Mamsram update!

[Nancy]

Welcome home, Ram-

You did beautifully and it's all about slowly recovering now. So happy for you that it's done and over. It's just great to see your post.

 

[mamsram]

THE DECISION

THE DECISION

Thanks everyone for the greetings. I'd like to respond to some of your posts and for those not mentioned, I appreciate hearing from you and will respond to any specific inquiries to my experiance.

Ross and Nancy, who seem to be a big part of the backbone of valve replacement--thanks for enabling me to be so well prepared for this trauma.

Hensey, is Rain always right???? (our Rain) I'm up early, can"t sleep for long periods.

Georgia, yes surgery seems to be going good maybe we are on a roll. hope so!

Heather, resting isn"t easy but letting others do for me seems to come natural.

Betty, the staff at Brigham and Women hospital took great care of me.

Sylvia, I can do all but rest, that is difficult.

Karen, its not reeeeeal easy, but the mental part(mind makes it worse than it is) knowledge, acceptance, familiarity, letting go, is an important way toward the goal--good health--acceptable quality of life.

Rain, I used that hug you gave me after my first throat tickle that brought on a coughing fit. GOd it was awful!(I need a bottle of rain)

Johnny-Les They may have been unrecognised symptoms but now its a moot point But this sword hanging by a thin strand of thread is no longer there AND THAT WAS A LOAD its removal brings a big sigh of relief.

At my appointment following my 6 mnth echo I sensed a change in the way my cardiologist was talking to me. He said to me"we have passed from the severe to the critical stage." "Its time for surgery" well, he coud have dumped a bucket of ice water over my head and shocked me less(reality hits home)
I said,"O.K. what do you want me to do? whats the next step?"
He said," I want to set up an appointment for you to see the surgeon" " When?" "Can you see him this afternoon?" "This Afternoon?" "yes, you should have the surgery soon" "you mean within the next 6 months?" "no, soon" "what is soon?" "Three weeks" GOD I thought I can't stand this, but I have to put my decisions in his hands, and I accepted my fate.
"I would have liked to wait until spring, I really feel pretty good"
"I know you are asymptomatic, but you have to be aware that with that opening down to .6c.m. your first sympton could be sudden death." I made the decision that moment---no turning back! And that was the first page of the next chapter in my life.

stay cool keep smilin I think I worked up a nap time,I hope bye-bye

 

[Ross]

It'll probably take you quite a while yet to be able to sleep. I never have gotten fully back into the sleep thing. I'm fine for 2 or 3 hours, then I'm up for at least that long before the next succombing round of sleepiness hits. Good luck on this situation and as always, keep us posted.,

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Mr. Ram

Hi Mr. Ram

You let Miss Mam take good care of you..Everything she says to do..You say..Yes Mam Are you walking around the house a lot.....Walking helps get the nasty stuff out of you.... How's the Vermont weather? Raining here today. Keep us posted. Bonnie

 

[Rain]

?Right as Rain?...

?Right as Rain?...

I?m so happy you were able to put my big hug to good use. I?m sending you another one for backup. Feel free to use it at any time. I keep a few in stock just for my good friends.

I almost cried when I read about your cardio telling you it was time for surgery.... Wow, that was a day I?ll never forget. (the day I was told) It?s amazing I made it back home on those snowy mountain roads that day... whew.

Nice hearing from you, RAM. Take special care of yourself.

 

[medtronic of borg]

speedy

speedy

The fastest I have gone in and had surgery was "NOW" they started the surgery in ER. That was no fun. I couldn't get them all to stop and explain what was going on before I was put out. I found out afterwords. CRAZZZZy

Med

 

[tommy]

Ram,

It's great to hear from you. I hope and pray that you will feel better than yourself in short order. Relief that it's over. Hope and anticipation of the future.

Slow and steady. No sudden moves. Breath, walk, nap.

 

[Jennie]

Hey Ram!

I'm SOOO glad to see you are home with all that surgery stuff behind you! Wait til Spring?? Naah, by Spring you will be out jogging and enjoying the flowers and enjoying life!! I am so happy that this thing is in the past. Take it easy now, take it slow, take it one day at a time, and roll with the punches. You'll get through all this. Wonderful to see your face again!

