J
jrocco
I had my leaky mitral valve repaired at Methodist hospital in Omaha Ne. During a physical in March of 2004 my Dr heard a murmer and said I should get that looked at. I put it off until I took my Mother in to a cardo for something else and while I was there I asked the cardo about murmers and he said to get to looked at because "they can get you"
And so Jan 12 I went to see him and he listened and got very quiet and told me all about mitral valves and how they leak and how they are repaired or replaced. He showed me a chart on the wall showing a heart and I asked him well how do they get to the valve? Silly silly me!!
In the next 19 days I had an echo, a tee, heart cat, and then open heart surgery. My dear wife drove me to the hospital and we sat in the parking lot just looking up at the building. It was a cold grey day and we both felt very scared about what was going to happen. She looked at me and said if I wanted to go home she would turn around the car and take me back! I just looked at her and said this needs to be done and everything will be alright. We checked in and sat there for a while. Hospital sign ins are busy places at seven in the morning. We made small talk and finally they called me and we parted. Very hard to do.
In the surgery prep room I changed to a gown and waited while they shaved me and started IVs. It was also a very busy place with staff moving all around. I actually sat up and watched the goings on, because I had accepted whatever lay in store. I felt pretty calm about the whole thing now. This WAS going to happen. Finally the guy came and said I am going to give you something to make you sleepy.
The very next thng I heard was someone gently slapping my face and saying Jim wake up it's all over now. I forced myself to wake up and then someone said we are taking out the breathing tube and I felt that strange sensation. No pain and no choking.
I remember the ride to my room also. Riding the cart, pillows and blankets all wrapped around me bouncing down the halls and into elevators, again no pain.
Then laying in the room waking up and thinking this is not too bad. Of course then the pain medicine wore off and they gave me something that made me sick. That was the worst part of it all getting sick on the medicine because then I would vomit which does hurt. The first day was rough.
I was in the hospital 5 days and they slowly pulled all the wires out. My wife stayed with me the whole time sleeping on the chair and walking the halls with me. I felt so weak. On the Friday when they released me I felt so good I was almost going to walk out myself because I had gotten tired of waiting for them to send up an orderly with a wheelchair. Pretty remarkable how the body heals.
At home I had to take shots for a short time, and be on wayfarin for three months. Everyday I seemed to get a little better, slowly, but surely. Like another valvetalks member, I clean carpets for a living. At five weeks I did my first small jobs, just little ones so I could test myself. It was fine. I did the rehab thing and that also gave me confidence that I was healed.
Now when I look at my scar I am amazed at what I (we) have gone through. Sometimes it feels like it had to be someone else that went through it. Open heart surgery?!
In hindsight it is worse on the family members waiting. Since the surgery I often put myself in their place, thinking of how they have to sit there and worry about their loved one. I can't imagine what my wife went through.
Sometime during my recovery I found this place and I am hooked, it's like ah ha, people that went through what I went through, they understand! This surgery has been a major part of my life now. I have the reminder everytime I look in the mirror.
Jim
And so Jan 12 I went to see him and he listened and got very quiet and told me all about mitral valves and how they leak and how they are repaired or replaced. He showed me a chart on the wall showing a heart and I asked him well how do they get to the valve? Silly silly me!!
In the next 19 days I had an echo, a tee, heart cat, and then open heart surgery. My dear wife drove me to the hospital and we sat in the parking lot just looking up at the building. It was a cold grey day and we both felt very scared about what was going to happen. She looked at me and said if I wanted to go home she would turn around the car and take me back! I just looked at her and said this needs to be done and everything will be alright. We checked in and sat there for a while. Hospital sign ins are busy places at seven in the morning. We made small talk and finally they called me and we parted. Very hard to do.
In the surgery prep room I changed to a gown and waited while they shaved me and started IVs. It was also a very busy place with staff moving all around. I actually sat up and watched the goings on, because I had accepted whatever lay in store. I felt pretty calm about the whole thing now. This WAS going to happen. Finally the guy came and said I am going to give you something to make you sleepy.
The very next thng I heard was someone gently slapping my face and saying Jim wake up it's all over now. I forced myself to wake up and then someone said we are taking out the breathing tube and I felt that strange sensation. No pain and no choking.
I remember the ride to my room also. Riding the cart, pillows and blankets all wrapped around me bouncing down the halls and into elevators, again no pain.
Then laying in the room waking up and thinking this is not too bad. Of course then the pain medicine wore off and they gave me something that made me sick. That was the worst part of it all getting sick on the medicine because then I would vomit which does hurt. The first day was rough.
I was in the hospital 5 days and they slowly pulled all the wires out. My wife stayed with me the whole time sleeping on the chair and walking the halls with me. I felt so weak. On the Friday when they released me I felt so good I was almost going to walk out myself because I had gotten tired of waiting for them to send up an orderly with a wheelchair. Pretty remarkable how the body heals.
At home I had to take shots for a short time, and be on wayfarin for three months. Everyday I seemed to get a little better, slowly, but surely. Like another valvetalks member, I clean carpets for a living. At five weeks I did my first small jobs, just little ones so I could test myself. It was fine. I did the rehab thing and that also gave me confidence that I was healed.
Now when I look at my scar I am amazed at what I (we) have gone through. Sometimes it feels like it had to be someone else that went through it. Open heart surgery?!
In hindsight it is worse on the family members waiting. Since the surgery I often put myself in their place, thinking of how they have to sit there and worry about their loved one. I can't imagine what my wife went through.
Sometime during my recovery I found this place and I am hooked, it's like ah ha, people that went through what I went through, they understand! This surgery has been a major part of my life now. I have the reminder everytime I look in the mirror.
Jim
