Selma, you have a great sense of humor and that is going to help you recover all the faster! I know it's kind of weird getting your living will done, but hey, it needed to be done anyway, right? I'm one week post op today, and feeling better every day. I'm hoping like you, that I'll have so much more energy once I'm fully recovered! Stay strong!
Holly P

Almost there Selma!
Glad to hear you told your mother.

Nancy B

Gottcha, I got my anuersym from my Dad except mine is in a different spot. My daughter got the aortic stnosis from him and now her daughter of 8 years old has a bicupsed aortic valve. Arent fathers wonderful lol? Except my Dad had Wofe White Parkinson syndrome but I knew the heart problems ran in his family.
For the long haul
Linda H

Oops. That was a first for the long haul is Linda H Sorry

Hi Selma, Don't worry about family not being there, I'm sure they will be there in spirit, and you also have a family with HJV. You said you have been thinking a lot about your Dad. You know what I think? I think he is looking down on you and he is supporting you. Good luck to you.
For the long haul

Hi Selma.

You and I are pretty well in the same boat. I have my pre-op tommorrow and the surgery on the 14th of May.

Keep thinking positive! The drugs will make the harder parts of your journey difficult to remember and the next thing you know it will be time to go home!

Best wishes,

Jerry

Ya Selma. No worries on the Tube. You will be so out of it you'll probably not even remember the breathing tube. Besides, you'll have other things to keep your mind busy. Like how excruciatingly bored your gonna be just laying in bed letting people take care of you. Those nurses are incredible people. Funny about the fridge and cooler. That is what i am still doing. I have a small lunch cooler with a couple drinks in it to wet the old whistle, until I get up for a walk. LOL, and just wait for your first sneeze. Holy Moly....Ha, Ha.....You'll go Oh oh....Oh My God...and then....HOLY CRAP!, and then you'll laugh when you remember about how I told you about it. It really isn't funny but you'll still laugh....

Hi Selma, sounds like you are experiencing similar thoughts that I have, and all of us have had! One of my fears is the by-pass machine, I have heard stories about them....and getting the chest tubes removed. I'll make it through and so will you! Praying for you as you prepare for the week ahead!
Holly

Call me. I will walk u thru it

314/276/1012

I never said the word OHS.

I just told folks an oil & lube job. Or a valve replacement. I made it sound like an appendix op

Presentation is key.

Work with it !! It's gonna be great

But again I'd love to help if I can.

5/11. Great day.

Nancy. St Louis. Avr 2-9-12

I met Jane p & Mitch. Great folks.

I would tell your mom now. You will feel much better.

Yes, you can have coffee but I had no desire for it after surgery. All I wanted was water.

The fridge could definitely be a problem for a few days but won't you have someone with you for a few days?

I do not even remember the breathing tube. By the time I was conscious, the tube was out.

It is not nearly as bad as the anticipation of the surgery.

Jan Beale

I would say tell your mom she'd want to know and you are going to feel so much better once you've told her. I hope we can have coffee, holy smokes haven't even thought about that. And the fridge thing could be a problem I remember reading in Adam's book about fridge issues. And for that %$#.. breathing tube I really hope the others are right about that, but hey we have our plan.....We are getting close....

1.) Tell your mom. You will feel better.
2.) the fridge door might be a problem. I found all doors quite painful to open for awhile.
3.). Everything will work out. If it doesn't get done before your surgery, oh well. It will still be there when you feel good again.
4). The breathing tube isn't in that long, so don't sweat it. And it only takes about two seconds (literally) to get it out. It wasn't nearly as bad as I imagined it to be.

Good luck and God Bless!
Deb Z

Selma,
I have a friend who never told her mother she had breast cancer, but I do NOT think that's the way to go. Even at 90 I would be upset if one of my boys didn't tell me about a surgery.

My surgery was on a wed. and on Friday morning they let me have coffee. I did get a decaf, but it was still soooo good. They would have let me have regular, which seems odd to me. Then again, the girl across the hall from me (probably mid 30's) in the hospital had a valve repair also. One morning I heard them telling her that her blood sugar kept coming back high. About 15 minutes later the guy from food service came around and she ordered a sandwich on white bread, a coke, and a chocolate layer cake for lunch!!! Seriously! You have to be your own advocate nutritionally I guess.

I am extremely claustrophobic, and was worried about the breathing tube. I had told myself to stay calm and just go back to sleep if it was still in, but it really didn't bother me. Breathing felt normal, and I didn't want to move anyway. When I woke up I was so happy to see my husband and know it was over, that the various tubes weren't an issue.

It will all be over before you know it!
Kerry

Selma,
You've got to tell your mother! Just do it...get it off your chest. My 87 yo mother has memory issues. I think sometimes she forgets I'm having surgery and then remembers when I bring it up.
You'll be surprised at how resourceful you can be when faced with a challenge and nothing but time to help figure it out. When I had wrist surgery I bought a jar of roasted red peppers and was all set to make myself a grilled cheese with peppers...until I realized I only had one hand and couldn't open the jar! I sat there and stared at it until I figured out I could hold it between my feet and open it with my good hand. You'll figure out a way around your fridge door if you stop and think instead of worry. You can do it!

