M
Mary
hensylee said:
Ann,
A speedboat is better than this!
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
Ann,
A speedboat is better than this!
you are right with the mountain, because the moment you are at the top the only way is downhill 
very very eloquently phrased, indeed!
there is one element in your Q&A missing:
"how does it look on the other shore" ?
well2u
ar bee
very very eloquently phrased, indeed!
there is one element in your Q&A missing:
"how does it look on the other shore" ?
well2u
ar bee
M
Michaelena
Swimmer's Hair
Swimmer's Hair
Mary, You have taken care of the priorities like the manicure and pedicure, but have you considered a hairstyle for the swim. You may be fortunate and have naturally curly hair, or just look stunning no matter what the style. I too am getting ready for my swim, I must put the manicure and pedicure on the list.
The last time I went for a swim (mitral), seas were calm, no sharks! (I like the thought of the swim, I'm not much of a mountain climber either). I hope a calm sea and sunny skies for you, and don't pay attention to Ross, there is such a thing as "exposure"!
My prayers will be with you. You go girl!!!!
Swimmer's Hair
Mary, You have taken care of the priorities like the manicure and pedicure, but have you considered a hairstyle for the swim. You may be fortunate and have naturally curly hair, or just look stunning no matter what the style. I too am getting ready for my swim, I must put the manicure and pedicure on the list.
The last time I went for a swim (mitral), seas were calm, no sharks! (I like the thought of the swim, I'm not much of a mountain climber either). I hope a calm sea and sunny skies for you, and don't pay attention to Ross, there is such a thing as "exposure"!
My prayers will be with you. You go girl!!!!
Best of luck, Mary!
We look forward to hearing from you on the other side. Hang in there, I know you will be back in the pool in no time.
Just be sure to baby yourself for the first month or so after the surgery - everybody feels kind of cr@ppy at first - but it gets better after 4-6 weeks.
You're in my thoughts and prayers.
Take care.
We look forward to hearing from you on the other side. Hang in there, I know you will be back in the pool in no time.
Just be sure to baby yourself for the first month or so after the surgery - everybody feels kind of cr@ppy at first - but it gets better after 4-6 weeks.
You're in my thoughts and prayers.
Take care.
fyrfytr
Well-known member
Hey Mary,
Sounds like you have everything ready. Just think it won't be long and you will be on the other side of the mountain with the rest of us.
We will be waiting for the updates.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Take Care
Sounds like you have everything ready. Just think it won't be long and you will be on the other side of the mountain with the rest of us.
We will be waiting for the updates.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Take Care
G
geebee
Mary,
I wish smooth waters and clear weather for you. I will be glad to have you on this side no matter how you get here.
I wish smooth waters and clear weather for you. I will be glad to have you on this side no matter how you get here.
Mary,
I would suggest "taking the boat" back the other way . And watch that hospital "outfit". No matter which way you put it on, you are "out there for ALL to see" .
May your swim be easy and without stormy waters. We look forward to your post "FROM THE BOAT". Prayers and good thoughts continue your way.
May God Bless,
Danny
I would suggest "taking the boat" back the other way
. And watch that hospital "outfit". No matter which way you put it on, you are "out there for ALL to see" .May your swim be easy and without stormy waters. We look forward to your post "FROM THE BOAT". Prayers and good thoughts continue your way.
May God Bless,
Danny
M
Mary
We have a little glitch in the system right now. The "little glitch" is our granddaughter Haley who spends a great deal of time with us due to her daddy's work schedule. We kept her all day yesterday until late last night, and when we picked her up this morning, she had a high fever. I will try my best not to come into close contact with her, but that's not an easy thing to do when dealing with a toddler. And of course, I've been in close contact with her two days in a row all ready, so I don't know that precautions will help now.
We might take her to the hospital's "convenient care" service later just to get a handle on what we're dealing with. A viral illness is one thing; strep throat is another.
I guess we'll see what happens.
We might take her to the hospital's "convenient care" service later just to get a handle on what we're dealing with. A viral illness is one thing; strep throat is another.
I guess we'll see what happens.
Emma
Well-known member
Mary, I'm so sorry I missed this before and didnt reply.
My thoughts will be with you 200% during your swim and I'll be looking forward to your 'I've done it!' post!!
BTW - if you're swimming the English Channel, feel free to pop in here on your way and beware of the cold waters! Have no doubt you can do it though and will complete smoothly it in no time at all.
With loads of love
Emma
xxx
My thoughts will be with you 200% during your swim and I'll be looking forward to your 'I've done it!' post!!
