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Open Heart Surgery

HarleyJammer

HarleyJammer

Well-known member
Veteran
Welp, here's the poop, troop...

At 56 years old I'm heading for open heart surgery in about 8 weeks. They said I need a mechanical aortic valve. In 2 weeks I will have a heart cath. Definitely not looking forward to having my sternum cracked open.

Any IC members undergo open heart surgery? Tell me about your experience..
 
CharlesU Farley

CharlesU Farley

Well-known member
HarleyJammer said:
Welp, here's the poop, troop...

At 56 years old I'm heading for open heart surgery in about 8 weeks. They said I need a mechanical aortic valve. In 2 weeks I will have a heart cath. Definitely not looking forward to having my sternum cracked open.

Any IC members undergo open heart surgery? Tell me about your experience..
Click to expand...
Although I haven't practiced in a very long time, I'm a registered respiratory therapist who used to deal with post up open heart patients on a regular basis. In addition, I met my wife of 35 years while working in the CVICU at the major hospital in the area I live in. The fact that you're young at 56 is a very big plus, for having an AVR, because they routinely do those in much older patients. If you are a daily waster/heavy consumer of cannabis, be sure to tell the anesthesiologist/CRNA because you may need a little extra anesthesia/pain medication. Seriously, tell them, especially if you're a heavy smoker/vaper.

You're going to have at least a week a fairly severe pain that will be moderated pretty well by opiates, but they'll still get your ass up and make you walk within 24 hours. That is very very important to prevent clots. A pillow is be going to become your best friend, because you're going to be hugging the shit out of it when you have to cough, which they will make you do frequently.

Don't know whether your symptomatic and feel like shit now, but if you do, after you have the AVR you'll feel much much better/stronger. I can't remember but Arnold Schwarzenegger has had an AVR or maybe a MVR (mitral valve), I can't remember which one but it's a very common procedure, even though it's totally new to you.

Just do exactly what the nurses and therapists tell you to do, even though you're not going to want to do it because it's going to hurt. But it'll make you better in the long run and your chances of stroking out will go way down, so do what they tell you to do.

Best of luck!
 
Last edited:
HarleyJammer

HarleyJammer

Well-known member
Veteran
Boo said:
Good luck brother, you seem a little young to be needing that kind of serious work but I sure hope it does the job and get you back on your feet
Click to expand...
The cardiac team was in disbelief how calcified my valve is. They said its normal for like an 90 yr old. I guess the cath will tell them if I have a bicuspid valve and if they have to do any bypass work while they have me open.

I have been cursed with poor hearts on both sides of my family going back generations.

Thanks for the luck.. They said I have 1/500 chance of croaking on the table.
 
HarleyJammer

HarleyJammer

Well-known member
Veteran
CharlesU Farley said:
Although I haven't practiced in a very long time, I'm a registered respiratory therapist who used to deal with post up open heart patients on a regular basis. In addition, I met my wife of 35 years while working in the CVICU at the major hospital in the area I live in. The fact that you're young at 56 is a very big plus, for having an AVR, because they routinely do those in much older patients. If you are a daily waster/heavy consumer of cannabis, be sure to tell the anesthesiologist / CRNA because you may need a little extra anesthesia/pain medication. Seriously, tell them, especially if you're a heavy smoker/vaper.

You're going to have at least a week a fairly severe pain that will be moderated pretty well by opiates, but they'll still get your ass up and make you walk within 24 hours. That is very very important to prevent clots. A pillow is be going to become your best friend, because you're going to be hugging the shit out of it when you have to cough, which they will make you do frequently.

Don't know whether your symptomatic and feel like shit now, but if you do after you have the AVR you'll feel much much better/stronger. I can't remember but Arnold Schwarzenegger has had an AVR or maybe a MVR (mitral valve), I can't remember which one but it's a very common procedure, even though it's totally new to you.

Just do exactly what the nurses and therapists tell you to do, even though you're not going to want to do it because it's going to hurt. But it'll make you better in the long run and your chances of stroking out will go away down, so do what they tell you to do.

Best of luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks much for your insight. Yeah, I dont have a problem disclosing my weed usage. I inform them that I have RLS/PLMD and that THCV helps abating symptoms..

Which is one of my main concerns -- RLS/PLMD .. I flop around like a fish out of water; conscious and unconscious .. Theyre going to have to super dope me and strap me down.
 
BrassNwood

BrassNwood

Well-known member
Veteran
HarleyJammer said:
Welp, here's the poop, troop...

At 56 years old I'm heading for open heart surgery in about 8 weeks. They said I need a mechanical aortic valve. In 2 weeks I will have a heart cath. Definitely not looking forward to having my sternum cracked open.

Any IC members undergo open heart surgery? Tell me about your experience.
Click to expand...
Getting all to close myself. My AAA (ascending aortic aneurism) has reached terminal size and it's time for intervention.

Web searches on the physicians and hospital ratings narrowed my choices and I think we have the Medicare / part B horseshit ironed out with Networked docs and all that crap. The new plan kicks in on the 1st and see the primary long enough to get the referral to the specialist.

Turns out one of the wife's former co-workers now works for this guy and they don't come any higher rated in this part of the country. We dropped off the CT w/contrast scans that have been tracking its growth for the last few years so it's moving forward. I should know in a week or less what the next move is. Open surgery or endovascular stents.

 
Putembk

Putembk

One Toke Over The Line
Premium user
Sorry to hear that Harley. One of my good friends from HS had 3 open heart surgeries. When I asked about the reason.....he simply said.....Kansas Diet.

I haven't heard from him in 5 years now and I am thinking the "Kansas Diet" got the best of him.
 
Hombre del mont

Hombre del mont

Dr of Stupidity
BrassNwood said:
Getting all to close myself. My AAA (ascending aortic aneurism) has reached terminal size and it's time for intervention.

Web searches on the physicians and hospital ratings narrowed my choices and I think we have the Medicare / part B horseshit ironed out with Networked docs and all that crap. The new plan kicks in on the 1st and see the primary long enough to get the referral to the specialist.

Turns out one of the wife's former co-workers now works for this guy and they don't come any higher rated in this part of the country. We dropped off the CT w/contrast scans that have been tracking its growth for the last few years so it's moving forward. I should know in a week or less what the next move is. Open surgery or endovascular stents.

Click to expand...
I hope all goes well for you brother.

I guess I'm lucky living in country (Spain 😍)that has free health care; it must be tough for those who can't afford it
 
BrassNwood

BrassNwood

Well-known member
Veteran
Hombre del mont said:
I hope all goes well for you brother.

I guess I'm lucky living in country (Spain 😍)that has free health care; it must be tough for those who can't afford it
Click to expand...

Medicare part A that we all paid into our working lives covers hospitalization well enough for general things. I just wanted the best of the best surgeon possible in my area and that took some dancing around changing insurance part B plans to one that he takes.
Bit of a convoluted system that can be challenging to newcomers.
 
CharlesU Farley

CharlesU Farley

Well-known member
BrassNwood said:
Medicare part A that we all paid into our working lives covers hospitalization well enough for general things. I just wanted the best of the best surgeon possible in my area and that took some dancing around changing insurance part B plans to one that he takes.
Bit of a convoluted system that can be challenging to newcomers.
Click to expand...
That's why my wife and I went with standard Medicare A&B and a Medigap policy. We can see whatever physician, at whatever hospital, anywhere in the United States we want. After we meet the ~$250 USD Medicare deductible, we don't pay a penny out of pocket. Costs us 200 bucks a month but take it from one who worked in a hospital for a long time and whose wife just retired from one, it is well worth it to be able to choose what physician and what hospital you want!
 
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