The surgery was a success. Now we just have to make sure I don't get an infection. Apparently in a relatively short period of time, the tissue in my heart will start growing over the device and it will be just a part of my heart.
They went in through the veins in both legs, inserting a camera in one side to locate the hole in my heart and a catheter in the other that when they found the hole, they injected the device to close it up. They gave me a valium thinking it would make me sleepy, but apparently people choose not to believe you when you tell them that it literally takes horse tranquilizers to knock you out! Anyway. I was in surgery for about 2.5 hours, give or take. They had the monitors over to the side, so I couldn't watch everything as it happened. And when I would move my head to try to see what was going on, they'd shove some more sedative in my IV! 4 vials of the stuff they gave me... and the only reason I went to sleep was because I got bored. I'd wake up and ask what was going on... then they'd say give her some more.... it was rather amusing.
The only thing that was remotely painful was when they inserted the stent in my left leg. The right was no big deal, but the left hurt a little. After the surgery, the doctor went out and told my family about it all, calling me a trooper. I'm not sure why I was deemed a trooper, but I'll take it. I had all my nurses cracking up the entire time. One of them told me I should go into nursing, after all of the health issues I have. Because apparently I have such a good attitude about it all. Then the stents had to come out. That wasn't the most pleasant experience. But by far the worst of all, was lying flat on my back for 6 hours. I don't even sleep on my back. I was miserable. After 4 hours, I got to be raised up 40 degrees, and let me tell you, those 40 degrees make all the difference. Of course, after my procedure, I was finally able to eat something, so I was not quite as cranky as I had been. I hadn't had anything to eat or drink after dinner Tuesday (around 8pm) and I didn't get out of the procedure until 4 or something. And me with no food or caffine is not a pretty sight. So, at least as soon as they wheeled me into the recovery room, the nurse gave me a coke and all was well with the world again. Then when I got to the observation unit, I ate a ton of food! I mean, all I had to do was lay around. I was miserable on my back, but at least my belly was full!
Today, I am doing fairly well. I am sore. More sore than I expected. But I'm not bruised like I was anticipating. When I had the cerebral angiogram, when they went in though the vein in my leg to send a camera into my brain, I was bruised from my groin area down to my knees and halfway up my stomach. I'm not sure if the docs at Vandy were just better or what. I'm in pretty good shape. I'm just determined to enjoy this week off of work. I'm not sure when I'll be up and exercising again, so I'm going to make use of my time reading I think. I have gotten a ton of books over the last month or so. Time to relax and read. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!
5 comments:
Enjoy those books! You are a trooper. :) Love you.
I can't believe you wanted to see! You should go into nursing with nerves like that. Valium does not make me sleepy at all, it just makes me very very very calm. I actually could not sleep after my mother gave me a Valium one time (as a muscle relaxant, when I hurt my back). It kept me awake because being so calm was weird for me!
i'm so glad everything went well! not so glad you're sore though. you just suck up that rest and those books, and get better! and i have a bit of a funny story. you said that everytime you asked a question they gave you more sedatives, and that reminded me of the time i got my wisdom teeth out. now, i am a dental assistant, so i wanted to be able to be aware of what was going on, but relaxed, so we (the dr and i) chose a mild sedative through an iv. well, i forgot to tell the doctor that i talk in my sleep, very coherently, but i never remember any of it. well, of course i started talking, and of course he gave me more and more and more sedatives to get me to shut-up, so that i ended up being totally out for hours and hours. they had to carry me to the recovery room because they couldn't wake me up! i don't remember anything until i woke up at john's sister and brother-in-law's house, hours later! good times. ;) i hope you're feeling better soon sweetie!
That's funny Liz! I'm glad you did finally wake up. :)
I am so glad taht you are doing well. After you finish all the books I would love to know which ones you loved, hated, and didn't finish;) Glad you're doing well, and may the recovery go as well as the surgery.
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