Questions, Questions, Questions

[clc]

Hi everyone! I will eventually be having my aortic valve replaced and some repair work done to the aorta itself. The date has not been set yet due to a problem with the surgeon my cariologist would like to use and my insurance company. Meanwhile, I'm wondering about things that I should be preparing for before I actually have the surgery. Will I need anything special at home? Will I be able to sleep lying down or will I need to sleep in a recliner for a while? Are there any special questions I should be asking my cardiologist before this event? I'm pretty much in the dark about this whole process. Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Nancy]

Hi clc-

There is a ton of info. in the Pre-Surgery forums. If you look at all the posts from the beginning, and there are lots of them, you will learn a lot. Just use the drop down menu, which is set at 30 days now, and click on "from the beginning".

Here is a thread which seems to have lots of different info. in it.

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1691

 

[pegne]

CLC

CLC

I have had four heart surgeries so I guess maybe I can answer a few of your questions. You may or may not have to sleep in a recliner after you get home. You will be sore when you get up from a lay down position so if you think you would be more comfortable then by all means sleep in a recliner. You may want to find out what type of valve the surgeon plans on using. I can't think of anything I needed at home except the breathing device to work your lungs. Please remember that yu may wake up with the ventilator still in but you probably won't remember it. Also remember that the surgery is not as bad as you would think. I know this because I've been through it 4 times. Try to keep as busy as you can from now until the day of surgery. That is beneficial for both mind and body. You will be in my prayers. I hope this insurance mess gets cleared up soon so you have an idea when all will take place. The waiting IS the hardest part. Good luck to you Peggy

 

[pillarpaul]

Hi CLC,

I too am waiting for my surgery but I have a date set in next month. Yes, like Nancy said, the threads were great - I spent about two hours one day catching up on them. You couldn't buy that info anywhere. Seems like everyone recovers differently and some tolerate the surgery quite well. Give us more info on your age, physical condition, etc.

Actually, I have one very strange question myself, but this really has bothered me. I have hair on my chest (not bragging) and whenever I've had it shaved before it itched like crazy for days. I know it will be shaved but I can't imagine I'll be able to scratch it for a long time. I know lots of folks will respond to you so maybe I could tag this question on (it's much too trivial for its own thread). Did anybody else go through this? How did you manage? Sorry, ladies, if this is not applicable to you (and I assume it isn't ).

Paul

 

[Rain]

A maid!

A maid!

Some of the hardest things about my recovery were... mopping the floor, putting clothes from the washer to the dryer and brushing my six year olds hair. And getting those crazy tops off the pill bottles!

Here?s my helpful post surgery tip for the day....... squeeze the bottle between your knees, while twisting with your hands.. Works great.

You know what, Paul? They don?t shave our chest, but they shave everything else!! Do they do that to every one? I mean like they even shaved my arms! I felt lucky to get out with my eyebrows!

Lemme guess... you shaved your chest before to make it look like ... a Christmas tree?!

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi paul!
joey's surgeon gave him a depilatory cream to remove his chest hair. we made a project out of it the night before sugery,
where our 2 daughters did it for him as i watched and supervised. the cream did not do the total trick, so he reapplied some. he was pretty bare, but his nipples were so irritated from the stuff! besides that, they shaved his chest and his leg in the o.r. anyway. naturally, the hair is usually very itchy as it grows back. joey even hates it when he has a holter or cardiogram and they shave him (he has a nice full chest of hair), so maybe he's just an itchy guy?
have you asked the surgeon about it? i'd love to hear how it goes for you when the time comes (itchy or not).
be well, sylvia

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Itchy & Scratchy

Itchy & Scratchy

Hey Paul

My shaved areas were chest & tummy only, and I'm a furry dude too. The itching didn't start for me for a couple of weeks and by then I was fully capable of scratching and so on...

In my list of top 10 things I was bothered by, this would be about #15.

 

[pillarpaul]

Thanks, Sylvia and Johnny, for filling me in. For CLC's sake (and mine), Johnny, what were some of the more bothersome things? Guess maybe I'll just get on late night cable and order some Epil-Stop. What about pullover shirts? Should I rule them out for a while? I bet there is a list of unusual things that clc and I would never think of that only all of you that have been through would know.

Paul

 

[Johnny Stephens]

A list of bothersome things, right after coming home (in no particular order):

- Sleeping. The recliner was nice and helped me get *some* sleep. I still have it.
- No appetite, food tasted bad.
- Putting on my shoes -- too hard to bend over
- Dropping things under the table (can't use an arm to support yourself while crouching down)
- Wife going to the store for 5 min made me feel very vulnerable. Once she forgot to put the phone within reach.
- Not driving

too-flip comment removed

 

[JimL]

To each his own.

I'm not very furry, so having them shave off what I had taken decades to grow was right up there close to the top of my list.

