I cant believe is has been 11 days since my surgery. Its still amazing to me that I am able to go home after only five days in the hospital after open heart ...Read more
I cant believe is has been 11 days since my surgery. Its still amazing to me that I am able to go home after only five days in the hospital after open heart surgery, and now being home since monday night and doing so well. I have gotten so much stronger since my return home I am able to walk around the yard with ease and walk longer periods then I expected. I'm walking about 12-15 minutes each time I go out for walks. Sheryle says I'm doing great and probably a little concerned that I might me be doing to much. So I will probably take it easy but I do feel great. My only annoying problem is this dry cough, which tends to cause discomfort in the chest but other then that really the pain has reduced greatly. I believe it will be just a matter of time before all is well.
I want to thank those who responded to our journal with their advice and thoughts with some problems I was having while in the hospital. My upper back pain is still there but has gotten better every day. My overall pain as dropped allot to the point I'm backing off of the full pain meds they prescribe.
Just wanted to write a short note and wish everyone a Merry Christmas. So long for now. Daryl
Daryl came home this evening just in time to watch the 49ers. He is wiped out but it was a really good day. His goal was to walk to our gate and back when he ...Read more
Daryl came home this evening just in time to watch the 49ers. He is wiped out but it was a really good day. His goal was to walk to our gate and back when he got home and he did it. Thats about a 500 foot walk. Pain is well managed. He has a dry cough which is annoying but overall he is doing outstanding. Im tired but relieved no more commuting two hours to see him. Amazing recovery this far. Take care and good luck!
Thanks Tara and Joel, the back pain makes since thats what I thought it was but we hadnt really seen any post about it. Today was great advances for Daryl his ...Read more
Thanks Tara and Joel, the back pain makes since thats what I thought it was but we hadnt really seen any post about it. Today was great advances for Daryl his strength and stamina is returning slowly. He was able to shower and had the last two wires removed. Pain is being managed very well and he is walking more and doing the exercises. The surgeons nurse heard a slight murmer but the Dr. says its nothing to worry about. They will run some test in the morning but thinks it is just because his heart is adjusting to working valves.He will come home tommorow afternoon and we are both looking forward to that. Until the next post. Take care.
Daryl asked me to post whether anyone else had upper back pain? His chest pain is about 3 to 4 on the pain scale but his upper back is 7 to 8. He says everyday ...Read more
Daryl asked me to post whether anyone else had upper back pain? His chest pain is about 3 to 4 on the pain scale but his upper back is 7 to 8. He says everyday is better but he thought the pain would be in his chest so it frustrates him. More on his recovery soon. Thanks Sheryle
Im sorry I couldnt update everyone yesterday. Between no internet at the hospital that worked and my not willing to leave Daryl's side I just coundnt do it. ...Read more
Im sorry I couldnt update everyone yesterday. Between no internet at the hospital that worked and my not willing to leave Daryl's side I just coundnt do it. Yesterday was the hardest so far for him instead of day three. He was very nauseated and had a lot of pain both in his chest and his upper back. The pain in his back was worse. They finally gave him an antiflamatory pain medicine today and it really helped him. He had the breathing tubes removed after only 4 1/2 hours wednesday and today he had the drainage tubes removed and one of his IV lines and the mainline bloodpressure line removed from his cartoid artery. He ate and got bathed today and walked himself down the hall about 100 feet to his new room out of ICU. He is making great progress just is really tired becuase they wont let you sleep. Too many test and monitors sounding alarms and xrays at 4am. UGH! He wanted everyone to know he is looking forward to making his own post. For now it Sheryle again, thanks everyone.
