Report on Mike from Michigan

[Mike From Michigan]

Surgery went very well today. It started @ 12:45 (he was the second patient of the day for the surgeon). The replacement valve (pig) and graft for the aorta went as planned. He was on the heart/lung machine for 1 hour, 43 minutes. Surgery in all took about 4 hours. 1 hour after he was responding to his family (nodding yes) and 2 hours after wanted to know what time it was (this with a breathing tube still in and him mouthing the question). Everything is looking great and he will probably have the breathing tube out by midnight. By morning he should be talking and enjoying the sunrise. For all of us (the family) it was a very long day and were are very relieved to have the surgery finished. We will get Mike to dictate another message tommorow. I know he will want to hear from you (as will all of us).

The Tyburski Family

P.S.: As a side note, this is the second time in 10 weeks that I have had a family member (my mother-in-law was the other) have their aortic valve replaced. The one thing I have carried away from this procedure is how routine and straight-forward the surgeon and staff make it look considering the magnitude of the surgery. It certainly helps manage the anxiety of beiing on the sideline watching (Jeff-Mike's youngest brother).

Please send a message. We will print it out and bring to the hospital.

Thanks

 

[Marguerite53]

Thank you for posting

Thank you for posting

Everything sounds like it is going along quite wonderfully. Congratulations on Mike's success so far.

I am still in the waiting game so I will be very interested to follow Mike's progress and keep up to date on his condition.

It sounds like he has a wonderful family and I'm sure your caring reassurance and loving presence is doing the world for him right now.

I hope he is resting comfortably.

Best of luck!

Marguerite

 

[tobagotwo]

You've had a tough time, waiting it out for two of these operations so close together. I don't envy you that. Try to think of it as getting an upgrade on your family members.

Even with the breathing tube, he can probably write, although someone may need to hold the pad. If he's awake and responsive, I'm surprised the tube is still in. Being able to write a message can be comforting, because it gives you a better way to communicate. I guess he realizes now that the tube isn't so bad. If he has it on his lip with a clip, ask them to exchange it for a piece of tape. That clip cuts off circulation, and will leave him with a fat lip for a couple of days.

Mike's progress to this point sounds a lot like mine, and mine was very good. This first night will be surreal to him, and the opiates will really highlight that feeling. I hardly slept the first night after surgery. I was wide awake and inordinately please to be alive. I must have driven that nurse crazy, bugging him all night for ice.

There will be pain tomorrow morning, if they don't get meds to him in time. Each hospital is different, so it's hard to say what to watch for.

Tomorrow night may be a difficult one for him, especially if the chest tube is still in. For me, there was intense pain from the irritated heart pericardium rubbing (it does) against the lining of the lungs and the chest tube when you breathe. The nurse gave me a shot in the leg, well above the knee (just like in an army training film) of an antiinflammatory called Toradol. Great stuff, made everything bearable again in about 30 seconds. Other than that, I had a Fentanyl patient-controlled unit (you have to request it), and it was entirely adequate, and kept me from feeling too dopey. Also doesn't have as many side effects as morphine.

Looks like his Friday surgeon did him proud. I'm so glad. Make sure he gets up to walk a little if he's able. It's not exercise he's looking for right now, but movement is good. They can help with the bags by hooking them to a walker.

He will get pretty gross by the time they let him take a shower. That is just the best moment, when they take your temp pacemaker wires out, and you can finally get under that water. The nurse said, "You'll be able to take a shower, now. I'll be right back to help you." I ran in and had both hands over my head scrubbing my hair in seconds. The nurse would have choked, because you're not supposed to put both hands over your head for days yet, and they probably don't want you unattended in the shower at all. By the time she came back, I was shiny clean and mostly dressed. She just rolled her eyes.

I hope Mike's surgical recovery report winds up reading like mine: "Patient ambulated throughout an entirely unremarkable recovery."

Very best wishes,

 

[Polcat]

other side of the mountain

other side of the mountain

Mike, glad to hear everything went well, the hardest part is over- the wait! From here on it gets better everyday, some better than others though. Just do what the doctors tell ya! Waiting to hear your story when your up to it. Gordie

 

[tobagotwo]

My wife and I are headed up to a lake in Middleboro, MA, then to Cape Cod for a week, so likely no posts from yours truly. I'm sure the membership can use the rest.

I will be looking to see how you are doing when I get back, so I guess you'd better do well, so you'll be home to post.

Your recovery will cross my mind, even in mid-cast.

Very best wishes,

 

[BillCobit]

Great News!

Great News!

Glad you are over the hump, Mike!

