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Freebird

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 27, 2019
Messages
138
Hello all,
Just thought I'd start a thread as I'm currently 11 days out from surgery. When I first got my surprise diagnosis of an aneurysm, followed by another surprise diagnosis of bicuspid aortic valve (severe stenosis) more than a year and a half ago, it threw me for a loop. Since I'm still asymptomatic, I've had time to wrap my head around all of this. I'm 58 and have decided on getting a tissue valve. This site has been so helpful in that I've been able to follow the journey of others.
After my echo results in March, which show pretty much status quo but still in need of the surgery, I'd wrapped my head around surgery, but then covid hit. I regrouped with my surgeon in June and we set a date for July. Little did I know that I'd be right in the middle of a hot spot (Texas) by the time of the surgery date. I've spent the last month hoping we don't run out of hospital beds which is yet another unexpected part of this journey for me. Fortunately, I'll be having the surgery at a Heart Hospital which is not taking any covid patients. Let's hope that continues.
I wonder if anyone could tell me, is it typical to have your pre-op blood test and chest x-rays the day before surgery? Seems last minute but I know they'll be doing a covid test on me that same day so maybe that's why?
Anyway, I'm amazed at my calmness about this. Not that I don't have a few freak-out thoughts here and there. I just want to get to the other side of this surgery at this point. Thank you to all the others who've shared their knowledge and their stories.
 
No, It's not normal to have your blood test and chest X-Ray the day before surgery -- it would be better if they did these a few hours BEFORE surgery.

(Actually, the day before isn't too bad).

If they didn't know what your blood test results had to tell them soon before surgery, they wouldn't really know about any conditions until the time of surgery. If you had issues in your blood or on your X-Ray, they should see them soon before surgery. Things can change if they took blood or did X-Rays more than a few days before.

It's entirely normal to do these tests as close to the time/day of surgery as possible.

It looks like your hospital is right on top of things - as it should be.

Good luck with your surgery.
 
I am 6 days out, getting an OnX on Thursday at Cleveland Clinic. They are doing a myriad of test, heart CT, ekg, echo, nuke and and running me thru the cathlab a few days before. I am also doing a covid test and some other stuff (got tired of reading the schedule). I too have a few freak out moments but can't wait to get to the other side!! Good luck to you and keep us posted!!
 
Cactus52 said:
I am 6 days out, getting an OnX on Thursday at Cleveland Clinic. They are doing a myriad of test, heart CT, ekg, echo, nuke and and running me thru the cathlab a few days before. I am also doing a covid test and some other stuff (got tired of reading the schedule). I too have a few freak out moments but can't wait to get to the other side!! Good luck to you and keep us posted!!
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Very exciting! I guess we'll be recovering buddies. Do you already live in the area? If not, are you driving there? Crazy times but I'm sure they will keep us safe!
 
Your cardiac surgery centers are staffed with experts - from the surgeons all the way down to, probably, the housekeeping staff - eagerly waiting to do the procedures that they've done hundreds of times and are well trained and experienced doing. You'll probably encounter a very well oiled machine, waiting to continue their specialties, with you as the recipient.

This isn't quite as if it's a machine that will get rusty from non-use - I suspect that they have a long line of patients waiting to be helped.

Their talents will probably not be diverted to COVID-19 related activities.

I recently spent a total of two or three weeks in the hospital - and the people on the floor (non-COVID 19 floor) were happy to be getting patients.

If it's even possible, you may even get a bit more attention than other, pre-pandemic patients received.

You should be fine.
 
I have family in the Cincinnati and Cleveland areas but I live in Atlanta. Not to bad of a drive and are up here quite a bit anyway..
 
Hello @Freebird

It’s good to hear you have a scheduled surgery date in these trying times.

My first scheduled surgery last year (July) was cancelled an hour before going down to theatre. Eventually had the surgery two weeks’ later (August).

During the first cancelled trip they took five vials of blood ... they said for cross-matching and other purposes.

Surgery day two weeks’ later no blood needed to be taken pre-surgery as they had already cross-matched in July and said the information from the previous bloods remained valid.

I wasn’t given a pre-op x-ray, other than the one they did four months earlier on my work-up for surgery. Seems that x-ray was all they needed for surgical reference.

The short time left for you before lift-off will fly by, I’m sure. We’ll be here cheering you on as the days trundle by!

Best to you 😎
 
Last edited:
Seaton said:
Hello @Freebird

It’s good to hear you have a scheduled surgery date in these trying times.

My first scheduled surgery last year (July) was cancelled an hour before going down to theatre. Eventually had the surgery two weeks’ later (August).

During the first cancelled trip they took five vials of blood ... they said for cross-matching and other purposes.

Surgery day two weeks’ later no blood needed to be taken pre-surgery as they had already cross-matched in July and said the information from the previous bloods remained valid.

I wasn’t given a pre-op x-ray, other than the one they did four months earlier on my work-up for surgery. Seems that x-ray was all they needed for surgical reference.

The short time left for you before lift-off will fly by, I’m sure. We’ll be here cheering you on as the days trundle by!

Best to you 😎
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Thanks for the kind words.

Why was your surgery cancelled one hour before? That must've been a real head trip for you! Glad you got it done.
 
Freebird said:
Why was your surgery cancelled one hour before? That must've been a real head trip for you!
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Turned out my surgeon’s morning surgery was taking longer than expected and seemed likely to run substantially into my PM time slot. So they cancelled. I’d been warned that cancellation was always a possibility due to unforeseen events.

It was a good practice run for the real thing two weeks later 🧘🏼‍♂️ 🙂
 
pellicle said:
excellent ... don't forget to take the experience in as you go down the path, not everyone gets this experience. Soon it'll be in the past.

Best Wishes for a routine recovery
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I appreciate this comment. As best I can, I would like to approach it all with a sense of curiosity. Looking at it with curiosity will help diminish my anxiety. Meditation continues to guide me through all of this. I'm so grateful for it. I'm also grateful for folks like you on this site.
 
This site can really get under your skin.

When I was first admitted to the Hospital in late March for a serious rhythm problem, all I could think about was how I was going to write my experience up on this site.

Keep good notes of your experience - it will be a worthwhile distraction, and can provide us with more about your experiences when you get back to this site.

Good luck with your surgeries.
 
A funny thing happened to me on my way to surgery on July 22. The day before, I was to have my pre-op tests. Before entering the hospital I had to pass a covid test. I was POSITIVE! I could not have been more shocked. I have not been inside a public building since March. My husband and I are retired. We don't even go to the grocery store. The best we can figure is he had outpatient surgery with a follow-up appointment in July. Did he give it to me? Has to be.

A very tense 14 days followed as we both awaited symptoms (he took a test right after me and tested negative but his doc said the negatives have a 30%! failure rate) and I'm here to report we have both been symptom-free!

I returned to the hospital today, 14 days later. I tested negative for covid! Not sure what's next. I have a call into my surgeon's nurse to see about rescheduling. Thankfully, I had no symptoms from covid and I have no symptoms from my aortic stenosis. At this point I'm just thankful to be healthy and living in the same space as my husband after two weeks apart.

What a ride!
 
I asked that and the nurse said they use the Abbott test which is "100% accurate if administered properly." Clear as mud. From what I understand false negatives are not uncommon. False positive a lot less so. If a hospital is cancelling a costly surgery over the results I'd like to think it was positive. However I agree. It is so difficult to know.
 
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