Surgery: Was anyone else this scared?

[Praline]

Arlene

Arlene

I want to tell you that if being scared is normal I am way up there on the "normal scale". I am sitting here waiting for Wednesday to have MVR, bypass, and maze procedure. I go from telling myself to relax, that the heart is just another muscle, to getting chills thinking about the surgery.
I only found out November 4th that there was something wrong with my heart. That was after spending the month of September away from home because of Katrina. Came back, house is okay but school where I was working was under water for several days. Nothing could be saved. I am now working at a new school. Go for yearly check-up and BAMMO!!
Thank God for this site or I would have gone crazy .This is the only outlet for my fears, worries, frustrations,..
I have posted here so much that sometimes I almost expect the computer to reject my post with one of those " you have performed an illegal operation" message.
As soon as I am really awake after my surgery, I will think about you and send some positive thoughts your way.
Take care.

 

[rbl1999]

Hi, I just want to reiterate that what you feel is normal. Mine was kind of quick, but the day of the surgery I felt a real peacefullness come over me, I was tired of worrying about it and just wanted it over with.. Where do you live in Florida? I live in North Port, which is about 35 miles south of Sarasota. Rose

 

[ArleneT]

Praline, will be thinking of you on Wednesday

Praline, will be thinking of you on Wednesday

I can only imagine how nervous I wil be when my surgery gets as close as yours is. Wish I could do aomething to help you!

Being on so many prayer lists over the last year really helped me deal with the chemo and radiation. I will be thinkning of you on Wednesday and sending up a few prayers that you have a speedy recovery.

So glad your home is ok and you will be at home to recover.

Arlene

 

[ArleneT]

Thank you!

Thank you!

Sheza, this certainly is a great place. Very welcoming and supportive. I will be glad when I am far enough along to be recovered and offering advice to other newcomers. Seems like that day is so far away right now.

Good idea about the phone. Ditto on the flowers. Maybe I will keep just one. I love the smell of fresh flowers.

Arlene

 

[ArleneT]

Hi Rose

Hi Rose

Rose, thanks for offering such encouragement. Hope I manage to find some peace with this. Right now, it's a tad elusive.

Small world. I grew up in Sarasota and still have family there. I live in Naples now.

Arlene

 

[barbwil]

CC answers

CC answers

Welcome, Arlene!
I had a mitral valve repair and maze procedure last August at the Clinic.
You can't tell what the weather will be like when you come because we have had some of the warmest weather for winter; one day last week it hit 61 degrees (in January!!!) But the next day can drop into the 30s.
I don't know if there is a PC in the waiting area but there is one in a small sitting area at the end of the hall where they will take you after a few hours in the ICU.
The Guest House is across from the Clinic on an extremely busy street but there are small , free, buses that transport from the hotel to the hospital very frequently all day. Rooms are pleasant with ironing board and iron and all the usual things you find in a nice hotel. A resturant next to the hotel and a wide variety of foods in the clinic itself, salads, sandwiches, full dinners, fast foods, etc.
Suggest you don't go sight-seeing unless you know exactly where you are going, not a very nice area surrounding the Clinic but you will be perfectly safe in the immediate area.
I turned 75 two months after surgery and folks could not believe how well I came through it all. One of my daughters lives in Orlando and was able to be up here during my 6 days in the hospital and for a week after I got home.
Will keep you in prayer until we see a post saying how well you are doing!!
God bless, Barb

 

[ArleneT]

Barb, thank you!

Barb, thank you!

It's so good to get such specfic info on CC. These may seem like trivial things to want to know, but I find my anxiety level dropping a little with all the wonderful information I've gotten here today.

You sound like a real inspiration! And I am so glad you are doing so well.

I need to find a good restaurant or something in the area. Learned today that Friday will probably be open also with no appointments, so I will have a three day weekend and the day before surgery also happens to be our anniversary. I am so fortunate to have such a supportive husband. He took me to every appointment during chemo and has been my rock. We need to find something fun to do, but it will need to be close since we don't plan to rent a car. That reminds me. I need to check out options for getting from the airport. What else have I forgotten!?

Thank you again for taking the time to help me.
Arlene

 

[MitralMan]

Arlene, I had mitral valve repair just over a year ago

Arlene, I had mitral valve repair just over a year ago

I have one word for you: iPod!!

