Pre valve surgery jitters

[Kathy McCain]

Hello everybody,

I have been reading the forum for awhile, and impressed with the way you support one another. I am scheduled for aortic valve replacement this Mon, Feb11th. The waiting is just awful! I hope the actual event is not as bad as the one of been playing in my mind. I will be receiving a tissue valve third generation. I am 56 and decided I do not want to take coumanin. I also need a quiet valve. Looks like they might be able to do minimally invasive. I sure hope so.
Thanks for reading this. Best regards, K. M.

 

[Jkm7]

Wishing you the very best, Kathy. Hope your surgery is perfect and you have an easy, uneventful recovery. Please be sure to let us know how you are doing.

Godspeed.

 

[Susan BAV]

Hi Kathy and welcome to the site; glad you found it pre-op and hoping all goes well for you. Take care and post again.

 

[Bina]

Kathy, you have to get through this weekend and then once you are in the hospital nothing will matter anymore, you will be able to turn yourself over to a wonderful surgeon and his team.
Try to keep busy, do some baking, listen to some music, go to a movie, or soak in the tub.

 

[marie]

Good luck. I had my aortic valve replaced on Jan 22nd and I'm doing well. I wish for you a successful surgery and a boring recovery.
Earline

 

[Phyllis]

Welcome, Kathy. I put you on the calendar so now it's official! Hang in there and I hope you soon feel the calm that comes over many before they have surgery. Best Wishes!

 

[Freddie]

Welcome Kathy to this wonderful site.
I'll have to repeat on what Bina has said.
Enjoy your weekend! Relax!
All I ask is to have someone post for you while your in the hospital. WE WILL WORRY.

Take care & God Bless

 

[TinaK]

welcome

welcome

Well I am starting to feel like one of the regulars. Welcome to the site. This is also my last weekend pre surgery. Take care of yourself this weekend. I hope you have family that will take care of you. You and I will see each other in the TOOTS page!!
Tina

 

[bbb]

Hello Kathy,

I am 9 weeks post surgery and feeling just fine. Now your biggest job is to relax and feel all the love and support. Many of us have felt a peace come over us before the surgery and this peace is there for you, too. Good luck and you will be in our prayers.

All the best, Betsy

 

[SarahL]

I am right behind you . My surgery is tuesday the 12th.. I have had alot of jitters and worries, but these past couple of days i have actually felt at peace with the surgery. Its taken me along time to get tothis point tho. Im sure the closer tuesday comes ill get a little nervous tho. Hang in there, mysurgery is the day afteryours. Hopefully youll have someone to post for you after surgery so we can hear how you are doing.
sarah

 

[netmiff]

I am 5 months out, and in the few days before, I was so nervous I was doing such silly things as cleaning out linen closets, all in an effort just to keep busy and not thinking. The waiting is the worst part, really it is.

 

[Philip B]

Waiting

Waiting

Yes, the waiting is rough. The worse part is that tendancy for one's mind to imagine the worse possible outcome despite the fact that the odds for a successful outcome are huge. One way to get through the waiting is to stay busy. Keep your mind occupied doing things you enjoy. There's no way around the fact that OHS is a big deal. Hang in there!

-Philip

 

[Earthsciencerocks]

Fall back into the hands of the Lord!

Fall back into the hands of the Lord!

The waiting is difficult! I was so nervous before my AVR surgery in June. But a friend of mine, who had brain surgery (6 months prior), shared with me some great advice. She said that when they wheeled her into the operating room/prep room and began to administer anesthesia, she pictured herself leaning back into the waiting arms of Jesus. She knew He was holding her the entire time she was in surgery.
I listened to her wonderful advice, and did the exact same thing. The next thing I knew, my wife was holding my hand in the recovery room.
Each day since has been the road to recovery.
In fact I feel so good now, I realize that I didn't even know how bad I felt before surgery.
My 40th birthday is Feb. 11th. For my birthday wish, I'm praying for peace and calmness to overtake you and not let you go.
Godspeed!
Lean back. He'll be there!

 

[dan777]

Good luck on your operation and recovery ! I know exactly how you feel, having used every excuse imaginable to delay my own operation (which was 3+ weeks ago). In addition to inspiration from this site I highly recommend getting the song "Everything is Gonna be Alright" by Bob Marley... even if you are not a reggae fan

 

[susieq14]

Kathy,

Sending you positive thoughts and lots of prayers. Hope the waiting isn't too dreadful, perhaps you can find something fun to do for yourself with family or friends. Hope your surgery and recovery are just what the doctor ordered.

Take Care!

 

[Trish]

Monday

Monday

I'm up for Monday, too. Nerves are bad, huh?
I'm spending the weekend cleaning my house for the company I'll have here post-op. My friends and family will come to entertain and feed me for as long as I need them and I don't want them to know that usually you can write notes in the dust on my window sills.
I got lots of presents from well-wishers already and I'm going to buy myself a Valentine's present just for being brave. Someone on here has a tag of "This is the first day of the rest of your life." I've read that before but it's never been so relevant. I'm going to celebrate my new beginning with a perfect body. Okay, I'm no model, but I don't have to be. If it works right, it's perfect.
My grandson will be 18 Sunday. When I asked what he was doing for his big birthday, he said he'd be wearing his knees out. I wondered what new sport he was into. He said, "Nana, I'll be praying for you, of course."
And I'll be praying for you, along with this community.
Trish

 

[Curtsmum]

Best of luck, hope you can keep busy enough to keep your mind off things, hope all goes well with surgery and recovery.

 

[SarahL]

Im like trish. Since yesturday me and my daughter have been cleaning the house. I know ill have visitors and i dont want them to see the dust either LOL. It also helps pass the time away. I think deep down i do have a lot of nerves because i feel today as tho my stomache is tied up in knots and i feel a little queazy. But i keep telling myself by this time next week i will hopefully be home recouperating. i know youll be fine with your surgery, and my thoughts are with you.
sarah

 

[WayneGM]

Welcome to the VR community. Glad you found us. Best wishes with your surgery. Hope you have a smooth recovery. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Praline]

Kathy,
I will be thinking about you. I was just as scared when I had my OHS two years ago. Looking back, I can assure you that the very worst part of the whole thing was the waiting. I also realize how lucky I was that my health problem was fixable.
I go back to work on Monday after having this week of for Mardi Gras. Every morning as part of our announcements, we have a moment of silence. Monday morning at that time, I will send positive thoughts and prayers your way. You will be just fine. And we will all be here to welcome you to this side of the mountain.