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Guest
I know people usually write about their surgery experience, so thought I would add mine as well. I am now 2 weeks post op.
As background, I am 41, with two young children. My sister had the same surgery 6 months ago. St Jude mechanical valve and a portion of our aorta replaced.
I went in at 630 am. I had just been in for a cardiac cath a few days prior where they blew four of my veins, so I was very nervous about getting an IV in. They put me in a gown and then attached a blower contraption to warm you up - nice! They gave me a shot so the IV would not hurt, and all was well. They wheeled me away, and next thing I remember was waking up after the surgery! According to my doctor, all went as planned. He replaced my valve and my aorta all the way up to the top. I am very small (4'9 1/2", 99 lbs) so the doctor mentioned that I would be in more pain than usual, as they had to spread my chest very wide to have a surface area to work. He was right! That evening, while intubated, apparently I repeatedly asked for pain medicine (and those barely wet sponge squares for your lips!). I don't know whether they gave me very little because I am petite or what the reason could have been, but nothing seemed to work. They removed the ventilator around 1030 at night. That was much better. I stayed in the ICU 4 or 5 days. I couldn't keep food down for most of that time, but was able to eat by the 4th day. I had no issues with my heart, other than a few instances of a fib that caused them to put me on beta blockers. I did have an issue with a numb leg. Apparent,y this happens occasionally due to the heart lung machine. It felt like a searing electrical shock when I would walk. It is not permanent, and the doctors have assured me it will get better (although I may always have a numb spot). It has already improved tremendously with physical therapy.
I was very nervous about getting the chest tubes removed, so I asked for medication in advance. It wasn't as bad as I expected (my sister described it in excruciating detail before she knew I was having the same surgery).
I continued to have various tubes in me the entire stay. Apparently they keep certain lines open "just in case", but those lines expire after 4 days so they put in new ones. X Rays every morning at 330 am!
I am doing well after returning home. My numb leg delayed my recovery a bit (I had a walker!) but I am finally walking outside once or twice per day. Still trying to figure out my inr (1.5 today, down from 1.6 last week). Just upped my Coumadin so that should change. I have been sleeping on the couch, but last night moved to a real bed. Stopped pain medication today.
Thank you to everyone for putting up with my many questions!
As background, I am 41, with two young children. My sister had the same surgery 6 months ago. St Jude mechanical valve and a portion of our aorta replaced.
I went in at 630 am. I had just been in for a cardiac cath a few days prior where they blew four of my veins, so I was very nervous about getting an IV in. They put me in a gown and then attached a blower contraption to warm you up - nice! They gave me a shot so the IV would not hurt, and all was well. They wheeled me away, and next thing I remember was waking up after the surgery! According to my doctor, all went as planned. He replaced my valve and my aorta all the way up to the top. I am very small (4'9 1/2", 99 lbs) so the doctor mentioned that I would be in more pain than usual, as they had to spread my chest very wide to have a surface area to work. He was right! That evening, while intubated, apparently I repeatedly asked for pain medicine (and those barely wet sponge squares for your lips!). I don't know whether they gave me very little because I am petite or what the reason could have been, but nothing seemed to work. They removed the ventilator around 1030 at night. That was much better. I stayed in the ICU 4 or 5 days. I couldn't keep food down for most of that time, but was able to eat by the 4th day. I had no issues with my heart, other than a few instances of a fib that caused them to put me on beta blockers. I did have an issue with a numb leg. Apparent,y this happens occasionally due to the heart lung machine. It felt like a searing electrical shock when I would walk. It is not permanent, and the doctors have assured me it will get better (although I may always have a numb spot). It has already improved tremendously with physical therapy.
I was very nervous about getting the chest tubes removed, so I asked for medication in advance. It wasn't as bad as I expected (my sister described it in excruciating detail before she knew I was having the same surgery).
I continued to have various tubes in me the entire stay. Apparently they keep certain lines open "just in case", but those lines expire after 4 days so they put in new ones. X Rays every morning at 330 am!
I am doing well after returning home. My numb leg delayed my recovery a bit (I had a walker!) but I am finally walking outside once or twice per day. Still trying to figure out my inr (1.5 today, down from 1.6 last week). Just upped my Coumadin so that should change. I have been sleeping on the couch, but last night moved to a real bed. Stopped pain medication today.
Thank you to everyone for putting up with my many questions!
