I have a date, too.

[jenlynn72]

Hi everyone,

I received the call on Friday that I am scheduled for surgery at Mayo Clinic on Wednesday April 21st. I started to shake, and then I called my husband and told him through my tears. It became very, very real at that point. It became official...no turning back...I know alot of you know what I mean.

I'm feeling better about it today, I know I will be in good hands, I know I have to do this. It's so hard when my friends are having babies and I'm having heart surgery, but I guess you have to play the card you were dealt. I know I will feel so much better when it's all over. Just gotta believe there's a reason we go through what we do.

My husband and I will go up to Minnesota on that Sunday the 18th and be there until I am released from the hospital. He has a laptop so one of us will be able to check in with all of you.

So a couple of questions: Can I get a manicure and pedicure before I go in? I have to admit I am a girly-girl and would like to have my nails painted something cheery like with hearts or something but I heard that they need to see your nail bed, true? What about a french manicure? This is so silly, I know. And no jewelry at all, right? What about a purse?

And the dumbest question of all: I found out today that Madonna is going on tour this summer, is it too soon to see a concert on July 11th in Chicago? I don't think I will be able to sit still so there would probably be some dancing involved.

I will be posting more silly questions as they come to me! Thanks, you can make fun of me now!

 

[Bryan B]

I know my hospital had certain rules on fake nails and stuff, but I would think a good manicure and/or pedicaure would be "just what the doctor ordered" to help relax before surgry.

Congratulations on your date Jenlynn. I got my date less than 3 weeks before the surgery and the time just flew by. And like I've told others...the pre-op day and morning of surgery I was not nearly as nervous as I had been leading up to that time. I had my cath exactly 2 weeks before surgery, a root canal 1 week bofore surgery, and drove home from Nashville to Cary 5 days before surgery. Watched a lot of basketball over the weekend and before you know it, it's pre-op day (which only took about 3hrs). Then the morning of the surgery they shaved me up one side and down the other, got me on a gurnery, and when they started the IV line and started to put the good stuff in I don't remember too much until I woke up from surgeryl

 

[Bryan B]

I'm not into predicting things, but from the time lines you have given I don't see why you wouldn't get to see Madonna. That gives you about 2 1/2 months to get your groove on after the surgery is over.

 

[surfsparky]

Hi Jen,

I think it's great idea to pamper yourself before surgery...you deserve it. My husband had surgery last year at the same age as you and although he didn't get his nails done, he made sure he had his hair cut and face shaved (which is sort of the equivalent to what us girls do!). I don't think I would recommend having your nails painted because I remember when I was having a small operation, at the last moment (in theatre!) they noticed I had a clear nail varnish on and they were scurrying around before my op trying to find polish remover (and that was only for an appendix removal not open heart!). I'd also get your husband to bring your purse in when you're out of I.C.U. You probably won't need it before then. We'll keep you in our prayers...during the lead up to surgery and on the 21st. This time is often filled with mixed emotions - I know Chris was so relieved that he finally had a date, and in some ways couldn't wait for it to happen, but at other times felt anxious and a little scared of what he was about to face. It's a whole lot of emotions.

Take care and pamper yourself lots over the next month, and we look forward to hearing from you on the 'other side'!

Yolanda (Chris' wife)
P.S I also look forward to hearing about the Madonna concert!

 

[SJJ]

Jen,
Congrats on your date, girl! It seems to be a milepost on the climb up the mountain for many of us. You know the one really girly-girl thing I miss most post surgery? Soaking in a big ol' hot bubble bath with water up to my neck. One of my indulgences in life and if you like them too, get the good out of as many as you can before surgery. I've been instucted to forego them for many, many weeks. It's apparently not just to protect the incision site but also to avoid the extra heat which stresses the heart.
Sue

 

[jenlynn72]

thanks

thanks

Hi guys!

Thanks for your replies.

Bryan- Am I supposed to be going to the dentist before my surgery? No one has mentioned it. Did you watch the Lakers & Bucks game on Sunday night? Got my heart going!

Yvonne- I didn't know about even the clear polish on the nails! Okay, so just cleaned, filed and smooth. No color or clear. Got it!

Sue- My friend, you had the most important comment of all! I had no idea I wouldn't be able to take a big, hot bubble bath afterwards!! We just put in a big whirlpool tub so I better get my butt in there alot in the next few weeks!

 

[Raverlaw]

Jen,

I know the roller coaster of emotions you are experiencing now that you have a date and it feels *real*; congratulations may not sound like the right word, but it really is - you're about to embark on a new life.

