Perry!!! Back at home

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Perry

Perry

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
52
Location
Olney, Maryland (USA)
Folks,

Surgery on 3/8/06 and home on 3/14. I am the first recipient of the ON-X at Johns Hopkins. The surgery TEE, and further digging I guess, showed the Ross wasn't a good option for me. I may have come home a day earlier but my INR needed to become therapeutic (not a concern if I had the Ross or a tissue).

It's hard to gage my experience (pain, recovery so far) but the hospital part was pretty grueling. With almost no sleep for the first 4 nights, there was a point where I was dreading the oncoming night. I had never stayed overnight in a hospital and I am in no rush to do it again.

Discomfort and some pain are/were not so bad - I went off of painkillers by day 3 and am taking only single Tylenols as needed now. It was very hard to get comfortable and move early on - but I can sit longer and move easier all the time. Restlessness is weird. I am still waking up several times a night.

All in all, I am glad to be home and away from the hospital. I just wanted to get past the surgery and home recovering where I have some control - I'm there.

I am thankful to have found this sight where I could learn so much when I needed to. I hope I have helped others as well and will continue to do so.

Perry
 
Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Perry,

Isn't being home wonderful? Sounds like you are doing great!

I had a repair, not a replacement, but I am still waking up during the night several times and it will be 6 weeks for me on Monday. I took pain meds in the hospital for back pain, but never needed them for chest pain. Stopped taking Tylenols at night about week two. Hope you progress as I have through this. Each week I felt much better and am going back to work at the office on Monday.

Sounds like you might want to compare notes with Randy since he was the first On-X recipient at CC.

Be good to yourself! Rest, breathe and walk!

Arlene
 
Congratulations on getting home and on being the first On-X recipient at Johns Hopkins, Perry. Hopefully your surgeon was as impressed with the valve as mine was.

Sorry to hear your Ross didn't work out but the surgeon knows best and it's not something you want if you aren't a good candidate for it. I'm with you on hospital stays. Hopefully your new On-X will take you through a few decades without another OHS.

Everything will get easier with time and patience.

Take it easy,
Randy
 
So glad to hear you are home. You are right, things go so much better once you are in an environment you can control.
Keep up the good work.
 
There is not place like home. Hospitals are a good place to be when we are really sick but not a good place to get any rest. I volunteer in ICU and it's so noisy with all the machines & carts coming and going down the hall. I can't believe the noise level! I've mentioned it to the nurses and doctor's but they say that's just the way it is.

It sounds like you are really doing great. Hang in there, things will get better.
 
Congratulations and welcome home! You've already helped me by being forthright and real......my surgery is coming up next month sometime. I am interested in every word!!! :D

Sorry you didn't get the Ross as you'd hoped, but you are back with us, back home, back with your family and on the mend. That must feel wonderful!!

Take care.

:) Marguerite
 
Yeah, it is ridiculous that they don't let you sleep, isn't it?

Chest X-rays in bed, blood pressure and temp every two hours. They actually rolled a scale into my room at 4 ayem one night. I opened both eyes a tiny crack and said, "Do you actually think you're going to wake me up to weigh me at 4:00 in the morning? Does that make any sense to you?" The wretched tech fled in tears, leaving the monstrosity behind. Normally, I would feel awful about that. I was actually so annoyed that I didn't care.

At about 6:30, two orderlies came and silently rolled it back out. Never did weigh me that morning.

Most of the time, I lost, though. The chest-X--ray-in-bed guys were like a well-trained SWAT team. Hut-hut, hut-hut... They were in so many places so fast you were sandwiched in the unit before you could even curl your lip to whine.

Waking up at night is common for a while. Post traumatic stress or some such, I suppose. It takes a while to percolate through your brain that you really did it. Chills, low grade fever (below 101˚F), or sweats as well. It all passes, though.

Glad you're home. It's the best place.

Best wishes,
 
WOW! That is absolutely fantastic.

That is very positive for all the new post surgery people. I wish Icould add to that but mine was really on the opposite end.

Thanks for sharing
 
WELCOME HOME Perry!

Nothin beats home for recovery...you sound fabulous...

enjoy the peace and quiet and familiar comfy surroundings...

you really would reckon theyd have real quiet-time in hospitals to let you get some much needed rest :rolleyes:
 
Thanks for all of the kind words folks!

TOBAGOTWO's details of the hospital experience made me shudder - brought some of it back.

My worst was Friday night (after near sleepless Tuesday at home then Weds & Thurs at the hospital). The night nurse hooked my IV into a Magnesium Sulfate (?) drip at about 10:00. This magnesium stuff was somewhat a stimulant, at least for me, so I spent that miserable night being kept awake. I was a mess Saturday and still don't know how I got out of bed.

Being at home is the key. Let the pros do what is needed however they do it, then just deal until that magic moment when they say you are good to go. That's when you start to feel better.

Perry
 
Perry,

Perry,

My surgery was on March 7 so we are very close on our recovery journey. I can fully appreciate how great it is to be home and have some control over your life. I came home this past Monday. I over did it the first day or two with so many phone calls and visitors. I developed a low grade fever for a couple of days and that did the trick as far as slowing me down. Today I feel good. The fever is gone and my main complaint is soreness. I take a zanax at night to help me to sleep so I've never had any problems in that department. In the hospital, they at least had the sense to ask ME to call them if I got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom so they could weigh me. It was a little weird to have the scales rolled in at 3 am but at least they didn't wake me. I barely remember it. I plan to give up the zanax as soon as I can get through the night without pain medicine. The night is the worst for me as far as discomfort goes. Sure wish we had a recliner. I improvise with lots of pillows. All in all things are going well as they sound like they are for you too. So glad to hear of another who has made it to the other side. Lucky aren't we to have come so far so well.
 
A rapid and happy recovery

A rapid and happy recovery

Hey Perry,
Glad to hear you're at home, while my experience with the hosipital staff was pleasant and most courteous, there is no place like home for rest.

Best wishes,
Dave
 
Oh Perry, so glad to hear it went so well! We have all been praying for you and your wonderful family! Congratulations, and hoping for a speedy recovery! Welcome home!

Hospital stays are a nightmare, as every new mom can attest. You think that after having a baby, you will get a nice peaceful night's sleep. No! By the next morning you can't wait to get home to get some sleep. Tobagotwo, your story made me laugh! I can just picture it . . . .
 
Excellent news! So pleased you're home. Think I missed you on msn the other night, sorry about that.
Hope you have a very smooth recovery.
Love Emma
xxx
 
Oh, I see.............

Oh, I see.............

you wait and post an update when I go out of town after I sat around for days just waiting for news of my birthday present...............sigh! What are we to do with you? :D

Glad to hear that you are home and recuperating from the Twilight Zone hospital experience...........(try being there a month!) Sorry about the Ross, but you are clicking along with some really good company. Many gentle hugs. J.
 
Hi Perry , I'm so glad to hear you are home and more comfortable. I did not sleep at all during my 6 day stay for OHS as my room was really hot. My room mate didn't sleep at all for the same reason. We both were extremely pleased the day our surgeon walked in and told both of us that we were ready to go home.There's no place like home ! Take it easy,recover and enjoy your new life ahead of you. God Bless You.:)
 
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