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Open Heart Surgery

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Diane

New member
I have no advice to offer but i can offer some support and prayers that all goes smoothly for you. *huggs*
 
D

Diane

New member
I have no advice to offer but i can offer some support and prayers that all goes smoothly for you. *huggs*
 
D

Diane

New member
I have no advice to offer but i can offer some support and prayers that all goes smoothly for you. *huggs*
 
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HairGirl

New member
Debi's advice is right on. I've been intubated 3 times, this last time was just two months ago and for a whole week. Take a pad a pen it's fun to see what you write one it! The best advice is to try and be as clear as possible before you go in and then try and be off the vent as fast as you can, I'm always on the vent because my lungs are filling up with blood so when I get off I have some serious mucous build-up. Things will go well it isn't as scary as it sounds, like Debi said, everyone is intubated for surgery, most are extubated after surgery, I don't see why you wouldn't be. Good luck<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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HairGirl

New member
Debi's advice is right on. I've been intubated 3 times, this last time was just two months ago and for a whole week. Take a pad a pen it's fun to see what you write one it! The best advice is to try and be as clear as possible before you go in and then try and be off the vent as fast as you can, I'm always on the vent because my lungs are filling up with blood so when I get off I have some serious mucous build-up. Things will go well it isn't as scary as it sounds, like Debi said, everyone is intubated for surgery, most are extubated after surgery, I don't see why you wouldn't be. Good luck<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
H

HairGirl

New member
Debi's advice is right on. I've been intubated 3 times, this last time was just two months ago and for a whole week. Take a pad a pen it's fun to see what you write one it! The best advice is to try and be as clear as possible before you go in and then try and be off the vent as fast as you can, I'm always on the vent because my lungs are filling up with blood so when I get off I have some serious mucous build-up. Things will go well it isn't as scary as it sounds, like Debi said, everyone is intubated for surgery, most are extubated after surgery, I don't see why you wouldn't be. Good luck<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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thefrogprincess

New member
My dad had a quadruple bypass about a year and a half ago. He was of course tubed but not until after he was put under. They extubated him after he started to wake up, but before we even went into ICU to see him. He was still so drugged that he doesn't remember anything until the day after his surgery. He was on oxygen by mask most of the night that he was in ICU. With your CF they might keep you tubed longer but I think they usually try to keep you a little bit sedated so that you won't fight the tube. If you need to clear mucus they can actually suction it out through the tube. They may teach you certain ways to cough because you have to be very careful while your sternum is healing. They will teach you how to get in and out of bed without using your arms because of this. My dad was not even supposed to open or close a car door or even open a bottle of water for 3 weeks after his surgery because your sternum has to heal and using your arms too much will not only hurt, but slow down the healing process. I hope this helps. Good luck with everything, if you have any questions about my dad's recovery process you can PM me and I'll be happy to answer anything I can.
 
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thefrogprincess

New member
My dad had a quadruple bypass about a year and a half ago. He was of course tubed but not until after he was put under. They extubated him after he started to wake up, but before we even went into ICU to see him. He was still so drugged that he doesn't remember anything until the day after his surgery. He was on oxygen by mask most of the night that he was in ICU. With your CF they might keep you tubed longer but I think they usually try to keep you a little bit sedated so that you won't fight the tube. If you need to clear mucus they can actually suction it out through the tube. They may teach you certain ways to cough because you have to be very careful while your sternum is healing. They will teach you how to get in and out of bed without using your arms because of this. My dad was not even supposed to open or close a car door or even open a bottle of water for 3 weeks after his surgery because your sternum has to heal and using your arms too much will not only hurt, but slow down the healing process. I hope this helps. Good luck with everything, if you have any questions about my dad's recovery process you can PM me and I'll be happy to answer anything I can.
 
T

thefrogprincess

New member
My dad had a quadruple bypass about a year and a half ago. He was of course tubed but not until after he was put under. They extubated him after he started to wake up, but before we even went into ICU to see him. He was still so drugged that he doesn't remember anything until the day after his surgery. He was on oxygen by mask most of the night that he was in ICU. With your CF they might keep you tubed longer but I think they usually try to keep you a little bit sedated so that you won't fight the tube. If you need to clear mucus they can actually suction it out through the tube. They may teach you certain ways to cough because you have to be very careful while your sternum is healing. They will teach you how to get in and out of bed without using your arms because of this. My dad was not even supposed to open or close a car door or even open a bottle of water for 3 weeks after his surgery because your sternum has to heal and using your arms too much will not only hurt, but slow down the healing process. I hope this helps. Good luck with everything, if you have any questions about my dad's recovery process you can PM me and I'll be happy to answer anything I can.
 
