Been for pre-op tests today

[Gemma]

Well, sorry if this is a bit long-winded but we've learned a lot today!
I went with Jim for his pre-op tests today. I have to say to anyone in North West England, the Cardiothoracic Centre at Broadgreen (Liverpool) is like a well-oiled machine, no waiting round (for the patient at least - I had to wait with Jim's mum while he had some tests done - X-ray, ECG, spirograph, blood samples etc). The surgeon and another member of his team spent a long time talking with us about what options were open and any concerns we may have, then the nurse practioner checked him over too and explained a bit more about the practical side of what would be happening in the hospital. She also very kindly said if we have any questions at all we just need to phone and ask.
The surgeon prefers the Bicarbon valve made by Sorin, but I don't think it's the strange sounding one off the CarboMedics clicking comparison site that we were worried about! He showed us a valve and also a pig one - also explained the Ross procedure but felt this wasn't the best option - as he said, why mess with 2 valves when only one's a problem?
Pretty sure it's the slimline version that Jim will be getting, and apparently there's never been a case of this valve failing. Also according to the nurse the surgeon is great at needlework, so we're expecting a nice neat scar once it heals
All being well, Jim's expected to be in hospital for 5-7 days, and he was happy to find out that motorbiking and mountain biking won't be a problem once he's recovered, as long as he doesn't get any injuries which would be complicated by being on warfarin. Think motorbikes were a sore point actually - the surgeon's assistant had his stolen last night...
Jim's checking in on Wednesday afternoon and his surgery is scheduled for Thursday lunchtime. So hopefully this time next week he (and I) will be feeling a lot better.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey GemmaJ,
Sounds like you guys have it all in order. I hope everything goes well for Jim. Please keep us posted on how things are going. You both will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Take Care

Dave
____________________________
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical

 

[Nancy]

Hi Gemma-

Sounds like you're both ready to go for it! Glad you liked the surgeon. Sounds like a nice man and expert at what he does. Jim will be well taken care of.

Take care,

 

[Karlynn]

Gemma,
We'll be thinking of you and Jim on Thursday. My prayers are with you both.

Karlynn

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Gemma

Please keep us posted----we all wish you guys the very best. You will be in my prayers shortly.

Evelyn

 

[JAMES W]

Ready To Go

Ready To Go

Gemma & Jim

The waitng is about over....That's the hardest part !!!..Wishing you a perfect op and short recovery period...Be well my friends...

 

[Kenny F]

Gemma

It seems you are facing a good situation. I certainly does help raise the spirits when an organization not only works efficiently but actually cares for the patient.

You will be in my prayers.

 

[Gemma]

Thanks everybody,
Kenny - unfortunately it seems they're so busy caring for everybody else in ICU that there isn't a bed free for Jim after his op at the moment. So it's been postponed til December 9th. Got all the way to the hospital bed before we found this out!!!!!!!
Gemma (& Jim- still at home!).

 

[Gemma]

Calmed down a bit now...

Calmed down a bit now...

Hi there, just thought I should update you all on what happened on Wednesday.
Jim's mum phoned the hospital as requested in the morning (11.20 ish) to check his bed was free - they said it was and they were all ready for him. Spent the next couple of hours trying not to think about it - didn't work! We arrived at about 2.15, battled to find a car parking space, finally made it to the ward and were sent to a bed. Noticed a few beds were empty and also that Jim was the youngest there by a good 40 years!
Then a man (doctor/registrar, he didn't actually introduce himself now I think about it!) came over and said "I'm very sorry to be the one who has to tell you this". Now I instantly thought it was going to be something they found in the pre-op tests and that Jim couldn't have the operation because of that. But no! Apparently there's a backlog in the ICU and some people are taking longer to recover than they thought as they're a bit poorly. So they've had to reschedule some ops from earlier this week to allow the ill people more time to get out of the beds, and Jim and one other "well" person have been sent home to wait a bit longer. Apparently December is a bit quieter so they're hoping it should all go ahead on Dec 9th. From the calendar it looks like he's in good company - going to be a busy week!
The strange thing is the surgeon's PA allegedly tried to phone at around 11.30 and couldn't get through. The phone was not in use at all at that time.
Feeling a bit like I've got all the way to the top of the rollercoaster, looked down, seen the drop, been ready to hang on, only to find there's another mile of track to go before the big dipper. Can't decide if I should be happy, angry, upset, or what.
Fingers crossed for no more changes of plan - don't think I could handle it! Suppose the moral of the story is you should never expect anything to go according to plan.
Gemma

