd want.

I really wanted and used bare basics such as toothbrush and toothpaste, deoderant, shampoo, chapstick, pen and paper to jot questions I wanted to ask, reading glasses, comb and brush, a little cash in case I wanted to rent TV (I didn't even want to watch any), my slippers and that was about it. I never even used the robe I brought. Much easier to use the things provided by the hospital.

Sending you all best wishes. Please keep us up to date with you so we know how you are doing.

 

[ctyguy]

Jody...I can't answer your question regarding length of time only tell you that my AVR took about 4 hours start to finish. I see your in Ohio, where are you having your procedure performed ?

Your date isn't too far off so just try and stay focused on how good your going to feel when this is behind you. And trust me when I say you will feel a WHOLE lot better ! Im 10 weeks post-op now and other than a small area of my incision that hasn't healed up right everything is going really well. I even ran 3 miles today. I think its been 3 years since I did that last !

Best of luck, good vibes heading your way.

 

[Ross]

Jody I highly recommend someone stay with you at least until your out of ICU. If it's not possible, then it's not possible, but you really need to have someone there with you.

 

[Mary]

Jody,
I'm glad that you have your surgery date!
I think my replacement took about 3 1/2 hours but since yours is a little more complex, I would guess that yours will be maybe an hour longer.
I think you will want someone with you once you're moved out of ICU just to help with some of the mundane issues you'll encounter.
My husband, who works in a hospital, basically took over most of the aide duties (helping me to the restroom, recording intake/outake, etc) because everyone was so busy. I'm not saying that everyone should do this, but it does help if you have someone with you.
Once again, best wishes and try not to worry. You're almost past the worst.

 

[Superbob]

Jody,

Wishing you the best -- should be the start of feeling much better after you're on recovery road.

My hospital was a tough DC-area commute from home, so I splurged by getting a room at a nice Sheraton a mile from the hospital the night before the surgery, and then my wife and son stayed there the rest of my 5-day stay in the hospital so they could be there for me. Through the hospital, we got a spectacular discount on the usual room rate. You might see if your hospital has a similar deal if there is a possibility your family members could stay longer -- it is a help to have someone around, though my care at Inova Fairfax was excellent.

It is weird to drive over to the hospital at 6 a.m., instead of being admitted the night before, but I think insurance has made that pretty standard practice now.

Will be sending good thoughts and prayers to you on the 22nd.

Oh, you asked about time for combined valve and root replacement (which is what I had). Mine took 5 hours. My cardiologist told me that it could take even longer because of the complexity but my surgeon was particularly skilled at it.

 

[Cooker]

Great news....the waiting is the hardest part and now you can see the light at the end of the tunnel....Wishing you the best

 

[WayneGM]

Best wishes for a succesful surgery and smooth recovery.

 

[DebbyA]

Jody,
It sounds like you're really well prepared. I wish you the best of outcomes.

You won't need much for the hospital. I do recommend a robe, partly for modesty in the walking you will have to do and partly as a more portable extra cover for your upper body if the air system gets too vigorous. The pockets are handy too.

Even if your surgery time is only a few hours, there is a lot of pre-prep and post-op stabilizing before visitors are admitted to the ICU. It could be mid- to early-afternoon.

I did ok without 24-hour coverage from family. After the first day, my husband was there about 10 to 4 everyday. If your hospital bed has a portable call bell rather than one attached to the bed, learn to keep it at hand. Mine kept getting pushed aside on a table every time someone came in .

 

[JodyC]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for everyones responses and well wishes. I thought I had everything I needed but reading the posts here and the sticky on what to take I realized I didn't have an extra toothbrush to take or chapstick. Guess I will pick that up today. I am having my surgery at St. Lukes Hospital in Maumee Ohio. I had my choice between there and St. Vincents in Toledo but St. Lukes is closer for my family I have heard the nursing staff is better there too. My surgeon is Dr. Christopher Riordan and he works for both hospitals and his entire staff goes with him to whichever hospital he performs the surgery. My cardiologist is Dr. Ameer Kabour and he choose my surgeon. Dr. Kabour is one of the kindest men I have ever met not to mention a great doctor. Dr. Riordan is who Dr. Kabour choose to perform heart surgery on his father. You can't get a much higher recommedation than that.
I didn't know if I should have my mom stay with me the first night or not. Won't there be a nurse with me the whole time in ICU anyway? I worry that I will wish my mom was there but then I worry I will be really out of it and she will just sit and worry the whole time. I have trouble coming out of anthesia anyway so I know it will be a long wait for them to see me. I guess I could have her pack a bag just in case. Any thoughts from anyone on this?

Thanks!

