bluntforcemama
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Anyone know much about it?
Open Heart Surgery
- Thread starter bluntforcemama
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bluntforcemama
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My grandmother is fine... this is actually about me. I guess I just want to know that it's going to be alright. How long does it take for the sternum to heal after they cut it open? Is it always going to be fragile? I think I'm going to go rent "Return to Me."
LordMagicMan
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You mean you need surgery hun?
bluntforcemama
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I don't know that I NEED it just yet, but I will soon, or so says my doctor. He rained on my parade, that twit. I think I'll go do some research on this...
LordMagicMan
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Good luck hun,
I hope it turns out that you dont need the surgery. I've heard of uncles and such that need it but never anyone our age... *hugs*
LMM
I hope it turns out that you dont need the surgery. I've heard of uncles and such that need it but never anyone our age... *hugs*
LMM
scylis
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it generally takes a couple of weeks or so to get back on your feet afterwards. you'll wake up in IC with tubes sticking in and out of all your orafices (nose, mouth, uhh.. other ones), and a few new ones, too.. but the good thing is that you get lots of freezy pops afterwards.. oh, wait.. that's if you're 5.. sorry..
but there are blood tests daily while you're there. you won't be able to walk for at least a few days once you're out of IC (intensive care), but wheelchair romps through the place are cool.
the food sucks. the scenery is almost non-existant. and the smell is too..sterile. it also sucks to be bed-ridden for about a week, but you might be able to get your hands on a TV with a VCR, so get somebody to get/buy/rent some movies you like (though erotic ones should best be left till nighttime hours
).
surgerey can take 7 hours (give or take a few depending on what you're having done), durring which you'll possibly be legally dead for a period of time. i think mine took 7, and was legally dead for about an hour or so (gotta love heart 'n' lung machines).
but the best thing is the bitchin' scar you get, which inducts you into the Zipper Club™.. *pulls up shirt* i'm a member!
[Edited by scylis on 04-05-2001 at 06:25 PM]
but there are blood tests daily while you're there. you won't be able to walk for at least a few days once you're out of IC (intensive care), but wheelchair romps through the place are cool.
the food sucks. the scenery is almost non-existant. and the smell is too..sterile. it also sucks to be bed-ridden for about a week, but you might be able to get your hands on a TV with a VCR, so get somebody to get/buy/rent some movies you like (though erotic ones should best be left till nighttime hours
).surgerey can take 7 hours (give or take a few depending on what you're having done), durring which you'll possibly be legally dead for a period of time. i think mine took 7, and was legally dead for about an hour or so (gotta love heart 'n' lung machines).
but the best thing is the bitchin' scar you get, which inducts you into the Zipper Club™.. *pulls up shirt* i'm a member!
[Edited by scylis on 04-05-2001 at 06:25 PM]
I worked as a nurse (RN) for a (short) while, some of that time even on a cardiac floor. While I won't say that open heart surgery is "no big deal," it is quite routine. *Quite* routine. I've actually seen two surgeries, and there was no panicking, no "uh-oh, what do we do now," no worries. In fact, it pretty much looked like a car mechanic pulling a tranny. The docs who do it are pros, and they've done it a million times before. (And so are the nurses who help!)
As far as recovery, we generally tried to have the patients on their feet within 24 hours of surgery, and out the door within three days--five at the most. (In fact, I think, barring the (uncommon) complication, most insurances will only pay for five days.)
In fact, many hospitals now have a "critical pathway" that outlines, to the bloody *hour*, what the "typical" patient is expected to have done. "First soft food, first BM, first real food, on their feet, etc." And, oddly enough, in most hospitals, most of the patients stuck pretty well to the schedule. See if your hospital has one, and ask to find out what it looks like.
Yes, you'll have a chest tube (or two), and it'll be awkward to move around with it, but they'll take it out before you leave the hospital. (And, remember, the goal for that is three days...)
Pain? Some. Especially when coughing, but hugging a pillow to your chest eases that quite a bit. And the meds that the nurses will be happy to give you will ease the rest.
