K.'s Journal

6-1-15 My mother had a permanent pacemaker put in to stabilize her heart rhythm. She came through and it is working very well. Thank you for your prayers Gwen and Tammy : ). She has been moved to a step down unit and her drains are removed. She is still weak and tired but moving along. Praying that she continues to progress and has no more set backs. 6-3-15 Last night I found out that my aunt [mother's sister] has a mass in her colon and also needs surgery, to remove it, but is apprehensive and may not want the surgery. She is 4 years older than my mother [~84]. My cousins are very worried for her and hope she does have it removed. Please keep her in your prayers.

Hi, I'm actually on this site for my mother who is 81 and had her second valve replacement surgery. I hope I'm not violating the rules of use. I apologize if I am. Also per my mother's request, my sister is with her right now as she didn't want, "the kids coming in for this," so we will be taking turns going home to be with my mother and father. The following is according to the discussions my sister and I have by phone calls, email and texts. Fri, 5-29-15 My mother's surgery was 61/2 hours. Everything went well and as planned. The surgeon replaced the old valve and did one artery bypass. Her lungs were looking good. He said she should do well BUT the surgeon had to give her a blood transfusion that increases risks of stroke, pneumonia, mortality. He said it is not ideal for transfusions in heart surgery but happens in 60% of the time in women b/c of smaller blood volume. He said it was a fine line, not ideal, but he couldn't let her blood volume drop. On 5-30, she was moved out of ICU to a regular step down room w/close monitoring. Although a little disoriented she was talking doing well. Today 5-31, she had a set back. Her heart paused a few times so they're now doing a temp pace wire in a catheter to her heart. She is now back in ICU : ( for 24 hours. Depending on how it goes the surgeon may put in a permanent pacemaker. The surgeon thinks it may be the beta blockers or amper...something.., meds. He took her off those. He and the nurses said this is not unusual. The surgeon said it happens in about 10% of these surgeries and that he wasn't worried. He thinks she'll be up and around soon. Sorry to ramble w/this post. Has anyone experienced this situation with your recovery?