Marjorie's Journal

Well my op was over and done with on the 14th of feb, and i am healthy and happy. My surgeon was just brilliant and the hospital and staff was the best i have ever seen. Dr Janz was going to try and repair my valves if possible but all 3 leaflets of the valve were completely prolapsed and irrepairable so he put in a new metal one. (so now i tick all the time) These are my experiences that i will share with you of the day. 6.30- start pre op procedures, forms, antiseptic shower etc 7.30- convince very nervous husband that i will be fine and send him on his way. 7.40 anesethtic and out like a light. 1.30 i came out of recovery. but not conciousness 6.30 pm vague recollection of ICU and dim memory of the dreaded ET tube, which i was so worried about, not as bad as i thought, due to residue of anesethtic and pain killers 10.00 am 15/02 - my family and support group came to see me (2 and 3 at a time) reassured me that everything went really well.- i feel strange so many tubes in me. Some time after lunch, doctors a bit concerned want me to cough and breathe deeply, can hardly breathe at all- damn lungs have both collapsed. Nearly 4 days in ICU trying to fix lung problem. feeling a bit better now, up to high dependancy ward. 18/2- can walk a bit now and feeling a lot better than i thought i could, staff are fantastic. 19/02- not half as bad as what i thought; right lung still won\'t inflate properly but only at night i have pain, through the days i am really good 20/2 Going from strength to strength, i have started the \"Warfarin\" and doctors are trying to get my levels right before i go home. 21/2 Should be going home today and cannot wait, i am so excited to see my children and grandchildren and my darling hubby. In for big disappointment my right lung still in not inflating in the right lower section and the doctors and a bit concerned about letting me out. oh well there is always tomorrow. 22/02 - D day, everyone (including myself. is happy and convinced that i am as fit as a fiddle) i am going home. Hubby is driving up (5 hr trip) to get me this afternoon i should be home by nightfall. 23/02 - I am home and settled, it was a long and tiring trip but so good to be back. Now that the op is over and done with. i cannot believe i was so concerned, it was much better that i feared and i have recovered so much easier. A positive state of mind really helps and the fantastic staff of St Vincents hospital, SYD. I am already feeling more energy than i have before in my life and can\'t wait for the body to heal fully so i can put it to good use. So for all of you who are coming up for surgery soon, take comfort it this and be reassured that while it is no walk in the park, it is certainly not the horror we imagine.

i had my pre-op today, it went all day lots of doctors to see and tests to be done, if i wasn\'t tired before i am now. I also met my surgeon, and i am really happy with him - he is just lovely and extremely confident and competent. I had a bit of a shock when he explained that the leak was a lot worse that he thought and would take a fair bit of time to repair. But replacement will be the go he thinks - he just doesn\'t like the idea of being on warfarin for the rest of my life with the cortisone

Well my last day of work for a while is here. I finish work at 2.30pm today, then go home and pack and prepare for SYDNEY. I am feeling a bit sick in the stomach and headachy today, probably nerves back again. I have been fantastic for the last week or so, feeling very calm and happy. I had friends down for dinner last night (they provided it) and caught up on all that has been happening in our lives over the last month or so. It was a good evening. Work is also having a good luck lunch for me to day to wish me well and god speed. I am very lucky having such great support. Then tomorrow i leave here at 6.30 am to drive the 5 hour trip to SYDNEY to see the surgeon, i find i am getting excited about that as i have not met him yet and i can\'t wait to meet this man who is going to play such a bit part in my life. Then i have to spend a huge day at the clinic on friday, getting all my pre admission checks done. i will be really happy to have Craig and Rachel with me. I think monday is going to come all too soon. Thank god that i will have all my family around me this weekend to lighten the mood and bond with. I will post again on the weekend - (if not before)

Yesterday i had my final health checks, Ultrasound and X-rays. all good i think. I went to get the final sign off, from the dentist and she was running 45 mins late. I had to reshedule as i had a 4.45 appointment that would have clashed, i am a bit put out as i would have liked to have finalised everything yesterday and now i have to keep going a bit longer??? One good thing that is happening is that my nerves are settling down, i don\'t feel the worry and apprehension that i felt last week. It is very comforting for me and my family. Only 3 more days of work left and 5 till SYD, Still a lot to do to prepare myself (home wise) and forms, groc etc.. I would like to be prepared, even though i know that everything will be organised by my support team while i am not at the reins.

Only 6 more days of work to go, 7 days till i go to Sydney and 11 days till the big op. I went to my daughters yesterday in \"Young\" NSW (which is 2 hours away from home) to see my youngest grandson start school for the first time, i thought how fantastic it is that we have such great technology to enable me to have this operation in order to keep on being there to do things with my precious children and grandchildren. How did people go years ago without the ability to have valves repaired or replaced? I guess we all know the answer to that.??????? I am starting to calm down again now and not panic so much, i have had 4 children (so labour x 4) and numerous repair operations due to arthritus, so this is just another challenge to overcome. All will be fine and i will be better than ever. I go back to the dentist today to check that the tooth they pulled has left no damage.. wish me luck. Then only the Chest X-ray and Carotid Ultrasound to go- checklist complete.- so back to work now and let the count down continue. Thank you so much for everyone who has been kind enough to take time to post in my guestbook, it is wonderful to have people who have gone through (or going through) the same thing share their stories with me. I wish we had something like this in Australia. - will keep you all posted. Bye for now

I have only 1 more week to go at work before i head of to SYDNEY Australia for my heart operation. I am lucky that i will be spending 4 or 5 days in SYDNEY before the op, while i am seeing doctors, my surgeon,getting tests done and visiting a pre-admissions clinic. The weather is beautiful here at the moment, very warm and sunny. My daughter Rachel lives 5 minutes from the ocean 40 minutes out of the heart of SYDNEY so a bit or relaxation and dining is in order before i have my big change. The social workers from the hospital assure me that my nerves will disappear in the next week or so and thats when my family will start worrying. i am being very positive about it.

It\'s nearly the end of January, only a few weeks to go now, and i am getting really nervous. I have been getting more and more tired and out of breath so i am glad in a way that i don\'t have too longer to go, but then again am starting to get a bit panicky. I thought that the after care with my support group was all sorted, but am now re thinking it. My youngest daughter was going to be there for me but with a 3 month old baby, is it going to be to much for her and risky for me?