I'm now day 4 and still in ICU, hopefully will go the ward tomorrow. It's been a rough few days, surgeon made the call to put in a biological with aortic root enlargement once he got in there and after looking at haematolgist repot. Have had massive blood issues, with hemolysis, low platelets, kidney shutdown. Have had 5 blood transfusions, plus platelets and all sorts of other tests as they to get to the bottom of it all.2 drains removed today, hopefully the other 2 tomorrow.
Post Surgery update
- Thread starter tezza
- Start date
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Sorry to hear of these early struggles and speed bumps, @tezza. Hoping the team can get to the bottom of your blood issues soon and things settle quickly for you. It’s good to know you’re on day four and about to move to a ward.
Wishing you the very best for the days ahead and the speediest of recoveries.
Wishing you the very best for the days ahead and the speediest of recoveries.
pellicle
Professional Dingbat, Guru and Merkintologist
bloody nora mate ... I'm sorry you had such a bumpy road.
call me if you feel like a virtual visitor ...
Best Wishes.
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Thanks for the update Tezza. Hang in there! We are going through this together as I had mine done March 22. Praying for you to be released soon from ICU and into the ward. Yesterday morning things were looking great for me and there were hopes that I would be released Friday. But, atrial fib, which was looking like it was being controlled, has come back and I expect I will be here at least until Saturday, and who knows how much longer. It is a real psychological booster to get out of ICU and get the drains outso really hope this happens soon for you. I think that having a roller coaster ride is very much the norm. Think about that day, coming soon, where they release you to go home. These days are very long ones for us right now, but it will soon be something that we are both looking back on. Please keep us updated as you feel able to.
Meanjellybean
Aortic Mechanical valve - Carbomedics 23mm
Keeping you in thoughts!
Sounds like a rough ride you have been on the last few days. We are all cheering you on in your recovery. Rest up and just work on one day at a time.
Sorry to hear of these struggles. Prayers for quick resolving of your issues.
Thanks Chuck, sounds like you are doing pretty well, sucks about the afib. Fortunately i havent had that!
Thanks for your well wishes.
Thanks for the positive thoughts.
Thanks @pellicle. Virtual visitors are all that allowef right now.
Excellent! Hang in there. It will all soon be a distant memory.
So sad to hear of a Bumpy four days for you Tezza.
Here’s hoping your final 2 drains are out today and that you can be released to the ward to complete your hospital recovery. Your 2nd ohs turned out to be another bio, looking forward to more info on that choice, although your number of transfusions seem to indicate the why.
Covid seems to be limiting visitors, especially while in icu, so wishing you visitors soon and a smooth road to full recovery.
Here’s hoping your final 2 drains are out today and that you can be released to the ward to complete your hospital recovery. Your 2nd ohs turned out to be another bio, looking forward to more info on that choice, although your number of transfusions seem to indicate the why.
Covid seems to be limiting visitors, especially while in icu, so wishing you visitors soon and a smooth road to full recovery.
I am late into getting on your update, Tezza! Thinking of you and sending the most positive thoughts and best wishes that you have turned a corner and will move onto a smooth recovery. So sorry to hear of your struggles and speed bumps. Hang in there....one day at a time....Gentle hugs and prayers continuing....
Just thought I would touch base again...well I finally made it back onto the ward on day 6. Had a right pneumothorax that had to resolve first, platelets were slowly climbing back up. Once on the ward, struggled with left sided pleural effusion, which didnt clear, so then had to have a pleural drain inserted. Spiking high temps over 48 hours so much concern over infection but that went away as suddenly as it arrived, so who know why? Finally discharged on day 12. Platelets are still not normal but close to. Now just focusing on getting strong again, but I think my mental strength is going to take some time...I'm feeling quite traumatized by the whole experience. First time round was much easier.
Superman
Well-known member
Discharged. Yay! Sorry to read about all the recovery challenges. Hopefully things are sorted out and trending in the right direction now. Still amazing to think what all this puts the body through, yet 99% of the time it’s a success.