Nancy B

Hi Selma, YES! I had coffee when they decided I could have liquids. That first day is still sort of fuzzy, so I can't remember exactly how long it was and it was probably decaff, but I want to say it was the morning after surgery. I was given some ice chips (CCF ice is crushed!!! yum, yum!!) and a popsickle sometime during the evening of surgery. Now...about the @@@####!!!###&&& breathing tube....it was my biggest fear!! Cut my chest open, split my sternum, STOP my heart...but do I really have to have a breathing tube??? Well... honestly, it was not bad. I do remember it being in, seems like a very short period of time, I think only about 2 hours after getting into ICU. It did not hurt, I could just "feel something". I was able to breathe, I had prepared myself to try to stay calm and I did. When they removed it, I just had to "cough it out" as they removed it. Even that cough did not hurt, I'm sure I was totally loaded up with drugs, lol. Anyway...just wanted to say it really isn't as bad as you are imagining. Some people aren't even aware of it at all. You almost have the hard part over with...the waiting. Take care and hang in there!
Linda THE Tiger, AVR 3/13/2012

Selma,
Looking forward to meeting you! I will look for you!
Would you like my cell?

Hi Selma, I didn't know there was another heart valve board. I loved your post. It articulated so well what I had been feeling. I've had people say to me, "You're my hero". My initial thought was, "Why? I didn't do anything special. My heart had to get fixed. I got it fixed." I guess what she was trying to say was that I had such a positive attitude by being so nonchalant. Then I'd remember, OMG, I'm having a serious surgery! Hope you're enjoying your week-end! Your time is coming so soon! Lily

Most just really don't know what to say. Truth is that it is a big deal but something modern medicine can do very efficiently and safely now. I did not know much about this stuff until I learned I would have to go thru it. Now it's over and I am essentially back to normal (6 months), it almost seems like it didn't happen...kind of hard to explain. I got asked about it a lot on the beach this week...my scar is a gentle reminder that it did happen.

Anyway...don't be too hard on them. I just say I am good for another 100,000 miles.

Take care...

JH Mattingly

I totally understand...as yet to go myself, everyone's reaction is heavy and concerned mixed with their own fears. I have had friends cry while I comforted THEM!
Thanks for your insight! Tracy

Selma,
Surreal isn't it? I do not think a lot of people actually know what Open Heart Surgery is! They do not realize that the heart is stopped for this particular surgery! I was so ignorant about so much. Bob is scheduled close to yours. We will be sure to look you up. Maybe we can exchange emails or phone numbers.

Hi Selma. Great post. I feel the same way. Most of the time I have the thought in my head that this surgery no big deal, especially when I read about success rates at top hospitals, examples of 1-day hospital recoveries (http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/13/mitral-valve-repair-video-michael-gnatek/), and stories of patients who go on to do amazing things like climb Mt. Everest (http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2007/09/02/mountain-climbing-everest-after-heart-valve-replacement/). And then there are those moments in between when I remember how serious it is to have our hearts stopped, cut open, fixed and then restarted. Such a range of perspectives.

I'm a week behind you, and will be watching closely and cheering you on. Best of luck and thanks for putting down in writing what many of us are thinking!

-Tom H.

Yup. We gonna do just fine together. Just gott make it happen. Njf

Great post friend. I totally felt the same way & frankly never ever used the words. Ohs. Just having an oil & lube job is what I told folks But those I did tell the truth too went the same route asyourfriends. So same old same old.

While its not a walkin the park Ora pie e of cake it's just not that bad. There are so many worse things u can go thru

Anyway. You will be fine. Flying now to Hartford
Sure hope our path cross soon. Our mentalities are similar
Enjoy. Nancy f St Louis.

Ps. Afterwards folks just ask how r u ? Like you just got over the flu. Ha ha

Hi Selma,

I missed your post the other day so wanted to drop in and say howdy!! I know this waiting is for the birds, but we are getting closer every day, I guess that's a good thing....

Take care and talk to ya later,
Cindy P.

Hi Selma
I am a fellow HVJ have not written a note for awhile. You have a wonderful sense of humor. I too am 60. I so feel for you waiting. Sometimes time is good in retrospect.
Take care if I can help you in any way let me know. 3X open heart survivor and going strong!
Susan VandenBussche North Carolina

I know you have heard this before, but honestly the waiting is the hardest part. Maybe do a dry run to NYC and get some Katz's to cheer you up. Almost there, stay strong. -Mitch Friedman

Geez what a grouch. Do u need a poem to calm u down ? :).

Shake it easy lady. Keep very busy ! It's less that 30 days now & that'll go fast. I promise

But I do like your dentist idea. That's cool

I'll connect soon.

Best. Nancy. St Louis. 2/9/12.