Jerry-Post Surgery Day 2 & 3

[chastecl]

Jerry-Post Surgery Day 2 & 3

Thank you all for your well wishes to Jerry!

I avoided the computer last night after repeated urgings from everyone to get some rest. Jerry still isn?t sleeping for very long at a time, about 5 hours last night, so he?s getting a sleeping pill tonight. Otherwise, day 2 and 3 have been pretty uneventful and he continues to gain more energy. The remainder of the tubes were removed yesterday morning and he is making 3-4 laps around the unit about 6 times a day. The removal of the drainage tubes gave him immediate relief from the pressure he felt in his chest which he described as feeling like there was a bowling ball in there. Back and shoulder pain from the ribs being spread open during surgery had to be relieved by a pain pill last night. Today it was better and Advil was all he needed. He has not had any pain associated with the incision or his sternum, so far. Dr. Zehr said yesterday that Jerry may go home tomorrow if his Echo looks good. I was surprised (and a little nervous) that it would be so soon! Ross, Jerry and I enjoyed your response to my fear that he would trip over his catheter tube when trying to get back to bed the night before last.

After I left the hospital tonight to have dinner with friends, Jerry noticed his monitor was showing that his heartbeat was rapid (135) and his blood pressure was up, so in panic, he called for his nurse. He had been in the bathroom trying to accomplish one of the final requirements for his release tomorrow and had evidently strained too hard. The nurse tried to calm him saying this was normal and his heart was just beating fast but warned him he could possibly faint from the straining and shouldn?t do it again. She assured him that he was still maintaining a steady heart rhythm and gave him oxygen for a little while until he calmed down. It was also time for his next beta blocker pill and she said that would also help slow his heart rate and lower his blood pressure. When I asked him if he felt anything strange going on with his heart before he noticed the monitor, he said ?no, the monitor reading just didn?t look right?. He also said his nurse told him not to watch it any more and turned it away from him.

So, I guess we?ll find out in the morning whether Jerry?s still on for his release tomorrow. I know he really wants to be home, but I?d feel better knowing all the plumbing is functioning correctly first.

More later,

 

[Ross]

Ross, Jerry and I enjoyed your response to my fear that he would trip over his catheter tube when trying to get back to bed the night before last.

I spoke from experience! That is definitely not one of the favorite things to do while in the hospital. Tell him I said to relax now. The fast heart rate and B.P. rise are normal. Mine went nuts as soon as I was moved to rehab. I don't remember my heart rate, I know it was extemely fast, but the B.P. went sky high. This prompted my nurse to get the Doctor on the phone (In the middle of the night mind you) and get some immediate medication to bring it down fast.

I look forward to seeing him post when he's up to it. It's all a matter of recovery and not overdoing it now. Thanks for keeping us updated.

 

[Guest]

Re: Jerry-Post Surgery Day 2 & 3

Back and shoulder pain from the ribs being spread open during surgery had to be relieved by a pain pill last night. Today it was better and Advil was all he needed.

He had been in the bathroom trying to accomplish one of the final requirements for his release tomorrow and had evidently strained too hard.

So, I guess we?ll find out in the morning whether Jerry?s still on for his release tomorrow. I know he really wants to be home, but I?d feel better knowing all the plumbing is functioning correctly first.

First...and foremost...good to know that Jerry is on the way to recovery .

Second...about Advil...I was told NOT to take that medication anymore...believe it had something to do with ibuprofin's affect on the heart, etc.....

Third...I remember trying to urinate to get the final "approval" for release to go home. I concentrated so hard to get that accomplished...I couldn't go...and that was scary, especially when being threatened with having to stay in the hospital longer.... But, luckily, I got it done "on time" .

Fourth...good luck with the release tomorrow .

Peace...Always,
Cort S, pig's valve & pacemaker-enhanced 29/swm
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[hensylee]

Carol - coming home today? Well, good for him - and you, too. It's always easier to get better at home in all the familiar surroundings. Relaxation is better at home, too. Jerry will get there, but tell him not to try to rush it. Best thoughts for you both. God bless

 

[Jennie]

Hi Carol,

Thanks for the update! It sounds like Jerry's doing great, other than these couple little bumps.

My heartbeat was pretty fast in general after my surgery. I remember waking up to the surgeon and his crew, from a deep sleep, with my heart rate over 90, and he asked me what I was anxious about. I told him, this is as relaxed as I get! I wonder if the fast heart rate had anything to do with being anemic; it was soon after that that they ordered up the transfusion for me. My theory (don't know if it's right or not) was that there wasn't enough red blood cells in circulation, and that my heart had to pump faster to get the job done. The morning after my transfusion, my heartbeat was about 10 bpm lower.

I thought it was kinda funny that the nurse had to move the monitor so Jerry couldn't see! I got so I was pretty good at looking up and reading them upside down! It is scary to not know what is going on, to not know what is "normal". When I got my echo after surgery, I was looking at the monitors, interested to see how they would be different from all my previous echos. It really freaked me out when I saw some regurgitation, and the doctor kept looking and looking, and she wouldn't tell me what was going on. Later I found out she was looking at my mitral valve. Really had me in a severe panic there for a while. I hope Jerry's echo is perfect!

Anyway, they won't release him until they are satisfied that everything is okay. And really, there's no hurry! Even if he gets out Tuesday, he'll be ahead of most of us...!

Hang in there. Glad you got some rest.

-Jennie

 

[John Cochran]

Sounds like Jerry's doing fine. Little bouts of anxiety in the days right after surgery are normal, and those will pass as Jerry heals and gets the surgical drugs worked out of his system.

Keep us posted! Oh, you should also know that a recent study showed that Advil (ibuprophen) tends to block the anti-clotting benefits of aspirin.

--John

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi carol!
so glad to hear that jerry is doing well and may be coming home (or is home by now).
the difficulty sleeping is very normal. i remember joey taking a zillion naps every day and sleeping only 3 hours at a time at night. (kinda reminded me of our babies_ the worst sleepers!!!)
sounds like jerry is recovering in a very typical manner. please tell him to take it easy and not rush into too much too soon.
being home is so much more comfortable and relaxing.
wishing jerry a continued smooth recovery.
all the best, sylvia