Janet's Journal

J Alexander Lassally  @ Janet - I do expect that whiskey at some future juncture ! Smile  (If I can be so bold, I do have a perfect pre open heart surgery song which I think captures the ethos of the experience 100%... I believe in surrender and submission the day of the surgery and this delivers) I think you will appreciate my thought process 

J Alexander Lassally  PS Intubation is tough. I think your voice will be fine though. Some patients at second tier hospitals have had voice issues .. The hardest part is the in between phase which is mostly involuntary. Many patients say they dont remember anything about extubation but there are hidden ones (like me) who remember much ... it just depends... The good news is you will just soldier through that part. You get your warrior badge on day one after being extubated, not day zero... 

Valerie Allen  I’ve got to say I’ve been intubated a couple times including heart surgery and don’t remember a thing. Remember this is happening when you are barely coming of heavy sedation and most, I would say, are not cognizant. Just a pep talk!

Susan Lynn  Janet - Be sure to let the surgeon and anesthesiologist know that you're an opera singer.  You may want to ask about early extubation, too. 
I have no memory of the tube and didn't have the slightest discomfort in my throat once it was removed.   I did remind the anesthesiologist in pre-op that I have a horrific gag reflex and unless he wanted a reenactment of Regan from the Exorcist, they would keep my intubation time to an absolute minimum! 
Think positively, but speak up for yourself.  

Melinda Donahue  Hi Janet. Ask your surgeon if you are breathing in your own to take out your tubes prior to you waking. I did and mine were out when I woke up. 

I understand how you feel. 

Kimberly Eisenhut  Intubation was long for me, but I literally was writing on a wipe board before they took it out, so if I can do it, anyone can. Was freaking out my kids though. I know I'm not a wimp for sure; 3 kids, no pain meds/ epidurals with any of them (all natural) ,and this surgery. No pain meds after two weeks. Still fighting daily migraines, anemia, eye trouble and pushing through to walk my steps, even if it's just around the house because I'm lightheaded/ dizzy, and doing spirometer even though it hurts my head to. I will forever have respect for all those who came before me and congratulate you on your strength and perseverance 💪❤️ True heart warriors for sure!😊

Aaron Bader  You have the why - your family and loved ones and your music - and you might even surprise yourself by the way that motivates you.  That's certainly how I've felt.  Discovering (or re-discovering) what really matters and what you really value gives all the push to really own your recovery and make those day by day gains. 

PS... love hearing about your music.  I'm the son of two music major parents and fell in love with music early too (drums and percussion, with a side of piano my instruments).  I'm finding myself, as I go for walks, just letting Spotify or what have you send me new albums and songs (I'm all about jazz right now) and I know I'll be back playing before too long and back seeing shows before too long.  

And you will too!  You'll be singing and playing and striving for that will help your recovery in a big way.

Janet Gaffney  Beautiful responses. Thank you, everyone. 🥲

@J. Alexander - I owe you that whiskey! Maybe we’ll have a toast over FaceTime some day. 
@Valerie - I’m praying for the same. 
@Susan - I will remember to speak up for myself - thank you for the encouragement. 
@Melinda - I will ask
@Kimberly - you are, indeed, a warrior! 
@Aaron - thank you - I have a minor (very minor) in ethnic percussion. I played in an African drumming band and a steel band in college. 😆 My youngest kiddo is a hell of a percussionist. Drums are so physical - hope you get back to playing quickly! 

John Cook  I don’t remember my first 2 days of ICU, so I don’t remember being intubated or tethered so I couldn’t take it out, which I apparently tried to do a lot.

i did a lot of meditating pre-surgery to help me stay in a good headspace.

Post-surgery, getting better was ‘my job’ so i set myself up a routine and got my walks in. I’d also spend time every day on my deck with a fire going and the sun on my face. After 9 days in the hospital, it just felt so good to be in the sunshine.

Marie Myers  Speak to the anesthesiologist (not the surgeon) about your intubation concerns about your voice. They are the ones who deal with the breathing tube aspect of the surgery.

Janet Gaffney  John - good idea to get outside! It does make a difference but hadn’t really thought of making it part of my routine. And a good way to view recovery - as my ‘job’. 

Thank you Marie, I will definitely be making talking to the anesthesiologist a priority. 

John Cook  A couple more thoughts that occurred to me: being able to take that quick breath in and draw it out while you exhale takes a lot of stamina and your stamina is going to take a hit the same way my running has. Some of us have longer issues with plural effusion (water around the lungs).  You’ll want use your spirometer a lot to help get that water out and get your stamina back.

