Deb's Posts

Hi all! Long time no post and planning to post from shortly after surgery to now over the weekend. Today, at 10 weeks from sternotomy, wondering if anyone has experienced mental fog, causing some attention to detail issues and blur when thinking outside focus. I excelled at these skills and critical thinking before bicuspid failure and surgery so will they return? I work in a high mental demand role and mental fog is very disturbing. Has anyone experienced this symptom? Is this anesthesia lingering, my beta blocker medication, or just my recovering and mental fog will clear at 3 - 6 months after surgery?

I’m back. Well nearly back, but certainly well enough to post. Open Heart Surgery was a success on Thursday afternoon, August 31st and feeling great on Day 13, Wednesday, September 13th (having the day of the month equal to the days since surgery makes day calculation easy). Recounting the day of surgery, I clearly recall being rolled from the operation preparation room to the operating room, chatting with the OR nurse on the way, and joking with the OR Team before the mask was positioned on my face and I was out. The next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room with severe pain in my right shoulder. My research called that “referred pain” from air trapped in my chest (I experienced this in my c-section with the birth of my oldest son). Thankfully, they were able to remove the intubation tube in the recovery room before I awoke (so my breathing and lungs were good), and as a result, I was able to talk easily without any discomfort, but the pain from the shoulder was acute. From the nurse's timeline, they then moved me to the ICU, and Greg joined me about 2 to 2 ½ hours after surgery ended. Although I was conversant, the early moments were of course foggy. Greg told me he left at around 10 PM that night after being allowed in the room at 7 PM. Not a lot was said. I was in and out of sleep of course. The next morning, I started walking the halls with the aid of a walker and a nurse pulling the stand with all my tubes and wires. I remember my legs shaking and telling the nurse, but she said it was okay even though I was within the first 24 hours of surgery. They also gave me two breathing devices (spirometers) to practice ten times four times a day each and told me I must walk four times a day. Both my surgeon, Dr. Riley and my cardiologist, Dr. Klassen visited me in ICU and were happy with my recovery progress. Dr. Riley was excited he was able to insert a size 25 Inspiris Reilia Aortic Valve for the valve in valve replacement valve capability in 15 - 17 years. A 220 lb. man could use this size, so he was happy that he was able to get it to fit well during the surgery. Although the first few days I was alert, I also still had the lingering effects of the surgery. For instance, I found out yesterday, I responded to her text on September 1 (the first day after surgery). I had no recollection of doing that (and really had limited desire to even look at a phone, or talk to anyone other than nurses, and Greg/sons). Despite the brain fog, and since I was doing so well otherwise (vitals, eating, and walking, etc.) in ICU, they moved me to the Cardio wing on Saturday afternoon, September 2nd, after the nurses removed the bulk of my wires and tubes. I asked a nurse in the cardio wing what was the culture of their area, and she told me it was like “boot camp.” While there, they taught me how to shower with the incision. I was required to sit in recliner during the day and move to bed in the evening. I don’t know if by design, but they stripped the bed of linens during the day, making wanting to lie down (vs reclining), not possible or desirable. Each walk (4 per day), the nurses encouraged me to go farther and farther. Mind you, we are talking about a hall at first which turned into a loop around the halls by the time I was discharged. I will admit that I did not want to do the final walk the first few days of recovery (usually around 7 PM), but the nurses insisted I try. After each walk, it was an invitation to take a long nap. The 2nd night, Greg said he left before 8 PM after my final walk and put in my newly made bed. That pattern continued during my hospital stay. Walking further, eating more, having clear lungs, a steady heart rate, lower blood pressure, and a “can do” attitude, they sent me home on Labor Day, September 4th a day earlier than expected. I was greeted at home by two of my three sons (my other son who coaches college football could not join). A nurse, Savannah, followed us home to observe my recovery areas at home, help Greg with the pill box that he now needed to manage, and start the routine we would take in documenting my vitals each day. She even went to the pharmacy to pick up a few prescriptions. The first three days at home were the most challenging – which took me to the end of the first week. However, it seemed that each day I felt a new part of my body/senses turning on. The first was my taste and smell. On Wednesday night, I could feel my brain “reboot”. That night, I had the most vivid dreams (has anyone else have that experience?) By Day 8, Friday, September 8th, I was starting to walk outside and was able to stay up the entire day, sleeping from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. (normal sleep is 7.5 hours per night). I started to feel refreshed from sleeping versus tired from sleeping (did anyone also have that sensation?). Over the last two days, Greg and I walked over 20 minutes in my neighborhood (.9 miles), which is a milestone that enables me to drop the three additional planned walks. I walk around the house or on errands each day as well. So, I am not idly sitting still. I have also started to add more normalcy. I am communicating with others more. I will say that until the last few days, the desire to log on to the computer or even look at my phone was non-existent. Talking was hard enough. I feel that I am 80% of my recovery and will find out more at both my doctor’s appointments (surgeon and cardiologist) tomorrow. Also, I will start cardio rehab with orientation tomorrow afternoon. Anyway, sorry for the delay in my posting, but I want all to know that I am so thankful for all the thoughts and prayers over the last 13 days. I really did feel the impact from all the love and support. Special thanks and love to Greg who was the most amazing caregiver in helping me through the whole journey, with more, yet less harsh, to come. For those who read this and are awaiting your surgery, if you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them for you, and please know I will be praying for you too.

Today's the day! All packed and ready to go! Enjoy the last days to have fun and relax a bit. Felt more calm yesterday than the day before the postponed surgery. Thanks to Grace's post on what to bring. Other things to add is that should not bring any lip balm with petroleum as it is flammable around oxygen. Also found out not to get color in my hair after 4 weeks before surgery as the chemicals in the anesthesia and medication mix poorly with the ammonia in the hair color. Both were points I was glad to hear about in my preparation. Off I go! I've got this!