patrick's Journal

Glad to say I\'m still here ten days out from new valve replacements and i think I need to record a few details about what\'s been happening to me . First . I surely must have the kindest most caring female friend that it is possible to find on this earth looking after all my necessities and recording all the meds taken , little incidents anomalies, how I feel at different times and after different meds. Second . The horrors of the incision area ( full open heart) have NO T materialized. I have yet to feel any pain in that area . Yes , If I strain or shear or contortion my body then sure I feel pain , but that need not happen if instructions are followed. Third Love / hate relationship with food drinks . Sometimes dying for water , other time have a rabid- like aversion to it. Thought the red punch Gatorade was somewhat good until I developed acid reflux ( one of the biggest curses of the whole ordeal) Four. Anxiety . Get your anxiety problems taken care of , all other edges go after that . Pain pill such as Percocet I found to be awful after first few days and of course take all others as prescribed Five. Energy , just don\'t expect to have any for quite a while,, maybe 6 weeks Six. Depression moodiness, prepare for it , it will arrive after a week and hang around , maybe pills will fix I don\'t know Lastly . This is not an ordeal I would like to repeat , but hopefully I will have saved my life Good luck to all of you facing something similar, your friends and families have no idea of what you are going to endure Patrick

Going down in a few hours for the valve op . Good news is no coronary artery disease at all , just born with a ni- cuspid valve , so new lease of life ! Hospital staff are wonderful , beyond words really . I am so fortunate .

Am beginning to have doubts about proficiency of Hospital that I\'m going to . I can\'t get any records of their expertise at this type of operation . One rating dustem put their \"Patient Safery Score \" at MODERATE !!! Is that normal or even acceptable ? And the same hospital does not have cardio ops as one of their specialties !!! I\'m just being told they are \" good\"...,from not being concerned with my aortic valve two months ago , now I am having it replaced next Tuesday and maybe something else as well depending on results of catheterization . Have I been too hasty here?? Seriously Concerned Patrick

Have heard of many success stories both from friends and acquaintances , and am feeling somewhat better today . I am just focusing on complying with all instructions from the moment I come out of anaesthesia, I have been there before , for no reason as serious as this but I did not like the breathing tube at all, wonder if the technology for that has changed in the last 10 yrs?, certainly hope so as the soreness in my throat ewas the worst experience of my life ... And I pray that the replacement valve is the only thing I need to have done , it surely means the. Whole operation will be over sooner Have been working on farm for the last week and feel great , ! But still feel my arms and neck problems . And I do get sluggish ., so only three whole days until I show up for catheterization , which is a breeze and let\'s surgeon know exactly what he needs to do . How fortunate I am to have such smart people preparing to really save my life .. One thing I do know ... I will never waste another five minutes of the gift of life by worrying , overworking , arguing, regretting, or not appreciating the marvelous world we live in !!

Just looked at some post op video on some patients , and frankly wish I had not done so . So many issues to contend with .... Lines, wires, catheters , all things alien and invasive , never thought these things would apply to me , never thought that scenario would be part of my life , but I guess someone has to make up the statistics .... Patrick

Just got confirmation of appt. for surgery , April 16 and am looking forward to getting job done and see it as a new beginning . Anyway don\'t have any option , so might as well enjoy the opportunity to increase my life span . Blessings on all involved ! May they \" knock it out of the park\"! Not only for me but all others going through same ordeal ! I also learned that more people than I ever thought care about what happens to me ! Something wonderful already!! Am given great courage by that alone . Blessings on them too. The anxiety thing comes and goes , I\'ll be engrossed in doing something and it will suddenly hit me ,,, and I feel apprehensive for a while ,, then I start to think about how much better my life will be afterwards, and so the cycle continues. I find myself wishing it was sooner so that I meet my fears head on and get it over with , I think that is a common sentiment . Hope nothing happens in meantime , am watching every tweak and spasm .