Ralph's Guestbook

Hi Ralph, I just read your post about 5 weeks post-op. Congrats on doing so well. I thought the post was excellent to read. I just set my surgery date for May 2nd, and while I feel I am ready for it, setting the date just made it real and I got a little nervous. Reading your post helped. I agree with you about the surgery. If you go in and they put you to sleep and you wake up and it's over, how bad can it be. However, the nerves going into it are there, and the unknown of what comes after is scary. So thanks for giving me a story that can calm me. As for renting a chair, I am on the fence about it, but you seem to be pretty adamant about it. I guess the question I had about it is what kind of store were you able to find a rental chair? Feel free to read my journal under the name of "Matt O." Best of luck in your continued recovery

Hi Silvia, I know you are scared, all of us are to a point. Educating yourself to know what to expect (even the unpleasant parts) is crucial to having a peace of mind. Not knowing what to expect is scarier than knowing. I know you will will be fine. Pick a great surgeon and heart hospital. I had mine done locally and was lucky to have a dedicated heart hospital in my area. I am 4 days post op now and I am at home! can you believe that! I had my surgery this past Wednesday morning at 8am and was in ICU for a day and then upgraded to a private room. I was doing everything they told me to and was walking on my third day.. The staff and nurses said I was doing fantastic and could go home Saturday afternoon. This was a no brainer! The nights before they had me up to check blood sugar and other things every hour on the hour. I was fortunate that I had an isolated aortic stenosis and no other issues and got my wish to have the min-sternotomy with a T incision. The pain is there no matter what method they use. Expect it. You will be able to manage it so it is definitely bearable. Getting the tubes out was not bad for me. Some minor discomfort, but not alarming at all. Bottom line Silvia, you will be fine, just hurry up and wait! Take care and I will say a little prayer for you.

I will have the same done to me try to put it of a little, but symptoms are catching up with me 67 years old female are this the golden years I ask my self.I am just sooooo scarred, try to make peace with my self. Silvia