Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

[Susan Allen]

I can't believe it - the nurse called me this morning and the surgeon's mother in law died and he has to go out of state for the funeral - SURGERY CANCELLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I swear I am still numb - they are trying to reschedule for next week.
Serioulsy for those of you who know - besides the waiting how much more hell on earth can one person stand?????
I went and had a meeting with the nurse Friday with my 2 daughters (21 & 11) and it went great - she was very very good about what to expect and what I will look like to them in the ICU.
Heck, she even gave me pointers about the breathing tube and this sounds weird but I've been practicing before I go to sleep at night.
I know this is a test of will and I'll get over it - just the psyching up is so exhausting and the let down was overwhelming.
Thanks for letting me vent

Susan

 

[Ross]

Susan I've learned, these things happen for a reason. It is not your time to have it yet. Take the time and enjoy things a little more for a short time longer. It will happen when it is supposed to.

 

[Susan Allen]

Thanks Ross you're absolutely right.
I also feel guilty thinking about myself when the poor woman died.
More frustration than anything else + I've tried to make it a point not to feel sorry for myself through all of this.
Reading my post back I do look a little on the poor me side.

Susan

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi susan!
i can totally understand how you must be feeling. the same thing happened to joey. he was scheduled for surgery on 9/12 and had to postpone a week because of 9/11. it was upsetting, especially because you prepare yourself mentally for this big event. we tried to look at it as "found time" to be with our family for a few extra days.... works out fine.
ross is right, there is usually a reason why these things happen..
try and stay busy... we'll keep you company while you wait.
be well, sylvia

 

[Ross]

Susan I didn't say that to make you feel selfish. When my time came, I got sick just before the date, then something was wrong with my blood, and then when all this was taken care of, my time came. They wouldn't have found the blood problem if I hadn't of been delayed with illness. So yes, there is a reason for everything happening in it's own course and time.

 

[Georgia]

Major bummer

Major bummer

I'm really sorry. But look at it this way: by the time the surgeon gets back he'll probably be big-time ready to get back to work.

My doc's nurse gave me the spirometer prior to surgery and advised me to practice on it. Don't know if it made a difference, but I learned to hate it before most folks. And no one had to teach me how to use it in the hospital - just dragged it around with me. Got a second one, too. Lucky me!

Enjoy the extra week. Understand that it'll be a while before you feel very good and make the most of this nice fall weather. See a movie, carve a pumpkin, take your girls out to eat - again. Look at it as an unplanned vacation.

 

[Nancy]

Susan-

I'm sorry to hear about the last minute postponement. It happens. Joe 's last surgery was almost cancelled because they wanted to have several pints of blood on hand, and he has weird blood, and they couldn't get it. We were on pins and needles until about 6 PM the night before surgery.

Rest assured, they WILL schedule you, no doubt about that.

Let us know the new date.

Best wishes.

 

[Susan Allen]

Thanks for support
Feel much better today.
They called and I am rescheduled for Thur. Oct. 23.
I am grateful for the extra week. There's a lot of cleaning I would still like to do.
Ross - I did not take you response in an offensive way - I just usually read and edit my posts before I press the key - I didn't this time and I did not like the way I sounded - a little too dramatic.
I really appreciate your always quick responses and great support like everyone on the board.

Thanks you guys
Susan

 

[ccrawford]

Hi Susan - Sorry your surgery was postponed. Maybe it was for the best - who knows. In any event, we'll all be watching and waiting with you when that date comes, and praying that all is well. Of course you know that the waiting is the worst part. The surgery and recovery goes by pretty quick, and then we'll all be on pins and needles waiting to hear from you with your first post after surgery. It will be really nice to know you have climbed the mountain and now you are on the easy slope going down. Nice and easy is the word, and we know you've read enough posts to know what is good and what's a no-no. Take the extra time to make sure your check list of pre-surgery items is all complete. Wishing you the best -- Chris

 

[Rain]

That happened to me....

That happened to me....

Susan,

I had the angio the day before and spent the night in the hospital to be ready for the surgery the next morning. They got me up at 5:00 AM, shaved my arms and legs, did the special showers, etc. Finally about 7:00 when I?m getting ready to be taken down to OR the nurse comes in and says there?s been a car accident.... Dr. Propp has to operate on a ten year old boy immediately. I?m like ?WHAT?!? That?s one of those moments you can?t explain to anyone who hasn?t lived through it.

The good thing is once you finally do have the surgery..... you're like, wow... that wasn't so bad!

Best wishes to you.

 

[Georgia]

YOU'RE GOING TO WASTE YOUR EXTRA TIME CLEANING

YOU'RE GOING TO WASTE YOUR EXTRA TIME CLEANING

Now let's get priorities straight. Cleaning always is really really low on the list. Because there's no such thing as really clean - it's always in the process of dirtying.

Have a good time between now and then. And don't wear yourself out cleaning. Wear yourself out . . . oh, say, shopping.

Glad you got rescheduled. I'm sure it was a huge disappointment.

Keep in touch.

 

[Karlynn]

33 mm buddies

33 mm buddies

Hey Rain,
I just noticed your St. Jude valve size. I never knew mine until Betty pointed it out to me on my card at the Reunion. (Which, I have to say is the first time I've ever been asked to show someone my valve card, in 12 years! ) So I found out that I'm a 33 too! What does that mean? That we're people that don't do things in small ways?

Cheeseburger? - make mine a double.
St. Jude valve? - I'll take a 33 please.

Karlynn

PS - just wish it was my age too!

 

[Birky]

valve size

valve size

I have a St. Jude mechanical and where do you find the size? My model number is 29m-101. Is this what I am supposed to be looking for? I realize that open heart surgery is heard on bypass as well as valve patients, but is the bypass worse as to what they have to do to you? Just curious. Thanks,

 

[Les]

Hi Marcia,
You are the proud owner of a 29mm St. Jude "Clickmaster".
_________________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[Ross]

My model number is 29m-101.

Your a 29mm!

So I found out that I'm a 33 too! What does that mean?

That means your a really neat person with a huge heart!

 

[Birky]

valve size

valve size

Okay educate me. 29 is the size of the valve. Oh well I thought one size fits all. Clickmaster-are you trying to tell me that I have a noisy one or are you referring to them all. Some days I don't hear it but today is a different story. I hope you get used to it as time goes along. Boy I guess I do have that Pumphead disease. HaHA Thanks,

 

[Les]

I have a St Jude 27mm "Thor's Hammermaster"...it is LOUD but I wear it proud!
___________________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[ccrawford]

Hey Karlynn - Which one of those gorgeous ladies is you and which one is your daughter ? By the way, I'm another 33. Chris

 

[Karlynn]

Ah, Ross, that's so sweet.

Chris, wish I could say it was me on the left, but that would mean the picture was about 25 years old!

Thor's Hammermaster - great
Clickmaster - love that.

How about: The Captain Hook's Special

Have we told those about to be mechanical valve recipients that the major draw-back to a mechanical is that it puts an end to sneaking up on people in a dark, quiet room?

Karlynn

 

[Ross]

Chris, wish I could say it was me on the left, but that would mean the picture was about 25 years old!

And here all along I thought you were only 24.