I am back

[Juan P. Negret]

Hello,

I am back! Last June 25 I underwent surgery for a mitral valve. The day before (24) I had a catheterism to check my coronary arteries. I was happy to hear the doctor say "they are superclean". The surgery started at 7 AM and finished by noon. The surgeon (Juan Pablo Umana at the Fundacion Cardioinfantil in Bogota Colombia) later said that the valve was seriously deteriorated, including calcificactions, etc. He said that one more year of waiting, and it would have been beyond repair. Happily, he did his magic and repaired it! My family was told (as a joke?) that he gave it a 45 year-long guarantee!

The extensive repair job disrupted the central electrical node or the electrical pathways near the valve. As a consequence, I developed arrythmias after surgery, and this required to have me hooked up to an external pacer. It was weird to feel the tickling in my stomach from the electrodes, as I imagined sparks flying thu me. Monday (June 29) I was moved to a private room. I was happy to leave the zoombie world of the intensive care unit, but scared of being unhooked to the pacer. In the next days I started to recover some lost sleep and had the first chance to start walking 60 minutes a day. I came home last Thursday (July 2) evening. Happy, but again scared of leaving the safety of the hospital.

Yesterday morning I went to my cardiologist office for an early check-up. Laughing is not good for my chest right now, but I have to tell you the following story: Last Thursday I called my cardiologist from my hospital bed to ask for an appointment. In Spanish, I told him , by mistake, that I was going to be "dado de baja" from the hospital. I should have said "dado de alta". "Dado de baja" means "declared a causalty", while "dado de alta" means "discharged". I think I can claim this slip as due to my long journey thru zoombieland.

Now it's been one and a half days at home, trying to slowly go back to a normal life. I will be looking at the forum for answers to many little questions that I have. This is it for now. Bye,

Juan

 

[Bina]

Welcome home!
It is a big step to leave the security of the hospital, I'm sure you know to rest often.
Yes, laughing does hurt, but it sure helps us emotionally.

 

[halleyg]

Hi Juan,
Glad you are home and everything went well... that is a funny slip-up!
Wishing you a smooth recovery!

 

[netmiff]

Hi Juan - although leaving the security of the hospital is a big step, most of us are happy t get home for some peace and quiet - no nurses checking vitals at all times of the day and night.

Slipups like you made, we say are due to "pumphead" - an affectionate term for the cognitive damage that many experience after having been on the bypass machine. So now you've got an excuse!

Take care - eat, sleep, breathe, walk and repeat until you are recovered

 

[BigOwl]

Glad to hear you're back and that you made it, Juan. May your recovery be less eventful than your surgery! Best wishes on getting better and better.

 

[njean]

Glad to know you're home & on your way to having a good recovery! I hope that you are resting properly & not trying to do too much too soon. And I have to add, "es mejor dado de alta" que de bajo!"

Stay well!

 

[Cris N]

Juan, I'm happy to hear you've made it home - even if it is a bit scary. I remember that feeling quite well. But I guess that, too, is a part of the recovery process. Hope the rest of your recovery is less exciting than the first part. Don't forget to get plenty of rest, breathe, eat, and walk. But don't overdo it - let your body guide you.

 

[Cozycat]

Juan, welcome home and be sure to take full advantage of what anyone wants to do for you. Being tired comes with the surgery you've had and it is so nice to just lay around and be waited on for a few days because life gets back to normal sometimes before you are really ready for it. We all seem to have the same solution to get back to normal--rest, breathe deeply, eat well and walk, walk, walk.

Midge

 

[Ross]

Welcome home and to your new lease on life. Personally, I couldn't wait to get out of that darn hospital. I didn't find any security in being there.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Juan,

I commend you on your Excellent use of the English Language!

I'm curious where / how you learned English.

(You write like someone educated in the USA.)

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Montrealer]

"HOME SWEET HOME"........if i could have i would have kissed the floor....

 

[Juan P. Negret]

Thank you all.
Where can I read more about the pumphead phenomenon?
ALCapshaw2: I studied and worked in the USA for 13 years. I travel often to Urbana Illinois because of my profession.

Juan

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Juan,

You can find links to Keyword "pumphead" by clicking in Search in the Blue Line at the top of the page and typing in "pumphead". Be sure to change the default time period from xx months to "anytime" to include all possible links by scrolling down to the bottom of the "advanced search" box.

Your sentence structure is what caught my eye since sentence struture is different between many if not most languages. Your sentence structure shows excellent comprehension of 'American' (USA) English.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[hall]

Welcome home! Funny story with your cardio Hope you have an uneventful recovery.

 

[Glenda]

That was hilarious! Welcome home and remember what everyone else has told you. Rest, sleep, rest, sleep. And always remember to breathe. Start walking slowly. Don't overdo or you will be so sorry the next day. It's almost like starting over. So glad you made it through surgery and are on the road to recovery. Hugs are coming your way!

 

[Juan P. Negret]

Dear friends,