Susie's Journal

Nancy D  Susie- I had a minimally invasive mitral valve replacement in Aug, 2014. My valve showed to be too damaged to repair. Now the approach I had was on the right side along the breast curve by the arm. I know they also do different approaches than that, so if this is what he discussed with you , I might could answer your questions. Let me know if I can help in any way.
Nancy

Cheryl Batzing  Nancy D - that was at the way my mitral valve repair was done as well! Are you still numb in that area, or has your feeling come back? Susie--side noting with Nancy here! Sorry!

Susie Bray  Hi Nancy & Cheryl, thanks for your responses. Yes, I would like to know more about your procedures -- sounds like what I will have to go through soon. I would really appreciate if you can share more with me. Thanks.

Nancy D  Susie, I invite you to read my story in my journal, although I am not a consistent journaller, it may give you some insight. I welcome any questions as well. My email is zizzr@hotmail.com if you prefer to communicate off the public forum. My pros and cons may not ring true with you. Pros for me were no sternal incision which takes longer to heal that bone; but the reports will say the minimal incision procedure is initially more painful than the sternal incision. Was it? how can I tell when I have not had a sternal incision... ;-) I can say they did a good job of pain management in the initial few days. Ideally, they say you can return to driving, and working sooner than with the traditional approach. I was certainly up in the chair the very next morning and walking in the hall that afternoon with the help and encouragement of the rehab folks. They manage all the tubes and what not. I do know that my surgeon required me to decide what replacement I wanted by operation day, in case he could not repair the valve, a detail that would be decided when he got in there for sure. He said his final decision would be based on how it looked and felt to him, and he needed to know this decision by the morning of surgery. I struggled with that decision but ultimately I know for me I made the correct choice. This is a personal decision that only you can choose and there are no right or wrongs with this one. ;-) Susie, it is a lot of information to sort through, as you move along in your exploration of learning about it, I will be happy to talk with you in your process! There are quite a few of us Mitral valve folks and a few of us minimally invasive repairs doing quite well and I know you will too!! Let me know what I can do to help! ;-) Take good care!

Susie Bray  Hi Nancy, thank you for the info you posted here -- it sure helps me more to understand what is coming. I am 3 days away from surgery, and I am getting quite nervous at times, but at other times I feel calm. I feel calmer knowing that two good surgeons will work on my heart, however, it is still a "big" surgery, and so I am also worried.
Sometimes I feel so worried that I pretend life is just as normal as it has always been -- my excuse of not opening and reading feedbacks on this site.
I already signed an agreement to use tissue valve in case they cannot repair my valve. I am still hoping for a repair job, though.
I get a lot of information from this site, and I am grateful for that. I feel I need to know more about what is going to happen in 3 days and afterwards, but it seems my brain is too dense to form questions at this time.
I think most of my concerns at the moment is emotionally related, you know, the "what ifs . . . ."
My husband, my daughter and my son-in-law will be in the waiting room on surgery day, so that is at least a good thing to know.
I will try to post more after my surgery.

Nancy D  You will do well, and your emotions are a normal part of going into this sort of thing. I pray the calm that found me in the day before and day of finds you as well. It is a big deal for sure, but you and your body will amaze even you the things you can and will do to get recovery under way.
They told me as they were getting me ready that the next morning at about 6am I would be getting out of bed and in a chair as my surgeon liked to see his patients sitting up when he made morning rounds. That prepared me for that and I was up and walked a few steps to the chair that next morning. They will tell you and be right there with you to help you and your various tubings, to walk and get up as necessary.
Resting is important, as is pain control so you can deep breathe and walk with the physio people who will help you! PT will walk with you and respiratory therapy will come in with breathing treatments, and remind you to use the incentive spirometer- you can not do it too often!
I too elected to have a tissue valve if need be, and it was needed. I hope your valve can be repaired, but if not a tissue valve is a fine choice. That choice is so personal, because only you can decide which one is best for you, with the advice of your doctor. I found once I made that decision things all fell into place and I could relax a bit, even though surgery was always in my thoughts.
Allow your family to help you, as this is how they can feel good about what you are going through, trying to make it a bit easier for you! Sounds like you are in good hands all the way around!
Any questions I will be happy to answer for you, and my email is in the other message if you want to ask them that way!
I will be praying for you, wishing you well, and anxious to hear how you are doing when you are up to it!! I couldn't post very much pre op either, it was just too intense. I have become better after I got home, and the support was genuine and helpful!!
Take good care, I am behind the scenes pulling for you!!!
nancy

