Surgery Update

[pem]

Over the mountain. Starting on the other side.
PEM

 

[Lynlw]

Great news! Looking forward to even more

 

[ElectLive]

Great to hear Pem. Best wishes for a smooth and steady recovery.

 

[Julian]

Thank you for update! Looking forward to more.

 

[Greg a]

In today's vernacular WOOT WOOT .....looking forward to great reports on a smooth road

 

[Jeff Edmonton]

It's good to see your response, get lots of rest and take it slow.

 

[normofthenorth]

Posting on the forum on Day 1 post-op beats me by a day or two. I'm impressed! (Mind you, if my sweetie had agreed to bring me the laptop when I asked her to. . .)

 

[Mentu]

PEM, with surgery past, you can now look to your new future. Let us know how we can help.
Larry

 

[pem]

Thanks so much, for your replies and support. You've all been so generous with your time and help. I cheated and had my father post that for me. But I'm hammering out this one on the iPod on top of my chest pillow while sitting on a recliner. They say I'm a "RABIT" and fast tracked me. The surgery was apparently smooth and my old valve, on examination, my old valve had become volcano shaped - the two leaflets has essentially fused. My new ats valve is ticking away quietly like a wristwatch in a quiet room. I only hear it if I pay close attention. My lung tube was pulled today - not as bad as I expected. Now I'm working with the spirometer but it is slow going. My best score is about 1650, and I'm mostly around 1100. Didnt sleep last night. I should be napping now, but I'm awaiting my wife's return from the coffee shop. Thanks again for EVERYThing and bye for now.
Pem

 

[Jkm7]

Good to hear how well you are doing, Pem.
Take it slow and let them take good care of you.
Walk, walk, walk........ that seems to be a big help during recovery.

Best wishes.

 

[nngbwh]

Glad to hear you are back.

 

[pem]

It's good to see your response, get lots of rest and take it slow.

Thanks- they are encouraging me to work hard but seem to understand that rest equally important.

By the way, I was fortunate enough to have the reknowned Dr. Speir and his stellar team at INOVA Fairfax perform the surgery. I'm so grateful to him for encouraging me to move quickly and for his skilled handiwork.

The hospital staff is taking great care of me and have been patient with mymany questions

Pem

 

[camgough]

Congrats. You seem to be doing amazing!

 

[ElectLive]

Posting on the forum on Day 1 post-op beats me by a day or two. I'm impressed! (Mind you, if my sweetie had agreed to bring me the laptop when I asked her to. . .)

I guess someday someone will manage to sneak their smartphone into a TAVI procedure and start posting during the surgery. But for now, father assisted or not, PEM has raised the bar.

 

[pem]

PEM, with surgery past, you can now look to your new future. Let us know how we can help.
Larry

Thanks for offering, Larry. A few questions: how do you balance between rest and walking? Did any of you have short term memory loss after surgery - how long did it last?
Thanks so much.
Pem

 

[pem]

I guess someday someone will manage to sneak their smartphone into a TAVI procedure and start posting during the surgery. But for now, father assisted or not, PEM has raised the bar.

I just really wanted to reconnect with everyone who helped out, and was fortunate to have help to do that. But, sure, I won't reject bragging rights

Pem

 

[Jeff Edmonton]

A pee and a poop and a walk down the hallway and you will be outta there! I do not remember having memory loss or any bad dreams but I was feeling weak and did not have the normal cat like reflex's for a few weeks
It sounds like your surgery went well but you are still recovering, be alert to how you feel and take it easy.
Good to hear your feeling well!!!

 

[epstns]

Well, Pem, welcome to the other side of the mountain! Glad you're doing well, but don't overdo it. As others have said, we want to avoid that "one step forward, two steps backward" feeling.

Aren't those new phones and tiny computer devices cool? I had mine in the hospital with me a couple of days post-op. It helped a lot to be able to connect without having to carry on a long conversation.

 

[pem]

Steve - thanks!

You bet, I can get my finger pricked on one hand while posting with the other

Pem

 

[normofthenorth]

I had no memory loss or other noticeable cognitive deficit (though my typo rate was elevated on the laptop for several days). I had negotiated for an unusually low dose of benzodiazepines, though -- the anti-stress drugs that are primarily associated with short-term amnesia post-OHS.

I also skipped all the other changes of preferences that many others have reported -- fave foods don't taste good any more, type thing.