Almost Time

[jane v]

I want to thank all of you for your words of advice and encouragement. I go in on Monday for my cath and spend the night. I have an evening out planned for tonight with my husband, kids activities tomorrow and family gathering(thankfully I am not hosting)for Mothers day. Are there anylast items to bring with me??
I will have my husband Roland post after surgery.
Thanks, jane v

 

[Marguerite53]

As to what to bring, I found that 2 extra pillows of my own, very squishy, were very helpful in keeping me comfortable once I got out of ICU. My daughter and husband brought them along to the waiting room and I know they used them to snooze and relax. Then they just kept them in the trunk of the car until I was moved out of ICU. Anyone waiting might want to pack a toothbrush or afew personal items in case they don't want to leave the hospital to freshen up. My family went home each night so didn't need them.

You will be in our thoughts and prayers on Monday!! Have a lovely weekend and stay positive and relaxed -- it will work in your favor if you can do it!!

Good luck and Godspeed!

Marguerite

 

[Phyllis]

Just want to wish you the best and Godspeed. Have a great weekend and we ill be waiting for all good reports on the other side of the mountain.

 

[geebee]

We will be waiting for you on the other side with open arms. Have a great journey.
If you wear glasses, make sure your husband has them for you when the nurses say you can wear them. I wanted to see as soon as I was conscious.
Godspeed.

 

[Karlynn]

We wish you the very best and you'll be in my prayers.

 

[Georgia]

I presume you've checked the exhaustive posts on this board about what to take. I do think that a cd player/ipod/mp3 is invaluable. I found intensive care to be really loud and scary; had my hubby go get me a cd player. I recovered to Mozart; I think my bp went way down. Certainly my stress level did!

Best of luck come Monday. Have a great Mother's Day.

 

[RandyL]

Good Luck and Godspeed

 

[Der Biermeister]

ditto to all the above!

make it a "piece of cake", ok?

 

[Praline]

Good luck.

Good luck.

I will be thinking about you during our moment of silence before class begins at school . See you on this side of the mountain.

 

[marky]

Good luck..
will be praying for you!
I didn't take much of my own stuff, but once I was able to eat my dh did provide me some food. The hospital could not manage my celiac diet..
See ya on this side soon!

 

[jane v]

So Far, So Good

So Far, So Good

Hello all,

This is Jane's husband (Roland) and she asked that I give you all an update on her surgery.

She went in on Tuesday morning and they replaced her mitral valve with a St. Jude valve (as expected). It took about 5 hours and she has been in ICU ever since. They are preparing to move her to a regular room in a couple of hours. They are getting ready to take out the 2nd chest tube, the catheter and the big IV "thingy" in her neck.

They got her out of bed and into a chair yesterday. She walked for about 100 feet and then today for abut 175! The Doctors all say that she is making a very good recovery. I think she looks great and all things considered, she is doing great too. She is in a lot of pain so I doubt that she shares my sentiments on how she is doing.

Thanks to all of you in her on-line community. You have been a great help to her in preparing for this surgery. She appreciates being able to get straight answers from all of you that have been through this. I am also sure that she will come to appreciate your help even more in the coming months as she works through the recovery process.

Roland

p.s. Keep those prayers coming...there are a lot of people out there that need our prayers as they deal with their various heart ailments. Dont forget to include the Doctors and Nurses too! They do amazing work and I'm sure they could use our prayers too.

 

[Phyllis]

Thanks so much for the update Roland. Sounds like she is having a good recovery. Please send her our best wishes and tell her to keep up the good work. Next stop a regular room and then home- we look forward to hearing all about it!

 

[Georgia]

Thanks for taking the time to post, Roland. This is wonderful news. Our surgical goal is pretty much "boring" - nothing exciting, unique or interesting. So I hope the rest of Jane's stay is boring.

 

[geebee]

Roland,
Thanks for letting us know about Jane. Please give her our best.

 

[catwoman]

Roland:

Thanks for the update on your wife. Sounds like things are going well. Let us know when she comes home.

 

[marky]

Great News Roland..
I felt better with each tube removed! Sounds like she is off to a great start!
thanks for the update!

 

[sue943]

Wonderful news.

 

[Marguerite53]

p.s. Keep those prayers coming...there are a lot of people out there that need our prayers as they deal with their various heart ailments. Dont forget to include the Doctors and Nurses too! They do amazing work and I'm sure they could use our prayers too.

Such a lovely thought! How nice of you to add that, Roland!

Thank you for updating us on Jane. Hopefully she won't remember the pain when all is said and done. Frankly, I don't remember ANY of the pain! Like many, I remember being really thirsty and very out of it from the meds and having very gentle, caring hands every day, there to help.

Here's wishing Jane a smooth recovery!!! Best wishes coming her way!

Marguerite

 

[Der Biermeister]

Up walking and tubes coming out -- OH YEAH -- right on schedule and great news! She'll walk a LOT more tomorrow, in fact Roland, it is going to amaze you. I found I just couldn't lay in bed. So I spent my whole days and evenings either in a chair or up and about doing stuff I shouldn't have (like flushing down the toilet some of the hospital food .

Yes - once the tubes are out, you feel a WHOLE lot better.

 

[Praline]

Thank you for the update.

Thank you for the update.

Welcome to this side of the mountain. That is great news. I am ordering a very boring and uneventful recovery with plenty of rest and walking.