Looked like heck when I came out, resting pulse was 100. My Apple iPod kept me going in those first few days after surgery. If I were you, I'd start zoning out with those buds in my ears now!



A year later I've just come back from skiing and my resting pulse is 53.

A mitral valve repair is a miraculous procedure -- I'm just glad we're doing it now and not 50 years ago!!!

You'll be fine!

 

[maka]

Arlene, I was not scared...TERRIFIED was most likely...
But as the operation date came closely, peace came to me and everything looked OK. I know what you must be going through...... myself....Breast cancer 25 years ago and mitral valve repair last August
Keep up your faith...everything willl be OK

 

[maka]

Arlene
Forgot to mention. My left arm can't be used for draw blood, etc. either so I made sure to let EVERYONE know about it. The nurse placed a big tape over my left arm with a note DO NO USE before I was taken to the operating room and a large sign was posted behind my hospital bed. Maybe you may want to suggest they do something similar

 

[ALCapshaw2]

As a Hodgkin's Disease and Radiation Treatment Survivor, (prior to Bypass and then AVR Surgery), I can't help but wonder if you had Radiation to the CHEST?

We have at least 10 members who have had Valve Replacement Surgery 2 to 4 decades after their Radiation Treatment to the Chest. I can give you the screen names if you like (or do a search for Hodgkins).

Bottom Line: Due to scar tissue buildup from radiation, most surgeons recommend getting a Mechanical Valve which should last 'forever' and hopefully NOT require a second OHS (Open Heart Surgery). It would also be wise to have BOTH the Mitral and Aortic Valves examined closely for signs of damage and replace BOTH if damage is 'significant'. You may want to read Johnny Stephens
'Personal Story' for more detail.

You may also want to read some of Caroline Perkins posts(a.k.a. "Perkicar" screen name). She is another Radiation survivor and went to the Cleveland Clinic for her surgery.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[KristiinSD]

You betcha!

You betcha!

Scared, terrified, overwhelmed, etc. I won't say that waiting is the worst (since the recovery has not been a walk in the park) but the whole thing sucks...I am just happy to live in these times when so many advances in cardiac surgery. Some people report a sense of calm before surgery, I was just very happy to have good medication and responsive care-givers so I remember next to nothing about pre-surgery...I don't think there is any harm in asking for anti-anxiety meds for this waiting period.

Kristi
mitral repair 11/30/05

 

[perkicar]

Kate,

Thanks for the welcome, Kate! Your comments about Cleveland Clinic are very reassuring. I have a few questions about CC that maybe you can answer since you were there recently.

Some hospitals have PCs with internet access that patient families can use to pass on surgery news to other family members. Do you know if that's available at CC?

Did you by chance stay in the Guest House during pre-op appointments? If so, is that hotel close enough or do you reccommend a different one?

Arlene

Hi Arlene--
Like Kate, I had my surgery at CCF, but with a different surgeon (Dr Bruce Lytle). They have computers on each floor in the lounge that families can use to send messages and check e-mail. Some of them are older models but they get the job done. Like Kate, I found that the nursing care there was wonderful--and being a nurse I'm probably more picky! I was on G10 after I got out of ICU, and it was wonderful. If you can get a private room take it, it's worth the extra money and will be much more relaxing for you. You may get one anyway if Cosgrove is doing your surgery!
I stayed at the Guest House for my preop visits and family stayed there when I had my surgery. Of the three options it's the most economical and of course, is very convenient. The deli that is attached has wonderful soups and sandwiches! There is also a lebanese restaurant that my brother and sister-in-law went to that they loved! (and my SIL is not very adventurous food wise!)
They also offer a service caller thestatus.com which is a web page all about you that a family member can keep updated with your progress during and after surgery, so folks can check on you and leave messages of encouragement and caring. You should get a flyer about it in your surgery packet. I don't know if my page is still up or not, but you can check it out if it is. Web address is www.thestatus.com; patient name is Perkins and the password is perky2005.
I am also a breast cancer survivor, 16 years since diagnosis. I still belong to the breast cancer list. One of my good friends' mother lives in a nursing home in Naples--she is also a BC survivor and visits Naples frequently to see her Mom. I'm sure she'd love to meet you some time when she's there.
I got some Xanax from my local cardiologist (I travelled to Cleveland from Louisville kY for my surgery) to help with the anxiety--it really helped "take the edge off" and I never felt drugged up!
Please keep us posted and feel free to private message me . Remember, there is no such thing as a silly question! You'll do fine, the waiting is the hardest part!