Makes you want to remind folks to donate blood if they can, no?
Makes you want to remind folks to donate blood if they can, no?
You have been through alot and this reminds me of my first time around. (some similarities). Be gentle with yourself and one day at a time. Hoping that you have a smooth recovery moving forward and you can get some rest and recovery at home. Take good care,
pellicle
Professional Dingbat, Guru and Merkintologist
Hey mate
Get back home and get your favourite mug of warm [insert preference] into you and make sure that your comfortable.
I hope that the worst is now behind you
Best Wishes
I hope things get back to normal sooner. This constant crappy weather sure can't be helping you either.
Get back home and get your favourite mug of warm [insert preference] into you and make sure that your comfortable.
I hope that the worst is now behind you
Best Wishes
I've been in hiding for the past few weeks as I focus on recovery. It's been an interesting journey. I'm now 4 weeks post surgery, and to be honest, I'm actually not feeling any better than I was pre-surgery...is it too soon yet? I was doing well up until a few days ago, and managing daily 40 minute walks, at a reasonably brisk pace, but suddenly I just didn't feel that I had the stamina anymore. The last few days I have had to decrease my walking time and speed, as I have just been too tired. I had been managing the stairs in my house ok, but in the last few days, am starting to be a bit short of breath again by the time I get to the top. I've also noticed that my resting heart rate is often around the 100bpm, when it was closer to 70 just after surgery and in the first few weeks. I did have an episode where my heart rate increased to about 150bpm one morning, but was still in sinus rhythm, and it settled down after about 20 mins. Today I felt a bit "woozy" when I did the stairs one time, but the other times, just a bit tired. I constantly hear my heart beat, and feel it thumping in my chest, which is what I was experiencing before my surgery, and I guess I expected that to settle down. I do recall that I felt quite improved by 4 weeks after my first OHS, but this time round seems much different. Now I'm worried I may have pushed too hard too soon, although I felt fine. I have a GP check this week, and see the cardiologist next week so hopefully I will get some answers then.
One thing that has been a real difficulty for me is pain in my left shoulder. I noticed this as soon as I woke after surgery and it is so bad that my range of motion is severely limited by pain. I actually wonder whether I might have a rotator cuff injury, as it is particularly bad when the shoulder moves in any rotation. I cannot even dress/undress independently, and pretty much just can't use the left arm at all. I have read that shoulder pain is quite common, and I don't recall having it first time around, but I'm very worried that I'm going to end up with a frozen shoulder. I am supposed to go back to work in 3 weeks time, but at this point, if the shoulder doesn't improve, there is no way I could do my job. For those who have experienced shoulder issues, did it last long and was there anything that helped improve it? I do plan to see my physio once the sternum is healed. I have tried to do a few light exercises for strengthening the rotator cuff, but my sternum is too sore just yet to do those so I need to wait for that to improve first. Of course, I have lots of odd aches and pains around the rib cage and clavicle which I expect will gradually settle, but those are more nuisance factor rather than debilitating like the shoulder is.
My scar is healing well, with only a small amount of scab to come off yet, but I have a lot of numbness on one side of the scar, right across my chest. In some areas, the skin is absolutely numb, like I have been injected with local anaesthetic, but in other areas, the skin is particularly sensitive, so I'm finding it difficult to tolerate the feeling of fabric against the skin. I'm guessing that it will just take time for the area to enervate again and I just have to be patient. I have found that an ice pack does help when it becomes unbearable, but any other suggestions would be very welcomed.
Mentally, I have had to come to terms with the fact that I wasn't able to have a mechanical valve as I wanted to and had decided on, due to my blood issues (thrombocytopenia, history of bleeding). I was prepared for the mechanical but at the last minute, a round table conference with my specialists and surgeon resulted in the strong recommendation to not have a mechanical valve. I guess that was the right decision, given what happened post surgery (low platelets, haemolysis, 5 transfusions, and multiple bags of platelets) but now I am mentally grappling with the idea that I am now going to be faced with a 3rd procedure sometime in the future. I am gutted by this, as I truly wanted this surgery to be my last. But that is not to be, and I am finding it hard to move forward from this. I found this last experience to be quite traumatic and on day 2, it hit me very hard that I would have to do this again. So I'm trying to look at each small step forward as a win and focus on getting as many wins as I can, and to keep my focus as positive as possible, and push the idea of a 3rd surgery into the back of my mind.
