Debbi in WV, back from Cleveland Clinic with answers!

[perkicar]

Yippee!

Yippee!

It'll be here before you know it. I'm glad you had such a positive experience at the Clinic. What surgeon are you considering (or going to use, I guess!) Cleveland really is an amazing place. The surgery was truly not anywhere near as awful as I expected it to be. The thing that worried me the most (waking up on the ventilator) was a non-event--other than my mouth was horribly dry and it made me nuts to not be able to talk. And my care up on the floor was wonderful. Try to get a private room--it's extra $$ but well worth it. I got one because it was what they had open and it was so nice not to have to share. When they open the new heart hospital it will be all private rooms. I was on G-100 after my surgery.

Enjoy these 9 weeks--you'll be amazed at how quickly the time passes. I can hardly believe it's been a year since I went up there for my big work up.

 

[barbwil]

Debbie, you special ed teachers belong to a great group. We recently ran into an old acquaintance who said he is now teaching a special ed class and I asked him how he liked it. (He was formerly a high school principal.) He said, "I come home every day with a smile on my face; what does that tell you? I love it!!"

Glad you have a family group lined up to be with you, not only for your sake but so they can keep each other from going crazy during the long hours while you are in surgery! All we patients have to do is lie on the table in la-la-land; I would like to have been able to see the whole thing. Wierd, heh??

I know most of the folks swear by a recliner but I tried it one night and the next night I kicked my daughter out of my bed, back to the guest room. I was happier propped up with pillows supporting my chest and abdomen. But we each have to find what works best for us. I did use the recliner some during the day so I could have my legs up when I sat up.

God bless, Barb

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Yippee!

Yippee!

I am so excited to hear about the ventilator experience. Trust me, that is my biggest fear of all. Hearing that it is a 'non-event' is fantastic news to me. How was the anxiety when you woke up? That is worrying me too. Were you sick? What were you aware of when you woke up? How long did it take you to realize you had crossed 'the mountain' and life was good? Were you heavily drugged or drugged enough to feel any pain? What was the hardest thing for you? Dr. Stewart has suggested a Dr. Pedderson, Peterson, Patterson, etc. to be the surgeon. I should find out today if I actually am scheduled with him. Back to the ventilator, how long before it was removed? Well, I had better get going. I need to call Cleveland again. Dr. Stewart told me to call on Tuesdsay if I still hadn't heard from him. Tuesday it is. Thanks so much for your positive thoughts.!!! Debbi


icar]It'll be here before you know it. I'm glad you had such a positive experience at the Clinic. What surgeon are you considering (or going to use, I guess!) Cleveland really is an amazing place. The surgery was truly not anywhere near as awful as I expected it to be. The thing that worried me the most (waking up on the ventilator) was a non-event--other than my mouth was horribly dry and it made me nuts to not be able to talk. And my care up on the floor was wonderful. Try to get a private room--it's extra $$ but well worth it. I got one because it was what they had open and it was so nice not to have to share. When they open the new heart hospital it will be all private rooms. I was on G-100 after my surgery.

Enjoy these 9 weeks--you'll be amazed at how quickly the time passes. I can hardly believe it's been a year since I went up there for my big work up.[/QUOTE]

 

[barbwil]

Dr Pettersson

Dr Pettersson

Hi Debbie,

Gosta Pettersson was my surgeon; I liked him very much. You will only see him for a pre-surgery interview and then he will come to check on you the day after your surgery. After that his fellows and nurses will see you. He spent plenty of time answering our questions in his office, brought up my actual heart cath. on his computer. Here is his bio:

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/staff/getstaff.asp?StaffId=3006

My cardiologist sent me to see him specifically, thinks he is great.

God bless, Barb

 

[RCB]

Ditto

Ditto

On Dr. Pettersson!

 

[perkicar]

I am so excited to hear about the ventilator experience. Trust me, that is my biggest fear of all. Hearing that it is a 'non-event' is fantastic news to me.
***It was my biggest fear too!!!!****
How was the anxiety when you woke up? That is worrying me too.
My first memory of being awake was around 3:30 pm, I'd imagine I was awake before that but don't remember. Two techs came and gave me a bath before my family came in to see me. That was very odd, and for me as a nurse very enlightening with regards to how my patients feel when they're intubated, unable to communicate and having things done to them (like baths!)
Were you sick? Never! But (knock on wood) I've NEVER gotten sick with anesthesia.
What were you aware of when you woke up?
My mouth felt like the Sahara desert! I kept trying to get them to sponge it out but they wouldn't as long as I was on the vent.
How long did it take you to realize you had crossed 'the mountain' and life was good? I think as soon as I woke up and had the tube out, which was around 5 pm that night. They let me have ice chips to suck on and they were the most wonderful thiing I'd had in my entire life LOL.
Were you heavily drugged or drugged enough to feel any pain?
I don't recall any unbearable pain, not compared to having my belly split in half to have my spleen removed! They were giving me morphine and then gave me torodol, which for me actually gave more comfort (and less side effects) than the morphine.
What was the hardest thing for you? Hmmmm, being patient while I got better. I had a pericardial effusion a week after I was discharged and had to be re-admitted. I went up there to see my cardiologist and he took one look at me and my echo and told my brother they were going to be keeping me for a few days. I felt so crappy then I didn't really care. Getting over the effusion and getting my strength and energy back took alot longer than I'd expected, and there were times I was fed up with the whole process. But fortunately this group was here to bounce questions off of, and to just vent, which helped tremendously.