 

[perkicar]

Hi Arlene-forgot to mention that you will have a central line (aka SwanGanz) in your neck that they can use for blood draws. Mine was taken out before I left ICU the day after surgery. I was (and still am LOL) a difficult stick so got the anesthesiologist to put in a central line while I was in surgery. Didn't get to keep it the whole time since I ran a fever and they were worried about infecting my valve, but the blood draws were the easy part-the phlebotimists there are THE BEST I've ever had. I NEVER had to be stuck more than once when they came to draw blood. Getting an IV started was another story. (I think it took 8 tries) They did end up using my left arm (mastectomy side) but it's been alot longer since my surgery and LOL, they were desperate. (as was I!) I only needed the IV for a heparin drip after surgery, once I was in my room I was drinking plenty and didn't need it for hydration.

 

[Dustin]

... since I found out the date on Friday, I've been a bundle of nerves.
Arlene

Arlene,

Last time I checked, I was 6 foot tall, healthy, and not know to "whine" easily. But a standard cardiac catherisation was more than enough to let me shake like a little baby. So don't talk about OHS, you could probably hear me on the other side of the Atlantic.

 

[hensylee]

welcome from another Floridian. I am in Panhandle, lived in Mid-Florida for 20 yrs, grew up in Miami.

Yes - scared. That's the main reason folks stop in to VR and then we are able to support right up to and after surgery. That's the reason Hank started this site and it has reached thousands...... You'll be scared right on up til the day before surgery; then you finally decide it's inevitable and you give in. But by the time Feb is here, after being in this site, you will be less scared, I am sure. You will see all these "survivors" of this and how healthy, happy everyone is. And you get to ask all the questions you want answers for and if none of us seem to have the answer, one of us will find one/several for you. Blessins......

 

[Christian]

Hi Greg,

Cosgrove is also going to be my surgeon. It's so good to meet someone who has been to him. What is his personality like? Some doctors are very skilled, but can't relate well to patients. Can you give me any insight on what to expect?

Was there a specific reason that you didn't use him for your second surgery?

Thank you,
Arlene

My wife had a Cosgrove valve repair on November 1. She's doing very well -- she was "back to normal" well before Christmas. Her scar is less than 3 inches long. If you'd like to talk to her, send me a PM and I'll give you her number.

The PC nearest to her recovery room had so many filters on it that we couldn't use it to connect tot he Internet. But there's Internet available via your room's TV.

Request a private room as soon as you can. It's supposedly $80 extra per night but we were never charged.

 

[MarkRose]

Welcome !!!
I found this board a few months before my OHS on Jan 6th, and I found it helped me enormously!
We are all nervous/scared/resentful before the big day. It's natural. Praying and/or reflecting helps a lot, and you can't beat a positive attitude!!!!
I can tell you that today, I don't even feel like I HAD major surgery!
I brought a big knapsack with me to the hospital, but didn't use much.

Best thing to bring - robe and comfy slippers instead of those standard issue flimsy ones they give you in the hospital! Books, if you like to read, photographs ... important phone numbers if you are going to get a phone in your room. DON'T bring anything valuable or money.
Concentrate on resting, and try to do everything the doctors and the nurses tell you to do!
Good luck! I'll keep you in my prayers.

 

[Atlanta Sweetheart]

Mitral valve

Mitral valve

Arlene, you are not the only one afraid, I too was a basket case. I think it's the not knowing for sure if you will get a repair or replacement when you go in for the surgery. I calmed down alot once I had my pre-op and then turned everything over to God. Good luck and I'll be looking for your post once you're "on the otherside".

 

[ArleneT]

Thanks for the reminder!

Thanks for the reminder!

Need to start another list. What to do once I am there. I know I am going to get there and forget all these good ideas I've receievd in the last 24 hours.

By the way, I am just overwhelmed at the amount of support and help I've found here. Thank you ALL so much!

Arlene

Forgot to mention. My left arm can't be used for draw blood, etc. either so I made sure to let EVERYONE know about it.