Fear? Damned straight. But you're allowed to be afraid--*expected* to be, even, and there are a lot of people there to tell you that this is a routine surgery--and they'll see you when you're done.
Healing? I'm not sure on the number of weeks it takes for the sternum to heal--I'd *guess* six weeks, because that's about as long as it takes for any other bone to be well on its way to healing. No, it's not particularly fragile, but you do get a nice scar or two.
I can't tell you whether you should have it done or not--that decision is between you and your doc and your family. But I can say that open-heart surgeries are just about as common as tonsillectomies (come to think of it, I've never seen a tonsillectomy!). And they're not *nearly* as scary to the docs and nurses as they are to the patients. <G>
And, good luck.
Song
As far as recovery, we generally tried to have the patients on their feet within 24 hours of surgery, and out the door within three days--five at the most. (In fact, I think, barring the (uncommon) complication, most insurances will only pay for five days.)
In fact, many hospitals now have a "critical pathway" that outlines, to the bloody *hour*, what the "typical" patient is expected to have done. "First soft food, first BM, first real food, on their feet, etc." And, oddly enough, in most hospitals, most of the patients stuck pretty well to the schedule. See if your hospital has one, and ask to find out what it looks like.
Yes, you'll have a chest tube (or two), and it'll be awkward to move around with it, but they'll take it out before you leave the hospital. (And, remember, the goal for that is three days...)
Pain? Some. Especially when coughing, but hugging a pillow to your chest eases that quite a bit. And the meds that the nurses will be happy to give you will ease the rest.
Fear? Damned straight. But you're allowed to be afraid--*expected* to be, even, and there are a lot of people there to tell you that this is a routine surgery--and they'll see you when you're done.
Healing? I'm not sure on the number of weeks it takes for the sternum to heal--I'd *guess* six weeks, because that's about as long as it takes for any other bone to be well on its way to healing. No, it's not particularly fragile, but you do get a nice scar or two.
I can't tell you whether you should have it done or not--that decision is between you and your doc and your family. But I can say that open-heart surgeries are just about as common as tonsillectomies (come to think of it, I've never seen a tonsillectomy!). And they're not *nearly* as scary to the docs and nurses as they are to the patients. <G>
And, good luck.
Song
Weird Harold
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Myst said:
My oldest daughter had open heart surgery when she was seven, so her experience probabbly won't be relevant to yours. Children heal faster than adults.
I can however, tell you that talking to your doctor is the best way to find out what you need to know. If you're not comfortable with talking to him think twice about letting him near you with a scalpel.
As for the fragility of the sternum, my daughter's doctor told her that she could do anything she wanted after it healed except play Pro football. The healing is going to take about the same amount of time and be as fragile as a broken arm or leg takes to heal. 6-8weeks, maybe?
My daughter was very proud of being the only kid in her class with "two belly buttons and a zipper"
Now, 20 plus years later, the "zipper" scar only shows when she's tanned because it doesn't tan as darkly as the rest of her and the "second belly button" scar is completely gone.
I hope things go well for you and have every confidence they will. In addition to my daughter, I know about six others of all ages who have had heart surgery, and all of them had no problems with the surgery and healing.
Myst...
Knowing ahead of time must be frightening....I think I would rather be taken to the hospital and have them rush me in with no warning ahead of time so I don't have time to dwell and think on it.
A close friend of my Father-in-law had open heart surgery 2 years ago. He's 70 something. My husband and I went to see him 2 days afterwards expecting to see him still hooked up and not ready to get up...we were shocked to see him sitting up on the side of his bed! He said he hurt but considering what was done to him felt pretty good! He felt good enough to want to be wheeled around in a wheelchair. To make a long story short he stayed with his son for about 6 to 8 weeks and then went back to his home in Idaho....the surgery was done at the University of Washington hospital in Seattle. Excellent cardiologists there!! He was told not to lift anything heavy for 6 mos and then slowly work into it. Now 2 years later he goes on fishing trips, hikes and is quite active...chops his own wood for his wood stove!!
