Hi Louis , I know you are probably doing this , but are you taking care with lifting , twisting , pulling and stretching out ? Making sure that ...Read more
Hi Louis , I know you are probably doing this , but are you taking care with lifting , twisting , pulling and stretching out ? Making sure that you don ‘t put any strain on your wound / chest . I know that if you are waiting for hernia surgery that the uncomfortable hernia might be affecting how you move too . I have an old umbilical and epigastric hernia repair ( with mesh ) and I have to make allowances for this because I don’t want to have to have it redone . I hope the doctor gives advice about the anticoagulants and that your wound has stopped leaking now .
Just wanted you to know that I’m thinking of you and offering prayers in your name for your surgery tomorrow. I read your story. I pray that you have a calm, ...Read more
Just wanted you to know that I’m thinking of you and offering prayers in your name for your surgery tomorrow. I read your story. I pray that you have a calm, gentle peace surround you throughout the night. Try not to worry about all of the things that the team is doing to you. They’re magical and perform things that sometimes we don’t even know it’s happening and then….it’s over with. When you pop those eyes open tomorrow after your surgery, you’ll be ready to rock recovery! ~❤️
Ed Eller Louis I wish you and your surgical team a smooth procedure. I was so comforted by the care and compe... Read more
Ed Eller Louis I wish you and your surgical team a smooth procedure. I was so comforted by the care and competence of the people guiding me through this. I expect you will be able to say the same. I look forward to your next report!
Louis - if you can stand any more advice at this point, I’d like to offer something that may help with your concern about the breathing tube. I would have ...Read more
Louis - if you can stand any more advice at this point, I’d like to offer something that may help with your concern about the breathing tube. I would have panic attacks about the tube in the middle of the night prior to my surgery. I found a YouTube video that helped me feel calmer about it - I and others on this site can recommend it highly. Also, I can tell you that I have a terrible gag reflex, but I found there was no tendency to gag when I woke up after surgery while the tube was in. Either the drugs they give you suppress the gag reflex or they use something similar to the rotten banana spray that they give you when you get a TEE. All-in-all, I found the tube to be not nearly as bad as I feared. I gave a pretty detailed account of it in my journal,
Anyway, below is the YouTube video link. I apologize if you have already watched it. Good luck!
This video explains, step by step, the things that you can expect to be happening around you and the feelings you may experience as you are waking up from yo...
Danielle Elizabeth Louis wishing you tons of luck for your surgery. I don’t even remember the airway tube, absolutely ... Read more
Danielle Elizabeth Louis wishing you tons of luck for your surgery. I don’t even remember the airway tube, absolutely zero about it. The first two days I was sleeping 18 hours a day and was trying to wake up enough to check online if my grades posted from class. I viewed surgery as a forced vacation where I had nothing to do besides recover. I would recommend pre-writing your medical questions for after the surgery, and having the sheet of paper handy or saved to your phone.
Susan Eckermann Wishing you all the best on your surgery, Louis. George G. - Thank you for sharing that wonderful vi... Read more
Susan Eckermann Wishing you all the best on your surgery, Louis. George G. - Thank you for sharing that wonderful video. It’s nice to hear everything fully explained, and knowing the “why” behind what’s happening.
LOUIS MARTINEZ Thanks Susan, Danielle and George. George the video was so great. I am listening to a couple YouTub ... Read more
LOUIS MARTINEZ Thanks Susan, Danielle and George. George the video was so great. I am listening to a couple YouTube Affirmation videos that are relaxing and very helpful.
Richard Munson Very helpful information that might have helped me after my surgery. At the time i was just thankful ... Read more
Richard Munson Very helpful information that might have helped me after my surgery. At the time i was just thankful i woke up.
Hey, Louis, how are you doing now? I am Canadian too, Alberta. Hopefully your able to calm a bit more?
LOUIS MARTINEZ Hi Greg I guess I missed this as I am still navigating my nerves and this website. I think I'm okay. ... Read more
LOUIS MARTINEZ Hi Greg I guess I missed this as I am still navigating my nerves and this website. I think I'm okay. This site and everyone on it helps so much. I am just prepping for surgery and hospital stay. I don't look forward to the tube in my mouth, catheter, and tube in my left side for the heart fluid drainage. I have to read your profile if you had your surgery yet or are you still waiting? I think I will be more on here while recovering at hospital (if I am able). Thanks for checking in.
Kenneth Southard Quite honestly the tubes are nothing to worry about. That being said, my surgeon does do a technique ... Read more
Kenneth Southard Quite honestly the tubes are nothing to worry about. That being said, my surgeon does do a technique where he removes the breathing tube while you are still somewhat unconscious. All I remember is someone saying, "we are going to remove the tube." As for the other tubes, they were no big deal. Best of luck to you! I'm sure that you will do well.
It's pefectly normal to be nervous yet this is routine prcedures for surgical teams these days. It's no differrent for pilots flying through weather, they know ...Read more
It's pefectly normal to be nervous yet this is routine prcedures for surgical teams these days. It's no differrent for pilots flying through weather, they know exactly what to expect and are fully prepared for every situation that they encounter. Take some deep breaths and tell yourself you'll be fine. You will!
Louis - thank you so much for your nice note about my poem. I am so glad that you find comfort in it. I was anxious before surgery too. Something ...Read more
Louis - thank you so much for your nice note about my poem. I am so glad that you find comfort in it. I was anxious before surgery too. Something that really helped (besides writing) was to reframe that anxious feeling as “excited to get the surgery over with.” I’m not sure if I explained it in a way way that makes sense, but it did make me feel a little more comfortable. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. You can do this.
LOUIS MARTINEZ Thanks Cheryl, I will do that as well. When I was a kid going to an audition I would be extremely ... Read more
LOUIS MARTINEZ Thanks Cheryl, I will do that as well. When I was a kid going to an audition I would be extremely nervous and one of my acting teachers taught me to think of my nervousness as excitement and that helped.
Hi Louis , Welcome It ‘s normal to feel worried and to be apprehensive . We have all gone through lots of different emotions pre surgery . You need to... Read more
Hi Louis , Welcome It ‘s normal to feel worried and to be apprehensive . We have all gone through lots of different emotions pre surgery . You need to surgery and you will be getting it soon . We all say that which ever kind of surgery / valve we have is the right one for us . It will keep us alive and allow us to carry on with our lives . Louis , this lovely community is here to listen if you need to talk and we all have different experiences . You are going to be okay .
LOUIS MARTINEZ It is so nice to have this website and everyone on it. I hope to be a good support for those after ... Read more
LOUIS MARTINEZ It is so nice to have this website and everyone on it. I hope to be a good support for those after me just life everyone is for me.
We hope that you are doing okay .