BTW - if you're swimming the English Channel, feel free to pop in here on your way and beware of the cold waters! Have no doubt you can do it though and will complete smoothly it in no time at all.
With loads of love
Emma
xxx
Marguerite53
Premium Level User
oh my
oh my
Well, Mary. Fever is something you should checkout with your granddaughter; just so there's a notion of what might be surrounding you. Please be safe and check her out.
As for the swimming analogy, I think it's a wonderful one!! It's floaty and dreamy but hard work. Personally, I know I'd choose warmer waters. AND in the Pacific you'd probably have a group of dolphin there to help you across, from, say, one island to the next, if you needed it.
Keep posting. I appreciate being along on your journey!
Hugs, Marguerite
oh my
Well, Mary. Fever is something you should checkout with your granddaughter; just so there's a notion of what might be surrounding you. Please be safe and check her out.
As for the swimming analogy, I think it's a wonderful one!! It's floaty and dreamy but hard work. Personally, I know I'd choose warmer waters. AND in the Pacific you'd probably have a group of dolphin there to help you across, from, say, one island to the next, if you needed it.
Keep posting. I appreciate being along on your journey!
Hugs, Marguerite
Glenda
Well-known member
Mary, my dear cyber friend. You take care. If you remember I came down with a stomach virus the day after my AVR all because I was around my grandchildren the night before. There were four of the little ones that had just gotten over the stomach virus. I wouldn't have missed seeing them for the world but I sure was sick and so was my husband and daughters.
Mary I love your idea about the swimming instead of climbing the mountain. You are so right. I never have liked climbing mountain's either. Swimming is so much better. Leave it to you to come up with that thought and remember that I'll be in the boat right there beside you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary I love your idea about the swimming instead of climbing the mountain. You are so right. I never have liked climbing mountain's either. Swimming is so much better. Leave it to you to come up with that thought and remember that I'll be in the boat right there beside you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
fyrfytr
Well-known member
Dive right in.
Dive right in.
Hey Mary,
You know we will all be on the sidelines cheering you on.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Take Care
Dive right in.
Hey Mary,
You know we will all be on the sidelines cheering you on.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Take Care
Ross
Well-known member
And should something happen as a result of this remember, it's for a reason. Do not question it, do not become upset by it, just live life until things are placed back into the proper sequence.Mary said:We have a little glitch in the system right now. The "little glitch" is our granddaughter Haley who spends a great deal of time with us due to her daddy's work schedule. We kept her all day yesterday until late last night, and when we picked her up this morning, she had a high fever. I will try my best not to come into close contact with her, but that's not an easy thing to do when dealing with a toddler. And of course, I've been in close contact with her two days in a row all ready, so I don't know that precautions will help now.
We might take her to the hospital's "convenient care" service later just to get a handle on what we're dealing with. A viral illness is one thing; strep throat is another.
I guess we'll see what happens.
Last-minute thoughts
Last-minute thoughts
Mary, some last-minute thoughts:
Ask to have the breathing tube taped to your lip, rather than clipped to it.
Consider asking for a patient-controlled Fentanyl drip, rather than continuing on morphine after surgery. If you do, ask now, so it will be ready then.
Don't fight the tube. It will keep you alive in spite of yourself, and is not something to be feared. I'm sure Bob will be there when you are extubated. Tell him you want him to bring a pen and a pad of paper, in case it has to stay in a while.
After you get into a step-down room (usually next day), take some things you are told with a grain of salt. The people there are used to dealing with and giving advice to patients who are twenty years older than you. You are not as fragile as they may be. I guess I'm saying, "Don't push it, but don't wimp out either" or "Don't do anything that makes you feel faint, but if you don't feel faint, then do it slowly."
Barring complications, it won't take you as long to recover your basic abilities. Do what feels okay, but do it more slowly and carefully than normal. Don't push yourself, however, as the point is entirely to let your body decide, not your will. From my surgeon's report: "He was ambulating throughout a virtually unremarkable postoperative course." n.b. the word throughout. Upshot: if you have no complications, it shouldn't take days to move to a chair, more days to walk thirty feet, etc. It's not your spinal cord that was operated on.
I stood up and shook the surgeon's hand the first time he stopped by my room in step-down OHS recovery. He goggled a little, but kept his composure. He left feeling very pleased with himself, as he could see I was entirely comfortable standing there talking to him. And I was - and I wouldn't have done it if I weren't.
Good posture keeps the lungs in proper position for expansion, and keeps the setting ribcage straight and flexible. Stretching movements (gently!) are good to keep the lymphatic system circulating. They should help minimize pain and swelling, and maximize flexibility.