My father-in-law had open heart surgery there also 20 something years ago and they gave him 10 years because he was an alcoholic and abused his body so they didn't think he'd make it much past 10 years if that and lived twice that! When he died he didn't die from a heart attack but a really bad case of flu!
I wish you well but, I think the statistics are on your side!!
Knowing ahead of time must be frightening....I think I would rather be taken to the hospital and have them rush me in with no warning ahead of time so I don't have time to dwell and think on it.
A close friend of my Father-in-law had open heart surgery 2 years ago. He's 70 something. My husband and I went to see him 2 days afterwards expecting to see him still hooked up and not ready to get up...we were shocked to see him sitting up on the side of his bed! He said he hurt but considering what was done to him felt pretty good! He felt good enough to want to be wheeled around in a wheelchair. To make a long story short he stayed with his son for about 6 to 8 weeks and then went back to his home in Idaho....the surgery was done at the University of Washington hospital in Seattle. Excellent cardiologists there!! He was told not to lift anything heavy for 6 mos and then slowly work into it. Now 2 years later he goes on fishing trips, hikes and is quite active...chops his own wood for his wood stove!!
My father-in-law had open heart surgery there also 20 something years ago and they gave him 10 years because he was an alcoholic and abused his body so they didn't think he'd make it much past 10 years if that and lived twice that! When he died he didn't die from a heart attack but a really bad case of flu!
I wish you well but, I think the statistics are on your side!!
bluntforcemama
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Thank you, all of you. I appreciate the information you were able to share with me. I'm going in to see a cardiac specialist tomorrow, and maybe even get a third opinion after that. I hope I can put this off for a while. I really don't have the time to be laying in bed. I know that sounds odd, but I've got to get my butt out of college soon! I think I'll just try not to think too much about. You're all very helpful.
bluntforcemama
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alright
no more of this.... I'm going to go on with my life for now... ack! depressing!
no more of this.... I'm going to go on with my life for now... ack! depressing!
willfulbrat
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Myst, I'm sorry that you're facing possible heart surgery. A bit of good news is that now they can do it through a small hold between your ribs, eliminating the need to cut the sternum. I don't know if the procedure is widespread.
Hope the doctor has good news for you, Myst. {{{{Myst}}}}
Hope the doctor has good news for you, Myst. {{{{Myst}}}}
CelestialBody
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Juspar Emvan
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Woah Girl, what a way to hear about that!
I have nothing to offer you but support, which is yours for the asking. If we don't catch each other on IM soon, e-mail me.
I suppose there would be no kick boxing for a couple of months afterwards, might have to find something with a little less impact eh?
I have nothing to offer you but support, which is yours for the asking. If we don't catch each other on IM soon, e-mail me.
I suppose there would be no kick boxing for a couple of months afterwards, might have to find something with a little less impact eh?
SirGalahad67
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Dillinger said:
Dillinger, this is true. My father had it recently, and they have made the process easier. The younger one is (along with the level of physical fitness) helps in the speed of recovery.
Hang in there Myst honey... Let us know if there's anything we can do for you.
Sir Galahad (and Willfulbrat dittos)
Re: For Myst...to stop the depressingness
Oh, man, and it's damned tough for them to work in those dresses. I mean, have you ever *tried* to get an oil stain out of pink taffeta?!? And to try to stay "decent" while doing a brake job. Forget it. Don't bend over, baby! Hike that skirt! Knowing that you're going to be climbing into an engine really changes your thoughts on whether it's best to wear that g-string or go "regimental."
Song
Pyper said:
Oh, man, and it's damned tough for them to work in those dresses. I mean, have you ever *tried* to get an oil stain out of pink taffeta?!? And to try to stay "decent" while doing a brake job. Forget it. Don't bend over, baby! Hike that skirt! Knowing that you're going to be climbing into an engine really changes your thoughts on whether it's best to wear that g-string or go "regimental."
Song
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