Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery.......

[Ambush Master]

Take Care Brother!!

The Thoughts and Prayers are with'ya, (without an expiration date)!!

Later
Martin

[Ret10Echo]

Hang tough Teddy...

[Dozer523]

Got your candle lit, Uncle. Take care Teddy. Attitude will be 50%.

[XJWoody]

You'll be in our thoughts Big Teddy!

[SF_BHT]

Good luck and do what the doctor says.

[MR2]

Schedule your procedure for Tue, Wed, or Thurs.

Do not, DO NOT!, roll around in bed or try to sit up in bed until they tell you it is ok. And don't even think about getting out of bed no matter how bad you have to pee.

Prayers for you (and the staff).

[greenberetTFS]

Did not qualify for trial program because "fair" condition isn't "poor" condition and since they only want those who can't qualify for open heart surgery and they're running only a 70% chance of living after a year,they felt it was in my best interests to go with open heart.........My response to my cardio is f**k it,I'm not going to go under the knife because after that operation I'll need not only medical help but it's a tremendous burden to put on Maggie who cannot be a caregiver since she's a terminal patient herself and unable to clean,cook,etc from a power wheel chair....
So I'll just hang in there and when it's time it's time....... Don't get me wrong guys I'm far from being a tough guy,but I have to do what I have to do and that's it.....

Big Teddy

[MR2]

[JJ_BPK]

Teddy

I'm thinking you are over thinking what your thinking about this operation.

Not knowing your condition, other than you statement that your "fair" and I'm not a med student,, but most of the people I know, that have had open heart are up running around in a couple weeks or less...

My father lasted over 20 yrs and my father in-law 15 yrs.

Have another talk to your Doc's..

You need to get a bunch of CAN-DO back in your altitude..

[Stargazer]

greenberetTFS, my father had his aorta valve replaced in his 70s and is stilling going at 81. He recovered from his surgery quicker than he did from his aortic abdominal aneurysm repair. It is a serious surgery and may not be the correct path for you, but I wanted you to know I was amazed how quickly he recovered.

[SLVGW360]

I agree with JJ BPK. My dad had open heart 10-11 years ago now. He was always in incredibly good shape and worked manual labor jobs most of his life due to a language barrier. The set back knocked him for a loop psychologically and he was timid in getting back to his usual activities even though he was physically able. Now he is again running around in the mountains hunting elk. Killed his biggest bull ever last year at 73 years old. He drew a buck tag this year and is all excited.

[MR2]

Teddy, based on my experience working telemetry floors and ICU/CCU I have some thoughts for you.

Some cardiologists are better than others. Some surgeons are better than others. And so on. Most people do more research and due diligence when picking out their carpet than they do their general physician, cardiologist, or surgeon...

Go to the hospital. Bring someone with you (to help remember). Talk to the nursing staff that work in the recovery room, in the CCU, the telemetry floors. Talk to the ancillary staff (X-Ray, IV, EKG, Ultrasound, etc.) working there too. Find out which cardiac surgeons patients do better than most. Ask them if they were you, who would they choose.

Talk to your surgeon and ask him/her about their success rate. Then ask them to define success and see if it matches your own definition. Ask them what their one year and five year success rates are - what that really means. Note that I used the term success and not survival. They have different meanings. Ask them to define "quality of life" and see if it matches your own.

Remember that some doctors will take more serious cases than other doctors and their success rates will vary accordingly.

In my experience it is rare for cardiac patients to think about the after (quality of life) until it is after. I commend you for that, but I would also advise that you not put the cart before the horse.

If you are a good candidate for success, I would schedule the surgery for a Thursday. That gives you 2-3 days in CCU and then your on the step-down or telemetry floor for a normal M-F (full staff) schedule. If your not a good candidate for success, schedule for Tuesday and tell the surgeon your not going to the floor until Monday. Avoid all surgery on Mondays and Fridays.

Good luck to you and yours and may God bless whatever decision you make.

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

Teddy

I'm thinking you are over thinking what you're thinking about this operation.

Not knowing your condition, other than you statement that your "fair" and I'm not a med student,, but most of the people I know, that have had open heart are up running around in a couple weeks or less...

My father lasted over 20 yrs and my father in-law 15 yrs.

Have another talk to your Doc's..

You need to get a bunch of CAN-DO back in your altitude..

JJ

Thanks for the prep talk,but the people I know who have had it done were in the hospital at least 2 weeks,at home and required to be house ridden for several months.........Maggie couldn't have that much time left for runnung the house,she just couldn't do it.......

Big Teddy

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by SLVGW360

I agree with JJ BPK. My dad had open heart 10-11 years ago now. He was always in incredibly good shape and worked manual labor jobs most of his life due to a language barrier. The set back knocked him for a loop psychologically and he was timid in getting back to his usual activities even though he was physically able. Now he is again running around in the mountains hunting elk. Killed his biggest bull ever last year at 73 years old. He drew a buck tag this year and is all excited.

There's your answer.......

Big Teddy

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by MR2

Teddy, based on my experience working telemetry floors and ICU/CCU I have some thoughts for you.

Some cardiologists are better than others. Some surgeons are better than others. And so on. Most people do more research and due diligence when picking out their carpet than they do their general physician, cardiologist, or surgeon...

Go to the hospital. Bring someone with you (to help remember). Talk to the nursing staff that work in the recovery room, in the CCU, the telemetry floors. Talk to the ancillary staff (X-Ray, IV, EKG, Ultrasound, etc.) working there too. Find out which cardiac surgeons patients do better than most. Ask them if they were you, who would they choose.

Talk to your surgeon and ask him/her about their success rate. Then ask them to define success and see if it matches your own definition. Ask them what their one year and five year success rates are - what that really means. Note that I used the term success and not survival. They have different meanings. Ask them to define "quality of life" and see if it matches your own.

Remember that some doctors will take more serious cases than other doctors and their success rates will vary accordingly.

In my experience it is rare for cardiac patients to think about the after (quality of life) until it is after. I commend you for that, but I would also advise that you not put the cart before the horse.

If you are a good candidate for success, I would schedule the surgery for a Thursday. That gives you 2-3 days in CCU and then your on the step-down or telemetry floor for a normal M-F (full staff) schedule. If your not a good candidate for success, schedule for Tuesday and tell the surgeon your not going to the floor until Monday. Avoid all surgery on Mondays and Fridays.

Good luck to you and yours and may God bless whatever decision you make.

MR2

All excellent points and if I do change my mind I'll be sure to consider your advice,especially not scheduling my surgery on a monday or friday.......

Big Teddy