Barbara Helen's Guestbook

Laura Jacobs  Thank you so much for the reminder Roger. I guess tomorrow is the day for you Barbara. We will be sending positive vibes, and good wishes for an easy surgery and smooth recovery. Stay strong, stay positive, and looking forward to seeing you posting again soon.

Barbara Helen Dance  Thank you so very much Roger and Laura. Yes! ; there were no cancellations or delays,, and I was scheduled for early afternoon. My daughter said I was quite hilarious as they brought me out of theatre, and were trying to suction my throat prior to the airway being cleared of tubes etc. I went down to the step down unit on day 2. Two days later I was transferred to the next ward (each time side ward to myself!!!. On day 5, I was told I could go home...., , BUT , it was then the I.n.r decided to spoil things...... . For the next. 4 days, it was up and down but on Wednesday. It finally. Came up far enough (at 2.3),and I came home, on the twelfth. So much achieved in so shorter time, its unbelievable. I will say more detail when I can manage to keep my eyes open, but my pain is well controlled, and I am feeling surprisingly cheerful. I hope you are both going to stay in lunch and let me know how you both are?,. Love and best wishes, Barbara.xx

Roger Bideleux  Hello Barbara,
I was so pleased to read your message, it sounds so positive. I am sorry you had to wait so long before getting home but I am sure it was better for you in the long run. I will always remember the first night out of theater being the worst of them all with the throat tubes and all. All night my nurse kept asking silly questions and there was no way I could make a sound in reply! I'd dread that tube more than anything else if I am ever to have surgery again!!
Take the recovery one step at a time and (as many have already said here) listen to your body, 😊
I hope you will soon be out and about enjoying the English summer. I am an expat Pom, brought up in Kent, so I send best wishes in particular to all in UK facing surgery in the months ahead. Best wishes and a speedy recovery, Roger

Laura Jacobs  Hi Barbara, congratulations on your homecoming. Sounds like the extra time in hospital will make your transition home a little easier. I hope you are doing well. Like Roger, I absolutely hated the breathing tube in my throat. That will be my number one fear for future surgeries as well followed pretty closely with the vein inflammation I experienced. My family said I was fighting the breathing tube. I awoke to feel my hands tied down. My daughter found it distressing and says it was the worst memory she has of my surgery. I heard the nurses telling my family what I had to do to get that tube out. I was trying to comply by breathing in different ways to demonstrate that I could breathe on my own. It was such a relief to get that tube out. I also hope you are enjoying the English summer in your garden. All the best to you.

Barbara Helen Dance  Thank you Laura, thank you for responding , my daughter also, was told to help hold me while they did suction, I was told that if I fought against it and instead went with it, it wouldn't be so bad. I also had irritable leg syndrome as I was coming out...... and my daughter said she was asked to help keep them still,( which if you have ever had irritable leg syndrome you will know is out of the question). However, mere importantly, I DID come through it all, and
Truly thankful for all the expertise of my surgeon and anaesthetist....... oh ! and the fantastically good looking male nurse, who's bedside manner made my daughter wish she had been in my place.....😉xx

Barbara Helen Dance  I would like to add, that as we are nursed on a one to one basis, he remained my 'nurse' until I left intensive care...... D'oh!! they moved me out to the step down unit on day 2 because I did so well......😞.(I wonder why??, maybe it was'nt Just the affects of the anaesthetic.... haha.😉.

Laura Jacobs  You have a great sense of humor Barbara!!! I think you are going to laugh your way through this. It is so great to have the capacity to be so positive...good for you!!!!

Barbara Helen Dance  Hi Jennifer, Enjoy your Canadian 150'th,.....We Brits like to party too, and it sounds like you will be having good cause to celebrate..haha........ just wish I was joining you....instead of surgery.... big, BIG ,sigh!!!!. Thank you for keeping me in your prayers.......I look forward to seeing your photo's, and hearing all about it.( are you SURE there isn't any more room in your case.....I am only little!!! Haha,😊.x

Jennifer McInerney  Actually I'm originally from London and my family still lives in Abbotts Langley. I travel to England every few years to visit them. They do know how to party. I will provide some pictures though of our lake trip. Keep your sense of humor. I think it's one of the best things to get you through this experience. As my 84 year old Mother would say "keep your knockers up".

Barbara Helen Dance  Haha, !! I will bear your mothers advice in mind........ . You never know , one day our paths may cross..... but I will stay in touch, and will look forward to seeing your pictures. Monday is coming up verrrrrrryyyyyy quick...... too quick..... but when I have my surgery to replace my wonky aortic valve on Tuesday 4th, I am hoping it will be all straight forward......( at least that will be once they have found me hiding under the bed!!!....😖😓😞😣. Xx

Barbara Helen Dance  Ok, thank you for that advice..... practicing sitting up without using my arms....... excuse me while I just go and try!!!, haha......... yes, I will let you know how my angiogram goes, . Hope all is going ok for you., looking forward to keeping in touch, warm wishes, Barb.xx

Jane Welp  I wanted to know how to sit up after surgery also and they showed me today! I have time to practice a little bit but not much!

Barbara Helen Dance  My warmest wishes and love for your surgery, I will be saying a prayer tonight for your speedy recovery. ...keep strong and optimistic.

Barbara Helen Dance  Dear Pam, thank you so much for getting in touch, I think with the waiting........ you feel so much older, because you are so very tired and breathless. However, I AM being positive (well trying to give a good impression of positive...... haha.... even if I am quietly panicking!!!!😓😖) . I am so pleased that you have made a good recovery, and hope to let you know how I progress. My warmest wishes, Barb.xx

pam williams  Dear Barbara I was constantly tired and yes breathless even to the point I found it more and more difficult to hold a conversation on the telephone, I look forward to your updates take care ,don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of any help best wishes pamx

Barbara Helen Dance  Hi Pam, I sort of hope that the surgery will not be too long after the angiogram..... and yet..... Its so nice to know you will be there to share my ups and downs of Avr more than you realise.xx. First I have my pre-op on Thursday 16th March........., xx

Barbara Helen Dance  Dear Andrea, Thank you so much for your message, which has made me feel so much happier to know someone else. That said, I am sorry you have to have a redo, but then perhaps we can cheer each other along. I live outside Stratford-on -Avon,warks, and so will be having my surgery at Coventry University Hospital. However, my angiogram is on Thursday 16th March (this week), but that will be done at Warwick Hospital, ...... 😖, I will then know if it will be a straight forward avr, or a bypass etc. My daughter lives at Northampton, at Grange Park....(Baines way if you know of it?.). I look forward to staying in touch, my warmest wishes, Barb.xx