What are you doing this coming weekend?
05-31-2015, 11:13 AM
#961
I have a phone number for you - sending you a PM to see if it is still current.Sounds Like a Plan
fltsfshr
05-31-2015, 12:59 PM
#962
Got your info. 
We've been by that hotel - it's lovely.
We've been by that hotel - it's lovely.
05-31-2015, 05:03 PM
#963
Uneventful weekend. Visit to Cindy's Mom Saturday, and did the Renn Faire with friends today. Monday however is a different story.
Only a few people know at this point, but Cindy, my fiancee is having open heart surgery tomorrow morning.
She was born with a bicuspid aortic valve. During a change in doctors, and a set of routine tests and a physical (and knowing she had the valve issue), they determined that the valve was about 1/6th the size it should be, plus had some stenosis (hardening). They also determined that the ascending aorta was larger than it should be, however, not quite at the size to be considered an aneurysm. Apparently, the size and combination put her in the 'critical' category.
The doctor doing the surgery, when we met with him about 2 weeks ago said that since they are going in, there is no way they'd leave the aorta alone at this point - so she's having part of the aorta replaced and a new aortic valve put in. She's having the surgery done at UPenn in Philly with one of the top surgeons in the country for this type of work.
Since for the most part this is a repair of a defective part and not heart disease, they expect her to be home in a week max, back to 80% in a month and 100% in 3 months. It's also likely that the 80% in a month might feel better than she has otherwise.
In for a long day in the waiting room tomorrow, then likely the next 36 hours in ICU.
Only a few people know at this point, but Cindy, my fiancee is having open heart surgery tomorrow morning.
She was born with a bicuspid aortic valve. During a change in doctors, and a set of routine tests and a physical (and knowing she had the valve issue), they determined that the valve was about 1/6th the size it should be, plus had some stenosis (hardening). They also determined that the ascending aorta was larger than it should be, however, not quite at the size to be considered an aneurysm. Apparently, the size and combination put her in the 'critical' category.
The doctor doing the surgery, when we met with him about 2 weeks ago said that since they are going in, there is no way they'd leave the aorta alone at this point - so she's having part of the aorta replaced and a new aortic valve put in. She's having the surgery done at UPenn in Philly with one of the top surgeons in the country for this type of work.
Since for the most part this is a repair of a defective part and not heart disease, they expect her to be home in a week max, back to 80% in a month and 100% in 3 months. It's also likely that the 80% in a month might feel better than she has otherwise.
In for a long day in the waiting room tomorrow, then likely the next 36 hours in ICU.
05-31-2015, 05:08 PM
#964
Uneventful weekend. Visit to Cindy's Mom Saturday, and did the Renn Faire with friends today. Monday however is a different story.
Only a few people know at this point, but Cindy, my fiancee is having open heart surgery tomorrow morning.
She was born with a bicuspid aortic valve. During a change in doctors, and a set of routine tests and a physical (and knowing she had the valve issue), they determined that the valve was about 1/6th the size it should be, plus had some stenosis (hardening). They also determined that the ascending aorta was larger than it should be, however, not quite at the size to be considered an aneurysm. Apparently, the size and combination put her in the 'critical' category.
The doctor doing the surgery, when we met with him about 2 weeks ago said that since they are going in, there is no way they'd leave the aorta alone at this point - so she's having part of the aorta replaced and a new aortic valve put in. She's having the surgery done at UPenn in Philly with one of the top surgeons in the country for this type of work.
Since for the most part this is a repair of a defective part and not heart disease, they expect her to be home in a week max, back to 80% in a month and 100% in 3 months. It's also likely that the 80% in a month might feel better than she has otherwise.
In for a long day in the waiting room tomorrow, then likely the next 36 hours in ICU.
Only a few people know at this point, but Cindy, my fiancee is having open heart surgery tomorrow morning.
She was born with a bicuspid aortic valve. During a change in doctors, and a set of routine tests and a physical (and knowing she had the valve issue), they determined that the valve was about 1/6th the size it should be, plus had some stenosis (hardening). They also determined that the ascending aorta was larger than it should be, however, not quite at the size to be considered an aneurysm. Apparently, the size and combination put her in the 'critical' category.
The doctor doing the surgery, when we met with him about 2 weeks ago said that since they are going in, there is no way they'd leave the aorta alone at this point - so she's having part of the aorta replaced and a new aortic valve put in. She's having the surgery done at UPenn in Philly with one of the top surgeons in the country for this type of work.
