M
mrsupchurch131
Good news!! All is well with my hubby. Surgery went very well and we expect to come home as early as tomorrow. Thank you all for your care and concern. I'm sure he will post very soon.
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
You know we were all getting a somewhat concerned since we hadn't heard anything.
But so glad to hear everything has gone well and he's coming home.
But so glad to hear everything has gone well and he's coming home.
It's so good to hear such good news. I too was a bit concerned since we hadn't heard anything.
Great News
Remember to get some rest as well.
Earline
Great News
Remember to get some rest as well.
Earline
netmiff
Well-known member
thanks for taking the time to post and update us! now, go get organized to take that hubby home, and don't forget your own rest - be nice to you, too.
Glad to hear things turned out great. Hang in there, we are all behind you and your hubby.
Jjay32
Jjay32
Ross
Well-known member
Thank you! Now I can breath again. 
P
Phyllis
Great news- we will look forward to hearing from him when he gets home!
Great News...Wishing him a smooth and bump free recovery!!
...Wishing him a smooth and bump free recovery!!
So glad to hear this -- hope his recovery goes smoothly, and you can breathe easier and get some rest too,
Jkm7
Well-known member
Wonderful news. Thanks for posting. Please send upchurch best wishes for a smooth and uneventful recovery. Happy to hear he is about to come home.
WayneGM
Well-known member
Great news! Thanks for the update. Wishing your hubby a smooth and speedy recovery.
Marguerite53
Premium Level User
Excellent!! Keep up the good work!
Best wishes.
Marguerite
Best wishes.
Marguerite
pamela
Well-known member
Good morning and good news.
Thanks for posting and thanks for being there as he makes his laps of the ward. It's not as exciting as NASCAR for the average fan, but you're not average by any means. I'm sure you'll be able to applaud each improvement, since that's what's going to happen every day.
Take Heart,
Pamela.
Thanks for posting and thanks for being there as he makes his laps of the ward. It's not as exciting as NASCAR for the average fan, but you're not average by any means. I'm sure you'll be able to applaud each improvement, since that's what's going to happen every day.
Take Heart,
Pamela.
hall
Well-known member
Good news. I know he will feel even better at home.
Deb
Deb
S
Susan BAV
Very nice to read that things have gone well . Take care and best wishes.
. Take care and best wishes.carolyncox
Active member
Am so relieved to hear he is coming home. Been thinking of you.
U
upchurch131
upchurch131 sends his surgery followup
upchurch131 sends his surgery followup
I am very sorry to have been so late in replying. Even though I had wireless computer access in the hospital I probably wouldn't have used it had I brought my laptop. In addition, my wife would have thought I was crazy! I had terrible mood swings- too tired, other things on my mind, mind all over the place. I knew I had to write to all my friends here to tell them I was OK and "over the mountain!" Progress has been so wonderful that I now feel comfortable in sitting down and chatting.
Anyway, I did not have the running around that some of you have experienced the day before surgery. I drove down to the Wyndam across the street and stayed there overnight. We actually walked Michigan Avenue (the manificent mile) 12 hours before surgery started. You see things differently. I was peaceful and ready for this to happen, the next phase of my life. I had it all going for me, the place, the person and the support. I slept well and was the first up when the alarm went off. I prepped with a shower and was ready. We actually got there at 5:15AM for a 5:30AM report time and had to sit and wait. Everything was down in the most organized fashion. The paperwork was a snap (now THAT is something!) and I was taken with a small group of cardiac patients to another floor where cardiac surgery is performed. When we got there (pre surgery prep- I was called immediately. I was in and out of prep in less than 45 minutes. I all seemed to fly by. I don't remember much about it, I was drugged from the prep room into surgery, so I saw nothing.
Bev tells me that surgery called her at 7:30AM and told her that it had started. There were a few progress calls, but Dr. McCarthy called her at 11:30 to inform her the surgery went well. His portion was done. The aneurysm was pretty thin and he was glad this was done now. The valve replacement was routine.
