Memory issues

[Lynlw]

Thanks for the info to both of you. I am not a diabetic, I believe his statement was this is cutting edge procedure for them, it is a research hospital so that may be the reason. I guess I'll find out. As far as memory, that is good news. I do know I suffer from sleep apnea and that may have issues with short term memory as well.

I think you might be talking about different things as far as the insulin "pumP" my guess would be your surgery was talking about a type of IV, like they do wih pain meds and not the "insulin pump" that is implanted in diabetics.
FWIW my sn has had 5 OHS, his 2nd one was a very large surgery where they basically rebuilt & rerouted the blood flow thru his heart, so that was a long tough recovery, 6 months in and out of the hospital, etc especially since it was almost 25 years ago, (wow 24 years 2 days ago 10/23/89) and he was an 18 month toddler. But his recoveries for the last 3 in 98, 2005 and 2007 tht were valve or conduit /graft repairs, replacements. each were shorter, (altho he was readmitted with an infection in 07) and I noticed For teMOST part, others who had even the most complex heart surgeries, had better recoveries and out comes each decade.

Most likely for quite a few reasons, the main being surgerns have learned ALOT about REDODs and multiple REDOs from the babies born wth complex heart defects who need 2-3 staged surgical repairs before they are in kindergarden, so know how to avoid or treat the most common problems that go along with multiple REDOds. ndeverything they learned from the children having multipl complex surgeries helped everyone.
Also even for things like memory, they have improved alot of those problems, with things like better filters, rewarming the body slowly, improved drugs, etc.

Saying all that, OHS IS surgery and every surgery has risks, so d what you can to have the best chances of a great out come, make sure surgeon and staff have experience with what you need, follow your instructions etc and g into surgery in the best shape you can.

Sorry wated to add I agree with JK's post above
"I'm not sure that is accurate about the more active you are, the less likely to get extra years from your valve. Actually I don't think that is the case.
You may wish to check with your surgeon/cardiologist.
Mine both advised me being active would not compromise longevity of my valve."

My son is very young and active and we were told the same and most people I see here are also told the same as far as tissue valve and activity not effecting it. Probably the thing that mostplays a part in how long tissue valves last would be te pateins age.

 

[Luana]

Thanks for the info to both of you. I am not a diabetic, I believe his statement was this is cutting edge procedure for them, it is a research hospital so that may be the reason. I guess I'll find out. As far as memory, that is good news. I do know I suffer from sleep apnea and that may have issues with short term memory as well.

I understand that you are not diabetic. All OHS patients are given insulin post surgery, nothing new about that. Insulin pumps are expensive, not sure if they can be reused from one patient to another. Providing an new one for each post surgical patient does not sound cost effective or practical when injections would work just fine. I don't know why they consider it so cutting edge. For type 1 diabetics, pumps are a God send, but it's not like the pancreas stops working after OHS; blood sugar is high from the stress of the surgery. It just sounds totally senseless to me, and not at all cutting edge, but a big additional expense your ins company may possibly decline.

 

[Guyswell]

Hi Tom,

I had my second AVR surgery on July 3rd of this year and it was easier than the first time. Like you, I received a tissue valve the first time (I was 41 years old at the time) and had a conduit placed in my ascending aorta. The tissue valve calcified after only 8 years, so my surgeon and I agreed that a mechanical valve made the most sense this time. Since we really don't know why the first valve calcified so quicky, we had to assume my body would do the same again if I had another tissue valve. So far, the Coumadin has been no big deal. I assume my second recovery was easier because we didn't have to mess with the aorta this time and we opened my chest through the same scars. I figure fewer nerves were cut this time. I have not detected any cognitive issues from the second surgery.

On another note, my Dad and his family were from Hays.

 

[TomAlbers]

Thanks for the information Guyswell. My first went very well, but I was very soar. Went back to teaching full time in four weeks. Hope it goes as well this time. Ask you dad if the term "hase"America sounds familiar.