Since for the most part this is a repair of a defective part and not heart disease, they expect her to be home in a week max, back to 80% in a month and 100% in 3 months. It's also likely that the 80% in a month might feel better than she has otherwise.
In for a long day in the waiting room tomorrow, then likely the next 36 hours in ICU.
(Based upon personal experience.)Please let us know how this goes.
05-31-2015, 05:50 PM
#965
Gary, we will thinking of you two. The first few weeks are going to be tough for her but after that things get much better each day.
05-31-2015, 06:02 PM
#966
Gary, our best to your fiancee.
A much quieter weekend this coming weekend. Phew. I'm tired!
My son fell and has a minor fracture in his shoulder, not sure if my grandma services will be needed this weekend.
A much quieter weekend this coming weekend. Phew. I'm tired!
My son fell and has a minor fracture in his shoulder, not sure if my grandma services will be needed this weekend.
05-31-2015, 07:29 PM
#967
Gary, that will be a little stressful I'm sure but hopefully with the best outcome possible.
06-01-2015, 01:34 AM
#968
Gary - best of luck to your fiancee with her surgery. Seems she will be good as new.
06-01-2015, 03:05 AM
#969
We're pulling for her. 
06-01-2015, 06:35 PM
#970
Thanks all.... Short story- Cindy's doing great and on the way to recovery.
So it was a very long day. At the hospital by 615. In pre-op by 7. Needed some consent forms for a clinical trial of some new valve biology/additive to help prolong the life. They said she's get them in the prep room for the OR. Well, at about 8 we get called back to pre-op. NOPE, not upstairs, have to be signed before then. Can't find the research coordinator. Surgeon comes in to give the details - Doc - we heard all this, we told them at pre-admission testing we wanted it. So, they made an administrative blunder.
Surgeon still thinks Cindy will be first on the schedule.
The hospital has a board with the patients in the waiting rooms. Lists a code for their name, then times at various steps in the process.
Her name has 9:03 for Pre-op. Doesn't get into surgery until after 1. Unclear at that point why.
Comes out around 730? We're told at 7 to go upstairs to ICU waiting room. Wait about 45 minutes, see the surgeon, he's happy with the work, then we get to see Cindy. She's still sedated, on a respirator, etc... The nurses hope to have her breathing on her own by the morning.
Turns out the surgeon did the valve replacement, and then had to do about 9 inches of an aorta graft (both the ascending aorta and the hemi-arch independently), then stitch the two together. He said the root was in good shape so it needed no work.
We also found out that the morning got consumed by a double lung transplant. Wow!!! I guess when they find a donor that matches, there's little time to waste, and everyone is called in. After meeting with us, he said ANOTHER one was in the OR, and he'll need to go down to work on that one too.
So again - thanks for all the kind words - here's to tomorrow being another good day in a series that leads us back to normalcy.
So it was a very long day. At the hospital by 615. In pre-op by 7. Needed some consent forms for a clinical trial of some new valve biology/additive to help prolong the life. They said she's get them in the prep room for the OR. Well, at about 8 we get called back to pre-op. NOPE, not upstairs, have to be signed before then. Can't find the research coordinator. Surgeon comes in to give the details - Doc - we heard all this, we told them at pre-admission testing we wanted it. So, they made an administrative blunder.
Surgeon still thinks Cindy will be first on the schedule.
The hospital has a board with the patients in the waiting rooms. Lists a code for their name, then times at various steps in the process.
Her name has 9:03 for Pre-op. Doesn't get into surgery until after 1. Unclear at that point why.
Comes out around 730? We're told at 7 to go upstairs to ICU waiting room. Wait about 45 minutes, see the surgeon, he's happy with the work, then we get to see Cindy. She's still sedated, on a respirator, etc... The nurses hope to have her breathing on her own by the morning.
Turns out the surgeon did the valve replacement, and then had to do about 9 inches of an aorta graft (both the ascending aorta and the hemi-arch independently), then stitch the two together. He said the root was in good shape so it needed no work.
We also found out that the morning got consumed by a double lung transplant. Wow!!! I guess when they find a donor that matches, there's little time to waste, and everyone is called in. After meeting with us, he said ANOTHER one was in the OR, and he'll need to go down to work on that one too.
So again - thanks for all the kind words - here's to tomorrow being another good day in a series that leads us back to normalcy.