Ruth's Journal

...yes wow, what a difference. Again, thank you all so much for support, prayers and advise, greatly appreciated! 10 days since my last update and this coming Friday one month since Joe's surgery. Joe's Excess water is gone, last Fridays and yesterdays rehab workout went well; no a-fib at all!!! Sleeping more and better. Still no appetite, lots of cravings but no real hunger! Also food does not taste as good as before the surgery , maybe the meds?? But we're so pleased with what is happening right, so no complains. We're gratefully living in his grace!!

Hello, yesterday was the 2nd week anniversary of Joe's heart valve and triple bypass surgery. A couple of hick-up-s, a scary afib 2 days after surgery which was regulated by amiodarone and metropolol, and Joe was discharged 8 days after surgery with the amio, mortopolol, lasix(lots of fluid in his legs) potassium, coumadin, baby aspirin. All was well, until we went 3 days later for a follow up, to his primary; one of our concerns was that he did not have to pass water as much as we thought he would pass, being on the lasix; then just before we left, still in the Dr. office, he got light headed and would have fallen if we had not been around lots of people helping us. An ambulance was called and Joe went for observation back to the hospital. Evidently the metropolol lowered his heart rate so much so that the heart was not able to push his water through his kidneys. (my words and understanding) they omitted the metropolol and since then he is better again. He is loosing weight (water weight) but also has no appetite. Lots of water still in his feet and ankles. So it seems to me, eliminating the water/fluids from his system has been a major struggle. Does anyone have an opinion on this?

Ok on day #3 in the evening Joe turned the corner and his rate is in sinus rhythm and bp normal/low, hemoglobin low, Day #4 Getting a blood infusion and looking like a million bucks. Going for walks in the evening and feeling no pain; but going in and out of a-fib 3 times during the night, btw. he feels well when that happens. Day #5 out and about going to physical therapy and doing well, last night again in and out of a-fib several times, this morning, day #6 back to normal. Thank you for all the prayers, my church, family and friends did the same and we're so thankful and love living in his grace.

Well day #2 did not go so well. BP down, heart rate way up. Today, day #3 back in ICU, they inserted a PICC to help with the medication to stabilize these numbers. Hopping and praying that tomorrow will be better.

Day 1 for Joe's recovery. Overall, all is well!! But some numbness in both arms. Nausea when moving his head. He is very tired, a lot going on, so sleep does not come easy.

Joe has had his OHS yesterday, all wen't well. He looks well, by the time I got to see him he had his breathing tube out and looked very much himself. Triple bypass and a valve replacement, I'm glad this part is over. Thank you, to Dr. Grehan all the nurses, that worked very hard to make this a success. Thank you God, for helping me make it through this! Still praying for a good recovery, praying for us and the nurses up there at the Nasseff Heart Group in St Paul, MN

Hello - Actually I'm not in need of a Heart Valve Surgery, my husband Joe, of 49 years is!! My first reaction to this news just a couple of weeks after my husbands mother died was, no way, God please don't let this happen. I was in a state of shock, when Joe came back from his angiogram with a diagnosis of : Tripple Bypass and Hart Valve replacement, I'm sure I looked at the Surgeon ( Dr. John Grehan, United Hospital in St Paul MN ) with utter disbelief, no way, please, a minor invasive surgery will do!! But after long deliberate discussion we opted for the open heart surgery. The surgery is to be done on June 2nd, we're praying!!