Jennie

 

[MelissaM]

Glad to hear you are recovering well and are busy descending the mountain. It is a big one!

Enjoy your recovery - it is over too soon and then back to the real world.

 

[Gisele]

Ram

Ram

I am so sorry I haven't posted sooner. I was trying so much to keep busy so I wouldn't dwell on my condition that I really wasn't keeping up with the boards.

So you made record timing at B & W's 'eh? Wow, I am impressed, you weren't in too much of a rush to get out of there now were you?

I am so glad that you are doing well. Please continue to get better quickly. You know one of these days we might have a date to go skiing in NH!

My cath and valve replacement is next week at NEMC. Hope they kick me out as quickly as B&W did you.....................

 

[mamsram]

HI GUYS

HI GUYS

AM up early as usual, although am sleeping later and later. I have progressed to the point that I feel almost normal for the first 5/6 hrs of the day then the uneasiness and the ache all over feeling creeps in and a pain near my right shoulder blade and a kink in the right side of my neck. The motrum takes care of that shortly. I did not need any narcotics, is that good?? Now I want to know When am I out of the woods?

Hey, Rain, thanks, its in my pocket for whenever

Med, that sure don't sound like a lot of fun!!

Yes Tom I would say slow and steady is definately the way to go.

HI JEN ,I don't know about jogging( I love to take country strolls) But I will enjoy life--I love the spring----In all of lifes difficult parts, I roll with the punches --keep smilin

Miss Mellisa, Enjoy your recovery?? Yeah when I reach the final stage and am back to who I really am.
hey, caught that Helen Keller thing, she your hero? inspiration? Whenever I think of that woman I am struck with awe by what she overcame. Make the world a better place, be the beautiful person that you are no holding back.

Hey Gisele, nice to hear from you, I do hope that NEMC takes good care of you and your op. results in ASTOUNDING RESULTS.
Do you get used to pain or are you just one tough frenchie??
Does Cranmore Mt. sound O.K. for the skiing date? May God be with you.

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Ram

Hi Ram

Do you have one of those little wooden massage things..get wife to rub your shoulders and back. Neighbor came over a few days after I came home. Laid on my back and she put lotion on it and rubbed with that little wooden thing. Felt so good...but it only helped for a day..you will have that back, shoulder pain for a few weeks. just be careful and don't reach out with your arms..Ouch Takes a long time to heal...but you had the minor cut ? Maybe you will heal quicker. Ask Betty...Bonnie

 

[Lorraine]

Hi Ram,

Sorry I didn't get a chance to write sooner.

Congratulations on your successful surgery! Record time? This is wonderful! Isn't it good to have that part over with! Now you REST, BREATHEe and WALK, WALK, and WALK some more.

Take one day at a time and before you know it you'll be able to sleep for longer periods of time and more comfortably. I'm sure you'll have a speedy recovery! Glad to see you on the other side of the mountain!

Now that the surgery part is over.....Remember........."Here I go.......Turn the page! " Now you have your new life! You'll be able to take those strolls in Spring with no fatigue! Keep us posted on your progress!

 

[Jennie]

Hey Ram,

How about a little Tylenol to help with the achiness? That seemed to help for me. Or a massage? I never actually got there after my surgery, but there is a place near me who does "in-chair" massages for people with medical conditions. Treat yourself for once!!

Take it easy!
JEn

 

[Georgia]

Ram, you need upper back and neck massage several times a DAY - regardless of the kind of pain killers I was taking that upper back pain broke through. Nipped it in the bud by having hubby massage morning noon and night and didn't wait for it to get stiff and sore. Shoulder blades also hurt.

If you feel like you're getting down - don't hesitate to call your doc. Post cardiac operative depression is so common that some professionals think everyone should be on an antidepressive afterwards. Don't wait to get help if things look black.

Take care and stay in touch.

 

[epstns]

Ram, Sorry I've not joined in here, but I was away for a while. I knew you would do just fine, as you were one of the best prepared patients I've seen here. I can only hope that when my chance comes I'll be as comfortable with my choices and have as good a result.

I'd have to agree with the others -- feel good but let nature take its time. When you feel like doing something (I mean "really" feel like it. . . ) give it a try, but as with any other surgery you will learn to recognize your limits.

Welcome back, glad it's done, more glad it's going well!