Rescheduled AGAIN--This is getting old! :)

[RANDYJEAN]

They say the third times the charm, right? Well, it had better be!

As y'all know, I was first scheduled for 2/16, but I came down with a cold. Then I was scheduled for TODAY at 7 a.m. Well, yesterday at approximately 4:20 in the afternoon, I got a call from my surgeon's office canceling me! Eeek! His coordinator's assistant told me he'd unexpectedly been in the OR since 7 and it was gonna go on into the evening. They didn't want him operating on me with sleep-filled eyes, and neither did I. Ha.

So I called back today and re-confirmed THURSDAY this time. They said he ended up in surgery for FOURTEEN hours and I said, "I feel sorry for the patient!" Fortunately, his assistant said the patient was doing fine. Anyway, since my surgeon (and others) keep saying the portal access surgery is more complicated, I'm glad he'll be well-rested and not have an added excuse to resort to the traditional sternotomy.

By the way, anyone hazard a guess as to whether cardiac surgeons have more than their share of emergencies? The reason I ask is because his schedule seems rather fluid. When I was trying to get in for the consult, I got re-routed several times.

Randy

 

[Superbob]

Another delay -- that's a bummer for sure. But it is certainly true that you want a well-rested surgeon. Perhaps it is a good sign that he is so busy -- he is in demand because he is an excellent surgeon.
Sure hoping you get your scheduled time with him this third time around, Randy.

 

[Luana]

Oh, gosh, Randy, the time waiting just before the surgery is probably the worst! I guess it depends how busy the hospital(s) he's at. Winter may bring more car crashes resulting in chest traumas that need emergency surgery?

Wishing you all the best for when you do get your date!
Luana

 

[Star54]

Sorry that you have the delay, but at least you will have him well rested and obviously, since he is in demand a good surgeon. Wishing you lots of luck......Godspeed

 

[Jkm7]

So sorry you've had another delay in your surgery. It is so stressful and I really feel for you.

My first OHS (six years ago), I was the emergency. I didn't understand at the time that I had bumped someone out of their scheduled surgery because of my emergency case. I was just grateful for the wonderful care I was getting at Mass General. My second surgery, four years later, I understood someone could bump me this time and I admit to thinking about it on and off during the wait. Thankfully, my surgery went as scheduled but to this day I thank the person who had to wait in order for me to use their surgeon and OR time.

Hopefully, the patient who took 14 hours of your surgeon's efforts will thrive, recover well and have a wonderful life and you will have had a share in that success.

Best wishes to you.

 

[hall]

Sorry your surgery was delayed but much better to have your surgeon nice and rested. Best of luck to you.

 

[karen14]

GOOD LUCK Randy! Just wishing all goes well for you, and that it really goes this time! Luv, ~Karen

 

[Johan]

Will be thinking of you on Thursday!

 

[nngbwh]

You will be in my prayers. Keep us posted.

 

[Luana]

From: RandyJean
"Anyway, since my surgeon (and others) keep saying the portal access surgery is more complicated."

Randy, I did not hear this once from my surgeon or anyone before my surgery. I got the feeling he favored this approach. His only hesitation about it being suitable for me was answered when I had a CT scan and he said he saw no problem accessing aortic valve through portal access. If he said it was more complicated, I think I might have hesitated to want it and have him do what was least complicated for him. Maybe he left that unsaid; I don't know; I guess he does it a lot. I saw in another post you're in southern CA, for some reason I thought you were up north. If you have any more delays with your surgeon, I'd strongly recommend Dr. Daniel Bethencourt at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
Luana

 

[irel]

Randy
good luck with the surgery, whenever it occurs. I am scheduled for Mar 29th, so we will soon see if I encounter similar delays. As you clearly state, I would rather have a rested surgeon and be first at the post rather than last.
Gord

 

[RANDYJEAN]

Thanks for all the good wishes, everyone!

To JKM7: Yeah, I totally "get" that I'm not an emergency, so I didn't begrudge getting canceled at all. I just felt for the patient who needed him. One of my friends responded to my delay with "oh, how unprofessional" and I thought, huh?? Unprofessional? For a well-educated woman, HOW could she so misconstrue the situation? Duh.

To Luana: Yes, I'm in southern California...BUT...I have an HMO so I can't just go anywhere. It was a little like pulling teeth to get permission to go "outside my group" to find a doctor who does the portal access procedure. That's so interesting that no one ever told you "it was more complicated." From my research, I can see where yes, it is a bit more complicated. For one, the heart lung bypass thingy is more work than if they have easy access to your heart. They also have to make the extra incision for the stuff that halts the heart's beating. The way the cardiac coordinator at the hospital put it: it's harder on the surgeon, but easier for the patient as far as recovery goes. (Well, yay...that's what I'M interested in. LOL)

Anyway, I'll keep ya'll posted...right now it looks like a go for 7 a.m. tomorrow!

~Randy

 

[Lily]

Best wishes for a successful surgery and recovery !

 

[Luana]

Randy,
Didn't know about your HMO. I trust all will go well for you as planned. My connection to the heart/lung machine was via femoral artery and vein, and as far as I know I had no extra incision, unless there was an incision inside the incision? The nurses I talked to when I went for my pre-op also seemed like nothing was out of the ordinary with the procedure. The only thing that gave me pause was when I was signing the consent form and it said "possible port acess," which, of course, was a CYA for the surgeon just in case he needed to do a sternotomy. Nurse said if he told me he could do the portal access, he would unless something unforeseen came up. I'm glad it worked out as planned.

I have no regrets about way it was done and can't imagine how I could have had a better result. Wishing you all the same!

Keeping you in my prayers tomorrow. Can't wait to hear how great you're doing when you're done.
Luana

 

[Herburban1]

I know how you feel mine was postponed twice due to my uterus acting up so we got rid of it then 2 weeks after my body decided to hemorrhage one more time and back into surgery I went....Third time was a charm for me...smooth sailing.

 

[COLLEEN S]

Any hospital will have delays, but especially teaching hospitals that have a medical school attached to them. I am thinking this is the case with you?