preps for climbing

[901]

What kinds of preparations are made for the big day?
Since I have a rare blood type, should I be having a unit drawn soon to replace the losses incurred during surgery?
If I do that, do I need to get off the rat poison sooner so that the stored blood won't be thinner than the blood I'm losing?
Apparently, potential clotting on a mechanical valve will be less of a concern than making sure all the sutures are clotted and leak tight. I'm sure that as soon as they're confident that there aren't any leaks, the rat poison will be reinitiated, probably in a mega-dose to start.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

901 - I'm glad to see that you move up your surgery date.

Talk to your Surgeon about 'self donating'. Most Doc's don't encourage it these days, especially for heart surgery and especially for valve patients. It would make sense to be sure that an adequate supply of your blood type will be available.

Regarding your long laundry list of projects, I strongly suggest that you tell your daughter to take her car to a reputable muffler shop. Do you really want to take the heightened risk of aneurism rupture or valve failure to save less than $50 on a new muffler? I would also forget about doing the stair step project, even if there will be an inconvenience.

You may be interested to know that a few of our members reported that their valves literally "disintegrated" in the surgeon's hand when he got in there. Some were told they would have had only a few DAYS to live if they had not had surgery when they did. Typically, these scenarios are NOT detected by basic echocardiograms. These are admittedly rare events, but with 4 heart / circulation issues, your risks are compounded beyond the typical single valve patient. I would refrain for ANY physical exertion beyond causal walking until you get fixed.

Better to spend your time getting your affairs in order, "just in case". This would include a Living Will, a general Will, Medical Power of Attorney, General or Financial Power of Attorney (triggered only if you are incapacitated), and setting up all of your investment / saving accounts as TOD (Transfer on Death) with a list of beneficiaries and percentages. The latter avoids the public exposure and delays of Probate.

There have been several discussions of Pre-Surgery preparations, mostly in the Pre-Surgery and Post-Surgery Forums. There was a recent one under the title of 'What to take to the Hospital' or something similar. There may also be some pertinent information in the REFERENCE Forum.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Nancy]

901-

Joe has blood that is difficult to match as well. Al's right that most open heart surgery conserves blood now and surgeons don't worry about it too much. However, when Joe had one of his surgeries, the minimally invasive one, his surgeon wanted some extra blood available as a precaution.

Since your blood type is rare, I would run it by the surgeon well in advance and see what he thinks. Self-donation close to surgery isn't usually done. But do check it all out.

Lack of proper blood almost skuttled Joe's surgery. We were waiting until 9 PM the night before to hear about it.

 

[tobagotwo]

I echo Al's sentiments inthat I'm glad your date has been moved up. They will likely not allow you to autodonate. It is a good thought to warn/remind them of your blood type, though.

They are concerned about the clotting, as just after surgery is a concern time for strokes, particularly with mechanical valves. You will likely be on heparin, so they can "turn on" the anti-clotting immediately after ensuring a blood-tight sewing job. They will then bridge you to the warfarin.

I put a few things together about the hospital just before Mary went in, if you'd like to peruse them... http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?p=127132#post127132

Some general thoughts about returning home...

You should also have a command post prepared for when you come home. A recliner, if you have the means and the room, and a table capable of holding food, drinks, phone, TV remote, reading material, thermometer, inspirational spirometer, and catalogs with manly outdoor products.

You'll need a blanket or similar, as you may get chills the first few days. Spend some time thinking about where you could walk to (it's nice to have a destination). Think if there are any bathrooms on the way (one of my early walks turned into an impromptu jog back to the house - the cardio would have fainted in horror). A cell phone should go with you when you walk, so you can call someone if you overestimate yourself. If you do, by the way, resolve to just sit down wherever you are and wait for energy to return.

The first couple weeks you will have no second wind. Just none. When you're tired, you're done. It's kind of a shocking revelation. It does come back, though.

Best wishes,