Hi Jack...I'm very glad to know you are home. Remember if there is anything that Glenn and I can do for you...just send me an e-mail. We sure miss you...it's just not the same without you. I need you to help me keep "some" people in line - you know the ones. ha ha ha ha. It has been very busy here. Send me e-mail and keep in touch 'cause I would love to hear from you.
sara.new.beginning@hotmail.com or send to shammond@ierfujikura.com. Remember: God's always listening, so take your best shot! Sara

Afraid I can't help with the "loopy" problem, Jack. I'm like that all the time without meds. Any way, glad you're home. When you're ready for company let me know. I did promise Jen that I'd come and bitch at you, and you're probably about due.
Cliffy

So glad you are home! Hope you're feeling well enough to enjoy the beautiful weather. It's nice to be able to read your journal, and tell you I hope you have a speedy recovery.
Linda H

After my TEE, I wasn't able to think straight for two days. I was fine after the angiogram. I guess anesthesia works differently for everyone.

Nancy B

Hi, John -- I got home yesterday, 7 days after mitral valve and tricuspid repair. I don't know how different the surgeries are, but I am actually kind of surprised at how well my brain is actually working. I practiced my "mental acuity" on my roommate's family. She has a large family and they would come in and out visiting and I'd try to remember all their names. Don't know if helped, but it didn't hurt! I haven't tried doing much, mentally, other than journaling here, responding to e-mail, and listening to music, watching movies, and knitting. As people insist on telling us, we're all different, we all proceed at our own pace, and I'm sure as the days pass, you'll feel better about your crossword puzzle solving. Hell, even WIll Shortz has gotta have a bad day now and then!

Selma Kaplan

Glad to hear you are home!
take care of yourself!

nancy B

Good news....glad to hear you are home. Now on to recovery. Don't overdo, rest when your body says rest and as for the pain meds...take as needed, just don't go OVER the allowed dosage. I also found that my spirometer STILL was my best friend for several days after getting home. Also, I recommend not being around too many people right away. Your immune system is still trying to "get your body healed" and those nasty cold viruses that come along can quickly become pneumonia. I know...it happened to me 2 weeks ago and I still am not completely recovered. Just take care and if you need help...ask someone to help!! You are entitled! Way to go....you did it!!!
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12
CCF alumnus!

good idea to limit the percoset to 50% of allowed dose.
I am curious what is a 'sun bath party'? Don't overdo it...

Good for you! Glad you are home, now just take it easy and don't over-do it. Pay attention to your body and don't be afraid to call the Dr. for any concerns. Continuing to pray or you.
Holly P

Jack, good to hear you are on the road to recovery.Miss you at work and your ups guy asked about you and well as the truck drivers who allways stop here. Keep up the good work and get well soon. Rich

Hi Jack! I finally went over to shipping and got your info. Guy told me you are getting along good now, after a rough spot. you hang in there. I hope you are out of there soon. I miss you and hope you are feeling better every day. And leave those nurses alone! Ha! Wanted you to know I'm thinking about you.
Linda

Good afternoon Mr. Teeft: I hope you had a healing weekend and are in good spirits...I forgot...hospitals don't serve spirits do they, at least not the ones that come in a glass with ice. Just trying to make to laugh! Doug from Grainger's wanted to know how you were doing so I showed him your mug-shot on this site...he wanted you to know he was thinking of you and hoping your up and around very soon (we all do). Take care and listen to the doctor's and don't try to pinch any of the nurses (ha ha ha)...remember you need them. We are keeping busy @ IER and miss you very much. Have a great day for the rest of it. Sara

Jen, the good news is that any depression post surgery is short-lived. Usually a short term course of anti-depressents takes care of it.
Jack, I'm glad to hear you're turning it around. Like you, I'm i-pad illiterate. Desk tops are about my limit, but hey, you've got time now to join the 21st century. Might find a new career as an IT guy.

Stay well
Cliff

Hi Jack, sounds like your coming along.We sure miss you here @ IER.
Will keep you in my prayers.

