My surgery date is set!

[mamanordy]

Hello all! Well I found out that my OHS is going to be next Thursday Oct 22 at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati at 7:30 am. I had an angiogram yesterday and they also found I have a blocked right carotid artery, so they will have to fix that also.

I am very nervous, stressed, anxious, etc etc.
I need some words of advice from all who have had this done. I can tell you the one thing I am most scared of is... the heart-lung machine...

Thanks for being here!!

 

[Dorsai]

I can tell you the one thing I am most scared of is... the heart-lung machine...

Thanks for being here!!

Not that it will help much, but you aren't alone; that thing creeps me the hell out. I hear they work pretty well, however.

 

[Danny]

Hello, and good luck with your procedure. I just had OHS Tuesday. Dont even worry about the heart lung machine, your asleep and will never know about it. They gave me Versed before i went into the O.R. and that makes you forget real quick..... Its hard, but getting better by the day, so good luck and try to relax a little. I was just as nervous, and anxious as you if not more...Your almost there. Good luck.

 

[deano89]

good luck i have the same date as you, and yes i am feeling exactly the same been a real emotional rollcoaster,i should of had mine on the 6th but it was moved to 22nd by the hospital so i am on count down for the second time !

 

[ottagal]

Mamanordy,

Glad that you got your date and that you can get this done sooner than later. Yes, all very normal feelings to be scared and anxious. We are all here for you.As most will attest, the waiting is the worst! Like Dean, I had my surgery rescheduled from last month to this month and I can tell you the waiting second time around is no fun.
Best wishes and will be sending you lots of positive thoughts and prayers on the 22nd.
Take care,

 

[Duffey]

Four surgeries scheduled for the 22nd, so you're going to have plenty of company. Glad you got a date!

 

[escargome]

I shall be sending each of you good vibes on your surgery day. Don't worry, they give you some pretty good drugs on surgery day. You won't remember much. Some remember the OR other don't. All I remember is being wheeled into the OR (very cold room), then the anesthesologist (sp?) gave me some kind of happy juice that made the room go out of focus and I was gone. Next thing I remember is waking up in ICU, my husband by the bed and still feeling really sleepy. So just relax as much as you can. Enjoy some family time and soon all this will be but a memory.

 

[vhmoriarty]

Everything will be just fine

Everything will be just fine

I wanted you to know that I am in the same boat as you. Im not afraid of the opening of my chest, the stopping of my heart. Im am petrified as well of that heart and lung machine, wires outta my chest, waking up like that, and the ventilator. So know there are others like you out there.

I go for my surgery Nov. 13th. So keep us posted on yours as well.

Thinking of you!

 

[BlindFaith]

I had an AVR on Sep 23rd and as the surgery approached, I was most afraid of waking up in ICU with tubes everywhere. Turns out it was not nearly as bad as I thought. The drugs wear off slowly and the tubes were just an inconvenience, no real pain. The breathing tube was removed and I barely remember much about it. Truly, my biggest issue was getting comfortable and sleeping while in the hospital for 6 days. As I've heard from many people... it is much worse in your mind than reality. You'll do fine. Good Luck !!

 

[hall]

Glad you have a date. Hope the time goes fast for you.

 

[Star54]

Don't be scared of the bypass machine, I was so frightened of it also. Once they roll you in you are already on some kind of twilight drug....when you wake up the tubes will be in your throat, no suger coating it, you will be a little loopy/sleepy. Just relax, go with the flow, they will extubate you while you are still a little loopy, it really was not such as big a deal, just a discomfort. I would be more worried about keeping the gown closed....
To all of you that are in the waiting room....lots of luck, and hope you have an uneventful surgery and speedy recovery.
Godspeed.

 

[Freddie]

You mean to say I was on this machine you call a heart and lung machine? Gee.....I wasn't aware of it.

I do remember telling the anesthesiologist to make sure he gave me the "good stuff cause I didn't want to be waking up during this operation". I think he gave me the premium stuff, cause it took me 6 hours after the operation to even try to open my eyes.

Don't fret. Enjoy your family time, do some baking and cut your toe nails - you'll be fine.

 

[COLLEEN S]

You will, in no shape or form, remember the heart lung machine...so I hope you can find comfort in that. Best of outcomes to you for your surgery!

 

[Pweeder]

Sounds like we were in the same boat. I had the surgery on August 13th of this year. Ascending Aortic Aneurysm 5.7cm. Also bypass. I had a leaky tri-cuspid valve. I came thru with flying colors and am doing great. I feel better than i have felt in years! Just try to remember you wont remember a thing. It is much easier on us then our families. When i came out of surgery i was trying to talk and couldnt because of the good drugs so i decided to try charades. Didnt work well. Then i tried to write. Didnt go so well either. It was rather humorous i was fighting the drugs to stay awake. You will be fine. You have to try to think of would have happened if they never found it. Or if the aneurysm ruptured and had to have emergency surgery. We are lucky and blessed to have options and time on our sides. I waited 3 weeks to have mine done and it was a stressful time. Enough of my ramblings. Good luck and bring a laptop to the hospital and keep us upto date. It helps kill the time and most hospitals now have wifi.

 

[Cooker]

Waiting is the hard part ... prayers and Godspeed

 

[mamanordy]

Thank you everyone for your kind and wise words. I had a wonderful weekend with my family as I hope all of you had also. I keep having crying jags but I am feeling pretty hopeful today. I go for some preadmission testing today, with a film being shown to me about what to expect and also to see where the cardiac rehab is.
Will write more when I get back.

PS It does look like I will be in good company on Thursday with so many others having surgery that day too from here. Good luck and God Bless all of you.



Debbi

 

[jax]

best of luck with your upcoming surgery and welcom to the forum. the heart lung machine shouldn't be a worry for you as you will be under when you are hooked up to it. i know that this is a scary time for you but try to relax and enjoy as much as possible. you will be over the mountain soon.

 

[mamanordy]

Just an FYI. I dont remember a thing! Except for waking up and trying to pull the vent out. LOL my son and dh had to sit and hold my arms down, according to them, the nurse said that she would have to tie me down, so son said, um she wouldnt like that, we will hold her arms. smart kid. :0
plus at one point i said i didnt like being paralyzed.. my son said the nurse asked me to wiggle my toes and i could. the things we do!