Two days to go...

[rpdoodle]

Hello everyone. Two days to go and am getting a little nervous. I've been looking at this site for the past few weeks waiting for this and thought it was about time I came out of the shadows.

I will be having my aorta repaired and the aortic valve replaced Wednesday morning. Some would say I'm old hat at this having had a patent ductus at 6mos and a ruptured/repaired aortic aneurysm at 15yrs, but 17 years later, I'm getting more and more anxious as I get closer. Add the removal of my gall bladder at 18yrs and it appears that I've gotten all the bad genes from both sides of the family.

So, am just getting nervous that this is my third heart surgery...nervous about coumadin (my father died due to some complications resulting from his coumadin use)...just getting really anxious in general.

I will be having the procedure done at St. Josephs in Atlanta (with Dr. Wolfe). Have done some research on that hospital and they seem to be a great heard facility. Also, the anasthesiologist I met with said that if he had to have this done, it would be with Dr. Wolfe, so I'm feeling a bit reassured about that end of it.

No real questions, I guess...just wanted to vent a little bit and not make my family more anxious than they already are. If anyone has more information on St. Josephs in general, that would be great.

 

[Karlynn]

Welcome to our site and our "little" family. I'm glad you came out of the shadows. I had my mitral valved replaced with a St. Jude mech. 13 years ago and have had a pretty uneventful life on Coumadin. Use our distinguished member Al Lodwick and his site www.warfarinfo.com as your best resource for Coumadin information.

If possible, we'd love it if you could have someone post of the outcome of your surgery. For you see, now that you came "out of the cold" we will be waiting to find out how everthing went.

 

[Ross]

No matter how many times you've been through this before, it's always the same with the feelings before hand. I wish there were something to say or do, but no matter what, your going to be on edge.

All I can offer is to believe that you will be fine and work with that thought while doing the best you can to tune out the negative thoughts.

 

[countryboy]

Happy Thoughts

Happy Thoughts

I haven't had your history of suguries so I don't know what it is like to be facing a third one. I had AVR 10/22/04 and am feeling fime. I can only say that I had these same thoughts beforehand also. I think everyone does. I received a ton of support from this site which really helped. Before the surgury I was really apprehensive, but I told my wife I did not want to wake up in the middle of the night unable to get a full breath. Have trust in your doctors, nurses, and utilize your support group.
My thoughts and prayers will be with you.
God Bless,

Bobby

 

[dcpickle]

I live in the Atlanta area (Cherokee County.) I'm fairly new to Georgia, but I've heard quite a number of people say that St. Josephs is the best heart hospital around. I had my cath there before my surgery. I went to New York for my surgery because I wanted Dr. Stelzer, but If I'd stayed local, I would most likely have gone to St. Josephs. My wife is a nurse (at Northside, right across the street from St. Josephs!) and everyone has told her that St. Josephs is the place to go for heart issues.

As for Dr. Wolfe, I believe he does Ross Procedures, which requires a highly skilled surgeon, so I'd say you're probably in good hands. I believe that's even more important than which hospital you're in.

Ask any questions you want. You'll get lots of good answers here!

(BTW You're 10 years younger than me, to the day!)

David

 

[bvdr]

Welcome to this site. I too am glad you have decided to join in and finally introduce yourself. You wouldn't be human if you didn't have some anxiety. Soon it will be over and hopefully report back to us that all went well. May God bless you with a successful surgery and a complete recovery.

 

[Granbonny]

Hi

Hi

I had my VR surgery at St. Joseph's in Atlanta on March 25, 2002. I had been sent there to have a cath done. They found that I had an aneurysm..and they brought down a very handsome surgeon right away to talk to me and my family. He was Dr. W.Morris Brown..part of Dr. Wolfe's Peachtree Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons. I had my surgery..4 days later. I was admitted and given a good feel-shot ..and awoke 1 day later in a private room. NO pain. got up and started walking the halls. I remember NOTHING about the ICC..No tubes, ect..they were ALL gone when I awoke. Their Nurses are rated #5 for cardiac care.. It is a circular ward, with the nurses station in middle..where they can watch all patients. I'm thinking maybe 10 rooms...Your family is welcome to stay with you. My daughter and Hubby rotated staying. Comfortable let down chair into bed....Children welcomed..Everyone was so nice.. Just be sure and get out of bed and walk the circular room...They will watch you... Good luck..Bonnie

 

[tobagotwo]

If you weren't nervous and upset, you wouldn't be human. However, you may find a Great Calm descend on you as you go in. Fortunately, once things get going, they tend to move pretty fast.

