Z
zlever
Wow its so great to be home!! I actually got home yesterday afternoon and to dismay of my wife I had to check out the yard---the coming of the spring tulips and flowers and the budding of the trees. I am taking it easy and not trying to do to much it seems like Im constantly up and than down. I'ver read that that is normal.
So Tuesday morning the day of surgery started off well. I remember going into the holding area prior to surgery, placing all my personals in a locker and giving the key to my wife. I than got into my hospital barb and was ushered over to the heart patient bed. I guess this is the bed that all the haeart paitents of the day start out at.My terrific wife Traci and mother were present as the military chaplain came by to say Hi, we didnt do an open prayer but my mother ensured that he said a prayer for us as the Anestheologist started to administer the "happy" drugs. Than I remember the surgery team saying my Name, "Hello Zack--How are you doing etc" at that point I remember waking up and giving them a thumbs up---talking and being alert--than apparrently as my wife and mom came up to see me after they took out the breathing tube--I stopped breathing for 2 minutes! Uh Oh! They are not sure how this happen. They pumped oxygen back into me and I later came too. Im still kind of baffled why this happened and the surgery team told my wife they were too. Maybe they took me off the breathing machine to soon! Than I finally got to see my wife and mom, dad brothers, sisters etc and it was so great. I remember getting emotional telling them all how much I loved them. Later that night as everyone had gone home I continued to use my breathing tool (the one you blow in and it escalates up to a certain number such as 1500 etc), they than gave me some "albuderphal" (not sure on the spelling) which promptly escalated my heart rate to 180--I was kinda getting freaked out as the night ICU team became concerned. They rallied together after calling the surgeon (Dr. Havenstrite) and gave me a shot which lowered my heart rate to a normal level.
I remember the next day being very very difficult as I came off the drugs that were taking away so much pain etc. I remember just a few days ago hardly able to walk and with no apetitie. Just thursday they took out my catheter but too my very much displeasure had to stick it back in later that as I had not yet urinated and my bladder showed a lot of fluid it was retaining.--That was a real bummer! Finally friday I felt so much better. I walked 5 laps--about 70 yards a lap up on my floor. They took the catheder out and I finally began to urinate normally. It took me until saturday Am to finally have a stool movement but once I did, the surgeon came in and told me I had improved dramatically and he asked me what I thought about going home. I was so excited I could hardly stand it--finally some freedom.
I have to go back to the hospital for more bloodwork tommorrow and talk to the coumadin people but I am so happy to now be HOME!! It feels so good. Last night I got really tired and went to bed around 8PM--I woke up about 4Am as The pain in my chest became discomforting. I than took a percuset --which helped alot. I now have a 23mm ONX valve that clicks ever so lightly--I can hear it always but its hard for anyone else too unless its really quiet and they strain to hear it. To answer South Sound Sailor --I never did meet or get a chance to see Dr. Nichols--I was assured afterward that he was present for surgery with the ONX rep for sizing etc. but that he only played an "assist" role in helping Dr. Havenstrite perform the surgery. To Harleygirl I have informed Dr. Havenstrite of you great success and he told me that he would try to contact you---he was very thrilled of your success! --Very Happy! To all whom have responded in written form or just in your thoughts thatn you all so much and I look forward to a continued prescence in this great world of VR.com! Take care all--Zack
Oh ya right now Im taking daily 1x-5mg of Coumadin (was told this may be lowered at some point to 2mg or so), 1x-aspirin -81mg, 1x 20mg-Prilosec, 2x daily-meteprolol 25mg, 2x daily amiodarone-200mg, 1x daily docusate 250mg.
So Tuesday morning the day of surgery started off well. I remember going into the holding area prior to surgery, placing all my personals in a locker and giving the key to my wife. I than got into my hospital barb and was ushered over to the heart patient bed. I guess this is the bed that all the haeart paitents of the day start out at.My terrific wife Traci and mother were present as the military chaplain came by to say Hi, we didnt do an open prayer but my mother ensured that he said a prayer for us as the Anestheologist started to administer the "happy" drugs. Than I remember the surgery team saying my Name, "Hello Zack--How are you doing etc" at that point I remember waking up and giving them a thumbs up---talking and being alert--than apparrently as my wife and mom came up to see me after they took out the breathing tube--I stopped breathing for 2 minutes! Uh Oh! They are not sure how this happen. They pumped oxygen back into me and I later came too. Im still kind of baffled why this happened and the surgery team told my wife they were too. Maybe they took me off the breathing machine to soon! Than I finally got to see my wife and mom, dad brothers, sisters etc and it was so great. I remember getting emotional telling them all how much I loved them. Later that night as everyone had gone home I continued to use my breathing tool (the one you blow in and it escalates up to a certain number such as 1500 etc), they than gave me some "albuderphal" (not sure on the spelling) which promptly escalated my heart rate to 180--I was kinda getting freaked out as the night ICU team became concerned. They rallied together after calling the surgeon (Dr. Havenstrite) and gave me a shot which lowered my heart rate to a normal level.
I remember the next day being very very difficult as I came off the drugs that were taking away so much pain etc. I remember just a few days ago hardly able to walk and with no apetitie. Just thursday they took out my catheter but too my very much displeasure had to stick it back in later that as I had not yet urinated and my bladder showed a lot of fluid it was retaining.--That was a real bummer! Finally friday I felt so much better. I walked 5 laps--about 70 yards a lap up on my floor. They took the catheder out and I finally began to urinate normally. It took me until saturday Am to finally have a stool movement but once I did, the surgeon came in and told me I had improved dramatically and he asked me what I thought about going home. I was so excited I could hardly stand it--finally some freedom.
I have to go back to the hospital for more bloodwork tommorrow and talk to the coumadin people but I am so happy to now be HOME!! It feels so good. Last night I got really tired and went to bed around 8PM--I woke up about 4Am as The pain in my chest became discomforting. I than took a percuset --which helped alot. I now have a 23mm ONX valve that clicks ever so lightly--I can hear it always but its hard for anyone else too unless its really quiet and they strain to hear it. To answer South Sound Sailor --I never did meet or get a chance to see Dr. Nichols--I was assured afterward that he was present for surgery with the ONX rep for sizing etc. but that he only played an "assist" role in helping Dr. Havenstrite perform the surgery. To Harleygirl I have informed Dr. Havenstrite of you great success and he told me that he would try to contact you---he was very thrilled of your success! --Very Happy! To all whom have responded in written form or just in your thoughts thatn you all so much and I look forward to a continued prescence in this great world of VR.com! Take care all--Zack
Oh ya right now Im taking daily 1x-5mg of Coumadin (was told this may be lowered at some point to 2mg or so), 1x-aspirin -81mg, 1x 20mg-Prilosec, 2x daily-meteprolol 25mg, 2x daily amiodarone-200mg, 1x daily docusate 250mg.
