Wait Almost Over!

[Babydoll]

Hi, Everyone
9 More days to go! The wait is almost over thank god! and only 3 1/2 more days of work. Will miss my Doc. but am so ready to get this over with. I am so tried of looking like am about to have twins because of all the fluid build up. If they can fix only that I would be on cloud 9. my doc. told me not to worry when I get my heart fix the twins will go away and I'll lose up to 50lbs. Yeah! Me and him will have alot of explaining after my surgery because we got to the point where we just told people that I was having twins and he was the father then try and explain the whole heart thing. I know it's mean but I got tried of having to explain no am not having a baby it's my heart cuse then I got you are so young you shouldn't have heart problems. By the way what does a person with heart problem look like? I hate when people get certain images in their head about people or cultures.well I'll talk with you again before surgery hope everyone is doing ok.
love
stacey

 

[Ross]

By the way what does a person with heart problem look like?

Take a look around, they are all beautiful people just like yourself.

 

[tobagotwo]

Take a look around, they are all beautiful people just like yourself.

Smooth, Ross! I really like that.

I agree. You can't tell. Before the surgery, no one believed there was anything wrong with me. When I showed up at a sister company during a walk, a week after coming home, people kept asking why I didn't wind up having the surgery. I had to offer to show them my staples, which were still in at the time, to gain belief.

Then the followup problem: if you've had heart surgery, they automatically assume it was bypass surgery, and that it was your fault, caused by poor diet and low exercise levels. Even after you explain it was only valve surgery.

Although my coronary arteries were crystal clear, I am now hounded by those who chide me about the Coronary Artery Disease they incorrectly assume I must have. They constantly vomit forth unwanted, sound-byte-level, magazine-article admonitions about what they assume my behavior should be from now on. Then they ask me how many bypasses I had (0). Sheesh. You may want to keep it to yourself with some folks.

It's good that people understand that diet and exercise can help slow, improve, or (sometimes) prevent CAD, but it's wrong that they are taught that it's entirely controllable by those means, even with cholesterol drugs as a hedge. Somehow, they never seem to have read the part about genetics. Jim Fixx, the original you-can-beat-this-with-diet-and-exercise guru did probably extend his life considerably with his consummate running. However, he did still die young, in mid-stride, from CAD causes. (Don't take this in a negative way towards exercise's benefits: Jim had a particular, extreme, genetic cholesterol problem, not typical CAD.)

Go figure...

 

[JimL]

if you've had heart surgery, they automatically assume it was bypass surgery, and that it was your fault, caused by poor diet and low exercise levels. Even after you explain it was only valve surgery. Although my coronary arteries were crystal clear, I am now hounded by those who chide me about the Coronary Artery Disease they incorrectly assume I must have. They constantly vomit forth unwanted, sound-byte-level, magazine-article admonitions about what they assume my behavior should be from now on. .

Well said!

 

[Glenda]

Bob you said it exactly the way I wanted to say it if I was good at words like you are. I get so tired of people saying "you really don't look sick." How am I supposed to look? I have to admit, I do put up a good front. Only my family and church family know what I have been through these past four years. They pray and cry with me, but a lot of people have no idea! And that's okay with me. I guess that's why we should never take things at face value. We never know what's going on inside of a person.

 

[ericaj]

i hear yah..

i hear yah..

Don't feel bad Stacy -- I am in the same boat as you -- only 12 years younger and constantly getting questions about -- me.. heart disease.. arent I too young?? Good luck though -- I will keep you in my prayers.. Only 2 days until all my tests and some answers. Options,

Erica

 

[ticktock]

Me?? Heart disease? Why..... I don't LOOK like I have heart disease.

The scar?? A bad **** job.

 

[catwoman]

Stacey:

Do something fun -- if you can -- during the next week. Go to a great restaurant, take in a movie, anything you don't ordinarily do. I'll be thinking of you in the days to come... I remember my countdown.
My father-in-law had to have 30+ lbs of fluid taken off before he could have his 2nd MVR/AVR surgery in 1989. Was in congestive heart failure and was slapped into the hospital quicker than you can say boo! He was a string bean, too, don't now where he put those pounds.

Bob:

Boy, you sure said it!
The first week I was back at work -- albeit it half-days -- I attended a meeting about some online project for my newspaper. Spoke with the person coordinating the project, told her I had just come back to work after OHS and was having a little (no kidding!) trouble understanding the details about the project. She asked what I had had done, so I told her.
Then she told me about her cousin, maybe 2 years younger than me, who had had double bypass surgery and said something about it being so much more "serious" than what I had done.

 

[Sherry]

Hi, Stacey,
I know the wait is frustrating, plus all the people questioning your heart condition and age. I was 32 when I had my surgery and constantly heard the "You're too young" stuff from everyone; however, I truly believe everyone meant well and were just unaware of how valve problems can affect our young lives. In all honesty, if I hadn't lived this through my beloved uncle (two years prior) and then myself, I could easily be one of those people asking silly questions about why such a young person was having heart surgery. Being one of the veteran members of this forum (seven years), I don't take anything said by anyone that seriously. People just don't know any better if it doesn't affect their lives; it's human nature, not rudeness.
Take care, girl, and know that we're all here for you.

 

[Granbonny]

Babydoll

Babydoll

Be thankful..you were not in hospital in Charleston, S.C. a few days ago. Yikes, 8 inches of rain, wind and thousands lost power..this week ..the same thing with Hurricaine Frances due to hit the S.C. Coast this weekend.. Hopeful, everything will be quiet over there when you go in for VR. surgery.. Bonnie

 

[Granbonny]

I heard the..You look great..thingy too. for a long time. I felt great, so when I awoke in private room..got up brushed teeth, a little lipstick and daughter French braided my hair...... Did it everyday in hospital..Not so much when I came home the first week..but started again when I went out..so guess people assumed I was fine.. Mama always said, if you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you do good. Bonnie

 

[tobagotwo]

Just a week to go, Stacey. You're going to do well. Try to keep yourself distracted 'til you get to the hospital. Then try to see it all as an amusement arranged on your behalf. We know you have a sense of humor, as evidenced by "the twins," and that is a big help in this process.

Before you know it, the lights will go out. Then you wake up, and it's all done. All you have to do is heal.

While it's obviously uncomfortable, you tend to feel elated that the surgery is over. Try to use that to move on, into the healing zone, away from the hosptial zone.

I asked for patient-controlled Fentanyl, instead of the usual morphine. Although it is a related compound, I didn't suffer the stomach complaints and grogginess that many noted during their stay. Ask your surgeon about it. If it is OK for you, and you decide to use it, ask to have it set up ahead of time. I didn't know to do that. When I requested to be switched over, I waited in some special pain when the morphine ran out and they were still hunting up the Fentanyl unit.

You know a lot of people here will be waiting for you when you get back. Not the twins, though. You can part with them anytime after the surgery.

Best wishes,

 

[Babydoll]

6 more days before I go in! I can't wait But only 1 1/2 more days of work then I can just deal with myself. Thanks for all the support! I can't wait to get rid of the twins! Oh, almost forgot I can't have morphine so I will get the Fentanyl which is kinda a cousin so no worrys there.