Question for those who've had 2+ OHS & breathing tube question

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halleyg

halleyg

VR.org Supporter
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2007
Messages
591
Location
Atlanta, GA
I am scheduled for my second OHS this year in two weeks (from yesterday to be exact but who's counting). I am having my MV replaced w/a mechanical valve. I am very nervous about the whole thing, to say the least, and some people say to me, maybe this time it won't be as bad as the last time. The first one was really terrible and I have awful memories of it. I was just wondering if that has been true for anyone, has one surgery been easier than the other, or are they all pretty much the same? I can't imagine OHS being anything but hard but just thought I'd throw the question out there. I'm not trying to fool myself into thinking it will be easy but just wondering since like I said, some have mentioned it in trying to cheer me up.

Also, since I'm here, I just thought of another question. Does everyone remember waking up with the breathing tube in? My brother had MV repair a few years ago and said he doesn't remember. I remember it VERY clearly and it's one of my worst memories.
 
Hi,

I have had two open heart surgeries. The most recent one was just 8 months ago and was six years after the first one. For me, the second one was easier than the first one. I felt better quickly and had less pain and really had not complications what so ever.

For both of my surgeries I remember the waking up with the breathing tube in for a pretty long period of time. 2-3 hours. I was much more relaxed the second time because I knew what to expect when I woke up.

Brad
 
I very vaguely remember them taking it out (almost like I dreamt they did). I actually think their removing it was what started to wake me up. However, by the time I was conscious enough to comprehend my surroundings, it was already out.
 
Ive have 2 OHS. Results were mixed.

Both times, I was fortunate to have had the breathing tube removed before I became conscious.

I think I was more alert the second time. Be sure your Surgeon uses Excellent Filters on the Heart-Lung bypass lines and uses a Long Protocol for warming the body afterwards. Heating too rapidly can cause gas bubbles to form in the blood which can create embolisms that cause mini-strokes.

On the down side, I had INTENSE Back Muscle Pain. It was only after arriving at home where my S.O. used a Vibrating Disk Massager that I learned that MASSAGE was FASTER and BETTER at relieving muscle pain than ANY pain medication.

BTW, for my (pending) MVR, surgeons and cardiologists are all in agreement, recommending a Right Thorocotomy instead of a Sternotomy because of Scar Tissue (from 2 surgeries and Radiation) and to protect my Bypass Grafts.

One comment I kept hearing was that the Mitral Valve is easier to access from the Right than the front.

The 'other' comment that I keep hearing is that a Right Thorocotomy is more "uncomfortable*" at first, but that it heals (much) faster. * (The Ribs don't like being spread!)

'AL Capshaw'
 
I've had two and not to scare you, but both were nightmares. I have other issues with my lungs that caused a large degree of my troubles though. I woke up with the vent still in. The best thing to do is breath with the cycling of the respirations and don't fight against them. They'll get that thing out as soon as you can breath for yourself.
 
I've only had one OHS, but I vividly remember waking up with the breathing tube in as that was one of my biggest fears. However, as soon as I woke up I started waving my arm and pointing at the tube and they immediately came and removed it quickly and efficiently. It was no problem for me. My fear was a bigger factor than reality! I'm sure trying to stay calm helped. I wish you the best of luck.
 
ALCapshaw2 said:
On the down side, I had INTENSE Back Muscle Pain. It was only after arriving at home where my S.O. used a Vibrating Disk Massager that I learned that MASSAGE was FASTER and BETTER at relieving muscle pain than ANY pain medication.

BTW, for my (pending) MVR, surgeons and cardiologists are all in agreement, recommending a Right Thorocotomy instead of a Sternotomy because of Scar Tissue (from 2 surgeries and Radiation) and to protect my Bypass Grafts.

One comment I kept hearing was that the Mitral Valve is easier to access from the Right than the front.

The 'other' comment that I keep hearing is that a Right Thorocotomy is more "uncomfortable*" at first, but that it heals (much) faster. * (The Ribs don't like being spread!)

'AL Capshaw'
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. I also had intense back pain while still in ICU. My brother was there and I made him massage the pain as long as they'd let him stay, and it definitely helped.

