18 days away.

[marc_kowal]

So I'm 18 days away from having my BAV replaced, and I'm surprising pretty calm about the whole thing. Of course I'm worried about all of the "what ifs" and coming out of surgery worse then going into it, especially since I'm not showing any major symptoms, but I think I'm in a good place. I've got some special one-on-one days planned for my oldest son and I, and then for my wife and I. At least if something goes wrong (which I'm sure it won't), they'll have some good final memories.

Just wondering if anyone else was calm like this going in, or if you were the complete opposite.

~Marc

 

[escargome]

Hi Marc,
I actually was quite calm going into surgery. I just wanted to get it over with. I had just gotten clearance from my infection control doctor (had bacterial meningites), so as soon as I consulted with the surgeon, I scheduled the surgery about 21 days from that day. So use this time to relax, spend time with loved ones and just go with the flow. All the decisions have been made so it is all good.

 

[Mom2izzy]

I'm 11 days out now...I'm feeling pretty calm as well...at least in regards to the surgery...My current stress is all about finalizing what I need to at work. I just took my daughter on a one week trip to Florida to hang out, relax and spend some quality time with her and my parents.

 

[SusQ]

Hubby and I just noted this today... 72 days until our cruise, 80 until his BAV replacement surgery. And 81 days until he's better than new. :thumbup:

 

[Boston Tiger]

The calm that hits before the surgery was one of the things that most surprised me, given my near panic when I first found out. I don't think my calm hit 18 days out, though. More like the week before, when I made my pre-op visit to the hospital and had my CT scan. I think it struck me then that I really was going to be in good hands.

 

[Ovie]

I'm 6 days out, I have a certain calm to me, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't get caught up in the moment sometimes. It's not been a fun waiting room, that's for sure. Almost as if all the magazines are exactly the same. Every once in awhile the mailman will come through and bring something fresh and shine some light on the wait. However as you get closer to surgery, you realize it is what you make it, and I could Of made my wait easier.

Good luck in your big day!

 

[scott.eitman]

Just wondering if anyone else was calm like this going in, or if you were the complete opposite.

~Marc

I think the calmness disinegrates as the surgery date gets closer. Wait until day zero.

What hospital is your surgery scheduled?

 

[marc_kowal]

Scott,

My surgery is taking place @ Deborah Heart & Lung Center in NJ. They were the ones to first diagnois me years ago and I've been seeing them ever since.

 

[Ovie]

IMO I think as the surgery gets closer and closer, you become calmer. You eventually realize its going to happen anyways, might as well of made peace with it. I think I was more frightened 2 months ago than I am now, 5 days away. Everybody I guess reacts different. However this could end up just being the calm before the storm.

 

[jordan]

I too was pretty calm going into surgery. I think, for me, it had to do with the fact that it was a requirement; the surgery was necessary so I couldn't do anything about it except accept it. I did get emotional right as they wheeled me from my pre-op room to the operating room, but I think that was because my wife, parents, and sister were there.

As I've noticed with many other "asymptomatic" people, including myself, it isn't until after surgery that you realize how symptomatic you actually were. Before surgery, especially this last fall, I would fall asleep on the couch by 8 pm almost every night. At the time I didn't think anything of it. Now I equate that general tiredness with my defective aortic valve. I have so much more energy now than before. Other things, like breathing during exercise, is completely different, much less labored and much more controlled, than before.

Good luck to everyone with upcoming surgery dates. Luckily all you have to do is show up.