Pat Craddock (Lab)

Whoops! sorry about that. Talk about having patience!!! I clicked too soon.
Holly

Glad to hear that you are doing better and that all the tubes are out! That alone is a good feeling. Don't be worried about the skilled care unit, it sound like it's what you need for a while, and they will take good care of you! It's comforting to know that you are being monitored by staff that know what to look for, rather than being on your own. There are so many things that can happen these first few weeks out! Praying for continued healing and patience through the process!
Holly P

Yeah John. Even though your daughter is taking off for a while, you won't be alone. Now get ta learning that iPad domawhatchyathingy and you'll have even less time to yourself. Ha!
I think there is even a soduku app for the iPad. Glad to hear you'll be taken care of for a while. By the way, it sounds like you have a great daughter ad did an awesome job of raising her.
God Bless and here is to a great recovery.
Paul G.

Jen,
You're a great daughter. Your dad is very lucky. Have a safe trip home.

Glad to hear Jack is doing well. Sounds like moving out of CICU did the trick!

Nancy B

Hey Jack! Sounds like you're being taken care of pretty well, I'm glad to hear that news. I hope to see you back on your feet very soon. Take care, we'll be back in business before you know it! - Tom @ Russell Products

Hi Jack, Hope your doing good. Been thinking of you, wishing you a fast recovery. Your friend, Mickey @Russell Products.

Hi Jack! It's great to hear you are doing so well...I really miss the other person who helps me keep this place running...ha ha ha ha!!! You got one end and I've got the other (I just don't know if I've got the good end or the ass-end! ha ha ha ha). This is my very first time blogging so I hope all goes well. Victor and I miss you every day and we all ask God for your speedy complete recovery. Thinking of you, Sara

jack glad to hear you are feeling better. take your time and get well soon. your are in our prayers. rich

I'm glad to hear things are going very well. My prayers are still with you my friend. Your daughter has done a great job with this journal. You should be very proud of her. Be well and continued great health. Guy

Best wishes to John and his dear Daughter. Your strength when the chips are down is to be admired. Glad things are looking up - you're in my prayers all day today. One day at a time...Kate R

Hi Jack,
Glad to hear you're feeling better. Hope to see you soon. Tell Jen she did a great job keeping us updated. Assure her that we'll keep an eye on you and bitch at you to take better care of yourself. The doctors did their job, the rest is up to you, my friend.

Cliffy

Hi John and Jen, Sorry you are having some problems, but dont give up the ship yet. You have a wonderful daughter there for you and she is doing a wonderful job keeping up for you. You will be getting better soon and getting on with your life all fixed and new. Lots of prayers going your way. Tomorrow will be a better day. And Jen you take care of yourself to. You need to stay strong for your Dad. Good luck to both of you.
For the long haul
LInda H

Any news? Worried about both of you. Stay strong and determined! Continuing yo pray for healing.
Holly P

HANG IN THERE ILL STOP BY FRIDAY WHEN I, THERE FOR MY PRE SURGERY APPOINTMENTS!

NINJA

Praying hard, Jack. Don't give up, buddy.
Cliff

Hi Jen,
I'm sorry to hear your Dad is having a rough time. I hope he decides life is worth fighting for and is able to aid in his own recovery. Everyone wants him to get better..not just you and your family, but strangers too like his clinical staff and everyone here at HVJ.
We'll continue to send encouragement and hope that things start to progress again on the road to recovery.

Hi Jen and Jack,

Sorry to hear the difficult time you are having. Hoping this will be only a minor blip in your recovery. We will keep you in our prayers and of course continue to closely follow your HVJ updates.

-Tom H.

Jen, so sorry to hear John is having these issues. I know he is feeling very frustrated and it is very difficult to keep spirits up when everything doesn't go as smoothly as you would like. I will continue to keep you both in my prayers, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, he is absolutely where he needs to be to be to get the best possible care. Try to hang in there, you have many keeping you in prayer!
God bless,
Linda Dixon

So sorry to hear about this set-back. Continuing to pray for both of you!
Holly P

Hey Dude!

