Hi All, I did my AVR on the 27th, and got the On-X valve via Mini Sternotomy. This forum has been a source of information, strength and hope for me. In short, my surgery went well, and recovery has been excellent so far. I spent exactly 4 days i the hospital and today is the 6th day since surgery and i am recovering at home nicely (just took my first 1 mile walk outside). For anyone interested in the gory details, here is a detailed account of my experience.
Day 1- Started about 530 AM. I was shaved from neck down and then taken to the OR. I barely spent 3 mins in the OR awake when the anesthesiologist gave me the cocktail. After that I was waking up in a room with breathing tube down my throat(as warned). Even though I was prepared for it, it was tough. I kept asking to take it out and they wanted me to breathe on my own. Problem was anesthesia, I would breathe for sometime and then lose consciousness and then the tube would kick in and reset my clock. I almost gagged one time and that hurt because ur neck and chest are very sore.
Anyway after the breathing tube was out, things were better. I had pain and stiffness, but tolerable. Worst was when they move you to ur side.
One big tip: ask for pain medication before pain gets bad...they will u that. But also plan any major maneuvers after pain med has kicked in.
I took the more serious med at night to sleep. Still they come and draw blood every hour, frm an IV line, which doesn't hurt, but wakes you.
My only other bad incident was when the nurse made the room really cool because it was running hot. It became really cool, and next time she turned me , the combination of lack of pain med and cool room, gave me shivers. It took 5 mins to settle down but those hurt. Again if she had give me my dosage before moving me, I would have been fine.
They do take very good care of you in the ICU.
You have lots of tubes and wires sticking out but that didnt scare me. Although the chest drainage tube is the worst and causes pain.
By early morning hours I got a sponge bath and was told I'm doing OK and they sat me up in a chair. It was not bad at all and they took good care of me while moving me. Again I took meds in advance so it helped.
So far in less than 24 hours, I was feeling OK and they told me they would start removing various tubes and move me to the step down unit. The chest drainage tube takes ur breath away for a brief 2 seconds, and it won't immediately feel better, but it eventually starts to feel better. I was taken for a small walk too and all those are milestones to leave the ICU, which I did by noon. They removed a lot of the stuff hanging off me, and left a couple. None of that hurts BTW.
Day 2 - almost 24 hrs after surgery im out of the ICU and transferred to a step down unit. I sit here on a chair for extended periods of time. Couple of walks....which because of cold corridors and almost no clothing, ended up in shivers that are not comfortable. So I started walking with a warm blanket. I seem to get chills 1-2 times a day. Once in the night when suddenly the room temp drops or at least my body feels that way.
I also have been getting insulin, potassium and manganese supplements, which seem normal. I've had a fever too which comes and goes.
My mechanical valve though, has been pretty quiet. I only heard it in bed late at night... Otherwise I can't tell that I have something in my body that ticks.
Sleeping has been a bit of an issue. They bother u a lot...blood draws, and vitals etc etc..plus main med wears off...so u need to plan ur sleep.
My urinary catheter was out in the morning. It's strange how soon your body forgets how to pee. It took me a while to be able to do that, but after the first time, it was easier and easier.
Day 3 : Things are better and progressing. Pain level is better and I am able to walk more and more in the hospital. Now I always take a warm blanket around me. My biggest problem is still bowel movement. Eating all my meals(small) but it doesn’t move. I am having all the relevant meds to clear the stomach, but nothing helps. By evening I start to notice that my pain level has gone down. I am now almost able to come out of bed and climb into to without too much pain or help. I am taking multiple walks during the day and spend my time sitting.
Day 4: My friends visit in the morning and keep me company for a few hours. Change of conversation helps and also this is the day pain levels drop significantly. You feel much better overall. My bowel movement is still not happening and I finally have to take a suppository. Don't know why I was scared of it, it turned out to be real easy, and did the trick. That makes you feel so much better and its another milestone. I am now being told, tomorrow I may go home. Night goes the same way. I'm hot and cold every few hours and interruptions from nurses to check my vitals or other stuff keeps happening. They did give me an Ambien again to sleep and it does help.
Day 5: Things move quickly in the morning. Surgeons assistant comes by and takes out my pacer wires. He tells me my lungs have cleared pretty much and I'm going home soon. Nurse takes my final IV line Out and now I'm totally wire free. I am handed my instructions and medication list and pretty much sent home before lunch.