Susie Bray  Thanks again, Nancy. You are definitely a big help to me! Some questions: how uncomfortable were those tubes they insert into your body (when you woke up)? Did you feel "panicky" when you wake up with the tube down your throat? How long before they were taken out?
Can you move fingers and arms while you were in ICU? I am creating "sign language" using finger movements with my daughter, in case I want something done (need more blanket, need head in higher position etc.) -- do you think that is necessary?
Tomorrow is pre-op meeting, and the day after is surgery -- I can't believe how time flies!

Nancy D  Susie- I have no recall of the breathing tube in or coming out. As a nurse I know a patient has to be somewhat aware and able to breathe on their own, but the meds I had left me with no memory what so ever. My surgery was first thing in the morning and the breathing tube was out by 3-4 that afternoon. So no panicky feeling for me, and those who report on here, it was not traumatic what they remember. I vaguely remember my husband, son and best friend in visiting that evening after the breathing tube came out and apparently I spoke a few sentences which they understood- LOL. The first real thing I remember was that night being so thirsty, the nurse was at my bedside, it was dark but I begged for water, and he gave me ice chips...boy where they great, I kept asking but he did ration them a bit to ensure I didn't get sick. Best ice ever!
Walking with the catheter in the first day was more annoying than painful. The surgical site was more sore than the chest tube or the lines in my neck. If I remember right, they took the IV in my neck, and the chest tube and the catheter out the morning of the second day. Neither hurt, the chest tube they told me to take a big deep breath which I did and they pulled it without pain- and the instant relief of it being out was worth the soreness of the big deep breath. Really they were all non eventful.
You will do great and your early post op time will pass quickly and be foggy and vague and that was perfectly fine with me. ;-) Once you are up in a chair even with the tubes it felt good to be up and starting the recovery process- I got a regular breakfast the first morning after the surgery, and things progressed pretty quickly!
Prayers being said for your rapid recovery, and I look forward to hearing from you after your pre op and especially after your surgery!!!
Take it easy and celebrate the little progresses as they occur more frequently than the big ones and they add up quickly! +++++ Prayer and positive thoughts coming your way from Texas!

Susie Bray  Okay, it's all set. Surgery tomorrow morning. Have to check in at the hospital at 6 am. I feel calm. Went to the pre-op this morning, then a "luncher" (lunch-dinner lol) of hamburger and salad. Only light meal for tonight.
Pray for me.

Susie Bray  Nancy, thank you thank you thank you. I feel even better reading your story! I will post more when I get home next week -- no wifi at the hospital.

Nancy D  Susie, you are on my prayer list and know you will continue to feel calm, and surgery will go beautifully, and can't wait to hear of your progress once home. Know I am not the only one praying for you!!! +++++

Susie Bray  Well, surgery was done on April 22 2015 and the result is fantastic -- that's what my surgeon said anyway.
He managed to repair my mitral valve through the minimally invasive method -- my family was sitting on pins and needles for 8 hours!!
On top of that, there was a complication and my neck was swollen very badly and so I was out cold for two and a half days in ICU. Up to this moment nobody knows what or why this complication happened.
The ICU pulled out the breathing tube once I started to be revived -- my throat is still sore until now and I cannot swallow anything yet.
Three days in step down and today I am finally going home.
I am woozy and tired due to lack of food/drinks and sleep, so will write more stories later on.
One think for sure: no need to feel fear. As a patient you won't feel anything. Patients actually should feel sorry for the family waiting out there.