 

[Lois Lane]

Mike and Family-
We are all thrilled to hear the good news. Let's hope recovery goes as smoothly! Tell Mike he is still in our thoughts with continued good thoughts and wishes....

 

[tommy]

Mike,

Great news. Sounds like the worst is over. Welsome to the other side of the mountain.

 

[Karlynn]

Mike,
Glad to hear the good news of your surgery. Wishing you a smooth recovery.

 

[bvdr]

Welcome to this side of the mountain, Mike. I'm glad to hear you have made it through the surgery and now can concentrate on getting well. Please keep up informed as to how your recovery is going. You know we really do care.

 

[Rich]

Mike and family,
Welcome to the 'other side'.
Sounds like you are doing quite well and that's great news.
I had the same hospital and surgical team also and that gave me confidence that Mike was in good hands.
I'm right here in Shelby twp so if I can offer any help or advice just feel free to contact me.

Rich

 

[Debrinha GT]

You've made it!

You've made it!

Hello Mike, how are you getting on? I bet you must be wondering who will be chatting this evening, won't you? After two weeks without being able to use the computer because it was away to get fixed, I'm back now and I still have a lot of catching up to do. I hope you're doing OK and can be back for a good chat soon. Take care!

 

[RayinSF]

Mike,

Glad to hear everything went well! Sounds like your on the road to recovery.

~Ray

 

[KathyH]

Mike, Glad to hear your surgery is over and all went well. thanks to your family for posting. Each day will be better.
Kathy H

 

[Georgia]

Hurray, Mike!!!

So glad that all went well. Am waiting for updates! Hope you'll be getting home soon.

 

[danielgilboa]

Hi Mike's family member,

What's your name? we would like to know you. Your role in the scene is very important in being by mike and supporting him through this.

The first stages you described are incredibly quick, we hope he is continuing along this line. Anyway, there will be ups and downs, thats part of the game don't loose your motivation.

And alway remember - breath (yeah, easy said...), walk, smile!

We are waiting for your next update.

Daniel

 

[Ed From San Diego]

Update on Mike

Update on Mike

Everyone,

Speaking for the Tyburski Family:

Mike is improving steadily and well on the road to recovery. From what we have been told all the stages he has gone through have been within what is considered normal for the type of operation he had. (Although I am sure that he expected to be jumping out of his bed the day after his procedure). His vitals took a couple of days to stabilize, but they are solid as of today. The nurses stated that with the combination of both a valve replacement plus the new arotic artery, it just takes the heart and the body more time to get the "exhaust tuned" and the engine timing adjusted (Mike is an engineer at Daimler Chrysler). All of the tubes save for some IV meds have been removed, much to his relief. The only remaining issue that needs to clear is a little bit of chest congestion.

He is still in ICU, but mainly because the hospital he is in has lots of vacancies right now in that unit. They figure since there is no push to move him to a regular room, he can still get first class treatment in a room with a great outdoor view (I was very impressed with the ICU at this hospital)! Today he was sitting up in a chair, eating food, and his morale is steadily improving. He has been through a biblical ordeal and quite a bit of pain, but he is gutting it out just fine (I am sure that he would be growling at me right now if he read this!). I think he is probably feeling like Evil Knievel after he attempted that jump over the fountains at Caesar's Palace. The only difference is Mike made that jump! If all goes well, he should be going home by the end of the week.

This has been a tough and tiring road for all involved, but an amazing road just the same. The whole family is thanking God for Mike making it through the operation and on the road to recovery. I will probably post some thoughts on another thread about this whole very significant life altering experience for even the family members of someone going through this procedure. It sure has changed all of us forever.

Mike, when you read this, know that I am in total and absolute awe of you accepting this challenge and getting through it. It has been a profound experience. For you, it has been like climbing Mt. Everest without oxygen. I am sure you will have many a story to tell when you are able to update everyone on your journey to the other side of the mountain! I will be looking forward to you skiing back into base camp in a couple of days !

Mike's older brother, Ed.

 

[Lois Lane]

Ed -
Thank you for the update on Mike. Surgery and its effect on family and your life is amazing - too difficult for most to understand unless they have been through it. Mike is in our thoughts daily - we all hope for a smooth recovery from here...
Lois

 

[Ross]

It's tough for the families alright, but what do you think the patient feels?

It is life changing and anyone that doesn't believe it is way off base.

 

[bvdr]

Ed,
Thank-you for the timely post. It lifts everyone's spirits to read of another one of us on the road of recovery. Tell him we said hello and his name is still being mentioned in prayers.