If anyone has specific questions, about my experience or in general, please don't hesitate to ask. I would love to help anyone about to go through this. I myself will be asking more questions about what to expect in the future.
Thanks
Pankaj
Day 1- Started about 530 AM. I was shaved from neck down and then taken to the OR. I barely spent 3 mins in the OR awake when the anesthesiologist gave me the cocktail. After that I was waking up in a room with breathing tube down my throat(as warned). Even though I was prepared for it, it was tough. I kept asking to take it out and they wanted me to breathe on my own. Problem was anesthesia, I would breathe for sometime and then lose consciousness and then the tube would kick in and reset my clock. I almost gagged one time and that hurt because ur neck and chest are very sore.
Anyway after the breathing tube was out, things were better. I had pain and stiffness, but tolerable. Worst was when they move you to ur side.
One big tip: ask for pain medication before pain gets bad...they will u that. But also plan any major maneuvers after pain med has kicked in.
I took the more serious med at night to sleep. Still they come and draw blood every hour, frm an IV line, which doesn't hurt, but wakes you.
My only other bad incident was when the nurse made the room really cool because it was running hot. It became really cool, and next time she turned me , the combination of lack of pain med and cool room, gave me shivers. It took 5 mins to settle down but those hurt. Again if she had give me my dosage before moving me, I would have been fine.
They do take very good care of you in the ICU.
You have lots of tubes and wires sticking out but that didnt scare me. Although the chest drainage tube is the worst and causes pain.
By early morning hours I got a sponge bath and was told I'm doing OK and they sat me up in a chair. It was not bad at all and they took good care of me while moving me. Again I took meds in advance so it helped.
So far in less than 24 hours, I was feeling OK and they told me they would start removing various tubes and move me to the step down unit. The chest drainage tube takes ur breath away for a brief 2 seconds, and it won't immediately feel better, but it eventually starts to feel better. I was taken for a small walk too and all those are milestones to leave the ICU, which I did by noon. They removed a lot of the stuff hanging off me, and left a couple. None of that hurts BTW.
Day 2 - almost 24 hrs after surgery im out of the ICU and transferred to a step down unit. I sit here on a chair for extended periods of time. Couple of walks....which because of cold corridors and almost no clothing, ended up in shivers that are not comfortable. So I started walking with a warm blanket. I seem to get chills 1-2 times a day. Once in the night when suddenly the room temp drops or at least my body feels that way.
I also have been getting insulin, potassium and manganese supplements, which seem normal. I've had a fever too which comes and goes.
My mechanical valve though, has been pretty quiet. I only heard it in bed late at night... Otherwise I can't tell that I have something in my body that ticks.
Sleeping has been a bit of an issue. They bother u a lot...blood draws, and vitals etc etc..plus main med wears off...so u need to plan ur sleep.
My urinary catheter was out in the morning. It's strange how soon your body forgets how to pee. It took me a while to be able to do that, but after the first time, it was easier and easier.
Day 3 : Things are better and progressing. Pain level is better and I am able to walk more and more in the hospital. Now I always take a warm blanket around me. My biggest problem is still bowel movement. Eating all my meals(small) but it doesn’t move. I am having all the relevant meds to clear the stomach, but nothing helps. By evening I start to notice that my pain level has gone down. I am now almost able to come out of bed and climb into to without too much pain or help. I am taking multiple walks during the day and spend my time sitting.
Day 4: My friends visit in the morning and keep me company for a few hours. Change of conversation helps and also this is the day pain levels drop significantly. You feel much better overall. My bowel movement is still not happening and I finally have to take a suppository. Don't know why I was scared of it, it turned out to be real easy, and did the trick. That makes you feel so much better and its another milestone. I am now being told, tomorrow I may go home. Night goes the same way. I'm hot and cold every few hours and interruptions from nurses to check my vitals or other stuff keeps happening. They did give me an Ambien again to sleep and it does help.
Day 5: Things move quickly in the morning. Surgeons assistant comes by and takes out my pacer wires. He tells me my lungs have cleared pretty much and I'm going home soon. Nurse takes my final IV line Out and now I'm totally wire free. I am handed my instructions and medication list and pretty much sent home before lunch.
If anyone has specific questions, about my experience or in general, please don't hesitate to ask. I would love to help anyone about to go through this. I myself will be asking more questions about what to expect in the future.
Thanks
Pankaj
