Jim climbed over the mountain...

[Gemma]

Ok, sorry Susan Allen for stealing your post-op message title but it's very catchy!
I got into ICU to see Jim at about 4pm yesterday. Ended up compromising with his parents and going between when they and I wanted to go. Was too stressed to drive anyway!
He was still on the ventilator when we got there but awake and they took the tube out about 30 mins after we arrived. Jim seems to have become a comedian:
Me (noticing that he's looking a little uncomfortable): Are you OK?
Jim: My chest aches a bit. (At this point I'm wondering what exactly to say to him considering the giant wound down the middle of it...)
Nurse: Well of course it does it's just been ripped open. (Nice and to the point I thought).
At that point he wasn't on much in the way of painkillers as it happens, and the surgeon had just been to visit - Jim's got a 27mm valve and apparently his own was a right mess - two of the leaflets had fused with a hole between them and the 3rd wasn't big enough to fill the gap so actually it was leaking in two places - and very bluntly said he'd feel like there had "been a donkey kicking round in there tomorrow" Oh the joys of ICU banter...
Of course he then asked for some painkillers, a nurse came and gave him some morphine which she said may make him a little drowsy. Jim's response was (nodding) "ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"
Understatements and stating the obvious seemed to be order of the day..
Oh yeah, he was a bit on the grey side too although I would have described it more as beige - he blended in with the pillows very well!
Anyway, just wanted to let you all know how he's doing, no doubt he'll be a bit more with it when I go in later this morning (alone - think we need a bit of quality time together. Plus he'll probably want to interrogate me about the motorbike bits he's been buying).
Thanks for all your prayers and support, I'm not sure how either of us would have coped over the last few weeks without your words of wisdom.
Gemma
PS Message for stephuk - Happy Birthday! Have a good one

 

[Ross]

That is great news. I hope he continues full speed ahead with recovery. He probably isn't going to be "with it" today, but give it time. The drugs they give you really mess you up.

 

[hensylee]

Congratulations to Jim on his success. Sounds like a 'deep' conversation - cutting edge, you might say! lol

Hope he will be well on his way by today - and probably out of bed for a bit.

 

[Karlynn]

Gemma
Congratulations to Jim! May his recovery be smooth and speedy.

Karlynn

 

[Nancy]

Great news, Gemma. Congratulations to you both. Nice to have surgery in the "past".

I hope his recovery goes very smoothly.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey GemmaJ,
Thanks for the update. Sounds like Jim is on the road to recovery! I hope you are doing OK also. Remind Jim to use the spirometer. Please keep up posted. Let him know that you guys are still in my thoughts and prayers.
Take Care

Dave
______________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical

 

[RickKiem]

Everything sounds great! I will be praying that the rest of Jim's recovery goes just as well!

Rick

 

[Kenny F]

So glad to hear the news! I'm sure all will go according to plan. A few minor inconveniences, a couple days of indignities and Jim will be heading out the door.

 

[catwoman]

Gemma:

Tell Jim he's in my prayers for a very speedy & smooth recovery.

Re: about his chest aching "a bit." Have you asked Jim if he got the license # of the truck that hit him? Oops, I mean the lorry that hit him.

 

[pillarpaul]

Congrats to Jim (and you, Gemma). May you both have calm waters to sail on from here on.

Paul

 

[Georgia]

Thanks for letting us know

Thanks for letting us know

Sounds like Jim's done well. My guess is he won't remember much of that first day in icu.

Keep him breathing and walking; at this point the naps pretty much take care of themselves

Keep in touch.

 

[Christina L]

Such great news, again!! Congratulations Jim for making it over the mountain. Take it slow and easy from here on out and listen to your doctors regarding everything!!

As for your color (Jim) in the ICU, Wayne said I was white and my veins were very visible - nice visual, huh??? Wayne took pictures (not in the ICU mind you, but later) and I STILL will NOT look at those pictures. Maybe in 1-2 years when this is very much a distant memory, then I will look at them.

God continue to bless you, Jim, with a great recovery!

Christina L.

 

[carlapv]

Gemma,
So glad to hear that Jim is doing well. That means you are too. Take care of yourself and let Jim know that we all wish him a smooth recovery.
Carla

 

[Gemma]

What a difference a day makes...

What a difference a day makes...

...24 little hours and Jim's looking almost normal again, although tired as would be expected.
I rang the hospital this morning to see if he was still in ICU to find he had already been transferred to the main ward (he thinks this was about 6.30am). Went in to see him at 2 - I think the rules about visiting are a bit stricter over here, 2-4 and 6-8 is all we get! Before I left this evening he made me promise (3 times - it seems to be true what they say about bypass affecting your memory ) to come and give you all an update.
All the tubes have been taken out, and although the nurses seemed reluctant to let him out of bed, they had little choice as they wanted him to pee, he wanted to, and he couldn't do it in bed! So there you have it - Jim's first walk with his shiny new valve I suspect part of the problem is they are so used to dealing with much older patients, and ones who don't make a fuss. Jim was quite exhausted when he got back from the bathroom but says he can already tell, in spite of his aching chest, how much of an improvement the valve has made to his heart as it doesn't pound like it did before. And his dad took a picture on a digital camera so maybe we'll post it here later in the week for you all to look at (Ross, is that allowed or do you think it'd scare people? He was sitting in a chair and doesn't look like a waxwork anymore!)
Anyhow, think that's all for now. I'm going to print off all your replies and take them into show him tomorrow, I know he'll be so touched that you've all taken the time to check in and see how he's doing.
Bye for now, and I hope anyone else having surgery this week (sorry, sleep deprivation has affected MY memory so I can't name you) manages to miss that truck. Haven't asked Jim if he's got its number yet so no advance warnings I'm afraid!
Gemma

 

[Jan]

Hi Gemma

It is good to hear that Jim is over the mountain

may his recovery be speedy and may he soon be home with you,

Tell him to watch out for the dreaded sneeze !!!

Love to you both

Jan

 

[Nancy]

Gemma-

Everything is going along beautifully. And YOU sound wonderful, very upbeat and that little sense of humor. That's great. I can tell you're so happy that things are OK.

Take care,

 

[JohnB]

Great news, great post, and I hope everything keeps going ...... great.
JohnB

 

[RickKiem]

Jim, keep up the good work! So glad to hear that things are still going smoothly.

Gemma, Thanks to you for keeping us updated. Strange how I worry about people I have never had a chance to meet. I really do though. Keep us posted!

Rick

 

[KathyH]

Glad to hear everything is going well for you! Thanks for keeping us posted.
KathyH.

 

[medtronic of borg]

Great news

Great news

Medtronic of Borg simply smiles, need any thing more be said?
Med