Guest Johnny Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 (edited) On Friday the 8th the wife goes for a third heart surgery. Her second aortic valve replacement plus the repair of an aortic aneurysm. Today I had to start giving her shots in the abdomen twice a day in lieu of her warfarin . I hate hurting her though. We had a call from the doctor today as he wanted to make sure we understood that the risk is much higher this time due to it being a third heart surgery. I really don't know why they bother seeing it is a necessary surgery, there is no alternative. She is a tough one though! She told our oldest kids to stay home (both live away) because they both have just started new jobs and she don't want them to jeopardize them. Said that would worry her more than not having them here! Plus she is working (her choice) right up until the day of surgery!!! She works until 4pm Thursday and has to check in at the hospital at 5:45am Friday!!! Said no sense sitting at home worrying about it! Any prayers for her would be very much appreciated! Edited July 13, 2011 by Johnny
Peter Lombardo Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 It goes without saying....our prayers are with you two. P.S. Just watch, She'll get through it. Keep us informed.
MikeMc Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 She will get throught all of this fine.....You on the otherhand will be going nuts...Its in His Hands and We are here for you.
disabled modeler Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 You always have them Johnny....same to the rest. Hang tight brother were all here if you need anything. Mark
Dragracer Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 You both have my prayers & best wishes for a speedy recovery!
aarondupont Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 Thoughts and prayers for your wife's surgery! Thoughts and prayers for you too! Aaron Dupont
Guest Johnny Posted July 7, 2011 Posted July 7, 2011 First of all Thanks to all that offered prayers and well wishes! We really appreciate it Jeannie especially says Thanks! That said I have to wonder how much we really know about our spouses! She decided she wanted to work right up to time. I figured a day or two ahead she would take off. Nope this time tomorrow she will be in the middle of her procedure and where is she right now? WORK!!! The manager called me a short time ago. She had went into the HR office to apply for her vacation and sick day which she has to use before short term disability will pay. He said Pam the HR Manager asked her why she was working and if she would like to just take a personal day for today. My wife said no that she needed those hours to cover the gap to when STD kicks in. So the Store Manager said he told her she could just go home if she wanted and he would approve the day off so it would not count against her. She said no, she wanted to get all the hours in she could before taking leave because the short term pays less than half her weekly average! He even offered to cover it from the store emergency fund and she said save it for someone who really needs it! He told me to make sure to keep her because there aren't many like her out there! 41 years the end of the month and some times I still don't have her completely figured out!
s10chevypu Posted July 7, 2011 Posted July 7, 2011 May god bless, My thoughts and prayers for your wife's surgery.
MikeMc Posted July 8, 2011 Posted July 8, 2011 Shes tough..So are you. Sleep well..... tonight we will kneel down and ask for His blessing for Jeannie and Johnny
Guest Johnny Posted July 13, 2011 Posted July 13, 2011 Well the surgery itself went well but complications arose at the end. Her blood pressure dropped way down do they had to put in a pump in her leg to assist the heart. Once in the ICU she went into cardiac arrest and had to be shocked 6 times to get her back. This was due to a dangerous heart rhythm. She also came close to having her kidneys shut down but reducing some of the heart meds and adding a diuretic got them going again. Took a couple tries to get her off the breathing tube and to get the pump out but after 5 days she is on her way back. Doc expects a full but slow recovery. They will be taking her off the drug that was keeping her rhythm steady and at assist they have been using to see if she will revert back to normal. If not she will have to have a pacemaker put in before she comes home. This was not unexpected as we knew that was a risk of this type of surgery especially seeing it was he second replacement. That area of the heart is the electrical center that controls the impulses that make the heart beat. With the scar tissue he had to deal with he got into that area an d it has slowed her heart rate causing the possible need for the pacemaker.. About all for now. She has been setting in a chair and has been eating. All signs she is on the mend! She is one tough gal! I hope she will be well enough to take to dinner on the 30th which will be our 41st anniversary! Her, she just wants to be out before our 12th grandchild is born. (due on the 28th)
george 53 Posted July 13, 2011 Posted July 13, 2011 Praise God, Johhny!!! That is WONDERFUL news! just listen to the Dr. an she'll be back to her old self in no time! Congratulations,Mrs Holt, on a succesfull surgery God Bless you's both.
MikeMc Posted July 13, 2011 Posted July 13, 2011 Thats Great News Johhny.......more prayers at you both....keep pluggin!!
crazyjim Posted July 13, 2011 Posted July 13, 2011 The marvels doctors perform is simply amazing. Best of luck towards a successful recovery.
bigmikevee Posted July 14, 2011 Posted July 14, 2011 Johnny, Very happy for you that she is making progress, the doctors sound like they have got everything under control. Just sit back and relax, we'll take care of some of the praying, you take care of yourself and your Mrs. Congratulations on your upcoming events, glad you will be able to share them together. Mike
Chuck Most Posted July 15, 2011 Posted July 15, 2011 This hits pretty close to home- my father just had open heart surgery yesterday to remove a clot. He's fine now, but I hear the pain meds aren't agreeing with him! I'll certainly be keeping you and your family in my thoughts.