I’m at 4-month post-surgery.  I am back to being able to enjoy jogging.  However, I’m struggling to run for 2 minutes at a pace I used to be able to run for an hour. In a lot of ways it’s been like learning to distance run all over again and starting out with the most basic of basics.  You might find that you have similar issues with your breath-work post-op.

Having reasonable goals can be helpful in recovery. But if you miss those goals, don’t let it demoralize you.

We all have a lot of shared experiences in recovery but everyone’s recovery is different.  Good luck.

Melinda Donahue  Yes. I also found there is a lot of mucus after the tube comes out and you cannot cough it up because that requires a force which you don’t have.  Buy the spray saline for home (cvs, Walgreen). It will help immensely. Also breathing and walking is a major accomplishment in the beginning. Small goals. Everyday increase a bit. You will surprise yourself. 

George Gardopee  Hi Janet. I too was terrified of the breathing tube.  Probably the aspect of all this I feared the most. I have posted this before, but I found this YouTube video to be the most helpful - it is “Video 3 of 4 – What to expect as you are waking up from your OHS”. The source is “A Heartbeat Away 4U”. The presenter is a doctor who has also experienced OHS. I can’t recommend it enough. He describes how you will likely feel with the tube in your throat but he is very reassuring that you won’t suffocate or strangle. He recommends internalizing before you go under that you just need to relax and allow the machine to breathe for you. It was excellent advice. I can’t offer anything concrete about your voice other than my own experience having been intubated twice. The first time I only had a sore throat for two or three days. The second time (after my OHS) I didn’t even get a sore throat. Good luck!

Diane Pellowe  It is very tough to wait for your big day.  But, it WILL come and soon you’ll be on the other side.  As for the intubation, I woke up intubated and trying to sing!  Hands were tied so I wouldn’t try to take anything out but I was conducting with my fingers.  I remember I was trying to sing “Walkin’’ on Sunshine”…so you never know.  Hope you wake up singing, too!!!

Susan Lynn  Janet - Glad you decided to post.   We'll be cheering you on every step of the way.   In a few months,  you'll be the one encouraging the folks in the waiting room.   

Waiting for your surgery date to arrive seems like an eternity, but the process of having it goes very fast.  Most heart warriors are in the hospital less than a week and experience an amazing amount of healing in the first couple of weeks of recovery. 

You'll do just fine!   Keep us posted on your progress. 

Maureen Hoganson  Hi Janet -- Hoping that all is going well as you prepare for your Ross Procedure! I too was at the upper age limit (58), but all went well with the procedure, just a few bumps in the road post-surgery, but doing great now at 16 weeks post-op! Prayers for a successful surgery and recovery!

Janet Gaffney  That is great to hear! Thank you for responding! 
Do you have any advice that you wish you had regarding post op recovery? 

Maureen Hoganson  So after having two open heart surgeries 11 1/2 years apart (first replaced my BAV with a Trifecta Bovine Valve) -- one of the challenges was the bloodwork in the hospital in the step down unit. I have great veins, but you can't see them and too many of the nurses were not skilled enough to feel for them and properly draw the blood. We ended up requesting a phlebotomist only and that was so much better! (They showed me my veins on their portable scan!)  I was so bruised from that as well as the heparin shots. They are supposed to alternate the shots between your abdomen and back of your arms, but for some reason, they mostly gave them to me in my arms, which bruised immensely (and still have a small one)!  Don't get me wrong, I was thankful to get through the surgery -- and now at just about 4 months post-op, I am so very grateful to have had a successful Ross Procedure! My suggestion would just be to make sure that you have someone with you at all times if possible. (My husband was a trooper!) And if you have any allergies or sensitivies, make sure your whole team is aware of this -- and knows what to do if you have any reactions. They thought that they had put a "film" over my incision that would need to come off by 14 days, but I never had that. Got an infected wound at the bottom of my incision and had to be readmitted for IV antibiotics two week post-op and then a round of Augmentin at home. Was unexepected, but the infectious disease doctor thinks I picked that up in the hospital unfortunately. AND if you do have water weight gain from the surgery, just make sure that they administer the Lasix SLOWLY! If they give it too fast via IV, it can really knock you down! This may all seem a bit overwhelming, but again, I am so thankful to be doing so well at this point! (I have chronic Lyme and inflammation, so was worried about post-op this time around...) However, I feel so much better after the Ross -- and pray it lasts my lifetime! Continued prayers for you as well! You sound like a great candidate for the Ross and are asking the right questions!