Really great seeing the post from your daughter, glad to hear you are improving with each day. When out of the hospital and able to travel, please bring Jen by IER. We would all like to meet her.

Continued improvement (NO Set backs)

Sue N

HEY JACK,

HOPE ALL IS WELL JACK THE PEOPLE DOWN AT RUSSELL HAS BEEN ASKING ABOUT HOW YOU ARE DOING AND IM PLEASE TO SAY THAT THE TRAINING YOU PUT ME THROUGH IS WORKING OUT FINE IN RECEIVING. NO ERRORS AS OF YET. GET WELL SOON AND ILL KEEP YOU IN MY PRAYERS

VIC

Hi Jack,
The tow motor is gassed up and waiting for you.
Cliff

Buckeyes always prevail, hang in there John!

Hey John. Sounds like you are having the same problems I had. Funny about trying to keep the blood pressure up eh? Usually they all want it down. LOL. I think the BETA blockers were the biggest pain in my a$$. Man they make you tired and light headed. I know ya need them to keep your heart at the correct rate and all but Geesh....Just stay the course and it will all straighten itself out.
Glad to hear you are doing well though

Hi John, Glad to hear you are doing good. It takes time and everyday will get better. Just let it take it course. And no cooking while in the hospital. Enjoy all the wonderful hospital food. Yum yum lol. Take care.
For the long haul
Linda H

Hi Jack!
Sounds as if all is going well. Glad to hear. There will always be little blips, but you're in a great facility and they'll take good care of you. Stay strong, my friend. See you soon.
Cliff

Hey Jack! We're very happy all is going well. A lot of prayers were flying. Sophal is going to stop by to see if that's possible. He has an appt on Friday 8-4pm. This sight is pretty cool. Looking forward to hearing more of how well you're doing. Take it easy, literally. Guy, Rich, Sophal and Victor.

Jen and Jack,

Sending positive thoughts your way. Just wanted to mention that I have read so many stories here on HVJ of issues with A-fib and low BP post-surgery that I'm actually expecting them to occur after my mitral valve repair at CCF in 10 days. If you guys do end up sticking around a few extra days at CCF, I can stop in before my surgery to say hi, HVJ-style, assuming Jack is up to it.

Thanks for posting these updates Jen. There are many of us reading them closely and praying for your Dad's quick recovery and your notes are so helpful!

-Thomas Hunt

Hi Jen and John,
I don't have personal experience, but from what I've heard Afib and blood pressure issues are common. They're different for everyone too, so you can't predict what will happen to you.
Hope things take a turn for the better just so your dad can get moved out of CICU and on with his journey of recovery.

Nancy B

Hi Jen, let your dad know he has been in my thoughts and prayers. Denise K.

Hi Jen and John, sorry you have encountered these bumps in the road. But these are indeed common issues following valve surgery. My doctors told me before surgery that 30% of heart surgery patients develop A-Fib temporarily. I am still on a beta-blocker 8 weeks out to prevent this from happening. I also had the low blood pressure and that should also correct itself. Just know that he is in the BEST place to handle these things and I predict they will quickly resolve themselves. Stay strong, these are temporary things...the hard part is over! Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
God bless,
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12

Hi Jack,hang in there buddy,will keep you in my prayers.

Pat Craddock lab

I had trouble with my heart rate and blood pressure, as well as my urine output the day after surgery too. They ended up giving me several bottles of Albumin, it was a miserable day for me, and very concerning for my family, but they kept assuring us that it happens and is normal, I finally converted the next evening and output started picking up. Hang in there, it will get better!
Holly P

Jen,

Thank you SO MUCH for your long journal entry from when you first saw your dad after surgery, etc. That will be so helpful for my husband, when I have my surgery in 10 days. The detail was great!

I am encouraging him and also a friend, between the two of them, to journal these things when I am unable to. You did a fantastic job!

Hope your dad continues to improve.

Vel Turner

Hi!
Thanks for the play-by-play on surgery from the point of view of the one in the waiting room. Sounds like John is doing really well and on his way to a great recovery. That's great news!
Selma

So glad to hear John is doing well.
Thanks for the update.

Nancy B