Alan B is out of surgery

[Simon Booker]

Dad went into theatre at 4pm today and was out by 6:15, which was, we were told, a pretty good time for an AVR and single by-pass. He went in talking about this thread and the fact that he was going to 'climb that mountain'. He had a Perimount Tissue.

He is now in ICU and he is not doing too great. He had heavy bleeding but I think in the last hour they have managed to control this and brought it down to ok levels. But he also has very low pressure - and they have been forcing in saline and bloods. They are now doing a chest x-ray and ultrasound to try and find out why he cannot maintain BP. We are all sh** scarred and in a pretty dark place right now.

 

[kfay]

Simon, I'm sorry that your Dad is having a hard time right now. This is the part where it is much harder on those waiting. Just remember that he is in a place where people are trained to handle this sort of thing. Hopefully they will get him stablized soon so you can get some rest. Please keep us posted.

Kim

 

[Bridgette]

Hang in there Simon. Hopefully they will be able to stabilise your Dad soon and get him on the road to recovery.
Thinking of you.

 

[Simon Booker]

Update

Update

Thanks all. Dad's bleeding has been brought under control and they are concentrating on getting his pressure stable. He seems to have a build up of fluid on his chest that needs attention.

 

[kfay]

Simon, you may want to start a new thread in post surgery. You'll get more responses that way. Most people won't look in pre-surgery for a post surgery update.

Glad to hear that your dad is doing a little better. Try and get rest when you can because he will need you when he gets out. Keep us posted.

Kim

 

[Mary]

Simon, I hope by now they've resolved your dad's issues. I know they had some difficulty regulating my BP during surgery but finally got it resolved and I had no further trouble.

 

[john79t]

Prayers for you dad. Trust in God and pray.

 

[WayneGM]

Thanks for the update. Sorry to hear your Dad is having difficulties. My thoughts are with you. Best wishes continuing...

 

[Dina]

Happy to hear the bleeding is controlled, sending blessings for your father
and for you-Dina

 

[MissMelis]

Hope things get to be on the up-and-up...glad at least that the bleeding is controlled.
Good positive thoughts ane prayers coming your way.
Keep us posted.

Melissa

 

[laurad37]

Best wishes to your Dad and your family. I hope they get things figured out soon. I will be praying for you guys.

 

[zipper2]

Continued prayers for your dad(all of you)

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[bugchucker]

Thoughts and prayers to you Simon. Hope your father improves quickly!

 

[Simon Booker]

end of the day after

end of the day after

Thank you so much for all the kind comments. It feels like we have been on a rollercoaster for the past day or so. Successfuly surgery but then bleeding. Controlled that, then his BP collapsed. Raised that, and then he could not be withdrawn from the ventilator as he couldn't maintain sufficient blood O2.

So today started on a bad note, got in to see Dad first thing and he was worse. He had had a bad night and given the ICU staff the run around with falling BP. They thought he needed to go back into surgery to correct an internal bleed around his right chamber but after a TEE the problem turned out to be partially collapsed lungs and fluid build up. He's being treated for this now and is much improved - he has a good colour and if he has a good night they hope to take him off the ventilator and wake him up tomorrow which seems like an age to us - but the ICU nurse said that it can take anywhere between 8 minutes and 100 days to remove the ventilator - so I guess we are one of the lucky ones!

Thanks again for all your kind support - I also hope all the other "May 28 ers" are doing ok. You are all in our thoughts and we are so grateful for your support.

 

[COLLEEN S]

Dear God, this is for Alan B and his family. May you be with them and Alan B. in this difficult time. Amen.

 

[MissMelis]

I'm hoping your dad continues to improve, Simon - we are all thinking of you. Thanks for keeping us up to date. Hang in there, and remember we are all here for support!

Take care
Melissa

 

[Eva]

Thanks, Simon, for the updates. Hang in there...lots of prayers for your dad, Alan.

 

[briansmom]

thinking about you guys...sounds like he is making progress even though its slower than you want.

 

[tex]

So pleased that your dad has started to improve, and heres hoping he continues, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Take care
With love
Jane

 

[Simon Booker]

Thank you so much

Thank you so much

We are off to see dad now - they are reducing his sedatives this morning to try to wean him off the ventilator again having expanded his lungs overnight. It will be a relief to get him breathing on his own and awake for the first time post-surgery, a real landmark achieved.

I'll update later on how it goes. Thanks for all your support.

Simon