My first surgery was a Right Throcotomy and you are right, it is VERY PAINFUL. While recovering I was cursing the fact that I had it, it was the worst pain ever and I could only take ibuprofen for pain since all the meds kept making me sick. It lessened eventually as time went on but I would say it hurt for 6 months and is more bothersome IMO for a woman b/c of the location of the incision. Anyhow, I am now glad I don't have the big vertical scar, but the surgery coming up they are going to do it that way, so I went through all that and I am still ending up with the big visible scar. For some reason they had a hard time getting through the first time and of course now I have the scar tissue. The thought of having my breast bone sliced makes me freak out, but I don't know which is worse. Guess I can let you know soon, though.
 
Just wanted to thank those who have replied, it is interesting to read the different responses. I guess I do have to remember just not to panic when I wake up. My ICU nurse was not the nicest person and didn't seem to be in a hurry to take it out but maybe I just hated it that much and it seemed like it was in for a long time after waking. Guess as far as having more than one surgery and having them differ, only time will tell. Thanks again, even though it is scary and there are so many unknowns, being able to discuss these things with people who KNOW helps so, so much.
 
I remember waking up with it both times. The second time I must have been pretty awake before I had it taken out and couldn't control my throat reflexes, I ended up with a pretty irritated throat. Having it taken out was not that awful, though.

Some things were harder second time around, but the value of experience was also there. I had more complications the second time and recovery was harder, but that is possibly related to the fact that I had only had my baby by cesarean 14 weeks earlier and I had not had a lot of sleep since the birth.

I remember being SO relieved at actually waking up after the second operation. Then I realised that I was awake and aware and I would have to experience every moment of my recovery.

My ICU nurse kept nicking off to watch Who Wants to be a Millionaire, it was the night that the $1m was finally won in Australia!

I was not as frightened after my second surgery. I knew that I had to work at getting better. I had to eat as much as I could manage in order to feel better. I also came to realise that each day I felt about half as crappy as I did the day before. So if I was feeling particularly bad (like after my pacemaker insertion) by sleeping a few hours i would wake up feeling better.

I also learned the power of distraction. Visitors, particularly ones who didn't mind doing most of the talking, were very welcome. Magazines were better for keeping me awake than TV. The drugs made me very sleepy. And a hot shower was the greatest feeling in the world.

Best of luck, Halley.
 
I did manage to freak-out badly with the vent and they just pushed the drug button and sent me off to sleep again. Try worry about something-else thats boring. Those in ICU are well trained to cope with anxious patients so I dont think you will have any troubles that will haunt you. Those "sleep and forget" drugs work great! I do not even remember waking up the morning of my surgery.
 
I remember the vent quite well. It seems llike I was constantly knocked back out if I panicked at all. Actually I don't remember panicking...it just made me mad that there didn't seem to be a huge rush to get that 'thing' out of there. It didn't hurt coming out. In fact, it was a great feeling because I had dreaded it so much.
One thing I always promised myself to remember if I ever had to do it again is that the things that bothered me the most were over so so very quickly.
Best to you!
Debbi
 
Halley,
I'm so sorry that you are facing another surgery so soon after your repair. I also, had to have my MV replaced after my repair. However, I was fortunate to have 3 years between the two, rather than a few months. I see that you are from Atlanta. Where will your surgery be?
I expected my 2nd surgery to be somewhat like my first, so I wasn't prepared for any surprises. I thought that on the first day in the hospital, I would have some blood work and other tests and time to mentally prepare for the surgery early the next morning. However, since it was the 2nd "go round" my surgeon thought it was neccessary to allow my heart to rest up for the big day. I was admitted directly into CICU and had a heart-pump installed the first day. They gave me a sedative and ran the tubing in through my groin. I'm not telling you this to scare you, but to advise you to ask questions. So many times, these busy surgeons assume that we know details like this. I am a person who does not like surprises. I felt like this was something that should have been discussed with me prior to admission in to the hospital.
As for the breathing tube, I woke up both times 6- 10 hours before it was removed. Ditto what others say, just relax and let the machine do its job and it does make it easier. They didn't want to drug me further- as I was told, the drugs would delay my breathing on my own.
I will certainly be praying for you on the 22nd. That is the day that my Bible study group is beginning a new study- Beth Moore's "A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place." Fittingly appropriate, wouldn't you say so?:) Please keep us posted. God Bless, Gail
 
Only one OHS but I woke up and remember the breathing tube. It wasn't bad but I think it was because of someone's advice (I can't remember who) to just think of it as a vacation from breathing. It was a bit wierd, but I just didn't breathe.
 
