We've got our date!

[shellyb]

This is moving a lot faster than we had anticipated but it's probably for the best. Cleveland Clinic called yesterday and my husband called back and the surgery date is set for October 3rd. The surgeon feels confidant that he can do minimally invasive surgery. His recommendation was a tissue valve. That's what my husband want so it looks like we're a go! I'm afraid I'm in for sleepless nights. (My husband can sleep no matter what.) I need to look up the correct spelling but the surgeon's name is pronounced Dr. Malkovick. Is anyone else familiar with this surgeon?

Shelly in SD

P.S. I'm going back and forth between wow...this is really going to happen and maybe I'm just dreaming. Now to work out all the fine details. We're debating between driving and flying. We're talking 1150 miles. We can see pros and cons to both. Any opinions out there?

 

[Marguerite53]

I'm so glad your husband has his surgery date. Everything will fall into place now.

There are others here who have travelled some distance for their surgeries and I'm sure they, or others who remember who they are, will be along to comment on plane vs. auto. (my guess is everyone will vote plane, but it's just a guess).

YOU need to remember to take care of yourself. Eat right, stay healthy. It is generally more stressful for the spouse, so get yourself ready.

Marguerite

 

[Cooker]

Hi Shelly,
The wait is almost over and that is the hard part. I was fortunate enough to be able to have my surgery in my home town so as far as flying goes after surgery I can't say.

But I will say that I would fly over drive any day for a 1150 mile trip. That would be a LONG, LONG trip even spread out over a couple of days.

Godspeed.

 

[Phyllis]

So glad you have your date and I put your husband on the calendar for October 3rd. You are going to a great hospital and I'm sure he will come through this just fine. That's a long way to go by car! We traveled just two hours by car with one stop to stretch his legs and that was more than enough. Many here have flown and I highly suggest that you go for the flying option and don't be shy about using a wheel chair in the airport.

 

[WayneGM]

Congratulations on setting the date. The wait is almost over and soon so will the journey over the mountain. I suggest flying over driving as that's a long way to go by car.....especially post-op. Best wishes.

 

[Curtsmum]

Whishing you luck with surgery and hope your husband as a speedy recovery

 

[Susan BAV]

That's an incredibly long drive... and my post-op (valve replacement) instructions were to get out of the car every hour or so and walk a bit and we were only 2-3 hours from home. There is a fairly current thread here about flying after surgery, which may offer you more information.

You and your husband have my best wishes; hope all goes well. Take care and post again.

Edit - After my first heart surgery, with a long incision from my side and up around my back, my parents and I drove back to the midwest from Houston and it was a long and painful and miserable ride for me.

 

[geebee]

Sounds like things are going well and good decisions have been made.

Not sure about the traveling part. Flying will take about 7 hours of your time considering airport time and actual flight time. Driving will take at least twice that with stops. If you can plan on taking a few days to drive back, driving would be an option but, if you are looking to do the trip in a day or two, it might be best to fly.

I think you should talk to your doctors about the best way. They will probably advise on flying.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[Susan BAV]

...Not sure about the traveling part. Flying will take about 7 hours of your time considering airport time and actual flight time. Driving will take at least twice that with stops. If you can plan on taking a few days to drive back, driving would be an option but, if you are looking to do the trip in a day or two, it might be best to fly.

I think you should talk to your doctors about the best way. They will probably advise on flying...

Good points Gina.

 

[Karlynn]

Wishing your husband (and you!) the very best. It really will be the start of the rest of your lives and that's a blessing!

 

[Bina]

I am not a big fan of flying.....
but driving is no fun either when every little bump or dent in the road jiggles you and causes pain.
My trip home from the hospital was 1 1/2 hours,
very exhausting despite being in my father's fabulous Cadillac.....

 

[dot4toto]

Wishing your husband a smooth surgery and a fast recovery.

We live about 15 minutes from the hospital and that was far enough for me in a car. I felt every little bump and turn on that ride.

Also if you fly, be sure to have a wheelchair for your hubby at the airport, walking any of that (for me) would have NOT happened. At that point I was walking very slow and maybe 5 minutes. Then I needed rest. Have a nice pillow for him and somthing very comfy to wear. Have his pain meds available just in case.

This is moving along for you all now but that's good, he'll be "fixed" and better than new! I go to the gym now and can't believe how smooth my breathing is. I didn't know how "bad" it had been before the surgery.

These men/women (doctors) are pros and so good at what they do.

Hang in there and know peaceful thoughts are coming your way....

 

[Superbob]

Shelly,

Wishing your husband and you the best. Sounds like informed decisions have been made. As for distance to hospital, I lived only 25 miles away but it was DC Beltway miles so it might as well have been 250. I got my wife and family a room at a nice hotel near the hospital (with a nice discount for hospital patients). Didn't want them battling back and forth through that horrendous traffic. So being away for the surgery can be a good thing.

I wish you all the best. It should go well....

Cheers,

 

[donnamarie]

This is moving a lot faster than we had anticipated but it's probably for the best. Cleveland Clinic called yesterday and my husband called back and the surgery date is set for October 3rd. The surgeon feels confidant that he can do minimally invasive surgery. His recommendation was a tissue valve. That's what my husband want so it looks like we're a go! I'm afraid I'm in for sleepless nights. (My husband can sleep no matter what.) I need to look up the correct spelling but the surgeon's name is pronounced Dr. Malkovick. Is anyone else familiar with this surgeon?

Shelly in SD

P.S. I'm going back and forth between wow...this is really going to happen and maybe I'm just dreaming. Now to work out all the fine details. We're debating between driving and flying. We're talking 1150 miles. We can see pros and cons to both. Any opinions out there?

Shelly - congratulations! I too got my date - 10/22 at Lankenau in Philadelphia. My doctor also feels he can do the minimally invasive surgery and the tissue valve.
I vote on flying - I can't imagine driving that far after surgery.
Good luck.