camgough
Well-known member
I went in hospital night before surgery, barely remember day of surgery, was drugged up already. 12 hr surgery since my coronary artery was bleeding after being sewn up and needed to be re-opened and put back on heart/lung machine to fix the artery needing 7 blood transfusions. Don't really remember waking up in ICU. Was there 8 hours and moved to a floor for a few hours when my lungs started to fail. Lot's of tests (I remember at CT scan, sucked having to raise arms above head after surgery) only to discover ARDS and aspiration pnemonia. ARDS probably from all blood transfusions and being on heart/lung machine so long. Sent back to ICU for monitoring. Nose plugs, mask and bi-pap didn't work and was put back on ventilator for 2 or 3 days. Kidneys started to shut down too, likely caused by ARDS and was on lasix. After about a week everything started to get better. In total spent about 10 days in ICU. First time I walked was about 2 days after having ventilator out for second time, and I went about 5 feet with a walker and oxygen plugs in my nose. A few days later I was walking hundreds of feet around the ICU. Also started doing leg exercises in the room. Moved onto a recovery floor and was there for about 10 more days as they monitored my lungs and heart block. Never got own rythem back and needed a pacemaker. I was admitted July 8 and discharged July 31. I joke that the hospital room was my apartment for the summer. This was a long time to be in there, considering ALL the experts said, " you are young (30) and healthy and will breeze through this". After the surgery check up the surgeon said "you were touch and go for a while in ICU". Everything did work out and 8 months post op I feel pretty good and am thankful. At this meeting the same surgeon told me to put this behind me and move on with life.
As far as pain, I did not really have any in the hospital. When I got home the pacemaker area was sore, but I also refused to take the narcotics and stuck to Tylenol. Sleeping was brutal in hospital and at home. Sweat through my pj's and sheets every night for a few weeks. I guess it was my body getting rid of the meds I was on for so long. I bought a recliner just for the surgery and napped in it a lot.
My surgery had more complications than most, but everyone took good care of me and here I am to talk about it. It is an adventure forsure, get your rest, be patient and don't get frustrated. You WILL be fine!!
As far as pain, I did not really have any in the hospital. When I got home the pacemaker area was sore, but I also refused to take the narcotics and stuck to Tylenol. Sleeping was brutal in hospital and at home. Sweat through my pj's and sheets every night for a few weeks. I guess it was my body getting rid of the meds I was on for so long. I bought a recliner just for the surgery and napped in it a lot.
My surgery had more complications than most, but everyone took good care of me and here I am to talk about it. It is an adventure forsure, get your rest, be patient and don't get frustrated. You WILL be fine!!
