Melinda's Posts

Sending prayer, Melinda. CCF is the best. The chest tubes are more weird than painful. If you are concerned, ask for pain meds before the procedure. Realy, it only takes seconds. There are internal EKG wires that just slip out, and another monitor wire in the neck that comes out pretty painlessly. Advice: Stay ahead of any pain, this is not thhe time for heroics. sit up in ICU as much as possible, they can even manipulate the bed into a sitting position. When you get to your room ask for a heart pillow, hold it as a splint when you cough or sneeze. DO use the spirometer as prescibed. They have surgical bras if you ask, I found that breathing was easier with one on. Walk as much as you can. Miralax is your friend if the GI track is too sluggish. Unfortunately, my impression of the food was a 4 out of ten. Some meals are better than others. Ask the food liason. Ask about your iron levels, you my want to eat beef. There are graham crackers and ice cream in the coffee room. I brought my own bed pillow. Dr. Svensson has a Reiki practitioner Sandy, on staff that is wonderful. Do not know about Dr. Gillinov. There is a nice solarium on the top floor, and they even have a channel on the TV with calming music and nice images. Make a Playlist of calm music on your phone for your room. Bring a charger. If you tend to be chilly, bring a loose cardigan to wear in bed. I asked every believer that I could think of to pray for me. Anna Thompson has a good pain control .mp3 on Amazon I think it is a dollar. Technomind has sleep programs, also a dollar. You will get through this.

God will be there keeping you safe. As for the tubes+wires pulled out, the biggest tip I can give you is~breathe! Except when they tell you to hold your breath for a couple of secs. How are you feeling? I saw your name come up on upcoming Surgeries and I know you were feeling nervous before, I wanted to make sure you're okay and feeling ready. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I wish you all the very best!

Emily--surprisingly I feel well. I am not nervous yet I know I will be the day of surgery. God has provided me with a lot of peace (answered prayer) with this and I know he will see me through. I am more worried about being away from my son for a few days but he will be in good hands with my Mom. I am beyond ready to get this over with, as I have made it very clear those chest tubes are my worst fear so I'll be happy to post once those are out. Thank you all so so much. I could not do this without you guys!!

Melinda, You'll be posting it's over very soon! I had a good experience at Cleveland Clinic. I had Dr. Svennson, he repaired my Aortic valve and aneurysm. I am almost 3.5 months post op. I was very afraid of the tubes also, all of them! I was just waking up when they took out the breathing tube, I was relieved, then I threw up. It was tricky finding pain meds that worked without making me nauseous. Each tube that comes off makes you feel more like yourself. One thing that surprised me was feeling very phlegmy after surgery, and having a suction tube (like at the dentist) that I was told to use if I coughed anything up. (I was worried because I never could) Mary K is right about the food, its not the best. Good Luck to you!

Melinda, happy to hear you have the feeling of "peace" surrounding you. It came over me about a week or so before and was surprising given the circumstances, but quite welcome. I hope for you, as it did for me, last right up through surgery. You will do just fine and we will look forward to hearing from you post op.

They will give you plenty of sedation medication with Anaesthetist by your side all the way and God too. I'm glad to hear you already have good career for your Son while you're away. Will yours be in a different city or state? Take your time, I wasn't feeling upto posted for awhile after Surgery. Ask if you could be sedated while they take tubes out (drainage one gets taken out second day post-op in ICU & pacing wires+stitches post-op day four. It depends on the Doctor & your Surgeon & your condition), if not remember to breathe (need to hold your breath for couple of seconds while pull them out) and feel free to scream if that helps (I screamed so loud! The Nurse even told me I was allowed to swear if I wanted as much as I wanted while it took place, in a Catholic Hospital!).