M
mike shields
My AVR surgery date has been set for Dec.19/03. Thinking about going off work in the mean time, having alot of problems with retaining water and getting no sleep.
mike
mike
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
Ross
Well-known member
I put you on the calendar of fame.
Try to hang in there. I'm trying to figure out why they want to do you on a Friday before the holidays.
Try to hang in there. I'm trying to figure out why they want to do you on a Friday before the holidays.
M
mike shields
Ross the one good thing about having it near Christmas is my kids won't miss any school when they stay at there grandparents.
mike
mike
Ross
Well-known member
True! Well it'll be a nice Christmas present for everyone, even if you don't exactly feel like superman during the holidays. Do you have anyone that can post for you when you go in?
hensylee
Well-known member
Mike, you have reached the side road that leads up the mountain. Anything you want to know ahead of time, we are here to tell you, if we can. And we can.
I had my first OH on Dec. 18th (in 1997). I was out of the hospital in just three days (probably too soon, but you know insurance...). The one thing that surprised me was on Christmas day, as we opened presents, I had to stop in the middle to go take a nap. Who would figure that sitting in a chair and opening presents could be so tiring? 
But hey, you'll be pampered a bit extra this year, I'm betting! Good luck!
But hey, you'll be pampered a bit extra this year, I'm betting! Good luck!
M
mike shields
I think maybe my oldest daughter will post for me when I'm having surgery. Well if I home for Christmas that would be nice, but by going by the last 3 I don't think so. After the first two I was home in 13 days and the last one it was 10 days.
G
Georgia
No sleep
No sleep
Mike, are you not sleeping because you can't breathe? Or are you losing sleep because of worry, etc.? Because if you can't lie down to sleep because of chf you need to get help. You can be given an iv of lasix to get all that off your lungs and then supported until surgery with meds - that's what they did for me. When I was diagnosed I was sitting up sleeping leaning forward. Even with lasix orally I had the same problem. After one round of iv lasix the oral meds were able to keep my lungs clear and fluids down until surgery.
If this is the case for you, please contact your cardiologist - you need to be in the best condition possible for your surgery.
And if you just can't sleep because of worry, you might want to tell your doc that, too - that's really quite easy to resolve for the limited period of time you have to go until surgery. You don't need to be stoic about this.
Hope you're checking all the threads with really good advice about preparing for surgery.
Keep in touch with us. This is a pretty scary time for you.
No sleep
Mike, are you not sleeping because you can't breathe? Or are you losing sleep because of worry, etc.? Because if you can't lie down to sleep because of chf you need to get help. You can be given an iv of lasix to get all that off your lungs and then supported until surgery with meds - that's what they did for me. When I was diagnosed I was sitting up sleeping leaning forward. Even with lasix orally I had the same problem. After one round of iv lasix the oral meds were able to keep my lungs clear and fluids down until surgery.
If this is the case for you, please contact your cardiologist - you need to be in the best condition possible for your surgery.
And if you just can't sleep because of worry, you might want to tell your doc that, too - that's really quite easy to resolve for the limited period of time you have to go until surgery. You don't need to be stoic about this.
Hope you're checking all the threads with really good advice about preparing for surgery.
Keep in touch with us. This is a pretty scary time for you.
M
mike shields
Hi Georgia, I think must of my problems with sleeping is the shift work. I've had sleeping problems for a long time, even after my last surgery in 99 I mention to the nurse that I was only sleeping 4hrs at a time. They give me sleeping pills the next two nights and I was able to sleep for 6hrs, but wake up in more pain. The problems with my swelling is mostly when I at work, it doesn't matter if I'm on my feet for 10-12 hrs or sitting for that down most of the time. I'm not worrying yet about the surgery, as this will be my fourth one, maybe when it's a couple days away then I'll worry.
mike
mike
Nancy
Well-known member
Hi Mike-
You're probably on diuretics for your fluid, but if your legs and feet are swelling, have you tried any support knee-hi socks? They can help a lot.
Also, I'm pretty sure you letting your doctor know about the fluid, right?
You're probably on diuretics for your fluid, but if your legs and feet are swelling, have you tried any support knee-hi socks? They can help a lot.
Also, I'm pretty sure you letting your doctor know about the fluid, right?