A

abloedel

New member
Thanks everyone for your responses, prayers, good wishes, etc. They've already told me I'll be intubated for at least one day post surgery, maybe 2-3 because of my CF (another reason to hate CF!).

Lauren - I have bad center lobe and I did ask my CF doc "as long as you're crackng me open, wanna take that out too". He says it's too risky given everything else that's happening and feels that it might be a "poor outcome" if they remove that lobe at the same time.

Debi - Thanks for the suggestions on the notebook/pens. That could be really funny afterwards. I hadn't even thought about asking to meet with the anesthesiologist or asking for anti anxiety meds...I'll be sure to do both!

Jennifer - I'll have to make some flash cards - I could have a really good time with those. Think I'll be conscious enough to point at the right one? LOL. I'm glad to see you back after your surgery and I hope you are feeling well. (I tried to email you about a month ago to your yahoo account, but it got returned as undeliverable.)

Hairgirl - I'm sorry you've had to be tubed at all; let alone 3 times! But I am working on getting my lungs as clear as possible, so I'm hoping to only be on for the 1 day minimum!

Jessi - Thanks for sharing about your dad. I'm glad he is doing well now, but I'll bet he was frustrated during the healing process! I know I will be.

I'll post again after I meet with the surgeon (and anesthesiologist!) next week. I hope everyone is well today.

Thanks again...I am feeling less apprehensive already!
 
A

abloedel

New member
Thanks everyone for your responses, prayers, good wishes, etc. They've already told me I'll be intubated for at least one day post surgery, maybe 2-3 because of my CF (another reason to hate CF!).

Lauren - I have bad center lobe and I did ask my CF doc "as long as you're crackng me open, wanna take that out too". He says it's too risky given everything else that's happening and feels that it might be a "poor outcome" if they remove that lobe at the same time.

Debi - Thanks for the suggestions on the notebook/pens. That could be really funny afterwards. I hadn't even thought about asking to meet with the anesthesiologist or asking for anti anxiety meds...I'll be sure to do both!

Jennifer - I'll have to make some flash cards - I could have a really good time with those. Think I'll be conscious enough to point at the right one? LOL. I'm glad to see you back after your surgery and I hope you are feeling well. (I tried to email you about a month ago to your yahoo account, but it got returned as undeliverable.)

Hairgirl - I'm sorry you've had to be tubed at all; let alone 3 times! But I am working on getting my lungs as clear as possible, so I'm hoping to only be on for the 1 day minimum!

Jessi - Thanks for sharing about your dad. I'm glad he is doing well now, but I'll bet he was frustrated during the healing process! I know I will be.

I'll post again after I meet with the surgeon (and anesthesiologist!) next week. I hope everyone is well today.

Thanks again...I am feeling less apprehensive already!
 
A

abloedel

New member
Thanks everyone for your responses, prayers, good wishes, etc. They've already told me I'll be intubated for at least one day post surgery, maybe 2-3 because of my CF (another reason to hate CF!).

Lauren - I have bad center lobe and I did ask my CF doc "as long as you're crackng me open, wanna take that out too". He says it's too risky given everything else that's happening and feels that it might be a "poor outcome" if they remove that lobe at the same time.

Debi - Thanks for the suggestions on the notebook/pens. That could be really funny afterwards. I hadn't even thought about asking to meet with the anesthesiologist or asking for anti anxiety meds...I'll be sure to do both!

Jennifer - I'll have to make some flash cards - I could have a really good time with those. Think I'll be conscious enough to point at the right one? LOL. I'm glad to see you back after your surgery and I hope you are feeling well. (I tried to email you about a month ago to your yahoo account, but it got returned as undeliverable.)

Hairgirl - I'm sorry you've had to be tubed at all; let alone 3 times! But I am working on getting my lungs as clear as possible, so I'm hoping to only be on for the 1 day minimum!

Jessi - Thanks for sharing about your dad. I'm glad he is doing well now, but I'll bet he was frustrated during the healing process! I know I will be.

I'll post again after I meet with the surgeon (and anesthesiologist!) next week. I hope everyone is well today.

Thanks again...I am feeling less apprehensive already!
 
K

kayleesgrandma

New member
Amy, I'll be thinking of you and praying for you. Will you let us all know when your surgery is? It will help so we can put out a prayer wall around you and your doctors that day. Those that would rather just send good vibes and well-wishes could join in at that time also. So keep us posted, and let us know. I know you're scared, but we'll all be lifting you up. Good luck.
 
K

kayleesgrandma

New member
Amy, I'll be thinking of you and praying for you. Will you let us all know when your surgery is? It will help so we can put out a prayer wall around you and your doctors that day. Those that would rather just send good vibes and well-wishes could join in at that time also. So keep us posted, and let us know. I know you're scared, but we'll all be lifting you up. Good luck.
 
