One more for the calendar

[JohnB]

December 16th

After much procrastination decided to go ahead with surgery, but at a different venue, for aneurysm and aortic valve replacement. Decided, on several friends advice, to go to Texas Heart Institute, at St. Luke's, in Houston.
Saw Dr George J Reul last week, he knew all the questions I would ask, and I already knew most of his answers. Briefly, 1 to 2 % mortality rate, 4 hour operation, 1 hour on the "pump", "tube" out asap, 2 days in ICU, total 7 days in hospital, walking 1/2 mile per day on leaving hospital, driving in 4 weeks and working in 6 weeks (suspect closer to 8 reading these forums). Both agreed on dacron repair to aorta and St Jude's mechanical valve.
He said 2 hour drive home, as passenger, on leaving hospital would be no problem. (He doesn't know how my wife drives!......incoming!!) Guess I will have a favorite pillow by then.
These operations seem quite common at THI, and they will stick me on the conveyor belt on December 16th, I have a pre-op the day before. As the song goes "I'll be Home for Christmas".
Best wishes to many others on the calendar in November and December, and here's hoping we all have a happy new year.

John

 

[Ross]

Well now, you are on the calendar. Stay healthy until this is over with!

I do hope you realize that everything you were told is not set in stone. Add +/- here and there, but please don't think that everything will be as scheduled. Too many people get caught up in a schedule. As we all know, the heart and surgery do not follow a schedule, but do their own thing.

Keep on talking to us and we'll walk with you up and over the mountain.

 

[hensylee]

Good for you, John. You'll have it over and celebrate Christmas at home. Good luck.

We need to save John's post as a good synopsis of the surgery details. He's written it all down pretty pat.

 

[Heather Fisher]

I'm glad you got it scheduled and think you have picked an excellent hospital. Use the timelines as a general guide only. Everyone is different. I'm sure you will do well. It's true, the worst part is the waiting, after that it's downhill. On an even more positive side, you can hint for a lot of good Christmas presents this year! With the sympathy factor, you stand a good chance of getting what you want!!!

Heather

 

[Nancy]

Good for you John-

What a nice Christmas present. A shiny new fixed up heart, couldn't be better.

It'll be good to get it over with and on to a brand new year.