Slight Bump for Kay

[happyheart]

Texas Kay was moved from ICU to a private room today and she's up and walking around.

Unfortunately, Sister Jill reports Kay is not tolerating the pain meds as well as could be hoped and she's having some chest pain. Help Kay deal with that with your good thoughts and prayers.

--Jim
San Diego

 

[Bryan B]

Jim,

Not uncommon for pain meds to cause side effects that make you miserable. Hopefully they can find something that will help her pain without making her sick. Will say an extra prayer for her tonight.

 

[Karlynn]

I don't handle pain meds well either. It's either Morphine or Extra Strength Tylenol, nothing else seems to work. After my replacement I went from Morphine in the CICU to Tylenol in the stepdown unit. I - literally - feel Kay's pain. Tell her to hang in there, this too shall come to pass.

 

[PapaHappyStar]

Best wishes to Kay, hope her recovery keeps getting better. Off to the OR myself in the morning. Hope I do well like my neighbors in recovery.

 

[gijanet]

Sending good vibes.............

Sending good vibes.............

prayers, and hugs - gentle ones - to Kay. Katie always has a horrible time coming off the morphine and sedatives, too. Hope Kay's on the mend tomorrow and feeling better soon. Give her our love, please.

 

[tobagotwo]

If she's on morphine, see if they can move her to fentanyl. It's a cousin of morphine, but has greatly reduced effects on the stomach and intestines, and produces much less grogginess.

I used it in the hospital, and heartily recommend it for whomever it's appropriate. I frequently mention it, but may have blown it on your post and Kay's.

Depending on her other meds, there's Ultram (tramadol), too.

Best wishes,

 

[Gemma]

Depending on her other meds, there's Ultram (tramadol), too.

Hmm, Jim had tramadol... They gave him a box of 84 tablets to bring home from the hospital - we ended up giving 74 back to the pharmacy as he couldn't stand the hallucinations and feeling "out of it". Managed on paracetamol from the end of the first week at home.

 

[tobagotwo]

Aww...you had extras?! They made me feel like I was back in college in the early 70's...I woulda paid the postage for you to send them here...



Seriously, I didn't have any of those effects with it. It's amazing that these drugs can be such a crapshoot, with such varied responses from different people's systems. So I guess the tramadol is a try-it-and-see experience.

Still, the folks who have used the Fentanyl have been generally far more favorable on it than the morphine. I had it in a patient-controlled drip.

Best wishes,

 

[chilihead]

Texas Kay Update

Texas Kay Update

I went to see Kay last Thursday and she was doing well. Probably needed to rest more but everyone was calling and coming to see her. Her sister was there with her. Also, my other friend Doug had his Ross proceude done on the same day by the same surgeon and he and Kay were in rooms next to each other. Freaky! He was doing great and had been reading the news paper.

I'm sure they're both home by now and resting comfortably in their own surrounds. As I left the hospital I remembered how long it took me to walk to the elevator last year after my surgery. What a difference a year makes!

Best wishes for Kay and Doug to get back on their feet. They both received a special Christmas gift.

Happy Holidays,

Jim

 

[ARossGuy]

Back at Home

Back at Home

Hello All,
This is my first post! I had the Ross Procedure done last Tuesday by Dr. Ryan, Dallas, Texas. I had surgery the same day as Kay! Mine was done in the morning, while Kay's Op was in the afternoon (also performed by Dr.Ryan). It is good to be back at home now, and lucky for me, my recovery is going great -no pain, no meds! Thank God everything went so well.

I am glad to hear Kay is also at home and recovering well. I also want to thank Jim for the visit and strong words of encouragement. Getting to the other side of the mountain is a great Christmas gift!
Regards,
Doug

 

[bvdr]

Welcome to this forum, Doug. I'm glad to hear that everything is going so well for you. Make yourself comfortable and feel free to join in our sometimes lively discussions.