Larry's Guestbook

Ana Brusso  Hi Larry, lifting you up in prayer for your surgery tomorrow to be successful. We will be here to welcome you into recovery so write as soon as you can. God bless you 

  George Gardope:  Thank you for your response to my question about the breathing tube and the moment you wake up.  Knowing that I will be sedated and it is approximately 15 minutes is comforting news.  Thank you for your help.  I have just 3 weeks until my surgery and it is nice to know what to expect.  Your answer was helpful to me.  Larry

Susan Eckermann  Hi Larry. I agree completely with George G.’s comments above. My MV surgery was just 10 days ago. I was initially petrified of 1) the sternotomy and 2) intubation.  Reading the real life stories from warriors on this site provided a lot of reassurance to me.  The last thing I recall prior to my surgery is being wheeled from pre-op to the OR.  When I next awoke, in the CICU, I could hear a family member and my surgeon discussing my surgery. I faded in and out for some time, then  heard staff talking about removing the tube.  They narrated and answered questions I wasn’t able to verbalize at that point. For me, the intubation felt like a bad sore throat. There was no panic. I don’t recall my hands being retrained, although I’m sure they were, as standard practice. A short time later, the tube was removed and I was enjoying the divine ice chips.  It really is true. You will place a whole new value on ice after surgery!  I can’t say enough about the fantastic care I received. While surgery is no cakewalk, the experience has not been the big, bad  monster I anticipated.  For reference , prior to my diagnosis, I had many years of good health, was active  and had boundless energy. My diagnosis only came about when I went to the ER for what turned out to be acid reflux, and  the doctor asked about my “heart murmur.”  Now, 10 days into my recovery,  the things that surprise me most are the lack of pain -I’d describe it as more of an uncomfortable feeling, and the lack of energy.  As much as we know these to be perfectly “normal”  post-op conditions, for one who has always had a surplus of energy,  the deficit now is surprising.  I’ve decided to focus on one day at a time, doing the best I can to heal and regain my strength.   As many have said, “the waiting is the hardest part.”    Doing as much preparation as possible for my life immediately post surgery helped me,  Temporarily  moving  daily necessities to be more readily accessible, setting up a comfortable bed with ample pillows or an adjustable recliner, packing my hospital bag… You  will make it through this challenge and soon regain your health,  Best Regards. 

Earl Brigham  Thank you so much for posting this video. This is GREAT! The advice on the family and friends was some of the best advice that I have ever heard.

George Gardopee  Just to further confirm Susan’s comments - my experience also was that the sternum pain was a nothing burger.  I can’t recall anything that I would call pain at all while in the ICU or step down. Tylenol only by the third day. Fatigue for sure - my guess is what energy your body can muster is diverted to healing from the trauma - plus some anemia from the small amount of blood loss.  For me, within a few weeks it was like it hadn’t happened (but I have to admit that I was extremely lucky to have had no complications). BUT - be careful of your sternum after. I yanked on a stuck door three weeks after surgery and that caused more pain than I felt after the surgery. Another tidbit - I recently tore the meniscus in my left knee. By far, worse that the discomfort from OHS and it has been going on for 6 weeks. 

Klara Čičić  My mitral valve repair was 7 weeks ago. Woke up with a tube after the surgery not feeling uncomfortable at all! It was apsolutley not an issue for me. No soreness, no pain, nothing. Nurse came and said surgery was successful and that is all I can remember, I was breathing slowly in and out, almost like without the tube - feeling happy, sleepy and kind of drugged :) Next thing - tube out! In a second! Not to worry about at all. Really.

Susan Eckermann  @ George G. - thank you for posting the video. It reminded me that I reviewed this particular video several times  before my surgery. It is so reassuring to know what’s coming and what feelings/sensations may arise,   For me, the information I gathered and the preparation I did in advance of my surgery helped reassure me and ally many of the concerns I had.