Byron's Journal

Oh my god I sneezed today and almost hit the floor!! I have been trying not to sneeze at all cost but today one snook up on me. It brought all the pain back for about 3 hours or so. I have come to the conclusion that sneezing is NO GOOD! I noticed a plastic cord of some sort coming out of my incession and the going back in. I thought it was a scab or dry skin but I was wrong so I guess I\'ll have to tell the Doctor about that too. I am so ready to be back to normal and so so so ready go back to work. I miss work and I really enjoy what I do. Manda says it is because I am good at it but I say it is because I love it. I cant wait till Friday when I go see the Doc so I can beg to return to work. God bless all of you. Byron Cage

Hello everyone!! It is almost three weeks out now and I go see the Doc this friday. I am so restless and ready to go back to work in some capastity. I hate just laying around the house. I feel better by the day. I do still have dizzy spells that almost make me sick and unbeleivable headaches but hopefully the Doc will fix that. I do still have alot of soreness fron the sternomony. But the bills are rolling in so I got to do something to start paying them off. I am thankful to have all of you as friends of mine. Byron Cage

I am fimally home and do very well. I still hurt abit from the steromony and I do everything I can to keep from coughing. I will not even attempt to sneeze. I am able to sleep on my side now and that in itself is a godsend. I am doing everything possible to keep from having to take any of the pain meds although I do take tylenol to combat the headaches from the coumaden. I have the headaches everyday now. Im sure in time that to will pass. I an very thankful to all the doctors and nurses and saff of Louisiana State University Health Science Center for all the wonderful care they cave me while I was there. I now consider all of them friends of mine. I got a copy of the Surgens Operative Report and know that there were some complication but they and their expertise pulled me through it. I was released on Monday at 4pm. I have been resting at home as much as possible. I have managed to over due it a time or two and getting really tired and end up passing out while trying to watch TV. I get so board because all my activites are so limited. Thank God for Manda. She keep me in line and will not allow me to push myself to much. I love her for all she has done and I know this whole experience has been really hard on her to. She was there every day at the hospital with me so I was glad to see her get some rest too. I will keep everyone posted as the days pass. I thank everyone for all the prayers and angels that were sent to my bedside. I love all of you. Byron Cage

That was a long rest. They made a change with my pain meds. I had been being given percaset for pain but it was causing me to have really bad nightmares and I would literally drip with sweat and then freeze to death because I was wet. They are now giving me Demarol and I feel normal but yesterday they gave me benadryl to dry the blisters I got on my stomach because I am allergic to the surgical tape. those two thing together knocked me out all day long. So where were we... day two after the surgery was the worst nothing I did gave me any compfort. On the third day they removed the second chest tube. It was the size of a garden hose. It wasnt painful but was uncompfortable. It felt like a snake moving inside me. The stich hurt when it was pulled tight. I dont remember when they removed the first tube. The last tube, the pump and electric leads were removed on my last day in ICU. The last tube was painful and seemed long but the stich didnt hurt this time. I was made to walk and set up for at least 2 hour at a time and I hated that because when I would lay back down I would cough and this was the absoult worst pain i could ever imagine. I got moved to a regular room at about 1am on Tuesday. I wanted to dance HAHA Now that I am in this room everything is getting easier. I will be able to go home as soon as they can get my coumeden levels right. I now have to change everything about my diet because some foods are capeable of killing me now. I am a southern boy and love my Turnip Green and all other veggies too. No more greens from now on. I view them with a skull and crossbones. Well that brings us up to date. I want to thank all of you for all the prayers and support. I will post more when I can.

OK well m back, things were alot more painful than I had expected.There were things that didnt to plan for what ever reaon they could not use the valve we planned. They had to put in a mechanical valve and replace a section of my aorta. At the last minute I was prepped for a possible by-pass. I remember going in and coming out. I had to stay alot longer in ICU than was expected. Everyone was tell my family and myself I was doing so good but now we are learning more about what was actually happening. They took me off the breathing machine after I begged and begged. I was strapped to the table because I kept tryig to pull out all the tubs when I was waking. That was normal they said but all I wanted was a drink of water or ice but they said I could drownd with just one drink. I also bit down so hard on the tubes that my botton lip swelled 3x its size on the right side. BUT GUYS AS SOON AS I WOKE UP I COULD FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IN MY HEART...... JUST LIKE THAT!! I guess the next thing was the pain It was everywhere. I was given plenty of meds both pill and I.V. I also had a pump that put meds right in the incession. I need to rest for a while then type the rest

I apologize for not writing in the past two days. Byron has been doing excellent. No complications of any kind. They have taken out all chest tubes, and other things that were attached.. They had him up walking the last two days. They are putting him in a regular room tmorrow. He is ready for a shower and t.v... He looks good. At this point, if he talks too much he has to pause and catch his breath.. He only complains of being really tired and sore. Instead of the staples, they used the glue to close up the incision where they cracked his chest open. His scar is thin and looks clean.... After today he will be typing for himself.. Thanks everyone for your prayers...

