Saw Surgeon today

[carlapv]

Hi All,
I saw my surgeon today. He says replace both the AV and MV. I asked if I could wait three months and he said I could try. I will call to schedule the surgery after December 1, 2003.
I must say that i don't really feel relief at having a definitive answer. I feel like I've been punched in the stomach. I have been dealing with this , knowing it was coming since 1995. You would think I would be ready....I thought I was. Maybe in a few days it will sink in. I was soooo ready for my appointment, I had all my questions written down. Did not ask a single one! How stupid can you get!!! Oh well, hopefully I will get to ask him before the surgery.

Just thought I would let you all know the latest.

Carla

 

[Ross]

Carla none of us were. What you feel, we've all felt. Johnny Stephens put it best. "It's like they called my bluff" or something to that effect. Of course you feel sick. Manage those fears and prepare. If you start going downhill quickly, don't go waiting 3 months. Get it taken care of. It's more important to have your around then to try to wait it out. You sure don't want to wait until there is permanent damage done.

We cares abouts ya!

 

[bvdr]

Yes Carla, I remember that feeling in the pit of my stomach when I first saw Dr. Glower in June and he asked me if I had all dental work complete. The reality of what was happening started becoming less objective and more personal.

In the meantime, we are here for you....you know that. I'm waiting for my records from Duke since there were so many things I didn't ask either. I think I just want to read things for myself.

Remember that thing about the wait...

 

[ccrawford]

Hi Carla - Hey lady, take a deep breath, relax and say to yourself - Its going to be ok, Its going to be ok. You have a whole boatload of people here who will talk you though all of this stuff. Of course you're upset, of course you forgot to ask the surgeon all those questions - we all did that stuff too. This is pretty scary stuff when you first encounter it. When you start to understand all the pieces,however, its not so bad. You have many friends here who have experienced just what you went through, and we'll be here to talk you through it all. Right now though, I want you to just think about how fortunate you are to have found out what the problems are before they snuck up on you. You are a really lucky young lady, and you're gonna stay lucky, so start to breath deep, relax a little, and tell yourself that its all gonna be OK. Your buddy, Chris

 

[MelissaM]

Hey Carla,

Remember that one breakup? The one you knew was gonna happen - you could SOO see the writing on the wall. . .and yet how it TOTALLY sucked when it actually happened? I think valve surgery is kinda similar. Even when you see it coming, it is still a shock to actually hear the words.

Now that you have a real surgery and soon a real date, you can start to really work at being mentally prepared - that slow process that creeps along a day at a time until one day you wake up calm and ready. Its strange that way. . .

Just know that we will be here for you as you begin your journey, wishing you all the best.

Melissa

 

[carlapv]

Y'all are the best!! I really thought I was all ready..everything in order and just a matter of when and which valves. I have read everything I could find and you know I watch this site all the time. It has surprised me how not ready I am. I will try my best to sit back, take a deep breath, and think positive thoughts.

Chris, I have not been able to think about anything but the respirator since I left the surgeon's office, that was the one big thing I wanted to discuss but it went wherever all my other questions went.

Maybe there is some truth to those blond jokes!!

Carla

 

[nadi]

It's not being blonde that does it!

It's not being blonde that does it!

Carla,

I did the same thing and I haven't been a blonde(natural or bottle) in a really long time! There are still some questions that I still want answered and I am now 4+ months post.

One thing you might do is call the office and ask if you send him a list of questions you did not ask. A lot of dr's will be happy to answer question that way.

Remember take a deep breath.

 

[Georgia]

Congrats, Carla

Congrats, Carla

OK, that sounds a little strong. But this is truly the beginning of the beginning. You'll be so amazed a year from now at how well you feel. And of course the whole thing is scary. But hot d*mn - you have all that time to shop and prepare and get your stuff together.

Respirator: PLEASE don't let this become the bogeyman. With VERY few exceptions it's one of the least of your worries. You are so doped up that it isn't all that bad. And I'm not Bonnie here who was put to sleep one day and woke up a week later ready to go home. I remember the removal of the tube quite well; and it still doesn't scare me in retrospect. I think the worst part about it (immediately post-surgery) was that I was such a grouch. I was FURIOUS that I was thirsty and couldn't get a huge drink of water. And I was mad that it was noisy and I was just generally ill-tempered (but not in pain that I recollect). Now - given that those are the worst memories immediately after surgery for me, and I'm the original wimp, you'll do well. Think pms to the nth degree.

Poor Steve - another one abandoning the waitingroom.

Hang in there, Carla. The shock will pass and we'll get you through all this prep time.

 

[Susan Allen]

Hi Carla,
You are by no means dumb. I went to the surgeon last Monday and had my notebook open - pen in hand and when reality hit I never asked one thing I really wanted to know and wrote done absolutely nothing. But I did make it out with a confident decision. If you are like me the surgeon will have a nurse or another staff member who you can call with any questions anytime (during business hours) - sometimes it good to get the info anyway a little at a time. If you have something only the dr. can answer I was told he would get back to me within a day or 2.
One other thing - I was also thinking of a December surgery but changed my mind to Oct. 16 - in retrospect I wish I would have said the next day and be done with it. Just something to think about - I'm thinking the sooner it's over I can stop the waiting and wondering which I am now believing (like these good folks have said many times) is worse than the surgery. It hit me like a ton of bricks also. I never thought on July 27 th of this year that on July 28 th on a routine check that I would be told I needed surgery and soon. Never saw that train coming when it hit me full speed.