Go ahead and pamper yourself all you want before surgery. I don't know the rules about nail polish, but ask your surgeon's office. As for what you will need in the hospital, you won't need anything until at least the day after the surgery while you're in ICU. Definitely don't take any jewelry or watches. On day 1 post op, have your husband bring you comfortable slippers to walk in (yes, you will be up walking! ) and a robe to wear. My wife and daughter got a king-sized pillow and decorated the case for Valentine's Day (which was right before my surgery) and brought it to the hospital for me. It was fantastic for holding while coughing (better than the tiny heart pillow they give you) and helped me to sleep on my side by giving me something to hold (takes the pressure off of your sternum).

You might want some reading material by the second or third day post-op, but mostly you will be walking, sitting up in a recliner, resting, and breathing.

By July you will be in top form for that Madonna concert and you can dance all night if you want to!! At your age, you will recover quickly and will be surprised at how good you feel soon after the surgery.

There will be down days and days when you just plain feel crappy, even several weeks after the surgery. But the trend is always better - just take each day as it comes.

I'm glad your husband will post for you - we all want to monitor the progress of our "family" members here as they climb the mountain.

Jen, best of luck to you. My thoughts and prayers will be with you as you countdown to the big day and get *fixed* - feel free to ask any questions you may have - there's a wealth of information and experience here.

 

[Karlynn]

Jen,
What a cute avatar!

Congratulations on getting your date set. You'll do just terrific, I know. Get those Madonna tickets. If by some chance you don't feel up to going, you'd have no problems getting rid of them. But I bet you will feel like going.

Many of us had our doctors recommend dental check-ups prior to surgery. This is a precaution to make sure there's nothing going on in the mouth (cavities, impacted teeth, root problems) that may develop into infection, or require more attention. Even if your doctor didn't recommend it, I'd do it asap, just in case anything does need to get done, you can get it taken care of with time to spare before your surgery.

Best wishes.

 

[Marge]

Jen. Believe me, I know what you are going through. Getting a date makes it real, doesn't it?Almost TOO real.

I was told (by an RN) not to have my nails painted before surgery. Something about they look at your nails to see if you have enough oxygen. (I can't remember the technical details.)

I did get my hair done before going into the hospital -- my hair is short, but I had it cut even shorter than usual, almost in spikes. Not just for the hospital; but for later -- you do not feel like going to the salon for a while after you get home.

No jewelry: of course you won't need any for the surgery or the ICU, and later on, when you are on the ward, you'll have enough IV's and wires and things you don't need anything else impeding you. I HATED to take off my Saint Therese medallion when I went into pre-op but figured she could protect me from afar just as well & didn't need the medallion to do the job.

I packed a duffel with a robe, some scuffs, a book, and a cosmetic case with a few cosmetics, some aloe lotion, a chapstick, and a few other things. Brush. Comb. Etc. (More of less the stuff I'd put in a carry-on for a plane trip.) My husband brought the duffel to me once I was out of ICU and in the step-down unit. I was really glad to have the robe for when I was walking around the ward, as they want you to do post surgery. I got a robe in a size up from my size and we sewed in some velcro patches on the front -- so it was big enough that it went over everything & with the velcro patches it closed easily.

BTW the chapstick (which was, iirc, Nancy's suggestion -- thanks Nancy) was really useful. My lips were very dry after ICU (the breathing tube? or something else? I dunno) and started cracking and I was sooo glad to have the chapstick.

I don't think you need your purse. They don't want you bringing money or even ID. Or anything that might get stolen I did take my iPod so I could have music. I didnt feel much like reading at the hospital, and the TV was just too boring, so I mostly slept or listened to music whenever I wasn't being poked, prodded, or walked around. I know I was taking a chance taking the iPod, but thought it was worth the risk. I tried to remember not to leave it in the room -- the one time I did, one of the techs brought it to me & said, Better to keep it with you.

I would get those tickerts!!!! RIGHT NOW!!!! I think the Madonna concert is just what the doctor ordered. By July 11 you will be almost three months out of surgery. Besides, ordering the tickets before you go into surgery is just what you need to do -- an investment for the future. The day before I went to the hospital, I got on the phone and made our reservations for our trip to Santa Fe this summer. I felt so good that I had done that! I felt I was really saying: Yes, I WILL see the other side of this ole mountain.

