Richard Munson
Love the sloth. I have to say it. Is he just hanging around?
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Pam's Posts
Diagnosis: Aortic Stenosis, Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Aortic Aneurysm
Member Since: March 2, 2019
Member Since: March 2, 2019
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Pam Gabriel posted an update
1 year ago (October 25, 2024)
What I learned after open-heart surgery😊 The biggest thing I learned is how much I am blessed with people who love me! I am so thankful my son Corban was with me whenever I came out of surgery and stayed with me until they made him leave. my daughter Mckenna... Read more.
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Pamela Gregory, Darrell Malone and
reacted to this
Margaret Fielden
So pleased you are making progress. God bless your healing.
Mohammed Abdulrahman
Hope you are doing well
But, why the surgery done by open chest? and not minimal invasive procedure?
Suzette Schear
Glad you're surrounded by love and family as you heal.
Geoff Curtis
Yay! I had mine 10/15 & know those lessons. Keep on rocking ❤️
Pam Gabriel
Mohammed I had a Ross Procedure and aorta graph.😊
Sue Maize
Wonderful update! Welcome to recovery Pam! ❤️🙏🏻🙌🏻
Mohammed Abdulrahman
Hope your health are getting well
special greetings from Iraq, Babylon to you
Marie Myers
@Mohammed Abdulrahman- Pam probably had the full sternotomy due to the aortic aneurysm repair. Some doctors prefer to fully open the chest when another repair like the aneurysm is done. I had the same procedure done with a full sternotomy in 2017.
Rose Madura
Great post! I can certainly relate to things not going as planned. Hopefully smooth sailing to Rome here on ...
Robert Miller
Our son loves sloths. We saw some at a hotel in Costa Rica. I need to get him that stuffed animal... Family and friends are the best support group. You can manage without help but having help is making things easier. Recovery takes some time. Just make sure you have... Read more.
Rita Savelis
Lovely photo. The plan is to not have a plan and give up control. It will happen as it happens. Now you can recover. Take it easy. You've been through a lot. One day at a time.
Mohammed Abdulrahman
Hi Marie
Thanks for your clarification
John Crawley
Always much better when you're surrounded by people that love and care for you! Best of luck going forward!
Michelle Persson
So glad you are home & recovering. I also had to have a sternotomy, Dr. said it was became of my anatomy. You really see how important friends & family are in times such as this. The love helps you heal.
Pam Gabriel posted an update
1 year ago (September 24, 2024)
How long were you in the hospital after open heart surgery? I am trying to make my housing plans since I will be out of state for my surgery.
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Pam Gabriel reacted to this
Hey Pam - 7 days on the first cut and 8 days on the second cut.
Thanks for the information. Hope you are doing well!
6 for me. It varies with each person.
Have good thoughts Pam - you are going to feel great....I promise. Absorb as much information as you can before surgery - it really can set your mind at ease.
3 weeks
6 days. They told me it would be 5-7.
We'd reserved for 9 days after surgery, but were able to return home after 6, as things went smoothly without complications (1day ICU, 2 days step-down and 3 at the Airbnb leading up to the follow-up appointment for Lab, EKG, TTE & stitch removal).
Thanks for sharing and I thinking should over plan and shoot for not needing all the time.
I was out in three days. Surgery on Friday morning and released on Monday by lunchtime. I had two hours of travel time back home and I was fine.
My advice is to walk, rest, and repeat at the hospital if you're able. You're in great shape, so you will... Read more.
Discharged the morning of day 7. (including the day of surgery as day one). I had my sternum cut, if I had minimally invasive it would have been much shorter duration as Susan Lynn noted right above.
I was in the hospital for nine days.It might have been shorter,but developed atrial fibrillation and had sinus block,which required a pacemaker implant.
Hi Pam - I had an aortic valve replacement and a repair of my ascending aortic aneurysm about 10 months ago. My surgery was on a Friday and I was released on the following Wednesday. They wanted me to be able to walk up a flight of stairs with a... Read more.
Thanks everyone. This has helped with my planning.
Pam Gabriel posted an update
1 year ago (September 23, 2024)
I will be heading to Intermountain Heart Institute in Salt Lake City Utah on October 14th for a Ross Procedure preformed by Dr. John Doty. Any ladies out there with women specific advice for what to have at the hospital? I would welcome advice from anyone but I realize that... Read more.
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Paul Doria reacted to this
Pam, I was given a surgical bra at the hospital. After surgery I would go bra-less with a large shirt. But if I went out or someone was coming to visit, I'd wear the surgical bra I think I did this for about 3 months. You may want hair ties... Read more.
Thank you for the tips! I read somewhere that they want you in a bra so it doesn't pull on the incision, I just didn't know what kind.So they give you one in the hospital? Good to know.
So funny I just bought dry shampoo from Trader Joes's. Perfect timing.
Well, I'll put it this way.. I didn't have to worry about pulling on the incision. 😄 My hospital gave me one but not sure if all hospitals do.
😂😂thanks Rose
Women's realisties are rarely talked about when heart surgery is talked about. Heavy sigh. The hospital will most probably give you a surgical bra. You'll wake up with it on. You can also order one online and show up with it. It's to avoid drag on your incision if you... Read more.
I may be an outlier in this regard, but I really liked the comfort and security of the surgical bra. I didn't want to have any tugging on my chest. As Rita said above, you wake-up post surgery wearing one. Then after almost 7 days in the hospital with no... Read more.
Hi Pam- I had robotic mitral valve repair 2 1/2 years ago at the Cleveland Clinic. I spent 4 days before surgery getting testing done and meeting with cardiologist and surgeon, then 4 days in the hospital and then stayed in Cleveland for another week. (I live in Maine) to... Read more.
Ladies, Thank you so much for the helpful hints! I have been going over in my mind all the things I ned to pack, pre-surgery travel, hospital stay, post surgery Salt Lake, and travel home. I really need too start writing things down.😊
I completed my Ross procedure on Aug. 22nd! You will need a robe while in step down. Also recovery at home, if you have a tank top with the bra liner was perfect for me. I got mine on Amazon but order a larger size than normal.
Surgeon Spotlight
Dr. Christopher Heid is a leading cardiac surgeon at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas who specializes in heart valve repair and replacement operations.