Comments on: Gloria’s Mismanaged Patient Expectations

By: Dee

Dee — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:25:13 +0000

I have nothing but compassion for Gloria after reading that. Not only did I feel for what she was going through immediately after surgery, but I think that the pain she experienced for weeks following her return home really hit home. My brother didn’t have that type of surgery, but had a quadruple bypass. I flew out to him and spent a week with him after he came home. I was by his side every night and slept when his wife woke up. All in all, I just want to say that I can’t completely relate to the exact surgery and it’s repercussions during the healing process, but I can relate from seeing someone close to me experience the type of pain during the immediate aftermath of having heart surgery.

By: Adam Pick

Adam Pick — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:35:53 +0000

Fazilat,

Thanks for the thoughts… especially about the use of make-shift recliners.

Curious though… Your five months post-op and still taking pain killers? Are your doctors still prescribing? It seems that most of your pain should be gone by now. I don’t want to think the Vicodin has created an unwanted addiction.

Let me know,

Adam

By: fazilat

fazilat — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:42:55 +0000

i went in prepared info wise but no one can really tell you the level of pain you will feel i am 5 months post op and still suffer from pain and i am taking strong pain killers you need to be prepared in receiving help as you are very tired and the lack of movement is very frustrating, if you do not have a recliner you can make a mountain from duvets and pillows that is a must ,sleep is difficult as you are not used to sleeping on your back plus getting out of bed is a mission. if you can then for a least a month after op you should have someone with you and the more you can move freely then you can try to catch the threads of your life again no one tells you these things that’s why i find these blogs so good for sharing good and bad, thank you Adam.
p.s i thought the same as Gloria i have had 3 pregnancy’s, 1 a twin delivery breech so i thought pain would be a breeze but not at all,lol. fazilat

By: Mrs. Ron kepler

Mrs. Ron kepler — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:55:27 +0000

This sounds alot like Ron’s experience. His bovine aortic valve replacement was 8 -08-08 in BHam. Another thing we really struggled with was, Ron not being able to lay down @ home to sleep. Please tell others that when they leave the safety of the hospital, be prepared to sleep in a recliner for awhile. We don’t have a recliner, but our church family supplied our every need. The broken sleep patterns were very difficlt for Ron & I, his care giver. His depression hit & I am experiencing post tramatic stress now. Ron is doing fine now & enjoying his re-hab at
Hartselle Medical Center.

By: Mary Ferraro

Mary Ferraro — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:28:41 +0000

That system that released her is broken. How do we fix this? I do not know. Things have to change.

Ever since I got my job and could just about afford it, I’ve been paying over $200/month for long term care insurance because I live alone and am a heart patient. Now, years and years have gone by and I’ll have 2 valves repaired 10/27. Anybody out there have some advice on how do I get the help I’ll need? What if they decide I’m not “sick enough” to get help? Is there any right to appeal? Scared enough already but still not in panic. Gotta keep positive thoughts. Any advice?

By: cynthiaedwards2@yahoo.com

cynthiaedwards2@yahoo.com — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:00:49 +0000

We also had no idea how much care my mother would need after her surgery. The surgeon had originally said that she would go to a nursing home after the hospital. But once she was ready to be released from the hospital, they told her she wasn’t sick enough for a nursing home!

My father is disabled so she couldn’t go home. At this stage she still couldn’t even rise from a chair or toilet seat unaided and caring for herself or anyone else would have been 200% out of the question. It was extremely fortunate that I live nearby and was able to take her in. However her care consumed a huge amount of my time and energy. I work from home and again, this was simply fortuitous. Without that boon I could not possibly have taken care of her during her post-hospital recovery.

None of this was clearly spelled out to us. I think the surgeon is just so familiar with the process he doesn’t realize how much more detail patients need BEFORE the procedure.