My thoughts will be with you on Thursday, while I'm working. What time is your surgery set for?

Best wishes,

 

[Mary]

Good luck and good wishes as you go through the process. It sounds like you'll be in excellent hands.
Mary

 

[Sherry]

Best wishes to you as you go through this process again. Nothing can allay your fears right now. It's so natural to be afraid of the unknown, but you'll be in there and done before you know it. We'll look forward to hearing how you do. Please have someone post.

 

[BSastry]

Hi

Hi

We live in Atlanta, Ga. My husband had his AVR surgery on 10/22/04 at Emory. he is doing very well. Almost ready to go to work. I've heard that St.Joseph hospital is one of the best in town for heart surgery. You are in good hands. Our prayers are with you.

-Bharati.

 

[rpdoodle]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and support. I have to be at St. Josephs at 530am on Wednesday. Apparently, that's where I will be receiving my "happy" pill to get things going.

I got all the pre-surgery testing done last Thursday, so I've been wearing a hospital band on my wrist all weekend. Kind of a pain, but it definitely got me some additional points for the night out my friends and I had on Friday.

I will definitely let everyone know how things turn out.

Thanks again!

Ryan

 

[thecman321]

good luck

good luck

Good luck Ryan!!!
You have almost the exact birthday as my wife who will be undergoing the same procedure in Jan.
Please let us know how you make out!!
i am sure you will do great!!


C

 

[geebee]

Ryan,
We will be thinking of and praying for you.
Smiles,
Gina

 

[Rebecca]

I have been in the waiting room for about ten years now. First three years I thought everyone went to a cardiologist twice a year for a heart murmur. About three years ago I interview with Dr. Wolfe for a Ross. When the time comes for my surgery he will be tops on my list. I did talk to one of his patients that had a Ross and he doing great. One young girl I used to work with had her valve replace by Dr. Wolfe, she was up and about in no time. She credit Dr. Wolfe for saving her life. My impression of Dr Wolf is that he didn?t have very good bed side manners but was an excellent surgeon. I even mention it to my one of my cartigoltist and he said other patients had said the same thing about Dr. Wolfe, but he was a good surgeon.

When my insurance didn?t include St. Joseph my cardiologist would tell me I could get a good surgery at Crawford Long when my time comes. St. Joseph?s staffs have won more than one award. About a year half ago St. Josephs was rated the best in infection control in the Atlanta Business weekly newspaper. A lot of people I know have worked at St Joseph for many years. We are lucky that we have such a good hospital.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you on Wednesday.

Best wishes.

Rebecca

 

[Granbonny]

Another reason, I like St. Joseph's in Atlanta..There is a Marriott within walking distance over to hospital...My family rented a room for the time I was there..They could rotate staying with me at night... They also have patient e-mails .delivered to patient room by the Pink ladies.. Bonnie

 

[tobagotwo]

Oops. Can't count. Monday plus two equals Wednesday.

So I'll keep you in mind tomorrow, instead of Thursday. They do wonderful things. You'll do well.

Best wishes,

 

[Kay]

Hi Ryan!

I'm behind on reading the posts here and just now read yours. You probably won't see this before you go in but you are in my prayers from this minute on. I'll be watching the POST-Surgery board (doesn't that sound great?) for news of your successful trip over that mountain, and I'll be praying for a fast and uneventful recovery. Sounds like you've got a wonderful surgeon and are in a super hospital, so you're half-way there. Keep us posted!

God bless you, your surgeon, and your family tomorrow. You're in my thoughts and prayers.