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Mentu

Premium Level User
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2008
Messages
1,309
Location
My surgery was performed at Oklahoma Heart Institu
Hi, everyone! As you have all told me, the day has come when I woke this morning to find that I felt really well for the first time in a long time. This evening I am tuckered out again but I know I will feel even better tomorrow. For those of you waiting for surgery, this is the good day that will come for you also.

Instead of the saga, here is a brief recount of what I remember of this week. It was a dark and stormy night....on Monday and I didn't sleep at all but instead just lay in the dark and listened to some of my favorite music. Tuesday I was up at 04:00 and at the hospital by 05:10 where someone was actually expecting me which seemed a good start. Prep took a couple of hours with two repeats of the hundred favorite questions asked of heart surgery patients and the fur removal by two very entertaining ladies and then it was off the coldest room this side of Antarctica. A moment later, I woke with a respirator and a really fuzzy brain. Dr Spann, my surgeon, told me later that things were almost exactly as he expected and that surgery went very well. He lost his bet with the cardiologist, however, because my valve was tricuspid just in very bad shape. As we had discussed, he removed it and replaced it with the Carpentier-Edwards Bio-prosthetic. Also as agreed, he used a set of three sternal talons to close my sternum and left me with an inventory of 3 drains, 2 pacing wires, 2 Iv lines and a catheter in the neck along with a couple of additional holds no doubt necessary for symetry.

I only remember snatches of Tuesday in the ICU although I do remember the removal of the ventilator that evening. I don't remember when the bear appeared by I know he was there by the time the respirator was removed. Wednesday was just a series of wakings getting a little less fuzzy each time and finally near midnight they had decided my kidneys were, indeed, working again and I got moved to my room. Yesterday morning I woke up feeling ok but activity through the day left me really spent and they were still checking blood glucose evey hour through last night which made sleeping a little bit of a challenge. Thursday was eating, exercising and sleeping. I tried to read and gave it up as hopeless. Walking left me winded and I was quite tired by bed time.

Today, however, I woke up clear headed and I felt really really good for the first time in a long while. I walked more with less exhaustion and have had several friends stop by and, finally, got my internet connection back so I can communicate with the world. Like the rest of you I have been sucking on the spirometer and marveling at being able to do things without wobbling. I've still got one drain so I only had a spong bath today but tomorrow I am going for the shower as soon as the last tube is removed. I have to say that life feels good tonight.

With respect to the sternal talons, for those of you interested in them, I had some real chest discomfort in the ICU when I coughed up something a lot like a furball that was disgusting enough it would have done any Tonkinese proud. I definately used the bear. Since being moved to my recovery room, the ribs beneath my left shoulder blade have been far more uncomfortable than my chest. I don't have any sense of motion in my chest and even coughing is only mildly uncomfortable. Tonight, I am steady on my feet and I have walked 2000 feet today in 4 outings. Pain meds, which I am happy to have, were down today to one in the morning and one in the afternoon and now one at bedtime. And speaking of bedtime, I need to be moving in that direction now.

I have spent the past two days telling everyone here what wonderful people you all are and that they should send their other patients to VR so they won't be alone during one of the scariest times of their lives.

The Bear says, good night.
 
Hello Mentu!

Welcome to the other side of the mountain! I was so glad to read your post and thank you for the 'play by play' on the past few days. I got a good feel for what is to come :).

Take good care of yourself and one day at a time. Wishing you a continued smooth recovery. Hope you have a good sleep.

Best wishes,
 
So glad to hear from you!

So glad to hear from you!

It was great to see your update:)! Congrats on the successful surgery and wishing you a continued smooth recovery. You sound like you are doing great. Can't wait to read that you are on your way home and looking forward to reading your future updates.

Nadine
 
Congratulations!! Well done!!!

I did laugh out loud when you said that the operating room was "the coldest room this side of Antarctica"!! :p I, too, remember watching my foot end of the heavy bed push those big doors open (very dramatic!) and that blast of cold as we entered the room.

Keep up the good work!!

Best wishes.

Marguerite
 
So happy to hear you are doing well. Nice detailed post...I loved it!

I'll pray for your continued progress and looking forward to hearing the details.

God bless,
Lori
 
Hurray!

Welcome to the other side. I am impressed at how witty your great post was so soon after surgery.

I'm very happy to see you through it and now for some healing!
 
Glad to see you back. I thank you for your post...im 2 weeks away, and that helped alot. Have a speedy recovery.
 
Mentu:

So glad to see your post! I had wondered how you were doing.

Know what you mean about the cold OR areas. I don't remember much about the OR when I had my MVR; however, I remember the frigid holding area when John had his MV repair. The nurses were wearing blankets tied around their shoulders and waists!
 
Mentu,
I'm glad to hear your surgery went so well. Good luck on a smooth recovery.

Chris
 
Great to hear from you Mentu. Looks like we both made it through fairly well. I am amazed at how articulate you were at just 4 days. I am now at day 8 and still struggling with focus, texting, etc... I may get my post-surg up by tomorrow.

Welcome back !!!
 

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