I finally got to go back and see him. He is doing great. He has not completely woke up but is nodding and what not. The doctors said he will probably be in icu for maybe 3-4 days. Then will be moved to a regular room. I personally have never seen him look so helpless. It was hard, but at the same time, i was glad to see him. The doctors said after he fully wakes up. They are going to take the vent out and see if he breathes on his own.. The wire to his heart they are going to take it out tomorrow. I pray he will recover with no complications.

Well he made it through surgery. YEA!!!!!!!!! Everything wnt well. They are fnishing up to get him in the ICU.. After they get him hooked up to everything and settled in his bed for the next few days, i can finally go see him. They said it wasn\'t as exstensive as they though it would be. He is a good man. I\'m glad we got years to be with together. Our kids are thrilled...We love him and pray every second....

Well they took Byron in at 6am this morning. He has alot less hair lol.. They started surgery at 9am. I have heard from the doctors already. So far, he is doing very well. They have replaced the valve and is doing really good from what they tell me. I love him and hate to know he is going to be hurting. They did not have to take the root of the valve. I am glad. We were really nervous and upset this morning... I am glad that i can be here for him/with him. Byron deserves to go a day without chest pains. As scary as it is, I\'m glad he is getting this surgery done. I have been so worried, i haven\'t been the easiest person to be around. I will type more when i know more..

Well Im here and Im all Checked in. The surgery is only a few hours away. I should be asleep or at least close to it. Hell I wish I was asleep. I feel like I am on the verge of a panic attack and could cover the floor in vomit. I\'ve never had any type of surgery other than the few heart caths. Im first surgery is a doosey. I feel like a big baby for being so nervous. I wish my kids were here. I remember when they were little boys an they would wake up at night and come crawl in bed with me to sleep out the rest of their night. I wish I had that comfort now. I am really worried but I kow God has it covered. I just want it all to be over. This is my last posting until I am moved from ICU. My girlfriend Manda will be taking over for a while. Remember if you sign the guestbook please leave your name so we will know who you are and if you want to be contacted later leave me an email address or some other method of contact. So wish me luck and I will see you on the flip side.... Let the good times roll!!!!

I go in tonight between 7and 9 pending on the weather. I have the surgery at 5am ready or not. Manda will be there with me and I know she is gonna need some support so if anyone has alittle extra time please give her a call @ 210-4968. I wouldnt be able to do this with out her. I will try and post again tonight but it all depends on how things go. Manda will keep this journal up while I am down. The surgen has agreed to have pictures taken during the surgery so there will be pics to see. Any way I write again later. Byron

I went for my pre-op on Friday. The weather was really nasty just like the rest of the country. I have to go back in for more blood work tomorrow and everything will be set. I am jittery but Its got to be done. I will learn my surgery time in the morning and I think Im gonna start to pack my bag tonight. I dont know what all I will need but I will make sure EVERYTHING I bring has a back side unlike the PJs they issue. Haha. I havent been sleeping because I keep thinking about the sugery and everything afterwards. I dred the pain but Im just gonna have to put on my big-boy pants and suck it up. Thursday morning will be a whole new start on life for me. Ready or not its coming so expect the best but prepare fpr the worst. I want to thank all of you who have signed my guest book and left me messages. It means alot to me to know that other people are willing to share their stories and experiencies with me. I will post at lest one more time before I go in. I plan on getting my girlfriend to keep everyone posted while Im not able to,and she will get some pics to. Once again thanks to everybody. Byron Cage

