Been a long time

[Nancy]

Re: Scarier posts

Re: Scarier posts

When you are new to this site, reading a lot of posts can be a real scare trigger. There are many. many uncomplicated medical situations which resolve fast and never have compromising things happen.

Then there are the others which have varying degrees of complications. The "sexier" ones (I like that Bill).

Read what you can handle at first. Eventually, it will be easier to read them all.

The most important thing to know is that some people here or their loved ones have done some real battling with serious medical conditions and because of wonderful medical advances and great medical care, they've been able to survive.

Not everyone will have problems after surgery. But in reading about those, it raises your awareness of the conditions that could happen, and can help you to recognize problems and get help for them before they become critical.

Being aware of every aspect of the medical problems you are faced with will help you to become a strong advocate for good and proper medical care.

Medical ignorance is not bliss. But information has to be digested in small bites at first.

If one person is helped by reading about someone else's symptoms, that's a wonderful thing. Joe and I used to be so much in the dark about what was happening to him, it was a detriment to his health. Exhaustive research and reading everything possible about his various problems has helped him to be able to survive this long. Some of the things scare me too.

Just take it one step at a time, but do yourself a favor by persevering in your studies about yourself.

Be aware and be safe.

 

[BillC]

Hi Kevin,

I notice that you are in Houston, which I also where I live and where I had my AVR. Who is your cardio? Have you given any thought to hospitals or surgeons?

My surgery was quick and went without a hitch. No real complications of any kind. My surgeon was David Ott. He's part of Denton Cooley's team at the Texas Heart Institute (at St. Luke's).

In my opinion (3 years post-surgery), that guy is the absolute best-of-the-best that there is for AVR surgery.... and St. Luke's is a top-notch state-of-the-art facility.

Anyway, if you'd like to chat further about anything from another Houstonian, feel free to pm or email me.

Hang in there ..

Bill Clifford

 

[Susan BAV]

Hello everyone - This is a very encouraging thread; what a lot of helpful and informed people! And Bill: when I had my coaractation repair, noone thought to tell me about the possibility of waking up while the ventilator was still in; in fact I was so young (nearly 18) and uninformed, I couldn't imagine why I couldn't make a sound when I woke up. (And I was in terrible pain.) My hands were tied down but my feet weren't so I kept kicking at everything and eventually a nurse who realized I was awake. That was an experience I would like to never repeat! By the way, I had a (bothersome) drain below my left ribs for that surgery, where the surgical incision starts along my left upper ribs and circles up around my back. Does anyone know if you have to have a drain when the surgeon goes through the front? ~Susan

 

[Nancy]

Hi Susan-

There are always drains after surgery of one kind or another. Just a fact of life. They are incomfortable. Everyone feels 100 percent better when they are finally pulled.

Drains are a good thing, you don't want all that gunk rolling around in your insides do 'ya?

 

[chilihead]

Hey Chris,

You sound like my kind of guy. I took off work last Friday to work on my rent houses since my wife is expecting in less than 2 weeks and I'm trying to get things in order.

It's been up to 109 degrees here in Texas. I scraped and painted the outside of a house, painted the inside completely, and laid some ceramic tile all in one day. I never stopped to eat and paidd for it on Saturday. Fortunately, I recovered at a chili cookoff!

It's good to hear that you can stil go hard after your surgery. Very inspiring!

Take care,

Jim Johnson
Due for AVR this winter(if not sooner)

 

[JAMES W]

Kevin

Kevin

Kevin...

I had my AVR 01-31-03. I was asymptomatic before the surgery, but decided that recovery would be easier going feelin' good that bad! A great decision....I went back to work half days 3 - weeks post AVR. My co-workers and family were just amazed at my determination and stamina. Hindsight....3 weeks was too soon...This is major surgery man !...If you can afford the time off..take it!....I've been a work-aholic all my life and did not recognize that this was serious surgery....I read some have taken 3-4 months off to recouperate...Am jealous....You alone will know how your body feels and listen to it...rest...nap...walk...

Good luck brother...

JAMES W
AVR/Root placement - Porcine 23mm
St Als RMC - Boise-Id 01-31-03
Drs Forbes-Marks

 

[Birky]

drain tubes

drain tubes

Susan, I had drain tubes after surgery with going through the sternum. 2 of them but they were taken out before leaving ICU. I do not remember being on a ventilator. I was taken off this in Recovery and by the time I got to ICU it was gone. I was expecting to wake up with it. I guess I was awake in recovery but they give you some kind of drug that you do not remember anything and this is good. Same thing they gave me for the TEE.
I had 2 knee surgeries and they were more painful than this surgery. The hospital takes good care of you and makes sure that you are comfortable. I look down at my chest and I still can't believe that it is all over and I got through it. Waiting is the worst part. Good luck

 

[Peggy in Alaska]

Hey Chris:

If you have those websites you mentioned re: risks of surgery, if you could send them to me that would be great.

I don't know if it will have much re: Ebsteins. I did get a website from someone somewhere about Ebsteins and the surgery involved.

I feel kind of left out here sometimes because you all have different valves affected than I do. Sometimes I find myself thinking, if only I had MVP or Aortic Stenosis instead of Ebsteins. It is so rare. They see it and treat it in infants, but us adults who sneak by for 40 some years without a diagnosis. . . we are the difficult ones! This timing of surgery sounds crucial and I am not in a position to run to my cardio's office on a quick basis because I feel my symptoms are worsening.

Bummer, Bummer.