Surgery on Friday

[Wade]

First-time poster. New to posting on any forum for that matter...

I have aortic valve replacement surgery scheduled at The Heart Hospital Baylor in Plano, Texas this Friday morning, April 29th. Dr. Ryan will do the Ross Procedure if he feels I am a good candidate for it during the surgery and my fall-back is a mechanical valve.

I think I am prepared. Personal, professional and estate planning matters are in order. I'm curiously not nervous right now.....although I fully expect to feel nauseated the morning of the surgery.

Any last minute advice? Anything you wished you would have done prior to surgery that you didn't know to do?

 

[Freddie]

Hi Wade and welcome to the forum.
Personally, I wished I had a bunch of frozen dinners prepared, so I didn't have to cook when I got home. Also some extra cash around the house so I could order in and to give the neighbor when I needed something from the store.

BTW (by-the-way) good luck come Friday

 

[skeptic49]

Welcome to the forum and best wishes for your surgery!

Jim

 

[Cooker]

Wade, welcome to the forum and best wishes for your surgery ... these things are nearly if not routine ... many of us felt a strange calm about it ... you will do fine ....Godspeed...

 

[Duffey]

Hi, Wade.

Many report a lack of appetite for a week or two following avr, so I'd suggest you eat your favorite foods today and tomorrow and get a good night's sleep.
Please let us know how you're doing post-op, and we'll look for you on the other side of this.

 

[esvaja]

Hello,
I'm 3 weeks out from my AVR, dialated aorta tuck, & atria hole (patent foramen) stitched. The only thing I wish I would have done better is be better prepared physically - you know walking, excercising being in better physical shape. Remember it most likely won't be a linear recovery, good days & bad days, bumps inna road as they say!!!

Daiva

 

[Greg a]

Wade, a heart felt WELCOME to our OHS family er are all brohers and sisters in OHS YES THE WAITING IS THE WORST PARTand you are taking a short cut I am adding you to the VR calendar there is a wealth of knowledge here for the future .....


-Bob/tobagotwo has up dated a list of acronyms and short forms http://www.valvereplacement.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8494&d=1276042314

-what to ask pre surgery http://www.valvereplacement.org/for...68-Pre-surgery-consultation-list-of-questions

-what to take with you to the hospital http://www.valvereplacement.org/forums/showthread.php?13283-what-to-take-to-the-hospital-a-checklist

-Preparing the house for post surgical patients http://www.valvereplacement.org/for...Getting-Comfortable-Around-the-House&p=218802

These are from various forum stickies and there is plenty more to read as well


And Lynw recently added this PDF on what to expect post op
http://www.sts.org/documents/pdf/whattoexpect.pdf

 

[nngbwh]

Wade, Welcome aboard. Wishing you a successful surgery this coming Friday. Make sure you keep us posted.

 

[epstns]

Hi, Wade,

I'm now 8 weeks post-op from an aortic valve, bypass and pacemaker. I, too, felt that curious calm for the weeks prior to surgery. It was so pronounced that my family was wondering where I got whatever drugs I must have taken. No drugs -- just the thought that all the decisions had already been made and all I had to do was follow the schedule.

If you've got it all planned out, you will likely do just fine. I don't think I would have done anything any differently -- at least not any of the things I could actually control. My recovery was one of the ones with speed bumps, but I think I have made up all the lost ground and at 8 weeks I feel good, am working (part time), driving and even getting to the gym to walk on the treadmill for a couple of miles a day. Plan on putting life on hold for a few weeks until you feel well enough to get back into it. Don't rush it -- we all recover at our own rates. The important consideration is that with very few exceptions, we all do recover.

Good luck, and keep us posted. When you get back on the boards here, we will be here for you.

 

[Greg a]

Today was Wade's day

 

[Natina13]

Wade, keeping you in my prayers and hoping for an uneventful, speedy recovery for you. Best of Luck.....see you on the other side of the mountain.
Renee

Go Team 2011 !!!