Tom's Journal

Tom had been working during both hospital stays and between them as well. Tuesday, Jan. 4th Dr. Singer gave him the OK to drive so Tom has been back at work ever since. He went back into his \"non physical\" job 21 days from date of surgery and 8 days from the date of his procedure to remove 590cc\'s from his paracardial sac. Dr. Singer told us that the accumulation of fluid after surgery is something of a mystery as it occurs in less than 1% of the people who have their valves replaced. I was glad to hear that it wasn\'t something that Tom did to bring it on. The doctor is now thinking that he may leave the chest tubes in his patient’s longer because of this. Tom says he feels a little tired around 5pm, he has a 25 minute drive to and from work he is up at 6:30am and returns home between 5:30-6:00 and he was calling this taking \"quarter days at work\" he has not taken a nap since Monday, Jan. 3rd, he stays up till 10pm each night. He is doing what he feels is comfortable for him and that is what the doctor said would be his guide. The Wife of a Bionic Man, Teri

Tuesday, Jan. 4th Tom saw his surgeon, Dr. R. Singer in Allentown, PA. This guy was terrific he spent time with us telling us his thoughts and sharing a video of Tom\'s valve just prior to the surgery. Tom\'s valve was in pretty bad shape, and he was asymptomatic! Maybe having this surgery will give him more energy....more energy, my oh my! Thanks be to God that Tom is here with us celebrating 2011! Tom told the doctor that he had been working from home for sometime and wondered when he could actually go into the office again. The doctor told Tom he just answered his own question. Tom drove the hour back home even went to the gym last night and had a glass of red wine, he would have used the hot tub but it wasn\'t working. He was told to avoid caffeine at all cost (he said everyone should!) alcohol in moderation and yes he may use the hot tub once again. He also mentioned that Tom\'s heart condition is hereditary and that all family members should get an echo cardiogram. All of our children have been seen by a cardiologist and have had their testing done. So it is up to Tom\'s siblings to get checked out before they get a warning sign. Remember Tom never had any warning signs, he just wanted to get more his life insurance. So please let Tom\'s heart surgery be the only warning sign you need and search for a cardiologist today and book your appointment in 2011! Thanks so much for all the notes, letters, cards, gifts,visits, thoughts and time spent reading about Tom! Love to all, Teri PS. Tom hasn\'t had a pain pill since Dec. 28 or 29th which is about 13 days since surgery!

1:45pm Tom got home Thursday or yesterday around 3pm! His temp never went above 100! He is feeling and looking wonderful again, still anemic but no pressure on his heart! PRAISE BE TO GOD and WONDERFUL PEOPLE PRAYING FOR TOM! He walked on the treadmill about 20 min at a slow pace he is eating well and actually doing chores. Thanks again for all your postings! Teri

2:00pm I posted at 12 but lost it. Bottom line is Tom is going home in a few minutes!!! I need to take his temp 3 times a day and if it goes over 101, call cardiologist. Still waiting for the culture to come back from the blood around his heart. The concern is that they don;t know why he has had fevers and it would be a major problem if their is bacteria around the mechanical valve. Please continue to pray for Tom and that his new valve is healthy. I have had so much freedom since Tom arrived that I am afraid when I get home there will not be many updates from me. So THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT! It would have been very difficult to go this ordeal alone, Teri

10:00am Tom had another fever late last night, they gave him antibiotics via a drip throughout the night. (I\'m glad I went home to sleep as knowing about his new fever would have made me crazy with my thoughts) He looks so amazingly healthy today and has a quicker step! The nurse just came in and gave him another antibiotic IV, she didn\'t change it because she heard a rumor that he might be going home today,if he stays tonight they will change it in the morning. We haven\'t seen the doctor at this point, so I will post what he tells us. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS, THOUGHTS AND GOOD WISHES! Teri

(per-ih-KAHR-de-ul uh-FU-zhun) is the accumulation of excess fluid around the heart. The heart is surrounded by a double-layered, sac-like structure called the pericardium. The space between the layers normally contains a very small amount of fluid. Pericardial effusion is often related to inflammation of the pericardium that\'s caused by disease or injury, but pericardial effusion can also occur without inflammation. Sometimes, pericardial effusion can be caused by the accumulation of blood after a surgical procedure or injury. When the volume of fluid exceeds the pericardium\'s \"full\" level, pericardial effusion puts pressure on the heart, causing poor heart function. If left untreated, pericardial effusion can cause heart failure or death. Tom had 590cc\'s of fluid removed today!