 

[fisher6476]

Hi Gemma

Hi Gemma

I go in on the 5th of Dec. and I have thought about how frustrating it would be to have a last minute change of plans. So I know a little about how you are feeling. BUT their is not much we can do about those things, so if you can, relax a little, and try to enjoy the time. I guess one of the things we can be thankful about is that a lot of us did not get rushed through on an emergency basis, and that has given us some precious time to learn a little more and love a little more. I hope the best for both of you. Tell Jim I'm happy to have him as a "Decemeber Buddy"

 

[Kenny F]

How frustrating! I can't imagine riding that rollercoaster.

I was first case (of 3) for my surgeon. Becasue mine took so long (homograft, and they had to go get one from another hospital) he ended up canceling #3. I have felt sooo bad ever since. Some poor guy (or gal) waited all day on a gurney only to be told to come back.

But, anything can happen. I waited 6 extra hours in SICU for a floor bed.

You'll get in yet!

 

[Nancy]

Hi Gemma-

That's the most frustrating! Well, I put the change on the calendar. That's a very lucky day. Jim's got lots of company that day.

Chin up and take care.

 

[medtronic of borg]

waiting is the pitts

waiting is the pitts

on my last surg. I was all ready even shaved from stem to stern. When a nurse look in my mouth...she saw all four of my wisdom teeth were still in and impacted. I never knew it was a problem. So they stopped the surg. Had them pulled and had to wait two very long weeks while being pumped full of antibiotics. Then they did the surgery.

Med

 

[Gemma]

Thanks for all your replies
Nancy - thank you for putting Jim on the calendar. Should point out he's my boyfriend though and not my husband - don't want him to get a shock if he looks on the calendar!!! Doesn't make me worry any less just because we're not married unfortunately.
Kenny - I'm sure the 3rd person from the day of your surgery doesn't hold any grudges towards you for taking so long - Jim's response when he found out he had to be postponed was that there were people who needed surgery more urgently than him and as he was well enough to wait a couple of weeks, so be it. I'm sure the person who had to be put back because of you felt the same and would rather wait for top-rate treatment than be squeezed in and rushed at the end of the day. Sounds like that's what you got and I'm sure they'll be treated with equal care.
I'll keep you all posted on what's happening with Jim.
Gemma.

 

[Heather Fisher]

How frustrating for both of you. Those things do happen. I spent my entire hospitalization in the ICU as there was not a floor bed. The rooms in ICU did not have a bathroom so after the catheter was out I had to walk to the unit next door to use the visitor bathroom. I would then have to report to the nurses how much I had gone. These do make good stories after surgery though. Best of luck to you. Hopefully this will be the only problem you have with the surgery.

Heather

 

[stephuk]

good luck

good luck

hi gemma , im sorry about what happened , i live in liverpool and my g/f had a mitral vavle repair done on 16th september in CTC.
what is the name of Jim's surgoen adn how is he holding up.
i know its hard but keep yr chin up hun.

 

[Gemma]

Jim's surgeon is Mr Pullan. He reckons he operates on someone around Jim's age every 6 months so I guess if he operated on Steph as well that means he's done twice as many as usual. (6 years age gap presumably puts them in the same age bracket?).
Seems very confident and knows what he's talking about, also the nurse we saw on Jim's ward said he's usually very punctual... so the cancellation was a bit of a surprise to them all...
Hopefully Jim will be back out of ICU and in the main ward when Steph goes in to visit her surgeon on 11th Dec. Hope all goes well for her.
Gemma

 

[stephuk]

different surgeon

different surgeon

hi again gemma. no it was mr fabri that done steph's op. but am sure there all as good as each other. ctc has an excellent reputation. so am sure he's in good hands. its steph's birthday on the 10th but we will be thinking of you both hope all go's well let us know how he is all the best julie and steph