On the other hand, pullover shirts were no problem. The shirt that came with the cardiac rehab class was a pullover.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

As I re-read my last response, it wasn't really as helpful as it could have been. The 3 big things that were bothersome to me and more to CLC's original request of "what should I prepare for" were sleep, diet, and mobility.

Sleep, yes, you might have problems sleeping comfortably for a while. A recliner will help a lot in the first couple of weeks.

Be prepared for changes to the way things taste. Your meds post-surgery may play havoc with your appetite and make things taste funny. It may get frustrating when people push you to eat, and you don't feel like it.

I was surprised how difficult it was for me to do the simple mobility things like putting on my shoes, reaching under the table, or pulling a box of cereal down out of the cupboard. It was really hard to reach over my head. You should ask someone to put things you need within your reach.

I hope this helps a little more...

Johnny

 

[Lorraine]

Hi CLC,

I would say sleeping at home the first couple of weeks. I couldn't lie flat in a bed on either my back or side at first and definitely not my stomach! I too slept in the reliner. It was a lot easier to get in and out of too.

The bottle caps were the pits! My sister had to open my pill bottles for me, for almost a month. I was staying at her house and I guaged when I would be able to go back home, based on when I could open the pill bottles by myself.

Putting on those special elastic socks and trying to put shoes on and tieing them was a hoot! Did you ever have someone else try to put your socks on for you since you've been a grown up? It was a riot! My sister has a lot of patience but she was finally getting to the point where she was ready to just throw the shoes and socks at me rather than try to put them. The socks were the most problem but I would also suggest wearing slip on shoes, so you don't have to worry about ties.

I wore mostly sweatshirts and t-shirts. I never had a problem getting them on or off.

Didn't get shaved on my chest, but no matter where you get shaved, you know when it grows back it is going to ITCH like heck!

 

[Granbonny]

Gender?

Gender?

Hi CLC. I have read your user ID..and still do not know your sex?..Male or Female?If you are female you may want to know how soon it will be before you can resume your Housework? Like Rain said, household chores, cooking, ect. need to be put off for a few weeks...Do you have to drive after surgery (carpooling, ect)..that will take at least 6 weeks.Do you have a close relative or friend who can stay with you the first week or two. I see that you do live in California..so you will have the chance to get outside SOON..when you come home and Walk, walk, walk. Gets that nasty stuff out of your body...and you will much better. Good luck..Bonnie

 

[clc]

Thank you everyone for your advice and sorry I haven't posted anything sooner. It's been a bad week, busy at work and I have been having major heart palpitations going on which seem to be making me feel extra tired. Walking from my car to my office, just a short distance, is grueling. I still don't have a surgeon that my insurance company and cardiologist can agree on so I'm still waiting. I have another appointment with my cardiologist on March 17th to discuss things. Am hoping they get this thing rolling soon so I can start to feel better and get on the other side of this whole ordeal.

Granbonny, I'm the single Mom of a 29 year old son. My 72 year old Mom lives with me and she will do what she can. My son will be here in the evenings and at night, after work, for the 1st few weeks to help me also. I do enjoy the California weather and am really looking forward to being able to get out and take my little dog for walks again!

Reading everyone's stories and replies on this website really helps me know that I'm not alone in this whole procedure! Thanks again for your advice, I'll keep reading!

 

[Granbonny]

Hi CLC

Hi CLC

Sounds like you will have good help. The son can drive you home and help set you up when you come home from the hospital. Think about a recliner to sleep in..near the bathroom. Tell Mom you will not feel up to eating right away. Just lots of good juices, ect.. Have son to fill your pill organizer for you (You will feel a little foggy headed)TAKE your pain pills before you feel the pain lol..Walk around inside the house the first week. Then try outside with your son there..Easy does it the first 2 weeks and then you will feel like you know what you can do and cannot do...I, too, have a small dog but please don't even think of walking him on a leash for several weeks. Too much jerking..If Mom doesn't drive then you can have son bring things in at night....You will be going back in 3 weeks for a follow up..We having a saying for all you new valvers when you come home..Nap, nap, walk, walk, breathe, breathe..Bet you have a great son..I have one who is age 33 and stills calls me several times a week.. Post often. Bonnie (p.s...can we call you by a name? lol)

 

[terry40]

CLC

CLC

Those insurance companies are the pits, I'm hoping they resolve that issue fast for your sake.

I was thankful to have a recliner, it does make life easier for the first few weeks.

I was a big fluid drinker, lots of water, and being on the same floor as the bathroom was a big plus.

I didn't have a problem with dressing, but the first couple of showers were a real production.

I hated the cold weather we were having, so enjoy the warm CA air during your recovery, it's still not warm here in the northest and I'm 4-1/2 months post-op.

Terry40