K

kayleesgrandma

New member
Amy, I'll be thinking of you and praying for you. Will you let us all know when your surgery is? It will help so we can put out a prayer wall around you and your doctors that day. Those that would rather just send good vibes and well-wishes could join in at that time also. So keep us posted, and let us know. I know you're scared, but we'll all be lifting you up. Good luck.
 
A

abloedel

New member
Some pretty severe chest pain, dizziness and nausea landed me in the ER prior to my scheduled appointment with the surgeon on Oct. 30th. They ended up doing my surgery on Nov 2nd and removed a mass a little bigger than a golf ball from my right atrium. Pathology on the mass is back and all they can say for certain is that it is not cancerous. It has characteristics of both a tumor and a clot, so they are scheduling more appointments for me with more specialists. The lastest theory is that I have some clotting disorder of the blood...so, for the time being, my freak status continues to remain fully intact.

I was able to be extubated immediately following surgery - so I was very glad about that. I did spend two days in the ICU, mostly because I couldn't keep any thing in my stomach, but was pretty drugged up and those two days are pretty foggy. I lost 10lbs. and my appetite still isn't quite normal. Since I am in Denver and the CF conference was in town, I did get to meet many CF doctors from around the world. I was introduced as "our most complex CF case" to these docs...LOL.

I am home now continuing the recovery process and although I do feel better each day, it is not happening as quickly as I would like. It is amazing how much you use your chest muscles and don't even think about. It was just two days ago that I was able to start combing my own hair again! I walk every day and am trying my best to keep my lung function up. It is hard when it hurts sooo much just to cough. But I know it will continue to get better!

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers! I hope this message finds all of you welll!
 
A

abloedel

New member
Some pretty severe chest pain, dizziness and nausea landed me in the ER prior to my scheduled appointment with the surgeon on Oct. 30th. They ended up doing my surgery on Nov 2nd and removed a mass a little bigger than a golf ball from my right atrium. Pathology on the mass is back and all they can say for certain is that it is not cancerous. It has characteristics of both a tumor and a clot, so they are scheduling more appointments for me with more specialists. The lastest theory is that I have some clotting disorder of the blood...so, for the time being, my freak status continues to remain fully intact.

I was able to be extubated immediately following surgery - so I was very glad about that. I did spend two days in the ICU, mostly because I couldn't keep any thing in my stomach, but was pretty drugged up and those two days are pretty foggy. I lost 10lbs. and my appetite still isn't quite normal. Since I am in Denver and the CF conference was in town, I did get to meet many CF doctors from around the world. I was introduced as "our most complex CF case" to these docs...LOL.

I am home now continuing the recovery process and although I do feel better each day, it is not happening as quickly as I would like. It is amazing how much you use your chest muscles and don't even think about. It was just two days ago that I was able to start combing my own hair again! I walk every day and am trying my best to keep my lung function up. It is hard when it hurts sooo much just to cough. But I know it will continue to get better!

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers! I hope this message finds all of you welll!
 
A

abloedel

New member
Some pretty severe chest pain, dizziness and nausea landed me in the ER prior to my scheduled appointment with the surgeon on Oct. 30th. They ended up doing my surgery on Nov 2nd and removed a mass a little bigger than a golf ball from my right atrium. Pathology on the mass is back and all they can say for certain is that it is not cancerous. It has characteristics of both a tumor and a clot, so they are scheduling more appointments for me with more specialists. The lastest theory is that I have some clotting disorder of the blood...so, for the time being, my freak status continues to remain fully intact.

I was able to be extubated immediately following surgery - so I was very glad about that. I did spend two days in the ICU, mostly because I couldn't keep any thing in my stomach, but was pretty drugged up and those two days are pretty foggy. I lost 10lbs. and my appetite still isn't quite normal. Since I am in Denver and the CF conference was in town, I did get to meet many CF doctors from around the world. I was introduced as "our most complex CF case" to these docs...LOL.

I am home now continuing the recovery process and although I do feel better each day, it is not happening as quickly as I would like. It is amazing how much you use your chest muscles and don't even think about. It was just two days ago that I was able to start combing my own hair again! I walk every day and am trying my best to keep my lung function up. It is hard when it hurts sooo much just to cough. But I know it will continue to get better!

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers! I hope this message finds all of you welll!
 
J

JennifersHope

New member
Wow Amy, You have been through the wringer.... I am so glad that the surgery is done and over with. Being that I am just over three weeks from my surgery, (granted it was not open heart) my incision is huge and recovery for me has been pretty slow as well..

I was just thinking to myself how disappointed I was with my slow progress, yet at the same time, I am doing okay.

Glad you are back with us.. Hope we can talk soon,

Jennifer
 
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