Today was my last day of work for several months. It is very depressing to me. I really enjoy my job and enjoy being around everybody I work with. I am a food and beverage manager and catering coordinator for a company call PIEWORKS PIZZA BY DESIGN. It is an upscale pizzaria and a classy place in Bossier City Louisiana. I cant even begin to express the level of support they have given me. I go in for pre-op tomorrow and I dont really know what to expext. I am really nervous but I know it has to be done so... I am really worried as far as how Im gonna pay my bills. I am a single parent of two boys who live with me and man they can put away so groceries. hahaha I am sure God will provide a way I just hate not knowing. I am a plan ahead kinda guy so this is very nerve racking. I am totally unprepared for this because I listened to the wrong person when it came to planning my finances and now I find myself in a tough situtation. Thats life I guess. Im really gonna miss work. It gives me a feeling of worth and I know they need me. I am in my element when I am working. I enjoy seeing the satisifaction on peoples faces when their bellies are full and plates are empty. I would like to encourge everyone who is in this area to visit PIEWORKS PIZZA BY DESIGN at 5000 Benton Road Bossier City Louiaiana so I can at least feel like I am still contributing to the companies success. One last note to everyone.... Please leave your name and possible a method of contact if you want a response from me . I gonna miss everyone!!!

Well time is getting close, only 10 days away. Thursday is my last day at work for several months. I got pre-op on Friday and the surgery on Thursday. I wish the day would hurry and pass so I can stop thinking about it. I will be glad when the day come that I can wake up and go a full day without any chest pains. I know recovery will be long and hard and painful, but just gotta grin and bare it. Thanks to all of you who leave me messages in my guestbook but please leave your name so I will know who you are. Until next time stay warm and smile.

Well I got the date today. feburary 10 will be the day they cut me open and work on my heart. I am eager but I am just as worried. I know I need this done but it is a major decision. I hope I chose a good surgen and I hope his OR staff is a talented as he is. Days like yesterday make me pray that time speeds by and all the pain is gone but then there are days like today when everything is fine and wish I didnt have to have the surgery. I do know that with out it I will die. I wish I could stop having the bad dreams about the surgery. I have alot of them. They cause me to wake up in the middle of the night sweating and breathing hard. Sometimes I even get the chest pains that linger all day because I cant seem to the dreams out of my head from the night before. It will all be over soon. They say its like getting your batteries changed. Imagine that!!

Today is a painful one. I am at work now and keep having the chest pains. I have been having them for most of the day. I have taken a nitro pill and it helped for a while but I also got the headache as usual. I am debating on weather or not I need to go to the ER again. I go in for my appointment on Friday to get my surgery date and I scared that if I go to the ER now they will keep me and do the surgery and Im not ready for it tonight. God I wish this pain would go away.

I had my catscan on Friday. The doctors are using that to determine just how much of the valve they will need to remove. I thought I was gonna die from the long LONG walk from the truck to the admissions desk. One would think that if you are working with heart patients you would tell them a more direct route to get from point A to point B. Haha I did not like the dye that was injected into me. Its like a wave of heat. It made me feel sick but I didnt let on to the radiologist. I did notice the size of the I.V. needle!! It was a great deal larger than the one used last time. When I asked about it I was told that the dye needs to be injected quickly so that called for a larger needle. I did however fall asleep in that big \"cherio\" looking machine. I guess the needle didnt bother me too much. I an now waiting. I go back in on Friday Jan. 21 to get my surgery date. I hate to think about it and I worry about my kids. I have raised them alone for the last 14 years. I dont want them to worry about me and I want them to know just how much I love them if something does go wrong and things go badly. Im just ready to get it over with and move on to the next step in life or.... well you know. I am ready for what ever the next step is. I feel like I am not myself but am in a dream instead. I have been expecting this surgery for most of my life and now that it is here Im so nervous. I really worry about my sterumn being cut in half. I dont handle pain very well or I should say I dont like to HAVE TO handle pain. Haha. I do have a great girlfriend who is willing to walk beside me in the aweful time so I will not be alone. I am so greatful for that and she will never know how much that means to me. I do love her more than she will ever know.

Well I go in to the hospital on Friday Jan.14 to have a CT scan. That is needed for the doctors to decide if they will need to remove the Aortic root. I didnt even know there was a root for the valve. I will go back on Friday Jan.21 to learn the date of the surgery. I am worried but Im sure all things will go well. Im trying to get all arrangements made for when I come home afterwards. It will be easier to that once I have a date for the surgery. I will try to post as many pictures as I can so that others will have a better understanding of what this procedure consist of. I am worried about the pain. I dont like to hurt.