Just remember you are not alone and take it a little at a time
Good luck - keep in touch

Susan

 

[Ross]

Johnny Stephens words exactly. I can never forget this!

Before I had a date, I was all gung-ho to get it nailed down so I could get on with it. Then, once I actually got it, it was "well, er, ok, I guess." I felt like somebody was calling my bluff, LOL.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Carla-

Of course, it's a shock to hear the one thing you thought was out there somewhere and might never happen, is really going to happen.

But now you know that there is a definite end to all the worrying and waiting. Now you can get on with your life. Now the heart problems will finally be addressed. Now you know that you will be feeling better in the not too distant future. Now you know you will be safe. Now you know your life will be spared. Now you know you will have a much better quality of life.

You have the perfect amount of time to get things done before you have to go to the hospital. We'll all be here to help you approach your date.

Try not to schedule it around the holidays. Hospitals are not well staffed during those times.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Carla,
I know it is easy for us to say, everything will be alright, because we are on the other side now. I know when I saw my surgeon it was on Good Friday and had surgery the next monday and I didn't have all of you to help me through it. How I wish I had found this place before and had time to prepare. You have so many wonderful people behind you and pulling for you. Don't worry about the breathing tube. They will have you to a point that you will not remember it. Once surgery is over you are on the otherside with us and getting better everyday.
Take care and keep us updated.

Dave
__________________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[MelissaM]

After several episodes of these-are-the-questions-I-want-to-ask-but-DIDN'T, I came up with a technique that seems to work pretty well. Prior to my appointment, I type up all of my questions and print out two copies - one for me and one for the doctor. By having all of the questions presented at once, the doctor seems to be better able to frame his or her comments, go down the list in an orderly fashion, and -the best part - you don't feel like you are going on and on and on with questions.

Another little technique that I learned: the doctor comes in all in a hustle, rushing you through his routine, asking you quick questions in a hurried tone. I learned that sometimes by answering his or her questions in a slow, deliberate, calm fashion the doctor also slowed down and got out of his or her hurried pace (otherwise, I tended to get wrapped up in their pace and feel rushed).

Susan - glad to see you have moved up your date! We'll put October 16th on the calendar

Melissa

 

[ccrawford]

Carla - Go back and read all those old posts about the tube again. As you read them, you'll see that eventually, my anxiety diminished way down to minimal. Yours will too. Make sure your cardio and surgeon know about the anxiety and maybe they'll make sure you get a little extra sedation in the ICU. If you're lucky, you may get to sleep through it all like Bonnie did - heck, you may even get a cute male prep nurse ! Chris

 

[carlapv]

Thanks everyone for all the encouraging replies. I am sure that when this is all over I will look back and say it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. When I was a child my mother had to just show up at school to take me to the doctor or dentist otherwise I would make myself sick with worrying about it. I guess I haven't changed much.

Melissa, I had a typed list of all the questions I wanted to ask but it never left my purse, I forgot that it was there. I think I am going to fax his office a list of questions and see if they will get the answers for me.

One question _ the surgeon told me that I had a 92% chance of making it through surgery and a 75% chance of making it completely through surgery and initial recovery without any complications. Is this abour right? Did y'all hear the same?

Thanks again for all your support.

Carla

 

[KimC]

Carla, I can't answer your last question. Despite my higher education and professional training, I am a complete Dodo when it comes to cardio appointments. Yesterday, I typed out my questions, printed two copies, then walked out the door with neither.

What I love about this community is that we can share in the insanity of what we've gone or may go through.



Dodo: In the year 1598 AD, Portuguese sailors landing on the shores of the island of Mauritius discovered a previously unknown species of bird, the Dodo. Having been isolated by its island location from contact with humanity, the dodo greeted the new visitors with a child-like innocence. The sailors mistook the gentle spirit of the dodo, and its lack of fear of the new predators, as stupidity. They dubbed the bird "dodo" (meaning something similar to a simpleton in the Portuguese tongue).

 

[Les]

Carla,
Go with that 92%! My first AVR I had bacterial endocarditis running rampant and they lowered me to about 80%. The second, they dropped it another 5-10 because of going in again. You'll do great!!! We all know it!
__________________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[Birky]

respirator

respirator

This was my biggest fear also. When I woke up in ICU, the tube was out. I can't remember it ever being in. I guess I was given some med. that made you not remember. Thank heavens for this. My Cardiologist told me for years to quit smoking or I would have a hard time getting of the machine. I had this in back of my mind for years and was scared to death. I found out in the beginning of December that it had to be done and waited to Jan. to have angiogram and TEE. Saw the surgeon in the beginning of Feb. and had surgery on the 27th. The holidays were really a bummer last year with this hanging over my head. Am looking forward to this year since I feel so good. Good luck. P.S., I have not smoked for almost 7 mos. and are not going back to the nasty habit.

 

[Les]

Marcia,
Seven months and continuing! Way to go!
_________________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[carlapv]

Marcia,

Congratulations on both the surgery and the smoking. I am doing really good with the smoking (I think). My husband thinks I am now the meanest woman in our town. He stopped smoking about 5 years ago and of course never had much of a problem.

Thanks again for the support and you keep getting better and better.

Carla