M
mike shields
Hi Nancy
I've been in contact with my Cardio-Dr. since Jan/03, I have been increasing or changeing duritics since than. I seen on one of the other post's that your husband Joe was using Zaroxolyn, that worked great but the side efforts were not good. I'm currently taking Burinex which is a really strong duritic. I keep telling the doctors that when I go to work that swell up alot more than when I at home. Hopefully after this surgery it will alot better.
mike
I've been in contact with my Cardio-Dr. since Jan/03, I have been increasing or changeing duritics since than. I seen on one of the other post's that your husband Joe was using Zaroxolyn, that worked great but the side efforts were not good. I'm currently taking Burinex which is a really strong duritic. I keep telling the doctors that when I go to work that swell up alot more than when I at home. Hopefully after this surgery it will alot better.
mike
Nancy
Well-known member
Hi Mike-
Joe regularly takes Lasix, and when his fluid becomes a problem, he sometimes gets put on Zaroxolyn. He was just on it. But today's labs showed an elevated creatinine, so he will stop the Zaroxolyn. So you're right that it can be terrific, but it also has to be watched very carefully.
It's tricky for Joe because he can easily slip into kidney failure, so he has lots of lab work, and lots of medication adjustments. He had labs 6 days ago, labs again today, and will have another set done on Friday. It's a real pain, but that's what has to be done for him to keep him regulated.
Joe regularly takes Lasix, and when his fluid becomes a problem, he sometimes gets put on Zaroxolyn. He was just on it. But today's labs showed an elevated creatinine, so he will stop the Zaroxolyn. So you're right that it can be terrific, but it also has to be watched very carefully.
It's tricky for Joe because he can easily slip into kidney failure, so he has lots of lab work, and lots of medication adjustments. He had labs 6 days ago, labs again today, and will have another set done on Friday. It's a real pain, but that's what has to be done for him to keep him regulated.
M
mike shields
Hi Nancy
I was taking 140mg. of lasix plus Zaroxolyn 5mg., now I just take 6mg. of burniex. I hoping that after this surgery I can cut some of the water pills out.
mike
I was taking 140mg. of lasix plus Zaroxolyn 5mg., now I just take 6mg. of burniex. I hoping that after this surgery I can cut some of the water pills out.
mike
Nancy
Well-known member
Hi Mike-
I hope you can get off them too. Many people do.
I hope you can get off them too. Many people do.
T
tiggerangelgirl
hello im also pre surgery
hello im also pre surgery
I am 28 and will be having my first valve surgery soon,tricupsid and mitral valve I also am having major problems with chf,they had me on 180mg of lasix daily and still I was having problems,started doses of iv lasix two months ago and back down to 80 mg a day plus 50mg pf spironolactone,im still having some problems but know it will get better after surgery.Also my doctor took me off all anti-inflamatories that I took for pericarditis and pain,makes your body retain fluid bad even a small dose of advil so please check into thet even a little dose can cause a problem.Hopefully soon we will both be heading down that road into recovery,try not to sleep flat as it can cause your breathing to be labored and support stockings are extreemly helpfull I promise they are not just for woman,go to your local pharmacy and they will measure your legs and you can choose from dress socks toregular looking with support.They will not be as great as the one a dr can prescribe but they will make a diffrence even with the fatigue in your legs which I guess you probaly have also
hello im also pre surgery
I am 28 and will be having my first valve surgery soon,tricupsid and mitral valve I also am having major problems with chf,they had me on 180mg of lasix daily and still I was having problems,started doses of iv lasix two months ago and back down to 80 mg a day plus 50mg pf spironolactone,im still having some problems but know it will get better after surgery.Also my doctor took me off all anti-inflamatories that I took for pericarditis and pain,makes your body retain fluid bad even a small dose of advil so please check into thet even a little dose can cause a problem.Hopefully soon we will both be heading down that road into recovery,try not to sleep flat as it can cause your breathing to be labored and support stockings are extreemly helpfull I promise they are not just for woman,go to your local pharmacy and they will measure your legs and you can choose from dress socks toregular looking with support.They will not be as great as the one a dr can prescribe but they will make a diffrence even with the fatigue in your legs which I guess you probaly have also
M
mike shields
Hi Nicole
I'm going to see my family doctor next week and see about getting the support socks, also asking to go off work until after the surgery. It seems that when I at work I just balloon up, hopefully we both will be over this problem soon.
I'm going to see my family doctor next week and see about getting the support socks, also asking to go off work until after the surgery. It seems that when I at work I just balloon up, hopefully we both will be over this problem soon.
