Goodbye Everyone


Rather than just disappear, I'd like to say thanks to everyone who gave me help, taught me stuff, the many friendly members.

Elliott

elliottbnewcombjr

lets hope this is NOT goodbye!!!!

I'm having open heart surgery 12/28/23; new mitral valve made from Pig Heart Tissue. Entrance from side, no need to crack Sternum.

This guys doing it:

3-5 days in hospital; 6 weeks recouperation at home.

I need to get strong enough to drive to Maine for my mother's 101st birthday, so that explains the 28th to get started/done.

...........................

I've had 21 surgeries, none serious like this one, but what has me anxious is getting a respiratory infection (I had covid twice and pneumonia twice earlier this year). Therefore Donna is wearing a Mask, I'm going nowhere, and I'm going to skip Christmas Day/Dinner with 14 family members, including 4 school kids among others who work in public situations.

 

Good luck and God Bless. Physicians know much about the heart and cardio vascular system. Be confident in the collective accumulation of knowledge and experience and the skills of your surgery team.

Wishing you a easy non stressful experience with your surgery and recovery.

@elliottbnewcombjr ....'phase shifting' over from the MM/MC scroll, I'd forgotten 'bout your upcoming bout in the sterile suite....but go with my hopes and thoughts that you'll be back sooner in '24. 👍👌🤞😃 'n all....

When I ran into my Reality of CHF re my aortic valve, I was well aware of having one's ribs wrenched and what + how long recovery from that could go....my basic energy levels and 'tude then would have made most around me wishing I'd either relapse and 'go away'.....Spouse Ev said she'd kick my tush if I did...
"Have at, I don't think I'll notice....but I'd opt for a synth cast of the original, since it wouldn't last long...that, and the dogs might chew it up on you..."

TAVR made that whole scenario a non-start; I had resisted the OHS scenario, so when advised that I might be a candidate for TAVR, jumped on it like a Wagyu 5   steak....and went home 3 days afterwards, the third lasting forever.

I felt great immediately the day after....hope you experience the same.

I was considered a higher risk for OHS, and they had a little difficulty 'jump-starting' me, and it was noted I 'skip beats' during my rehab stints on a recumbent (used to cycle in my teens, still have most of the thighs left...)....(monitoring RN looks up from the screen, looks at me, comes over with that concerned stare..."Did you feel that?"  Feel what?..).

Ended up with my onboard pacemaker and an auto-defib... 2" dia, "lump' below left collarbone, over from left shoulder....

Asked my cardio...'How durable is this?"  One was known to stop a bullet, and keep working...I remember that, just in case....;) *L*

Anyhow, my hopes for you is that all will go absolutely perfect, and they'll shuffle you out 'n home asap+....which seems to be SOP of late.  Hosp. food fare isn't any fairer than it used to be ever, and I had Ev smuggle me in a beer and a Starbucks.

Don't know how the staff can cope with the brown liquid they call coffee...and they agree!  I don't comprehend how the residents can pull the hours they do on that mouthwash.....😬😖🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️  "Shoulda learned to play them drums...."

Have a 'productive and considerably Different Holiday Week', and know that I and the crowd here are in your cheering section...and we expect to hear all about it. *S*

...but...don't pull a 'Lyndon'....we don't need to see the scars, and leave the dog's ears alone...😑

Jerry