Joy's Journal

Lisa Guinan  Removal of the pacing wires was very easy for me, but mine weren’t ever hooked up. If you got your chest tubes out, I think that felt the weirdest. I didn’t have to lie still after my pacing wires were removed but did after they removed the IV in my neck.

Tom Bartolomei  Removal of the pacing wires is quite a simple procedure and it only just feels a little weird. No discmfort. Between chest tubes, Foley catheter, and pacing wires, they all fall in the “feels weird” category when being removed. I didn’t have to lie still after the pacing wires were removed. Welcome to the other side.

Paul Howarth  Same as above. Just feels a little strange. Does not hurt at all.
Post 5 days great job. I'm day 11 and I'm finding I'm getting /feeling better about 2% per day. Over a couple days or a week your going to start noticing blocks of positive improvement. 😊

Louanna Miller  My pacemaker and wires were removed on my 10th day of hospitalization. I was on the pacemaker numerous times during my post op hospital stay. Removal was not uncomfortable or painful. Removal of my right chest tube was the worst. I did have to lie flat on the hospital bed for 2 1/2 hours after the pacing wires were removed.

Jennifer McInerney  Removal wasn’t painful although for some reason I expected it to be so was pretty anxious. I had to lie down for an hour afterwards.

Mark Jaycox  Like everyone else said having the pacing wires removed just feels weird. I can’t wait to have the IV in my neck removed today. Last night was tough. I’m not sure if it was because I was excited to go home or something else. I just want a night of NO interruptions so I can finally get a good nights sleep.

Joy Rose  So no worries getting pacing wires removed, so I can relax. Getting them out today and heading home tomorrow. I am showering myself and walking a fair bit. What a journey we have all been through, I really think the worse was the waiting, so all you warriors about to come new warriors, you will be fine. Probably the hard part for me will be no riding my pony, cycling or swimming for the next 2-3 months. I think I had the best view in Auckland from hospital room watching firecrackers from Xmas in the Park. Asked one of the nurses what the extra charge would be and she had a great laugh.

Rob Sparling  Rose, my docs told me (upon discharge, mind you) to go have a lean piece of red meat. I did. Doctor’s orders. No argument! The red blood cell count can be a challenge so stay ready to do what they say to do!

Dan Vechiola  Welcome to the other side Rose! Your hemoglobin gets hit pretty hard during OHS but will steadily come back once your body is left alone as you move forward.

Dan Baltazor  Great to hear Joy. It does help meeting the team and they are comforting. Prayers for a swift succesful surgery today.

Linda Griffin  My surgery was nearly 8 weeks ago. Dont worry-each day is some kind of progress. You will be so relieved the surgery is behind you

Brian Havlin  I’m still in the hospital for mitral valve surgery. I too was stressed about the tube. To be honest it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought. When you wake up it will be there but you’ll be sedated still and it won’t bother you that much. Also, they will ask you to squeeze their hands and move your feet. The faster you respond the quicker it comes out. Sometimes it can take 3 or kore hours for you to wake up after surgery. I woke up about 90 minutes after surgery. I barely remember the tube being in. Hope that helps.

Lisa Guinan  My surgery ended at noon and my vent tube was out by 4:00. I was really only aware and of it for about the last 30 min. I was also not look8ng forward to it but it wasn’t that bad. I remember them saying “we’re going to get that tube out.” It did seem like it took forever after they said that but it was only about 10 min. As long as you’re prepared that it’s there, you’ll be fine. Just try and relax.

Joy Rose  Thanks for the tip, I will squeeze their hands and my feet will do a little jig! Ha ha! Great piece of advice. Looking forward to getting this done and back to the real world again.

Bob Fessler  I was only aware of the tube when they were removing it. They had to put suction in my throat to clean it out of liquid so I wouldn't choke. It was over in 5 seconds. No big deal.

Louanna Miller  I was told before surgery that the tube would be removed in 2-4 hours depending on when I was alert and able to breath on my own. My tube was not removed for 8 hours. I was very sedated and not that aware of the tube. I was in terrible, terrible pain and they had to get the pain managed with a change in pain medication because the morphine and codeine were slowing down my respiration’s. I was unable to talk and tell the RN about my pain and discomfort. I reached for his arm and spelled out on his forearm what I needed to tell him; like “pain 10+“ or “hot”. I could hear much if the RNs and my husband’s conversation, so I responded the best way I knew how. I dozed off from time to time too.

The change in pain meds helped and they could start backing me off of the ventilator to make sure I was able to breath on my own before removing the tube. The tube and removing it didn’t really bother me.

Anders Carlos  I was worried too but honestly, when I woke up, I was fully aware of it and WONDERFULLY did not care. You are on some many great drugs that it doesn’t bother. I’d echo what others have said, the faster you respond to commands, the faster they get it out. Getting it out ways a breeze too.

Joy Rose  Thanks so much for all your helpfulness and kindness. All you warriors have made this journey for me a lot less stressful and easier.

Lisa Guinan  My sister had her mitral replaced and tricuspid repaired 7 weeks ago. She’s doing great and is currently on vacation in Vegas. She’s 71.

Joy Rose  Tired after surgery and glad it's behind me now. Hospital staff are really taking care of me and have no complaints about the food.

Joy Rose  Having some bloods to get my haemoglobin up. Been really tired so hopefully I will feel better later tonight. Have got wonderful nurses that are really helping me through this. Hope you're feeling better Lisa.

  Had my heart cath (all clear) and other pre-op testing on November 7th.
My surgery is scheduled for November 19th. Guess I'll be eating turkey in the hospital! LOL
Anyway, I would assume your surgery will be soon. They usually don't like to wait much longer after you have the pre-op testing to do surgery so your latest health status is up to date for the surgeon performing the operation.

Joy Rose  Looks like I won't be too far behind you Jeremiah. Had a call from hospital this morning and hopefully surgery before 14 December. I am pretty sure you will be eating turkey at home, not in hospital!

  Thanks Joy for the encouraging words.
But it'll be low sodium turkey, right? 😊
Yep, your surgery probably won't be too far behind mine.
I wish you all the best for a successful surgery and a complete and total recovery.