Hi everyone. I'm finally back! Sorry about the delay. As the wifey reported, things went very well. I was scheduled for 7:30am and got bumped to 1:00pm due to a transplant that was scheduled at the last minute. I arrived at 5:30am, got pre-registered, got some prepping and did a lot of waiting. They give me some Versed at about 11:30am and that's the last thing I remember until I woke up in ICU from the surgery. That stuff works GOOD! My wife tells me the surgeon reported to her that the surgery 'couldn't have gone anymore perfect'. Once I woke, I did have a problem with the vent tube. I do remember it although everything is fuzzy. I remember how I felt myself struggling with it and wanting to clear my throat so bad, but I can't remember seeing anything. My memory then goes out and drifts back waking in my regular room. I actually wasn't too uncomfortable initially and was walking and eating fairly quickly. by Day 2, I was doing very well to the amazement of the staff and surgeon. They said I was WAY ahead of schedule. But Day 3 things started getting rough for me from constipation. My bowels were still asleep and I started getting bad palpitations and a bounding pulse. The rate was about 100 resting and 130 walking. On top of that, I wasn't getting a bit of sleep and it was catching up to me in light of the bloating and weakness. That morning, I tried to shower and made things worse. I added wet and freezing to my misery LOL! My wife came up and I attended the discharge class which lasted two hours. I almost asked to leave the class and was worried I wouldn't be able to get back to my room on my own. I got back to the room and started getting crabby with everyone including my wife. I told her she should just go and come back later. I begged my cardiologist to give me something for my palps because they were really bothering me and preventing me from sleeping. He finally agreed to a mild beta-blocker. He explained that while I was not having an irregular heartbeat but rather a normal rhythm with palps, the beta-blockers would fix the palps. Finally in the afternoon on that Day 3, the nurse brought me my salvation; two magical pills consisting of a laxative and the beta-blocker. Shortly after I took them...well, let's just say I had a very blissful moment. It was SOOOO good and such a relief! The palps and bounding pulse disappeared for good also. Within 3 hours of sending the wife home, I felt nearly as good, if not better, then before the surgery. A complete 180 form the morning. I even switched from the hospital clothes to my own lounge pants and T-shirts. I was feeling great, except I still had the chest tubes, Foley cath, temp pacemaker wires and Heparin IV attached to me. All but the Hep come out the following day. A little uncomfortable , but quick and certainly worth it. I was told that I could be released at that point; just 4 days after surgery, but I wouldn't be due to the necessity for the Heparin from of the Coumadin levels not being up to the correct levels. For the next two days, I pretty much lounged around and waiting for the blood levels. WIth the exception of that one morning, some sleeping problems (I was waking with major sinus headaches), the whole ordeal went MUCH smoother than I drempt. I got home at 2pm and first thing I did was crawl in my nice COMFORTABLE bed and snoozed for three hours. I've been awake since and piddling around the house. I am having a hard time remembering not to pick things up, but my wife is helping me. Other than that, so far Day 1 at home has gone well, but I expect some tough days down the road (especially tomorrow). Sorry for rambling on and on, but I thought maybe the story may interest some others. I feel I've left soooo much out, but I'm sure I'll rehash soon enough. Thanks again for all your wisdom and support. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING could've prepared me better than your words. I'll keep you posted, and will still have many more questions as I start my road to recovery.
Darren
