Smitty
New member
I found this site about a month before I had my Aortic valve replaced. I am 11 days post OP and I feel like for the most part I'm doing fine. All your posts really helped me accept what had to be done and I say thanks to all.
Here is my story:
male 50 yrs old working full time at a extremely high stress job , I had a lung issue or so I thought only to find I had Aortic stenosis and one blocked vessel. I made a choice to go with a tissue valve as when I get back to work dealing with my diabetes is enough of a ritual.
My surgery was June 6th and honestly the surgery was not bad at all ....some emotions with my wife and kids but we all knew this had to be done.
I told every person from the receptionist to the surgeon that I did not want to wake up on a ventilator I was assured I would be so out of it I would not remember ......well I woke up and first thing I did was choke and gag, my wife said I was swinging and kicking and it took 7 people to hold me down ....needless to say the tube came out quickly there after. I had my surgery at U of Mich and was transferred to the Ann Arbor VA hospital for recovery as I am a Disabled Vet and VA Patient. I will say I was up in a chair and a little bit of walking with in 12 - 14 hrs , I was transferred with in 24 hrs and We believe the Ambulance ride may have cause my lung to collapse ...This was the most scary painful experience I think I ever had . with a little morphine and a local the surgeon cut thru my rib cage and stuck her finger into my lung cavity to insert a tube , I will never ever forget the sound of the air escaping when she punctured my chest and Instantly I could not breath ...scary scary stuff . with in 24 hrs they had to replace the drain tube which looked like a clear garden hose . Second problem I went into A Fib for 13 hrs and was told they needed to shock my heart to get back to normal rythem ... well lucky for me the meds worked . All in All I was home sitting in my recliner with in 7 days. I was off all pain meds with in 5 days and actually only asked for them to help sleep . I had several coughs but I had my forst sneeze the other day and I thought my chest exploded , I use the heart hugger and it helps a lot . my appetite is fully restored but I have to eat like a rabbit
I do not feel like a new man and at this point I am just as tired as prior to the surgery , I know it takes time and excersize to get fully healthy .
I live on a small farm and I have Animals to tend to and hay to cut so the most hardest part of this whole ordeal is the no lift , light duty rule .
I am planning to push on day by day .
Thanks again for all the posts to help understand what I had to look forward to .
Smitty
Here is my story:
male 50 yrs old working full time at a extremely high stress job , I had a lung issue or so I thought only to find I had Aortic stenosis and one blocked vessel. I made a choice to go with a tissue valve as when I get back to work dealing with my diabetes is enough of a ritual.
My surgery was June 6th and honestly the surgery was not bad at all ....some emotions with my wife and kids but we all knew this had to be done.
I told every person from the receptionist to the surgeon that I did not want to wake up on a ventilator I was assured I would be so out of it I would not remember ......well I woke up and first thing I did was choke and gag, my wife said I was swinging and kicking and it took 7 people to hold me down ....needless to say the tube came out quickly there after. I had my surgery at U of Mich and was transferred to the Ann Arbor VA hospital for recovery as I am a Disabled Vet and VA Patient. I will say I was up in a chair and a little bit of walking with in 12 - 14 hrs , I was transferred with in 24 hrs and We believe the Ambulance ride may have cause my lung to collapse ...This was the most scary painful experience I think I ever had . with a little morphine and a local the surgeon cut thru my rib cage and stuck her finger into my lung cavity to insert a tube , I will never ever forget the sound of the air escaping when she punctured my chest and Instantly I could not breath ...scary scary stuff . with in 24 hrs they had to replace the drain tube which looked like a clear garden hose . Second problem I went into A Fib for 13 hrs and was told they needed to shock my heart to get back to normal rythem ... well lucky for me the meds worked . All in All I was home sitting in my recliner with in 7 days. I was off all pain meds with in 5 days and actually only asked for them to help sleep . I had several coughs but I had my forst sneeze the other day and I thought my chest exploded , I use the heart hugger and it helps a lot . my appetite is fully restored but I have to eat like a rabbit
I do not feel like a new man and at this point I am just as tired as prior to the surgery , I know it takes time and excersize to get fully healthy .
I live on a small farm and I have Animals to tend to and hay to cut so the most hardest part of this whole ordeal is the no lift , light duty rule .
I am planning to push on day by day .
Thanks again for all the posts to help understand what I had to look forward to .
Smitty
