Surgery - 1 May

[AngelaR]

I have been posting in the Vavle Selection side of the site, but now that we have made our selection I will post what has been happening and what will happen over here.

My hubby, Ray, who is 32 will be have an On-X replace his insufficient bicuspid aortic valve on 1 May at VCU, Richmond, VA by Dr. Derek Brinster.

We met with Dr. Brinster and his nurses on Friday and we were put right to ease. Ray will also be participating in the current FDA clinical trial study. We won't find out until 3 months post op which group he will be in. If he is in the control group his INR will be kept at 2 or he will be in the ARM and take the PLAVIX and aspirin. It is computer generated as to which group and we have no control over it.

On 6 April he will start a 7 day treatment of Plavix and 81mg Aspirin and then on 14 April we go back to VCU for blood work to determine if he is sensitive to that regime and all the other pre-op paperwork, EKG, physical, etc.

This is about an hour and a half drive for us. His sister, Tracy, is going to be coming up from Tampa, FL to stay with us for the first week. We plan to stay at a hotel in the area for the first 4 days or so. Tracy and our daughters will stay there and I will stay with Ray. If all is well then Tracy will take the girls back home so they can go back to school on Monday.

I refuse to stress or worry. Everyone on this website has been just awesome in giving us insight on what to expect. So I feel like we've done our research on valves and surgeons and have chosen the best for us and now we have to put it in his hands.

The girls and I have been working on a 16x20 poster that we will frame for Ray to have in his room while he recovers. The girls drew their hand prints and then glittered and sparkled it and there are pictures of them, Ray and I, Ray and his friends, family. It's looking very nice and hopefully will keep his spirits up.

I am starting to put together his hosptial bag. I got some brand new chapstick, sweat pants, and slippers for him. I am going to get him one of his UA t-shirts that he likes and cut it down the front and sew some velcro in it so it opens down the front. He'll probably just wear the hospital gown while he is there but for when he goes to leave.

Anyone else have anything else that they know, other than the standard body wash, tooth brush and like hygiene gear, we will need?

Anything in particular that I may need? We have a traveling DVD player, so I will take that and Sirius Stilleto.

Any recommendations?

 

[Susan BAV]

It sounds like you have all your ducks in a row, Angela! Bring some change for a vending machine for yourself and maybe a camera. I didn't have any pictures taken of myself but recently met up with some other Valvers who had some photos taken. Would your husband like a bit of his experience chronicled in that manner? Throw a big pillow in your vehicle for transport home--for protection over his sternum.

Regarding the velcro, even the stitching where you might sew the velcro on will be irritating to his incision.

Hoping all goes well! Best wishes!

 

[WayneGM]

Check out this thread on what to bring to the hospital....

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13283

 

[Mary]

I just put him on our surgery calendar, so you're covered in terms of prayers and support!

 

[Freddie]

Good for you Angela, sounds like you have almost everything covered. You may want to bring ear plugs....them rooms can get rather loud at 3am.

I'm also concerned about the velcro, that might be very irritating. Does Ray have a lite sweatshirt he can wear? Or maybe buy a T-shirt thats at least one size larger than he usually wears...just a thought.

Good Luck and best wishes

 

[ctyguy]

Glad to hear your settled now and at ease. I know you were not happy with the first surgeon and it sounds like Dr. Brinster has given you some peace of mind. I've got the On-X valve also but am not in the clinical study, Im on the Coumadin for now. Here at Ohio State they are looking for volunteers and I am considering it, but for now I just want to get back to my life, even if it means im on the coumadin.

Your husband and I had the identical condition, im just 10 years older. Im 4 weeks and a few days post-op now and am off the pain meds and just taking Tylenol. Biggest issue I have now is sleeping. Im a stomach sleeper and thats not a position I can lay in comfortably at this point. My incision is still healing and I don't want to stick to the bed or for my shirt to stick to the incision itself.
Im on the treadmill each day now for 1/2 hr doing brisk walks and working up a sweat. I expect to be running in two weeks when my cardiologist clears me to get back to work and exercise.

We took pictures through the whole process, even some of the less that pretty moments but its something I wanted to look back on. Other than what you have listed a camera is the only thing I might consider adding.

Good luck to you and your husband, he will be back on his feet before you know it !

 

[njean]

Good for you Angela, sounds like you have almost everything covered. You may want to bring ear plugs....them rooms can get rather loud at 3am.

I'm also concerned about the velcro, that might be very irritating. Does Ray have a lite sweatshirt he can wear? Or maybe buy a T-shirt thats at least one size larger than he usually wears...just a thought.

Good Luck and best wishes

And, I would suggest a light jacket or sweater for you when you visit him in recovery & his room. They keep those rooms so darn cold but they have to because the patients need that! Best of luck to him & let us know how things go. Will keep you in my prayers!

 

[AngelaR]

Thank you for all the suggestions and well wishes.

I will add the camera and some ear plugs to the list as well.

I'm taking the DVD player more for the girls then for either one of us. Our 8 year old really wants to be there but I know she will get bored fast. Tracy and I are planning on alternating shifts between the kids and Ray. That way someone is always with him and they aren't bored and driving us all crazy.

It would be a lot easier if they were done with school for the summer. I could send them to grandma's for a few days, but I know that Ray will want to see them.

He does have sweatshirts. Is that what is recommended over a shirt that opens in the front? I was under the impression that his incision would be bandaged up and that a shirt that opened in the front would be easier to get on then lifting your hands over your head. If the incision is bandaged I can't see anything rubbing on it.

Yes, the waiting is the hardest part. However, I am glad we have this time to prepare. Logistics, logistics, logistics!

 

[Jkm7]

Boith my OHS, I only had steristrips over my incision. Considering how big the surgery, the bandaging is really quite limited. I had no problem pulling jerseys/tops on and off over my head. The sound of those velcro strips didn't sound real comfortable to me. I'm 4 1/2 weeks post op and have worn jerseys everyday since I came home.

The best of good luck to your DH and you. Sounds like you are very well prepared and he should do just fine. You have made all the arrangements you need to.

 

[Freddie]

Anegla, not all incision's are bandaged up. I think most are left open to breath - at least mine was. Maybe ask your surgeon how he is planing on sewing Ray up.

Ray shouldn't have any problems lifting his arms up and getting shirts over his head - unless of course he has a big head . Sorry that wasn't nice. He should be just fine putting one arm in at a time in any kind of shirt he wears.

Now try to relax and enjoy your selfs - you'll need your energy next month going to and from the hospital.

Take Care and be good to each other

 

[Ross]

Now the hardest part........Waiting to go.

Entertain yourselves, live it up, get crazy before it happens. We'll see you on the down the moutain.

 

[Phyllis]

It sounds like you have the perfect valve and the perfect surgeon and all your ducks in a row. He will be fine and we look forward to seeing him over the mountain and back to a full recovery.