Day of Discharge after surgery?

[Christina L]

Hi everyone,

I am three weeks out from mitral valve repair/replacement (can you hear my teeth chattering?).

We live in Colorado and my surgery will be done in Cleveland by Dr. Cosgrove.

I just spoke with Jeanne, Dr. Cosgrove's assistant, and she said that I could leave for home (Colorado) the day after discharge.

I forgot to ask her, but assume that a person is discharged on the 5th postoperative day, if there are no complications.

Is this universal? Any Cleveland people out there (Melissa) who can help me out here.

We are in the process of getting plane tickets and need to have some dates lined up. My surgery is scheduled for November 5th. Any suggestions on a good day to fly back to Colorado (again, assuming all goes well with the surgery)?

I am SO excited to know that we can come home so soon and not have to stay in an impersonal hotel for several days.

Thanks!
Chris

 

[weekycat]

Hi Christina L

I'm not sure I would schedule the flight for the day after discharge. Before my mitral valve repair surgery, I was told I would be in the hospital 4-5 days. Well... I ended up staying for 8. There were no major complications, but I did need to be on an external pacemaker for a couple of days, so was not able to get up and around as soon as they wanted me to, and they wanted me to do more rehab before I left. Also, I needed to be on Coumadin for a few weeks following repair, (because of the annuloplasty ring ), and they wouldn't let me out until they got the Coumadin regulated.

Hopefully, others will be along who have had their surgeries farther from home, and may be able to help you with when to schedule your flight.

 

[Kevin M]

I think you would be more comfortable if you give it a few days after you get out of the hospital.

On the other hand, being at home is the most comfortable place to recover.

You don't need the worry about wondering exactly when you will be discharged and how it affects your travel plans.

Everyone is different I suppose. After my first op, I picked up an infection and was stuck in their for three weeks. After my second one, I was released after 4 days, but I couldn't imagine having to deal with extensive travel so soon.

I'm sure Melissa and some of the others would be better experienced in this area.
Kev

 

[Johnny Stephens]

I think you should plan on a couple of days getting your strength back before trying to deal with the commotion of an airport. Even if things go textbook perfect, you will be very tired and have minimal reserve.

Don't set yourself up for a stresspoint right after surgery if something were to come up that would require you to delay returning. If plans change, relax and roll with it.

 

[Ross]

Keep an open window Chris, don't try to make a firm date on tickets. I really don't think your going to be in any shape to jump out of the hospital and right on to an aircraft. Give yourself 2 or 3 days after discharge to see if your really ready to attempt it. Your going to be very weak and tired and perhaps a little emotionally turbulent. Now if your flying on your own personal business aircraft, that's a whole different thing.

 

[hensylee]

No fly home date. Talk to the airlines and they will let you have an open date, I am sure. Each person's hospital stay is up to the doctor and the patient's condition. At discharge you are weak and rubbery-legged (never mind being sore and in some pain). Not a good thing to be at the airport. Give it a bit of time. Everybody is right.

 

[Christina L]

thanks

thanks

Thanks everyone.

When Jeanne (Dr. Cosgrove's assistant) told me most people go home the day after they are discharged, I just took that statement and ran with it!

After talking with Melissa on the phone and reading all of your posts, the advice is overwhelmingly for me to stay in Cleveland at least two days post discharge.

I know I need to be ready for "whatever" during my time in Cleveland and learn to roll with the punches. I just want this all to be over with and I know it will be soon enough, but to think that a month from now, the surgery will be over and I will be mending (God willing) and home - that is hard to comprehend.

Chris

 

[Nancy]

Hi Christina-

I think you're about as ready as you'll ever be. You sound much better than when you first arrived here on the scene, more relaxed and looking toward the future.

 

[ccrawford]

Hi Christina - I echo the group. Don't push the trip home. I got out of the hospital after 4 1/2 days, and decided to do a little shopping trip with my daughter on the way home. She has a sports car with stiff suspension, and I was very sorry I went for a joy ride. Give it a few days to heal, and then go very slow. Home Sweet Home will still be there for you, and it will feel so nice. My very best wishes - Chris

 

[Christina L]

artificially calm?

artificially calm?

As for me sounding a lot calmer, that could be the Ativan talking.

