MIB
Active member
Hey ya'll. USA Southerner here. I'll apologize now if a bit of south-talk slips through (eg; ya'll)
I'm 10 days post-op today. I had an aortic valve replaced. An ON-X valve was used. As of yet, I don't really know the different brands, but I see everyone asks.
I was in ICU 4 days, then step down for another 5.
I'm staying at a friend's house because the doctors had a fit when they heard I live alone, and out of the state where my surgery was going to happen. Hence, I may whine about wanting to go home.
My cardiologist has been watching my heart murmur for about 6 yrs.
I'd been going for cardiac echoes every 3-4 months. I was actually on my way to an echo appointment when I stared having some chest pain. Doc told me to just go to the ER. I did and ended up being admitted after the requisite 12 hours in the emergencyroom. UGH
They did an echo with contrast. They also did a cardiac cath. They said I'd need one either way if it came down to surgery. The surgeon declared me " clean pipes". That was good. I'd been worried they'd tell me I had sludge in there. After this craziness, my cardiologist sent me to the cardiac surgeon. I had that appointment the next week. He scheduled surgery for the next week. In a week, I went from watching a heart murmer to surgery. To say the least, I was blind sided. I barely had time to think about it. I had zero time to do any research. I was glad I was able to do the little research I did. My original cardiologist had me convinced to do a TAVR. Upon researching, I learned a mechanical valve lasts so much longer. The recovery from. OHS would be more difficult than TAVR. On the plus side I'd only be looking at one recovery apposed to one every few years. My cardiac surgeon affirmed my belief when he said he wanted to do OHS with the mechanical valve. I know this sounds like a lot. Remember, I went from watching to cutting in less than 10 days. It's been a crazy couple weeks.
I have a couple Great Danes that let me share their house. I sent them on vacation to Florida while I had surgery and while recovering. I know I couldn't take care of them while healing. One is a less than year old puppy. Rambunctious is the closest word I can think to descibe her. Imagine 120 pounds of muscle leaping and bounding at 40 MPH towards you. It gives me chills just to think about that happening.
That's how I ended up not home but in a friend's house, surprise surgery, and missing my furkids while they vacation in sunny Florida.
.....I'm so confused I'm just figuring out what to ask and learn about... My big surprises so far is how long the recovery time will be; how little they want me to do as far as lifting weights, etc; how long I'm not supposed to drive.
One thing I was totally unaware of is how much water weight I'd gain during surgery. I gained 22 lbs overnight. Atvten days post-op I've managed to take off 10 . I'm on diuretics and potassium. I'm sure I don't need to tell ya'll where I'm spending much of my time. LOL
I've also been started on several new meds. I guess most are familiar to heart patients. Metoprolol, warfarin, imiodarone, and aspirin. I understand the rat poison is forever. I'm hoping the rest will be temporary. I don't know how long I will have to go for weekly blood work to check INR. INR is another thing I'd never heard about.
That's the long of it. I'm sure I'll be reading, lurking while learning my way around this new reality.
Cheers
I'm 10 days post-op today. I had an aortic valve replaced. An ON-X valve was used. As of yet, I don't really know the different brands, but I see everyone asks.
I was in ICU 4 days, then step down for another 5.
I'm staying at a friend's house because the doctors had a fit when they heard I live alone, and out of the state where my surgery was going to happen. Hence, I may whine about wanting to go home.
My cardiologist has been watching my heart murmur for about 6 yrs.
I'd been going for cardiac echoes every 3-4 months. I was actually on my way to an echo appointment when I stared having some chest pain. Doc told me to just go to the ER. I did and ended up being admitted after the requisite 12 hours in the emergencyroom. UGH
They did an echo with contrast. They also did a cardiac cath. They said I'd need one either way if it came down to surgery. The surgeon declared me " clean pipes". That was good. I'd been worried they'd tell me I had sludge in there. After this craziness, my cardiologist sent me to the cardiac surgeon. I had that appointment the next week. He scheduled surgery for the next week. In a week, I went from watching a heart murmer to surgery. To say the least, I was blind sided. I barely had time to think about it. I had zero time to do any research. I was glad I was able to do the little research I did. My original cardiologist had me convinced to do a TAVR. Upon researching, I learned a mechanical valve lasts so much longer. The recovery from. OHS would be more difficult than TAVR. On the plus side I'd only be looking at one recovery apposed to one every few years. My cardiac surgeon affirmed my belief when he said he wanted to do OHS with the mechanical valve. I know this sounds like a lot. Remember, I went from watching to cutting in less than 10 days. It's been a crazy couple weeks.
I have a couple Great Danes that let me share their house. I sent them on vacation to Florida while I had surgery and while recovering. I know I couldn't take care of them while healing. One is a less than year old puppy. Rambunctious is the closest word I can think to descibe her. Imagine 120 pounds of muscle leaping and bounding at 40 MPH towards you. It gives me chills just to think about that happening.
That's how I ended up not home but in a friend's house, surprise surgery, and missing my furkids while they vacation in sunny Florida.
.....I'm so confused I'm just figuring out what to ask and learn about... My big surprises so far is how long the recovery time will be; how little they want me to do as far as lifting weights, etc; how long I'm not supposed to drive.
One thing I was totally unaware of is how much water weight I'd gain during surgery. I gained 22 lbs overnight. Atvten days post-op I've managed to take off 10 . I'm on diuretics and potassium. I'm sure I don't need to tell ya'll where I'm spending much of my time. LOL
I've also been started on several new meds. I guess most are familiar to heart patients. Metoprolol, warfarin, imiodarone, and aspirin. I understand the rat poison is forever. I'm hoping the rest will be temporary. I don't know how long I will have to go for weekly blood work to check INR. INR is another thing I'd never heard about.
That's the long of it. I'm sure I'll be reading, lurking while learning my way around this new reality.
Cheers