We woke up at 3 am and got ready to go to the hospital. We got checked in and waited about an hour and half while Daryl was prepped for surgery. Some relaxing ...Read more
We woke up at 3 am and got ready to go to the hospital. We got checked in and waited about an hour and half while Daryl was prepped for surgery. Some relaxing medicine and one IV started with antibiotics. We finally followed him down the hall to the surgerical doors and said the hardest see you later ever! It's the hardest thing I think I have ever done. We then went to the waiting room and waited where friends and more family joined us. It was extremely hard waiting but we were given a brief all is well about half way through. The surgeon came out after 6 hours and told us he replaced the aortic valve and had to graft the ascending aorta as it was bad also. Confirming that Daryl was born with a bicuspid valve. Daryl is still on the breathing machine but no longer on the pump and everything looks great so far. Until next post, thanks for the support. /s/ Sheryle
Hi everyone this post will be by me (Sheryle) the loving wife! Today was interesting, pre-op blood draws, three to be exact. The pre-puberty shave, xrays, videos ...Read more
Hi everyone this post will be by me (Sheryle) the loving wife! Today was interesting, pre-op blood draws, three to be exact. The pre-puberty shave, xrays, videos times three, and visits from nurses, doctors, and of course the surgeon. Lots of papers and signatures. Four hours in all. The kids left and went to the mall. We went to dinner and gave the kids a little more information on what to expect. They are great kids and I know they are worried, but we will get thru this together. I have a different personalty than my husband as you will see by my post. I have a positive outlook and I find comfort in humor, I hope I dont offend anyone. Tommorow is surgery, time to get the shower for Daryl and rest, 4 am comes early, hospital by 5am. Until our next post, God Bless you All!
We will be heading out to the hospital within the hour for pre-op, so I thought I would look at my e-mail. Noticed a few notes from friends and patients. As ...Read more
We will be heading out to the hospital within the hour for pre-op, so I thought I would look at my e-mail. Noticed a few notes from friends and patients. As the patients say have confidence in your doctor which I diffently do. Just want to say thanks those who sent notes and those patients who write reponses they are greatly appreciated. My wife sheryle will continue with updates from now until I am able to write, which I hope to be soon. So for now thanks for the notes and well wishes, I will talk to you all soon.
Well only two days till surgery and getting a little more nervous about the surgery. I keep busy which helps me from thinking to much about it. The last two ...Read more
Well only two days till surgery and getting a little more nervous about the surgery. I keep busy which helps me from thinking to much about it. The last two weekends we had friends and family over visiting which made the holiday weekends great. My wife and I celebrated our official 25th wedding aniversary two weeks ago, but our daughter gave us an earlier 25th wedding aniversary back in september with a very much suprised party, it was an event that I will never forget.
I dont know if anyone else has problems with sleeping But I sure do. I tend to wake up in the middle of the night and begin to think to much and cant get back to sleep. I have to take over the counter sleeping pills which I limit to one pill if I take them. But it allows me to sleep.
Well tommorrow we travel to hospital for my pre-op which they say will take about 3-4 hours. Then we will be staying in Motel for the night. My wife and kids will be staying in the motel for a couple of nights then travel back and forth for the time I'm in the hospital. Wednesday the surgery is planned for about 0730 hrs which I like because we are the first for the day.
I'll end for now and if I dont update before surgery, My wife "sheryle" will give updates from the surgery.
We'll talk to you later
First off thanks to Adam for giving the advice that I forgot, that was write down some questions before meeting the surgeon. That was a great help. Thanks Adam. ...Read more
First off thanks to Adam for giving the advice that I forgot, that was write down some questions before meeting the surgeon. That was a great help. Thanks Adam. My wife and I did just that after reading your note. We both had questions and were able to put together 10-15 questions.
The consultation went very well. As the surgeon went over everything from my situation and my options. He had answered several of the questions through out this discussion. I feel more comfortable with the surgeon and his direct approach with me. I did'nt feel he held anything back, he was direct, which is what I like. We scheduled the day for the surgery, 12/09 and I even asked if there was anything earlier please consider me. Dont get me wrong if I had a choice I would'nt do this but the alternative is not an option, I have a great family with three great kids that I want to see grow up.