Don't bring too much crap to the hospital, especially clothes. You either won't be able to use them, or will find you don't need to. I never got to my new bathrobe, as a second gown worn on top backwards is easier, and doesn't require messing with the wires and tubes. Take it off, and you're instantly ready to return to bed or the chair. Slippers with non-slip soles are good, especially the kind you can wiggle your feet into, and don't have to bend over to put on. Loose, easy-to-dress-yourself clothing to go home in.
Bending forward isn't good. You must also be careful pushing up from the bed, as your ribcage and chest muscles are involved in the leverage.
Order extra liquids with meals, so you don't have to bug the nurses for it later. Also, remember they're going to want you to keep track of the amount of liquids coming in (outflow is taken care of by measuring lines on the output bag).
Try sleeping on your regular bed when you get home. If you slept flat (or nearly so) in the hospital, it will probably be fine. Only a percentage of OHS graduates actually need the recliner at night. During the day, it is a big benefit, though.
Same-same the heart hugger. Not a bad thing to have, but many of us did fine without even a pillow. It only feels like you could blow your stitches out when you sneeze. It won't happen. Glenda did the Xtreme Road Testing on stitches for all of us.
Tell Bob I'll be thinking of him, too. It's not easy to stand on the sidelines and let people use stainless steel implements on your spouse, especially if one is a saw. Please ask someone to post for you.
Leave room in your garden. I have Iris.
Very best wishes,
Last-minute thoughts
Mary, some last-minute thoughts:
Ask to have the breathing tube taped to your lip, rather than clipped to it.
Consider asking for a patient-controlled Fentanyl drip, rather than continuing on morphine after surgery. If you do, ask now, so it will be ready then.
Don't fight the tube. It will keep you alive in spite of yourself, and is not something to be feared. I'm sure Bob will be there when you are extubated. Tell him you want him to bring a pen and a pad of paper, in case it has to stay in a while.
After you get into a step-down room (usually next day), take some things you are told with a grain of salt. The people there are used to dealing with and giving advice to patients who are twenty years older than you. You are not as fragile as they may be. I guess I'm saying, "Don't push it, but don't wimp out either" or "Don't do anything that makes you feel faint, but if you don't feel faint, then do it slowly."
Barring complications, it won't take you as long to recover your basic abilities. Do what feels okay, but do it more slowly and carefully than normal. Don't push yourself, however, as the point is entirely to let your body decide, not your will. From my surgeon's report: "He was ambulating throughout a virtually unremarkable postoperative course." n.b. the word throughout. Upshot: if you have no complications, it shouldn't take days to move to a chair, more days to walk thirty feet, etc. It's not your spinal cord that was operated on.
I stood up and shook the surgeon's hand the first time he stopped by my room in step-down OHS recovery. He goggled a little, but kept his composure. He left feeling very pleased with himself, as he could see I was entirely comfortable standing there talking to him. And I was - and I wouldn't have done it if I weren't.
Good posture keeps the lungs in proper position for expansion, and keeps the setting ribcage straight and flexible. Stretching movements (gently!) are good to keep the lymphatic system circulating. They should help minimize pain and swelling, and maximize flexibility.
Don't bring too much crap to the hospital, especially clothes. You either won't be able to use them, or will find you don't need to. I never got to my new bathrobe, as a second gown worn on top backwards is easier, and doesn't require messing with the wires and tubes. Take it off, and you're instantly ready to return to bed or the chair. Slippers with non-slip soles are good, especially the kind you can wiggle your feet into, and don't have to bend over to put on. Loose, easy-to-dress-yourself clothing to go home in.
Bending forward isn't good. You must also be careful pushing up from the bed, as your ribcage and chest muscles are involved in the leverage.
Order extra liquids with meals, so you don't have to bug the nurses for it later. Also, remember they're going to want you to keep track of the amount of liquids coming in (outflow is taken care of by measuring lines on the output bag).
Try sleeping on your regular bed when you get home. If you slept flat (or nearly so) in the hospital, it will probably be fine. Only a percentage of OHS graduates actually need the recliner at night. During the day, it is a big benefit, though.
Same-same the heart hugger. Not a bad thing to have, but many of us did fine without even a pillow. It only feels like you could blow your stitches out when you sneeze. It won't happen. Glenda did the Xtreme Road Testing on stitches for all of us.
Tell Bob I'll be thinking of him, too. It's not easy to stand on the sidelines and let people use stainless steel implements on your spouse, especially if one is a saw. Please ask someone to post for you.
Leave room in your garden. I have Iris.
Very best wishes,
Ross
Well-known member
tobagotwo said:
Remember what I offered? 
