Newbie with surgery date

[kingpeta]

Hi All,

I think I posted here only once and I'm new to this forum. I have a date set for Oct. 10th for Aortic Valve replacement. I'll be at St. Luke's Milwaukee. Anyone have any experience with this hospital? In Wisconsin, they are considered the best and do the highest volume. My surgeon said he performs about 300 surgeries a year, specializing in valves. He's done many pediatric valves, too. BTW I'm 45 with a bicuspid valve. This will be my first (and hopefully only) surgery! Guess I'm in the same boat as many others here as far as the anxiety and waiting. BUT we're off to Vegas next week for a final fling before the surgery. I have a Harley reserved for me & the Mrs. and we plan to see some of the country while there. It helps take my mind off waiting, knowing we get to do something fun beforehand. I hope to be here in the months to come to add whatever I can. I sure have learned a lot here - thanks to you all!

Pete

 

[Natanni]

Hello

Hello

Hi Pete

My husband is scheduled for AVR 9/29/05 (after being delayed a few times) at the Mayo in Rochester, MN. I am sorry I can't offer you any info with your hospital, but wanted to check in and say hello from both of us. Hubby is 34 and we also have a Harley (Fatboy!) and also enjoy ATVs. Hubby is here reading, but I am the one the ends up posting. Enjoy your getaway! Sounds like a blast!

 

[Cris N]

Hi Pete,

Hallelujah, another Wisconsinite! While I don't have any direct experience with St. Lukes, I am aware that it is a premier heart facility in the US. It's part of the group that my local hospital belongs to. Are you from Milwaukee? Understandably, you have anxiety - if you didn't I'd worry about you. That said, this is a wonderful site with loads of helpful people & information.

There are a number of people here with BAVD... I'm sure they'll be along sooner or later to talk about their BAV experiences. Hopefully, you've had some time to poke around and gain some knowledge. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask... no question is dumb except the one you don't ask.

Glad to hear you're going to take some time off for a good time. Be careful on the Harley! In the meantime, I'll be praying for you & your wife for peace and calm. You might want to encourage your wife to register here... I'm sure she has a lot of questions of her own.

Welcome aboard!

Cris

 

[Cris N]

Surgery date

Surgery date

has been posted on the calendar.

Cris

 

[Curtsmum]

Hi Pete, have a wonderful time in Vegas and best of luck with your surgery. Paula x

 

[kingpeta]

Are you from Milwaukee?
Cris

North of Milwaukee about 30 miles. Thanks for the words of encouragement - I need it! I've been telling my wife about this site and suggested she check into it. I worry about this being harder on her than on me. She already does so much for our family and I hope it won't be too much of a burden on her. I try to remember that God won't give us more than we can bear.

 

[kingpeta]

Hi Pete

My husband is scheduled for AVR 9/29/05 (after being delayed a few times) at the Mayo in Rochester, MN. I am sorry I can't offer you any info with your hospital, but wanted to check in and say hello from both of us. Hubby is 34 and we also have a Harley (Fatboy!) and also enjoy ATVs. Hubby is here reading, but I am the one the ends up posting. Enjoy your getaway! Sounds like a blast!

Hi and thanks! As a fellow rider in the north, at least we can get some comfort from the fact that our bikes will be stored for the winter, waiting for us in the spring. I would be even more bummed out if I lived somewhere warm where I could ride but was prevented from it due to surgery!

 

[Mary]

Your trip to Vegas sounds like the perfect antidote to presurgery jitters. Actually it sounds like the perfect antidote to your upcoming winter weather!
(I attended college in Winona, MN so I am familar with them.)
Enjoy yourself!

 

[Dennis S]

Fellow Bicuspid Aorftic Valve Replacement

Fellow Bicuspid Aorftic Valve Replacement

Hello Pete and welcome to the site. On August 4th of this year I had your exact surgery (along with aortic stem replacement) at Abbott-Northwestern hospital in Minneapolis. In my case, I felt like I had three pretty hard days, and then things started to improve quickly. The best single advice I got was to have a good recliner to sleep in. Although I was doing very well in most respects, I was not remotely ready to sleep in a regular bed even a few weeks after surgery. This is a tip I got from others on this site, and I wanted to share it with you. If you have a choice, a recliner that can mainly be operated by using your legs is nice.

