Made it through 3rd AVR

[OldGeezerWNC]

Congrats K, I'm a new guy to the site but I enjoy looking and learning. I go in next Tuesday for the dual caths, then I'm scheduled for the AVR using a St.Jude on Weds. Along with possibly a couple more bypasses. I read with a lot of interest about your: "hallucinations, delusions and the like." When I went through my first quintuple bypass it was the same. Really weird stuff too. When I was finally semi awake I was so afraid of the blinking lights off in the distance they had to keep the curtains drawn at night. The first 2 days I was 1000% positive they had moved me into a mop and broom closet in the basement. I am trying to have good thoughts and stay positive. To keep me out of the mop closet at least. So you were alone. Me either! Thanks for relating that. Best wishes for a good recovery. I'll be following in your footsteps. Rick in Western NC

 

[njean]

So glad to know that you are at home & recovering after your 3rd OHS. I pray you continue to do well for many years to come!

Take care of yourself!

 

[ctyguy]

Great to see you posting. Sounds like you had a hell of a time but you've battled valiantly. Here is to boring and completely predicatable full recovery. Best of luck to you.

 

[dick0236]

Kev. Welcome back.

Hopefully, the St. Jude will last a long, long time.

My experience with a mechanical valve is that it will not interfere with a normal lifestyle. My only advice is to learn about warfarin and take warfarin as prescribed and test on a frequent basis.

 

[james]

I really hope this is the last time you have to go through with this. Welcome back.

 

[Plumber1]

Nothing quite like sleeping in your own home! The third surgery sounds rough you have some kind of pluck making it through all of that!

All the best.

 

[neil]

kev welcome back,take it easy

 

[njean]

So glad to hear that you made it thru your 3rd AVR Kev. I can totally relate to the 36 lbs of fluid retention prior to your surgery. That's exactly the way I was just before my 2nd OHS in 1975. Everything I tried to eat or drink, would come back up. Terrible, terrible feeling. The old saying, "been to Hell & Back" is an understatement.

I pray you continue to do well & stay healthly. They say the 3rd time's the charm.....let's pray that is true!

 

[art]

Welcome home Kev enjoy your new life
ps my sister inlaw lives in Edmonton
cold cold cold

 

[Johan]

Welcome back for the 3rd time Kev. Sorry about all the bumps but hopefully it will now be downhill.

 

[Ross]

Well, I made it. They replaced the Stented Pig Valve with a St. Jude.
They redid my Bentall procedure and tightened up the MVR and Tricuspid when they were in there also.

12 hours under the knife. Had a tough time coming out of it. Had operation last Thurs; came to on Sunday. Awful stuff. ..... hallucinations, delusions and the like. I did not know where I was or even what year it was. I was quite frightened. I finally came around last Sunday and then improved very quickly over last week. They finally sent me home Dec 4 and being at home is far more wonderous and fantastic than it ever was after my other procedures.

I had a few pre-op complications. Went for a TEE a couple of weeks prior to the operation and they said, "you won't survive surgery due to CHF, so we are admitting you now". Needless to say, I am a little tired of hospital food now. I was throwing up everything. Lost 36 lbs of fluid in 15 days....I know, that sounds crazy and it was/is.

This was by-far my most difficult surgery and I am so thankful to be alive and enjoying what is now amounting to a quick recovery.

I want to thank all you for your support and with the questions about edema and other things pre-op.

I feel so thankful to be alive and on the road back to health. Good thoughts fill every moment. I'm not a religious person, but I now truly know what it is to feel blessed.

Thank you all for your kind wishes, prayers and thoughts. I intend to continue to do the same for others.

Kev

You see things a bit differently when it's a real kick in the pants huh?

You now understand what I keep trying to tell everyone, some times in vane, what can happen. Sorry that you had to endure it also, but you know what? It'll make you a better person because of it. Now, take time to enjoy the sunrising and setting, the birds, the trees and everything around you.

 

[river-wear]

You now understand what I keep trying to tell everyone, some times in vane, what can happen. Sorry that you had to endure it also, but you know what? It'll make you a better person because of it. Now, take time to enjoy the sunrising and setting, the birds, the trees and everything around you.

This site goes a long way toward accomplishing that. I've been having a rough week and could get pretty depressed, but reading about other people's journey here makes me realize how lucky I am. So, it's still a rough week, but I have more perspective. Thank you - to Ross, and the founder of the site (whose name escapes me at the moment: Hank Eyring), and to everyone else willing to share their stories.

Michele