Luana, when I go in for heart cath I will get to meet surgeon for first time. Sounds like I need to get more information. I might have totally misunderstood my cardiologist. I was still somewhat hung up on the news that I needed another surgery. There was definitely a shock value. You have given me some good info to ask the head Fred.
Good stuff to know, thanks. As far as insurance goes, hoping and praying workman's comp comes through.

 

[OldManEmu]

Luana I wasn't given insulin after either of my surgeries; however after the second surgery they kept testing my blood glucose levels regularly for the first couple of days post surgery. I wasn't diabetic so I asked them why I was being tested and I was told my blood glucose was a bit above normal, then the blood tests stopped with no explanation so I asked why no more blood tests, and was told my blood glucose level was normal. I can't recall this happening after my first surgery other than a single test when I was admitted for surgery to check if I was an undiagnosed diabetic. May be there was a change in protocol in the almost 7 years between surgery.
Tom I tend to ask the cardio more questions than the surgeon, as the cardio is the one that manages the patient day to day. The surgeon does the surgery, however doesn't usually deal with the ongoing issues associated to managing the patient long term. It is the long term issues I focus on as if I have survived surgery this is what I am most concerned about.

 

[Jkm7]

OldManEmu,
There was a change in protocol at Mass General for OHS patients between December 2003 and March 2008. My first OHS, same as you, my blood glucose was tested upon admission, was normal and never mentioned to me again.

My second OHS, my blood glucose was again tested upon admission, was normal, but the three or so days post op was continually tested and I am told I was given insulin once or twice but I have no memory of that. After they tested me several times in a row and it was normal, they stopped testing.

I was told in the intervening years between my surgeries they learned the administering of insulin rather than letting the body adjust on its own is helpful to healing. Apparently they are seeing better healing with close control of blood glucose.

 

[carolinemc]

TomAlbers, glad to have you back. I was 8 years for firrst bypass, repair on the aoritc valve. The second was 26 years later in 2001. My experience was pump head and I still suffer from time to time. But I am type 2 diabetic, on the pill, so they may not do insilin on me, but others who have been diagnosed with diabletes yet. The surgery can throw someone who is destined, genetically for diabetes, into that world, which is what happened to me. What I have learned is that they test the patient before surgery and after. Hug for today. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Luana]

Luana, when I go in for heart cath I will get to meet surgeon for first time. Sounds like I need to get more information. I might have totally misunderstood my cardiologist. I was still somewhat hung up on the news that I needed another surgery. There was definitely a shock value. You have given me some good info to ask the head Fred.
Good stuff to know, thanks. As far as insurance goes, hoping and praying workman's comp comes through.

Maybe you misunderstood or maybe he misstated, but just seems like an insulin pump is like using a machine gun to kill a fly. No doubt you will get insulin, I just doubt the pump.

Workers' comp for VR surgery? That's a new one, too.

 

[TomAlbers]

Oldmanemu, thanks for the post. I do not believe I had insulin for my first surgery either. I obviously have to do more research and ask more questions. I will email cardiologist questions and get more information. i do have a brother who is a diabetic, and my mom is as well, but only requires taking a pill daily.

Thanks for the information, carolinemc. In regards to pump head, do you have any idea on ways to prevent or help recover? That is a concern. I have talked to more than one person that had ohs and have symptoms.

Luana, long story but workman comp was involved in first surgery, partial payment of my expenses. I was coaching football, got cleated in practice by a player as I was teaching a drill. Ended up with blood clot, while in hospital for blood clot, contracted staph in hospital. Staph attacked aortic valve and I needed surgery 6 years later. Now, almost 13 years later from surgery probably won't be allowed to use it. But worth a try as ultimately this is a by product of the original staph.

 

[Lynlw]

Maybe you misunderstood or maybe he misstated, but just seems like an insulin pump is like using a machine gun to kill a fly. No doubt you will get insulin, I just doubt the pump.

Workers' comp for VR surgery? That's a new one, too.

Its possible, or probably they arent talking about the pump that is implanted for some diabetics (my brother has one) but most likely they are talking about an IV, like pain meds etc that some call pump