However, acceptance is setting in and resolve - to get through this and come out on the other side stronger.

Chris

 

[Ross]

Hey ya lady, it's like I told you before. You'll be jumpy until you get there and get signed in. Once that is done, for some reason peace settles over you. You will do fine young Jedi.

 

[hensylee]

ativan. Well, at least you are probly gettin a bit of sleep to get you through. Right on.

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi christina!
i'm glad that the end of the wait is in sight for you. before you know it, nov.5th will be here and then pass.
ross is right, it's normal to be nervous, shaky, etc before the surgery. once you get there (even the day before sometimes) you just kind of give in to it all.
all the others also had great suggestions about staying put for a few days after the surgery_ just to be sure. also, you do need to gain some strength first before tackling your trip home.
please keep coming back and we'll keep you company while you wait.
wishing you all the best, sylvia

 

[Granbonny]

Chris

Chris

I would book a nice hotel room with recliner..and good room service. Maybe refrigerator for juices...On bottom floor. Less time from hospital to room the better. Let hubby wait on your for 3 days. Then book flight.Have your pill organizer and let hubby fill it for you. You will need a good clock to watch time for pills. Take the pain meds.. Don't forget to walk around room and then down the hotel hallway..Breathe and nap. Bonnie

 

[FredH]

Had surgery at Cleveland & lived in Hawaii

Had surgery at Cleveland & lived in Hawaii

Hi Christina L,
I had my surgery done at Cleveland while I was living in Hawaii. I know Hawaii is a longer plane ride but I would give you at least 8-9 days before scheduling the return flight. I had some complication but even after I was discharged it was nice to sit around the hotel and get my self back together before getting on the plane. I stayed at the inn and had a small kitchen area so I could have some home cooked meals. Make sure you try the deli next to the inn it is cheap and quite good if you like that type of food. (try it before your surgery). I had a-fib and they didn?t have enough rooms on the regular surgery floor and KEEP ME in ICU way to long. Make sure you discuss with them that you don't want to stay in ICU and longer than necessary. It really slows down your recovery and it is a nightmare. The nurses are really great at Cleveland. They are well qualified and concerned about the patients. Also some times (not in my case) it may take a couple of days before your surgery so give your self some slack time for that. Again I erroded on the side of more time and it worked out quite well. Who ever comes with you will be quite busy as Cleveland gives them classes every day you are their on how to help you after the surgery. Overall I think you will be quite pleased with Cleveland and you certainly have picked on of the top surgeons. By the way there is NOTHING around Cleveland Clinic but bad neighborhoods and boarded up buildings. Plan on pretty well staying within the clinic complex. If you have any further question let me know.

Good Luck

Fred
[email protected]

 

[MelissaM]

By the way there is NOTHING around Cleveland Clinic but bad neighborhoods and boarded up buildings. Plan on pretty well staying within the clinic complex. If you have any further question let me know.

Gosh, Fred. . .were we at the same clinic? I had a great time in the surrounding neighborhood. Walked down to Little Italy, where they were celebrating the Feast of the Assumption with a street fair - had some great Italian food. Then walked down to the University Circle park, where there are beautiful statues surrounding a little pond where children were feeding the ducks. Within that block there was the Cleveland Art Museum, Cleveland Museum of Modern Art, the Children's Museum (which my nephew loved), and the Botanical Gardens.

Funny how we went the same place and had such a different experience.

Melissa

 

[Ross]

You walked around in that area and didn't get umm, some undesireable act carried out upon your persons? You really must be magical.

 

[MelissaM]

Inorance. Is Bliss. . . .

 

[ALCapshaw2]

WHOA Christina !

I second the recommendation of staying a few extra days in a room that has a RECLINER.

I had my surgery 100 miles from my home. The surgeon kept me for 7 or 8 days because I went into A-fib and was sent back to ICU and just to let me get more stable before having to travel home. Even then, they cautioned me to STOP every hour and walk around for a few minutes before proceeding to PREVENT BLOODCLOTS. I expect the walk every hour advice also applies to flying.

'AL'

 

[hensylee]

When flying, whether sick or not, every passenger needs to get up and move around a bit every hour or so to prevent clots in legs. So all y'all who fly over the pond or on several hours' flights, take note. Wouldn't want y'all to get into trouble.