 

[zipper2]

This is a great site,your right and glad you have your date set
that takes some of pressure off ,sounds like you have the bestset of parents in the world....know i did and my children were young too when
i had my avr 16 years ago. It's human nature to worry and fear,but everything will turn out great and when all this is behind you and are
feeling so much better,i know i wondered after it was behind me why'd
i worry so much. Were human its normal and i hope now you take the time
to rest and visit with friends and family now,the wait will go over quicker
wishing you all the best ,prayers out to you as you await the 22nd


zipper2

 

[Jkm7]

I know many here disagree but this is my thinking and experience about having family members present for so many hours.

Both of my OHS were at Mass General Hospital with the same surgeon. I fully trusted him and his staff. My very loving DH knows absolutely nothing about medical care/heart surgery/Intensive Care Protocol etc He was very worried about me and I was worried about all the stress on him. (Stress from a number of sources not the least of which was my surgery/heart condition.) I insisted that he not plan to babysit me for hours on end. He certainly was with me until they wheeled me away to surgery and was in the family waiting room and spoke with my surgeon. He came to me as soon as they would permit in CICU and when he saw I was doing fine, was being well taken care of he followed my request and went home. He spoke many times through the night with my nurse who was wonderful about always taking his call and assuring him of my good condition.

DH returned to see me the next morning and after he visited for a while, I again sent him on his way. I was well in control of my facilities, was fully aware and could speak up and question if necessary.

This is the pattern that worked well for us through two OHS. Had I experienced nasty complications or did not make smooth recovery, it would have been a different situation but I felt safe and secure and well cared for (and well loved) without DH being by my side for hours on end. Each family has to do what works best for them.

Ten weeks ago, I had my second OHS and these nurses took care of me as though I was their sister or daughter or dear friend. I cannot ever thank the nurses enough for what they do for us. The surgeons work their magic (and bless them for their skill, talent, genius in some cases) but the nurses get us well. IMO

If you are comfortable having your family members come and go or not come much, that should be the way it is. I absolutely know that people who relate how things can go so wrong in hospitals are without question correct..... But I felt safe where I was with those who were taking care of me. I observed the checks they went through before they took a chest x-ray, gave me pills, brought me lunch. Not to say mistakes don't happen.

Wishing you the very best, Jody. You'll be fine. You are going through the worst of it right now. The waiting is torture!

 

[DebbyA]

Jkm--I'm glad you spoke up.

Jody--we had the same experience as Jkm. I felt my husband would be my main resource, and wanted him rested for the period at home after surgery. We had assurances from several sources of the excellent care at the hospital. After surgery and for a week or so after I came home, having visitors was very tiring, anyway.

Your family will probably want to be there through the surgery to talk with surgeon after, and see you when awake (sort of) in CICU.

You'll be fine. Best wishes.

 

[njean]

Dear Jody,

As you approach your date, you are in my prayers for a successful outcome on your AVR. I have no doubt that you will do just fine & will be back posting away soon.

Best wishes!

 

[JodyC]

5 days to go...freaking just a little

5 days to go...freaking just a little

I am doing pretty well as far as nerves go but I am as of today starting to freak out a little bit. I can't help but be nervous about being in the hospital for such a long time and all the restrictions I will have when I get home. I hate the idea of not being able to do my regular stuff. I already miss my job and my workmates even though it has only been a week. My mom is starting to get choked up when we talk about going to the hospital on thursday. I am also starting to see past the surgery and I am worried about talking coumadin afterwards and how well it will work with my other meds. Basically I am worrying about everything.

 

[rocksoldier]

sending you good vibes,jody! i can relate to being nervous and i don't have a date yet-in fact i won't see my surgeon til monday the 19th....trish

 

[paco512]

It will be OK Jody

It will be OK Jody

Over the last year before surgery i developed panic attacks as a result of the "shortness of breath" symptoms. I warned everyone i talked with that i would be pulling out those tubes and running out of that ICU. I have younger children and my worries associated with their care during the operation were welling up like the rocky mountains in front of me. I am no doubt someone who needs control of his life.

But in the end i found a comfort from trusting the surgical team to get me thru this and that the ICU would be as professional as they can get. Once you are in the step down unit you will find all the control you do or don't want. They will guide you thru what i found to be a very fast paced recovery. Talk with the nurses and enjoy the many personalities you will encounter.

Prayers are being sent....

Paco512

 

[JodyC]

Thanks

Thanks

I hadn't thought of being out of control as being such an issue with me but it has really become a great sense of worry. I am going to miss my daughter so much I cry every time I think about it. I know my parents will take good care of her but it just isn't the same. I just know I will be in the hopital for longer than most because that always happens. My tissue is like wet sponge from all the radiation and it will take forever to drain. I know I won't be getting any sleep either. I was in the hopital overnight for heart problems last year and I know they wake you up constantly. Maybe I can sleep enough during the day??
Thanks for everyones posts and prayers. 4 days left......trying not to panic.