I was on balloon heart pump for four days prior to my OHS (due to heart attack) and my memory of those days are very vague so they must have kept me heavily medicated. I do remember telling them the less I remembered of the whole business the happier I would be and it seems they took me at my word and gave me amnesiac drugs or whatever. There are times I wish I could remember more but usually it's just fine I 'lost those days' forever. What I remember the most clearly is whenever I did wake, the nurse was quick to remind me I was not to try to sit up. That is bad news if on a balloon heart pump.
 
I have had 2 surgeries however I remember very little about my first one. It was 48 years ago lol. The second one happened just over a year ago. And I woke up with the breathing tube in place, and it was no big deal. They removed it within a couple minutes or so of my waking up. After that all I could think about was how to talk someone else into bringing me more thimbles of ice chips! Man I loved those ice chips.
Within 30 minutes of waking up they wanted to change my bedding. The guys tells me he will get some help to pick me up so they could do it. I told him I could stand up and I did while they changed my bedding. It blew the guy away, he had never had anyone stand up within 30 minutes of waking up before.
Within a three hours or so of waking up they checked me out and said I was ready to be taken to a room, I was done with ICU, I had been in there for about 12 1/2 hours since surgery ended. Unfortunately it took a couple more hours for them to get me bed on the hospital floor.
 
extubation

extubation

I remember being brought to consciousness with the tube down my gizzard, and the nice Phillipina attendants were right there with me and helped me through the extubation. There was something confusing and awkward about it (I don't recall what), but I followed their directions precisely, and it worked. It is a delicate moment and you just need to concentrate on what they're asking you to do, especially since you're probably still woozy from the anesthesia. I suppose there are slightly different methods for extubation at different hospitals.
 
I haven't read all of the other replies, but I thought I'd tell you my opinion. I have had 16 surgeries in my life. Two of which were open heart. While I wouldn't say they are "easier" it isn't as hard to deal with the subsequent times, simply because I knew what to expect. For me, it was the not knowing what to expect that was the hardest. I didn't know what questions to ask, I didn't know how long the pain was going to last, etc. But after experiencing it once I was able to let people know what I needed BEFORE surgery happened. Yes, I remember the trech tube from my first OHS, but was able to let people know before my second one that it freaked me out and they took care of it. I have no memory of the tube the second time (and little memory of ICU at all, to be honest). The same happened with my ICD surgeries. When I went in for surgery in March I ended up waking up during parts of the surgery (I was just given a local and sedated, so don't think this would ever happen in OHS). So when I had to go back in for a lead revision in May I told the anesthesiologist what had happened before and he changed the med protocol and I remember NOTHING from that surgery. When they woke me up I asked to see him and thanked him profusely for listening to me and making sure I wouldn't remember anything.

So, while the surgery and recovery might not be "easier" per se, at least you can talk to people and let them know what problems you had before and get them taken care of before they happen again. Does that make sense?

Good luck to you!
 
Dont remember the tube

Dont remember the tube

My first OHS was when i was 4 so i don't remember many details.

Before my second OHS like you i was scared to death of waking up with the breathing tube in as I had another unrelated surgery where i had the unpleasant experience of being awake with a breathing tube.

Fortunely though, for my second OHS i dont remember the breathing tube at all. My husband said i woke up and was very unhappy about it but fortunately i dont remember it. Perhaps i had an additional dose of the medicine that makes us forget things.

As others have had said I would strongly encourage you to talk to your doctor and anestesiologist about it because i know they can administer different things for different people. If they know that is a concern for you I'm sure they can help.

Best of luck to you.
 
Halley,
The breathing tube was one of my biggest fears because both my sister and brother had a bad experience. I made it a point to tell the anesthesialigist when he called me the night before the surgery how terrified I was of waking up with the tube still in. I asked him if he had ever had a patient more afraid of the tube than the surgery itself. My family made it a point to not talk to me until I had the tube out and I ended up having no memory of the tube.
 
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