 

[Lucidus]

Same Age

Same Age

Hello! I was the exact same age when I had my surgery - 31. That was 18 month ago. Mine was a repair at Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis. great surgeon there! Anyway, I was trekking through Franec and up cathedral steps 4 months after my surgery. Also, they were in extereme shape, but this guy recently ran 7 marathons in 7 days 6 months after heart surgery. The bottom line is if you are pretty healthy going in, you should recover fairly quick. The first few weeks are slower (or were for me) but things went great from there!

I guess I don't know you story well - how come another replacement is in order?

-Tim

 

[Ross]

Jen I'm sorry, I could swear I replied to this thread when it first started. Well I'll sit back and wait a little before sticking my foot in now.

 

[jenlynn72]

Tim,

Hi. Wow, France just 4 months after surgery, that is really inspiring. I don't have CHF or an enlarged heart yet, so I guess I am better off than others going in. That might make for a quicker recovery; I will soon find out!

The mitral valve that I have right now was put in in 1983. It is a Starr- Edwards ball in cage valve. Anyway, it's doing what it should be except there is something blocking the movement. It isn't opening and closing fully and the doctors suspect it is scar tissue. This is creating stenosis and pulmonary hypertension, which is causing shortness of breath, dizziness, panicky feelings, racing heartbeat, etc. So they want to replace it with a shiny new, adult size valve....in exactly 19 days.

Ross, no problem. Add anything whenever you like...manicure tips, your favorite Madonna song

 

[Jennie]

Hi Jen,

I was just reading your profile, and saw that you are gearing up for your surgery soon, almost two years after mine, at Mayo. Wow. Who is your surgeon there? They are a high-class establishment, and they will see you through just fine. Check out my 5/14/02 post "I'm BACK!!" posting, that tells the whole "what to expect" from when I was in there. The first night in ICU was a real drag, then a couple days of feeling lousy, but things got better after that. Nail polish, jewelry, don't even think about it! They won't even let you in there with a body hair, not to mention a germ....! Anything you need they will provide. The only things I really used was a CD player with maybe one CD (listened to it maybe three times for a total of ten minutes each), a notebook and pen to take all sorts of notes (questions, tidbits of info, instructions). I couldv'e really used some floss at one point, but otherwise, you really don't need much. It sounds like you will have a ton of visitors, so when awake you'll be busy, and otherwise, you'll want to be walking or eating or sleeping. The comment about soaking in bubble baths, yes, this is true. Same goes for swimming in public pools this summer. If your sternum gets infected, it is bad bad news.

The comment about how everyone else is having babies.... yes, I felt the same way! But we just need to remember that there is a reason for all this, that this is not a mistake, that there is indeed a good and perfect plan in the works....

Anyway, hang in there. One day at a time. I will be praying for you this coming week, and looking forward to seeing how well you do!

best wishes,
Jennie

 

[KathyH]

Hi Jenn, Congratulations on your date! I pampered myself. Got the nails done and the pedicure done two weeks preop. The nurses kidded me about it during the cardiac cath. They said they appreicated the look!. They did tell me they were suppose to take it off one fingernail but didn't. I did take the polish off my fingers the nite before surgery,The fingeres werestarting to chip at that point anyway. It gave me a boost anyways.
You should be able to go to a concert by JULY. Heck, my niece is in a Miss America pagent April 30, it is 2 hour drive, but I will not miss that for nothing. I will be 4 weeks post op by then.
Waiting is the pits, it is worst than the surgery. I will be thinking of you girly.
Kathy H

 

[RCB]

Jen

Jen

Jen,
Glad you have a date. My card. is a week late getting
back to me about my date and it is driving me crazy. The way I look at it
is the sooner things get done, the sooner you get on with life.
Don't forget to ask your surgeon for your ball and cage
valve back. It kept you alive all these years and is truly your "Badge of Courage". With the valves as good as they
are today, replacing a bad mech valve will be extremely rare, so you will have something very unique!
My second replacement back in 1964 was very easy on me and I think your will be too.
Good Luck and let us know how you are doing.

 

[jenlynn72]

Hi Kathy H! I am so glad to see you are back home and already using your computer!

RCB, I think the surgeons are going to be keeping my valve for research. They are doing a "Growth of the Mitral Valve Annulus Following Mechanical Replacement In Children" study and would probably find it very interesting. I don't think I want it. I do owe the last twenty years to it, though!

Jennie, I sent you a private message. We almost have the exact surgery date at the same hospital! Just two days and two years apart.