Guest Johnny Posted July 15, 2011 Posted July 15, 2011 Thanks Chuck and prayers and good thoughts go out to your dad! Slowly but surly. I told her today not to rush things just take it day at a time! Looks like Monday may be the day they will install a pacemaker. They are waiting and hoping the situation will correct itself but it doesn't really look like it will. Still has a block (electrical) between both sides of the heart. They said so far she has lost over 30 pounds of water weight. She still is 13 pounds heavier than when she checked into the hospital! They said she will probably weigh 10-15 ponds less than when she leaves!!!. They are also all saying how amazed they are with the speed of her recovery given what happened! They say they expected her to have some neurological issues because of lack of blood flow to the brain when her heart rate went nuts! Was well over 5 minutes probably closer to 10. So far she shows no lasting effects!!! They said they will be doing some testing soon to see but all looks good. They were amazed at how full her recovery from the stroke was last year. I said what do they expect??? This is one amazing woman!
MikeMc Posted July 15, 2011 Posted July 15, 2011 Thanks Chuck and prayers and good thoughts go out to your dad! Slowly but surly. I told her today not to rush things just take it day at a time! Looks like Monday may be the day they will install a pacemaker. They are waiting and hoping the situation will correct itself but it doesn't really look like it will. Still has a block (electrical) between both sides of the heart. They said so far she has lost over 30 pounds of water weight. She still is 13 pounds heavier than when she checked into the hospital! They said she will probably weigh 10-15 ponds less than when she leaves!!!. They are also all saying how amazed they are with the speed of her recovery given what happened! They say they expected her to have some neurological issues because of lack of blood flow to the brain when her heart rate went nuts! Was well over 5 minutes probably closer to 10. So far she shows no lasting effects!!! They said they will be doing some testing soon to see but all looks good. They were amazed at how full her recovery from the stroke was last year. I said what do they expect??? This is one amazing woman! The Power of Love and the Grace of God !!!
cazxr2 Posted July 15, 2011 Posted July 15, 2011 Hi hope all is well. Our wee girl is only been home from the hospital just over a month she spent 12 weeks in icu she had heart surgery for a hole and a repair to her aorta as well. And like your good lady she had problems after wards. They had to put her on full life support.(E.C.M.O) machine. There was a problem with her signal so they shut down her heart for 4 days. She was on the ventilator for 6 weeks. We couldn't see the end in sight. Now she 5 months old and she's been home for just over a month now. Hope u don't mind me putting a pic up. This is her as of yesterday. It's amazing what the docs can do and don't forget prayer. We had dozens of people oll over the world praying for us. Therefore all my thoughts and prayers are with u and ur family.
Chuck Most Posted July 15, 2011 Posted July 15, 2011 I don't trust doctors that much (most of the ones I've encountered are little more than pill dispensers with heads), but I must say surgeons amaze me. Think about it- you stare under the hood of your car with a wrench in your hand and a blank stare on your face- these guys dive in and fix peoples internal organs! Truly amazing.
disabled modeler Posted July 15, 2011 Posted July 15, 2011 Great to hear Johnny's wife and that little baby is doing ok....you both have our prayers. I developed a heart condition called(Tachycardia)from the chest injuries I had. I've been in that touchy situation myself and feel for you all. God bless.
Guest Johnny Posted July 16, 2011 Posted July 16, 2011 She is a sweetheat Craig! Glad to see her doing so great after the start to life she had! Here is the latest in this ever changing issue. She had a light breakfast then they decided that today was the day for the pacemaker. So they took away her water and cancelled her lunch in anticipation of a late afternoon procedure. When they were doing the final read of the heart monitor record they discovered she was no longer in total heart block!(both sides of heart working independently) and he two sides were working together hidden by the external pacer. They turned off her pacer and her rate held steady at 68. So they set the pacer at 54 (as a backup) and cancelled the procedure until Monday to wait to see how her heart does. They are hoping it continues to mend over the next two days and if her heart rate remains stable over the next to days and the occasional errant beats subside she will not need the pacemaker put in!! They keep saying how amazing her recovery has been! I'm not going to argue with some of the best in cardiac care! So as is when I left she was running on her own heart beat with no assistance from the external pacer!
Guest Johnny Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 Well over the course of that night her rate dropped until she was running on the pacer. They lowered the pace to 45 and she stayed at the overnight rate of 54 but after she laid down and fell asleep she dropped it the 45 pacer rate. So Monday morning they put in a pacemaker. Everything went well and she was getting better. Today they finished pulling the external pacer wires. Physical and occupational therapy have worked with her and pending how she does tomorrow they will decide if she has to go to a rehab center or straight home. Both say they are recommending home but the doctor has final say! So tomorrow or Thursday she will be getting out!
MikeMc Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 Praise God Johnny!! That is great news for you both!!
Guest Johnny Posted July 21, 2011 Posted July 21, 2011 Well she came home last night! Going to be a long hard pull for a while but we have been through it before. Just not quite at this level and I was still healthy myself back then! Made the appointment for the one and two week followups now just waiting for a call from home healthcare! Once they start working with her she should start to improve daily. Thanks again from us both for the thoughts and prayers!
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