Finally home from the hospital today around 3 PM. I could not have gotten better care. Surgery was long and apparently flawless. Entered OR around 8 AM and did not arrive in ICU till after 5 PM. I am so fortunate that I found out about my condition and that it was fixed by a world-class surgeon. My Aortic Root was an absolute mess. I feel great now just 9 days post op. I looked and felt so good on Wednesday afternoon when the chest tubes came out they were talking about sending me home on Friday.
Then it started going south BIG TIME!
I developed an Ileus and was sick as a dog. An ileus is a disruption of the normal propulsive ability of the gastrointestinal tract. An Ileus is often defined simply as bowel obstruction. But,also is described as decreased motor activity of the GI tract due to non-mechanical causes. Narcotic pain killers and anesthesia in my case. Projectile vomiting that would make "The Exorcist" appear to be a Disney Family Film was the Friday 3 AM highlight.
So, I had an NG tube snaked through my nose and down my throat for 3. 5 days sucking out what looked like beet juice. Leaving me on just IV fluids and chewing on ice chips (then spitting them out) to sooth my espohagus which was raw due to acid reflux from consistent killer hiccups that I thought would never stop. I am extremely fortunate that Karen is a former ER Nurse and currently works from home.