Tom returned to the room about 3pm. He wants to walk around, but they have hooked him up to an IV line for antibiotics and have to remind him to take it easy and he is not to walk until the drip finishes. He is sitting up, chatting and finally eating lunch.

12:45 This is plain cruel! Nothing to eat since yesterday at 6pm yet they serve his new roomy a wonderfully smelling lunch right beside him! Lauren and Natalie arrived around 11am. At 11:30am the doctor told Tom to get back into his bed as the nurses would be coming for him in 10 minutes so he has drifted off to sleep since he was tired of all the waiting. Thanks for thinking of Tom ,Teri

10:45am Tom has showered and used his new electric shaver he is ready for this procedure to begin and end! Another patient has just arrived in his room so it will not be quiet any longer. Thanks for your prayers, Teri

9:45am Wednesday! Passing the time by strolling the halls and sitting in the lobby to read the news papers. He wants to visit his hospital wife, Patrice but they won\'t let him leave this floor because he is on a heart monitor. So he is an unhappy patient and bored. Visitors are encouraged, just come healthy, Teri

8:45am The procedure is set for 11am today. He is wide awake and now looking over the Kindle. Come visit! Nothing to eat till after his 11:00am procedure and then we wait for his INR to go back up in order to be discharged! Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes, Teri

Blood work was taken at 6:00am we are waiting for the the INR results...pray for a healthy 1.5 so that they may do the procedure this morning! Tom is sleeping very well at least from my vantage point, thanks in part to his single and wonderful room at the end of the hall near the window. Tom\'s sister Kathy sent him a Kendle, The Kendle is an amazing light weight electronic device, it is more than a book as it holds thousands of reading material and weighs only a few ounces. It has internet access so he may purchase a book or download one for free with in minutes. I set it up last night so when he wakes up today he may begin to read passages from the Bible or something from the Wall Street Journal. Thanks for your continued prayers! Teri

Tom ate most everything on his diner plate tonight. He will not be allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight tonight. His 101.2 fever, I am told will not keep them from doing the procedure at 11am tomorrow! But after the procedure he will need to stay put till his INR goes up again, it should be between 2.5-3.0 but they let him go at Lehigh Valley when it was only 1.9 after surgery. Please keep your prayers going for Tom! Teri

Please type your name at the end of your post since we only get to see what you type! If you want to add some fun to this journal don\'t add your name just give us a few different easy clues so that we may guess who you are. I heard Tom laugh a few minutes ago while he was reading the most recent postings! Teri

Tom had a great day! His day really began when his first group of visitors arrived, Skott and Rob from Stout Medical Group, three of our children; Lauren, Natalie and Dylan and then Mark from The Kings Men. We have taken leisure strolls to the lounge as he is not allowed to do laps until further notice. Another minor setback just occurred....he requested some pain medicine and they decided to take his vitals where they found he had a fever. Tom is doing very well just a little annoyed at this bump in his recovery. Thanks for following the journal, he is enjoying the messages! Teri

When I arrived at the hospital this morning Tom\'s bed was empty and made up...I was surprised to say the least. The nurses told me he was getting his legs scanned to rule out any blot clots. I spoke with the doctor and he said that Tom would not have the procedure to drain the fluid today as his INR is now at 1.7, he will definitely have it done tomorrow. Oh and his leg scans came back negative! So he is just hanging out waiting. If you are healthy stop by for a visit anytime! Teri

I too felt they allowed him to leave the hospital a little early considering his INR was 1.9 or close to it, and they said they wanted him to be at 2.5 to 3. Tom is very aggressive or better said he is an \"A\" type personality. Today his INR was 1.8 so how does one manage this INR on their own when it takes a few days from the blood test to find out where you are. Oh my goodness I am just feeling overwhelmed and scared mostly at this point! I hated to leave him at the hospital tonight not knowing any of the nurses or anyone at all on the staff :( I want to be there for him for those little things that he won\'t want to bother the nurse for. His bed is near the door so between two patients\' needing assistance he will get less sleep than ever before. I know, I know, I need to let go and let God! Thanks for your post it really does help! Teri