Sher's Photos

Update on my recovery: My surgery was April 10th. About 6.5 hr surgery. I was out of surgery and in ICU around 8 pm that night and apparently my family was able to see me at 9 pm. I don't remember anything really until the late afternoon of the 11th. It took quite awhile for me to come to. My breathing tube finally came out the evening of April 11th. My BPs were very soft and oxygen levels really low. They put me on a CPAP machine the evening of the 11th to try and get my oxygen level up (I have a very big appreciation for anyone that needs to use one). I honestly thought it was Monday on Saturday. I was pretty mixed up. I was in ICU for 4 days and then moved into my first cardiac step down room. Unfortunately I got a UTI from the bladder catheter because it just kept backing up. I put on about 25 lbs of edema. I was on pill form of lasix because my surgeon was worried about my BP and oxygen levels. After 2 days of agony for the UTI and the culture to come back, I was finally put on an antibiotic. If you've ever had an UTI and on lasix you know its not much fun peeing (sorry for being so graphic). Once the antibiotics kicked in it was much better.
With edema in my legs, ankles and feet, and low oxygen, walking was difficult for I was determined to move, do my breathing exercises because I knew that was the way to improve. Over the 2 weeks, I was moved to 2 other step down rooms. I was hoping to get out of the hospital in 5 or 6 days not 2 weeks but such is life. Better to be where I was working with physio and respiratory therapists and if something went wrong a team was there to make sure to help. Sleep is hard in the hospital so I was happy when they let me go home with some pretty strict rules to work on walking and breathing exercises.
I've had a hard time doing social media because I am exhausted. More on that on my next post. Progressing slowly but I am progressing. 

Today I had my final labs done and my blood cross and type match band put on for surgery in Thursday April 10 th. First technician was having a problem getting my blood to flow but the second one got it in real quick. A bit of a pin cushion today but I suspect I’ll have a whole lot more pokes on Thursday. It is getting pretty real now and I have to stay busy so that I don’t focus too much of what Thursday will bring. My house is getting spring cleaned by a company tomorrow…I know it’s crazy but I just want to go into surgery knowing my house is really clean . My son gets home from work rotation tomorrow and I am feeling better knowing he will be here too. I hope everyone is starting to get excited about Spring (a renewal as such) and I for one will be happy when this is behind me.