Bev did not see me in CICU until 3:45PM. I was there for the first 24 hours and the only complication at that point was a low blood pressure. They kept monitoring the drains. They still transferred me into a step down room in any case and the wonderful nursing staff monitored the matter. It was low for the first two days than started to come up. I had trouble with respiratory even though I used the "blowy thingee" and coughed until it hurt so bad. Water retention also became an issue. I swelled up in my ankles, feet and hips to the point where I felt the stretch. The ginger ale was good, as one former patient commented, the food was pretty good and my appetite was good. I had ALOT of pain- my bad back contribued to it (and I am positive they moved or stretched me in such a way that contibuted to this mid line pain. So, I took ALL my pain meds and ceased being a martyr.
I was released on July 21, 2008, my birthday! How significant that can be, my rebirth! I was assigned a home health nurse and she visits me and monitors meds, takes labs, etc until they kick me out. I believe cardiac PT will be next. I'm just along for the ride now, they have it in cruise control!
Bev has taken several pictures including the infamous chest incision. The home nurse measured it and it is 23 inches long! So much for a 9 inch incision!
Glad to be back on line with my support team! You have been awesome and instrumentally responsible for the peace I felt leading up to this most serious of surgeries.
upchurch131 sends his surgery followup
I am very sorry to have been so late in replying. Even though I had wireless computer access in the hospital I probably wouldn't have used it had I brought my laptop. In addition, my wife would have thought I was crazy! I had terrible mood swings- too tired, other things on my mind, mind all over the place. I knew I had to write to all my friends here to tell them I was OK and "over the mountain!" Progress has been so wonderful that I now feel comfortable in sitting down and chatting.
Anyway, I did not have the running around that some of you have experienced the day before surgery. I drove down to the Wyndam across the street and stayed there overnight. We actually walked Michigan Avenue (the manificent mile) 12 hours before surgery started. You see things differently. I was peaceful and ready for this to happen, the next phase of my life. I had it all going for me, the place, the person and the support. I slept well and was the first up when the alarm went off. I prepped with a shower and was ready. We actually got there at 5:15AM for a 5:30AM report time and had to sit and wait. Everything was down in the most organized fashion. The paperwork was a snap (now THAT is something!) and I was taken with a small group of cardiac patients to another floor where cardiac surgery is performed. When we got there (pre surgery prep- I was called immediately. I was in and out of prep in less than 45 minutes. I all seemed to fly by. I don't remember much about it, I was drugged from the prep room into surgery, so I saw nothing.
Bev tells me that surgery called her at 7:30AM and told her that it had started. There were a few progress calls, but Dr. McCarthy called her at 11:30 to inform her the surgery went well. His portion was done. The aneurysm was pretty thin and he was glad this was done now. The valve replacement was routine.
Bev did not see me in CICU until 3:45PM. I was there for the first 24 hours and the only complication at that point was a low blood pressure. They kept monitoring the drains. They still transferred me into a step down room in any case and the wonderful nursing staff monitored the matter. It was low for the first two days than started to come up. I had trouble with respiratory even though I used the "blowy thingee" and coughed until it hurt so bad. Water retention also became an issue. I swelled up in my ankles, feet and hips to the point where I felt the stretch. The ginger ale was good, as one former patient commented, the food was pretty good and my appetite was good. I had ALOT of pain- my bad back contribued to it (and I am positive they moved or stretched me in such a way that contibuted to this mid line pain. So, I took ALL my pain meds and ceased being a martyr.
I was released on July 21, 2008, my birthday! How significant that can be, my rebirth! I was assigned a home health nurse and she visits me and monitors meds, takes labs, etc until they kick me out. I believe cardiac PT will be next. I'm just along for the ride now, they have it in cruise control!
Bev has taken several pictures including the infamous chest incision. The home nurse measured it and it is 23 inches long! So much for a 9 inch incision!
Glad to be back on line with my support team! You have been awesome and instrumentally responsible for the peace I felt leading up to this most serious of surgeries.
G
geebee
Oh yeah - I remember the ginger ale so well that 28 years later I can still taste and recall how wonderful it was.
Glad you are home - happy birthday and rebirth. You have lots to celebrate and I hope all continues so well for you.
Thanks for letting us know how you are.
Glad you are home - happy birthday and rebirth. You have lots to celebrate and I hope all continues so well for you.
Thanks for letting us know how you are.
Ross
Well-known member
Did Pat stop by and say why such a long incision? I think he likes to look at the abdominal aorta as well when it comes to thoracic aortic patents. Probably not a bad thing, but sure isnt' pretty.