One thing that has been a real difficulty for me is pain in my left shoulder. I noticed this as soon as I woke after surgery and it is so bad that my range of motion is severely limited by pain. I actually wonder whether I might have a rotator cuff injury, as it is particularly bad when the shoulder moves in any rotation. I cannot even dress/undress independently, and pretty much just can't use the left arm at all. I have read that shoulder pain is quite common, and I don't recall having it first time around, but I'm very worried that I'm going to end up with a frozen shoulder. I am supposed to go back to work in 3 weeks time, but at this point, if the shoulder doesn't improve, there is no way I could do my job. For those who have experienced shoulder issues, did it last long and was there anything that helped improve it? I do plan to see my physio once the sternum is healed. I have tried to do a few light exercises for strengthening the rotator cuff, but my sternum is too sore just yet to do those so I need to wait for that to improve first. Of course, I have lots of odd aches and pains around the rib cage and clavicle which I expect will gradually settle, but those are more nuisance factor rather than debilitating like the shoulder is.
My scar is healing well, with only a small amount of scab to come off yet, but I have a lot of numbness on one side of the scar, right across my chest. In some areas, the skin is absolutely numb, like I have been injected with local anaesthetic, but in other areas, the skin is particularly sensitive, so I'm finding it difficult to tolerate the feeling of fabric against the skin. I'm guessing that it will just take time for the area to enervate again and I just have to be patient. I have found that an ice pack does help when it becomes unbearable, but any other suggestions would be very welcomed.
Mentally, I have had to come to terms with the fact that I wasn't able to have a mechanical valve as I wanted to and had decided on, due to my blood issues (thrombocytopenia, history of bleeding). I was prepared for the mechanical but at the last minute, a round table conference with my specialists and surgeon resulted in the strong recommendation to not have a mechanical valve. I guess that was the right decision, given what happened post surgery (low platelets, haemolysis, 5 transfusions, and multiple bags of platelets) but now I am mentally grappling with the idea that I am now going to be faced with a 3rd procedure sometime in the future. I am gutted by this, as I truly wanted this surgery to be my last. But that is not to be, and I am finding it hard to move forward from this. I found this last experience to be quite traumatic and on day 2, it hit me very hard that I would have to do this again. So I'm trying to look at each small step forward as a win and focus on getting as many wins as I can, and to keep my focus as positive as possible, and push the idea of a 3rd surgery into the back of my mind.
Amy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Messages
- 287
Oh Tezza,
I also felt traumatized by the surgery... there were just so many surprises (nurses sucked, couldn’t breathe the whole first day and night, was admitted even before the surgery because they ****** up the cardiac cath; shooting, almost electrical pain in my arm just by moving the slightest bit, for days, due to the chest tubes)
It will pass, though. Thank god, it really will pass!!! I know it seems long, and I also have days I feel way weaker than the one before. (I started out with a whole schedule on how much I was going to walk everyday - ha! Then a scare with a possible chest tube infection stopped most walks so the area would heal quickly without being jostled open) On those days, watch a movie and read a book and do things you love and don’t think about it. And I think you’re also right to NOT think about the next surgery. That’s just torturing yourself!
I’m three weeks out and also still have numbness around the incision site, and also on the backs / insides of my upper arms where the chest tube must’ve been hitting some nerves for days. I think they m a y b e. are slowly getting some sensation back. I wonder if a little massage wouldn’t help? I’ve also been using my ‘corn bag’ Medium Microwave Corn Bag | Heat and Cold Therapy | Fishbellies
warmed up in the microwave and it could be my imagination, but maybe that has helped.
Take it easy. : )
