W
westie
hi guys, just got home, friday, after a 125 kms drive, suprised how comfortable the drive was. i managed to totally annoy mrs westie with my driving tips!
surgery was at 8.00 am monday and there were no drama's except for a dramatic bladder obstruction at 4.00 am on tuesday in icu. the nurses had been trying to flush it clear with water but mercifully yanked the catheteter after they rang the doctor at 4.00 am. nurse warned me the cath would have to go back in if it did not work, and i saw the look of horror on her face when it did not start to drain;then finally i passed a big blood clot and 500 ml of urine; thank goodness.
i was moved back to my room at 9.00 am on tuesday, vomited twice on wednesday morning. food was wine everyday except monday, apple juice, coffee and tea, raisin buscuits, muffins, bread, margerine, cereal, tomato and egg for breakfast, salads and boiled veges, sandwiches, jelly, fresh and boiled fruit, yogurt and ice licks ice cream. as for taste, it has all been 95% ok except for today after i got home when bread and tea is tasting like cardboard
surgeon said there was no need for a blood transfusion, that i was on heart lung machine for 3 hours, he did repair the valve but there was still a leak and had to make a decision which in this case was to out our losses and replace the valve.
i am very happy about his decsion, he tried hard to repair it but given the time being taken on the heart lung machine, still not succeeding if he tried again, and the possibility of a redo later, he gave up. i appreciate that 100%.
later in the week, the anethetist told me it was a heroic attempt at repair (words to that effect.)
and i am very glad i pushed hard for the on-x valve which i am now the proud owner off. as previously mentioned, it was not the surgeons personal choice, bust as he was discharging me today he made metion of a very positive german study on long term coagulation and said it was looking good. i will follow that up next time i see him in 3/4 week, but i suspect he was talking about a german study favourable to the on-x valve!
drugs - asprin and warfarin for life, amiodaone for 2 weeks, paracetamol /6/8 times daily for a few weeks while needed
have had no pain of heart flutters but have got very noisy intestines; simply shocking.
hospital was very proactive with getting us to buy a coagucheck and had full pricng plan etc on bed 20 hours after surgery. i have no medical insurance so there was no discount and price was nz $875.00 inc 12.5% tax, meter, carry pack, batteries, lancelets and 24 test strips. according to my conversion that is us$680.00. repeat orders are nz$189 for 24 test strips and nz$14.00 for 50 lancelets. delivry is same or next day by courier
everyone says the coagula check is 100% reliable and they expect me to be managing my inr before long
surgeon says quite few nz doctors may not be familiar with these machines yet
glad to be back!
surgery was at 8.00 am monday and there were no drama's except for a dramatic bladder obstruction at 4.00 am on tuesday in icu. the nurses had been trying to flush it clear with water but mercifully yanked the catheteter after they rang the doctor at 4.00 am. nurse warned me the cath would have to go back in if it did not work, and i saw the look of horror on her face when it did not start to drain;then finally i passed a big blood clot and 500 ml of urine; thank goodness.
i was moved back to my room at 9.00 am on tuesday, vomited twice on wednesday morning. food was wine everyday except monday, apple juice, coffee and tea, raisin buscuits, muffins, bread, margerine, cereal, tomato and egg for breakfast, salads and boiled veges, sandwiches, jelly, fresh and boiled fruit, yogurt and ice licks ice cream. as for taste, it has all been 95% ok except for today after i got home when bread and tea is tasting like cardboard
surgeon said there was no need for a blood transfusion, that i was on heart lung machine for 3 hours, he did repair the valve but there was still a leak and had to make a decision which in this case was to out our losses and replace the valve.
i am very happy about his decsion, he tried hard to repair it but given the time being taken on the heart lung machine, still not succeeding if he tried again, and the possibility of a redo later, he gave up. i appreciate that 100%.
later in the week, the anethetist told me it was a heroic attempt at repair (words to that effect.)
and i am very glad i pushed hard for the on-x valve which i am now the proud owner off. as previously mentioned, it was not the surgeons personal choice, bust as he was discharging me today he made metion of a very positive german study on long term coagulation and said it was looking good. i will follow that up next time i see him in 3/4 week, but i suspect he was talking about a german study favourable to the on-x valve!
drugs - asprin and warfarin for life, amiodaone for 2 weeks, paracetamol /6/8 times daily for a few weeks while needed
have had no pain of heart flutters but have got very noisy intestines; simply shocking.
hospital was very proactive with getting us to buy a coagucheck and had full pricng plan etc on bed 20 hours after surgery. i have no medical insurance so there was no discount and price was nz $875.00 inc 12.5% tax, meter, carry pack, batteries, lancelets and 24 test strips. according to my conversion that is us$680.00. repeat orders are nz$189 for 24 test strips and nz$14.00 for 50 lancelets. delivry is same or next day by courier
everyone says the coagula check is 100% reliable and they expect me to be managing my inr before long
surgeon says quite few nz doctors may not be familiar with these machines yet
glad to be back!