 

[imhayley]

all the best

all the best

Hi there I wish you all the best with your surgery and recovery. Here where I live Reno Nv. we have street vibrations every Septemeber which is where about a zillion ppl and their hogs ride through town and hang out for a week here. Maybe you have heard of this...anywho enjoy Vegas and I will keep you in my prayers!

 

[HarryG]

Hey Pete good luck, been through this a little over a year ago and feel much much improved, your right God does not give us more than we can bear.
Have fun in Vegas!

 

[Phyllis]

Welcome, Pete. Enjoy Vegas and we look forward to hearing all good results on the 10th. Please keep us up to date.

 

[kingpeta]

The best single advice I got was to have a good recliner to sleep in.

Thanks for the tip. We have two great leather recliners from which to choose! I can sleep in either one. I better not let it become a habit though; my wife might not want to give up the extra room in bed!

 

[kingpeta]

Hi there I wish you all the best with your surgery and recovery. Here where I live Reno Nv. we have street vibrations every Septemeber which is where about a zillion ppl and their hogs ride through town and hang out for a week here. Maybe you have heard of this...anywho enjoy Vegas and I will keep you in my prayers!

Yes, Iv'e heard of it. Maybe we'll make it next year. We only have 3 days in vegas this time so it doesn't look like we'll have time for the trip to Reno. And thanks for your prayers

 

[JohnnyV_46]

Hi Pete, I'm new here myself. I had my BAV replaced on the 19th of last month. I tried my big recliner but I got stuck in it. My shoulders and upper arms hurt so bad after the surgery, they were practically useless. I ended up sleeping on the sofa in the family room. It's low to the floor and fairly easy to set up from a laying down position. In the hospital, I think I had all the spare pillows on the floor I was on. Had them under both shoulders, a couple under my head, one behind my lower back. Then they give all the OHS patients a big Bear to hug when you have to cough. Did any of the rest of you get a Bear with your Surgery?

JohnnyV

 

[kingpeta]

Hi Pete, I'm new here myself. I had my BAV replaced on the 19th of last month. I tried my big recliner but I got stuck in it. My shoulders and upper arms hurt so bad after the surgery, they were practically useless. I ended up sleeping on the sofa in the family room. It's low to the floor and fairly easy to set up from a laying down position. In the hospital, I think I had all the spare pillows on the floor I was on. Had them under both shoulders, a couple under my head, one behind my lower back. Then they give all the OHS patients a big Bear to hug when you have to cough. Did any of the rest of you get a Bear with your Surgery?

JohnnyV

Boy, sounds like a lot of fun! How long were you so sore?

 

[Cris N]

Then they give all the OHS patients a big Bear to hug when you have to cough. Did any of the rest of you get a Bear with your Surgery?JohnnyV

No bear for me but I did get a red heart pillow fully equipped with autograph pen

Cris

 

[catwoman]

Pete:
Have a great time in Vegas. And best wishes for a very successful & boring surgery.

I was born in Milwaukee while my dad was going to school there (Milwaukee School of Engineering). Moved to Texas when I was about 8 months old. I've been up there once since then, in 1990 with my mother.

 

[kingpeta]

Pete:
Have a great time in Vegas. And best wishes for a very successful & boring surgery.

I was born in Milwaukee while my dad was going to school there (Milwaukee School of Engineering). Moved to Texas when I was about 8 months old. I've been up there once since then, in 1990 with my mother.

Thanks for your wishes - I could deal with "boring"!

You should come visit Milwaukee again - maybe in January? I'm sure it's just a tad colder than Texas

 

[Jan]

Hello and Welcome

Hello and Welcome

Hi Pete

Welcome, and rest assured you will have lots of positive thoughts and prayers sent your way as you face the AVR, ( I had my AVR in Jan 2002 )

You will have a great time on the Harley in Vegas there are some great rides too do in that area Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Laughlin, Oatman ( though the road up is a bit twisty) also you could do a bit of Route 66,

Bill my husband has a 94 Hertiage and we have shipped it too the USA three times, We got back from our last trip on September 4th,We rode from Chester PA to Sturgis SD for the rally, the bike is not back from the USA until the end of the month.

We were in Millwaukee in Aug 2003 But never got too see much because of all the hogs that were there......... LOL

Have a great trip

Safe riding

Jan ( Liverpool England )