My Experience

Two weeks after I met with a cardiologist, I was introduced to a cardiac surgeon. He told me that I should have the aortic valve replaced within a few months. He explained that he could perform a minimally invasive surgery to replace my valve, so the incision would be relatively small and the recovery would be much faster then the traditional open-heart surgery. I decided to have the surgery, because I did not think I could survive much longer in this condition. My diagnoses were aortic regurgitation with congestive heart failure (Class 3, New York Heart Association), coronary artery disease, and aortitis.

I was asked by the surgeon to get dental clearance to make sure there were no active dental infections prior to the cardiac surgery. I made several trips to the dentist to get this clearance.

I also received some spiritual counseling and followed a meditation and visualization program to reduce stress and focus on healing (Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster Program by Peggy Huddleston).

With this calm state of mind, my family and I headed for the hospital at 5:30 a.m. to register for the surgery. As per instructions, I did not drink or eat anything. Once I got to the hospital, I awaited at the registration office to receive my medical bracelet.

I was transferred to the cardiovascular diagnostic intervention center at 6:40 a.m. and waited in the room for my turn to get a cardiac catheterization exam. At 8:00a.m., I was called in to prep for the exam. My family was allowed to come into the cath prep room, two people at a time. At 8:35a.m., a doctor performed my cardiac catheterization. The exam was sent to my surgeon so that he could design my surgery. I continued to listen to my relaxation CD during the exam and afterwards; it helped me to feel calm.

At about 11:15 a.m., I was moved from the cardiac catheterization recovery room to the pre-op room, and my family came with me while I was transferred. I was alone in the pre-op room when my surgeon came in and told me that the cardiac catheterization exam showed that I had coronary artery disease and that I would have to have double bypass surgery. This meant that I could not have minimally invasive surgery, but instead needed to have traditional open-heart surgery.

After this point, I had no recollection of my family leaving the pre-op room or being wheeled into the operating room. My family told me that my surgery began at 1:47 p.m., and that surgeon came out at 5:55 p.m. to the family waiting room to tell them that my surgery was a success, the aortic valve was replaced and bypass surgery was performed. Additionally, because my aorta was clogged and inflamed, he had fixed that prior to the valve replacement and the bypass surgery. My family told me that I was brought into the ICU around 6 p.m. and an hour later my family was allowed to visit me. At this point, I have a flash of memory of being surrounded by my family, and I heard my sister saying, “You did very well!”

ICU
I found out that I was breathing quite well on my own after the surgery, and within 3.5 hours, my breathing and stomach tube came out and I was breathing on my own. I heard that this is quite fast as some people can have the breathing tube in for a day or two. I was in ICU for three nights. Originally, the nurse thought my physical condition was stable enough to be moved to the step down room the next day. However, the step down room was full and there is more privacy and individual attention in the ICU, so the kind nurse helped me to stay in the ICU a little longer.

The first few nights, I don’t have much recollection of my bodily function, but long after the discharge, I was told by my family that I had a condition called “ICU delirium” where I was disoriented, confused, and paranoid. I was told that due to the lack of sleep, trauma of the surgery, and medications, some patients undergoing major surgery can develop this condition, but they usually improve after being discharged from the hospital and returning home.

In the ICU I felt like I was able to hear the thoughts of the doctors and nurses. I felt extremely paranoid and scared that they were trying to harm me. In my head, I planned an escape from the hospital. After a while, it occurred to me that my experience might be similar to what people talked about having a “bad trip” when taking drugs. Although part of me had this consciousness and understanding, I was still in the middle of it, and I tried to focus more on listening to a relaxation CD and also receiving energy healing from my friends and family.

On the third day, it occurred to me that I had not eaten anything for a while and I got very hungry and thirsty. I asked my family and the nurse if I could eat something. But I was told that I still had air trapped in my stomach so that I should wait a little longer. On the fifth day, I was able to walk around the hospital hallway and I climbed a few stairs with my family and the nurse with me.

Going home
After spending four nights at the hospital, I was discharged from the hospital. I was given discharge directions, anti-embolism socks, and medication instructions. I was taken out by wheelchair and into my daughter’s car. Although I was slightly scared to leave the hospital, I was so glad to be away from all the beeping noises of the hospital room, and I was looking forward to a peaceful sleep at night.

I slept very well the first night at home. My family helped me take showers, get out of bed, get dressed, and they cooked all the meals. I was told to wear anti-embolism socks during the day, which were tight and uncomfortable but necessary to help prevent clots from forming. I needed to take good care of my incision in the chest and the leg where they removed the vein for bypass surgery. My family bought a special chair so that I do not have to stand while taking a shower. My family measured my blood pressure and temperature every day; it was very important that I did not develop a fever and that my blood pressure remained stable. Within a week, because the pain was tolerable, I stopped taking all pain medication.

The home-visit nurse came every other day for the first two weeks. I had my first cardiology appointment during the second week I was home. My doctor was very happy that my surgery was a success and he was very pleased with my incision healing and my overall physical condition. He wanted me to take low doses of certain heart medications to give my heart a rest to heal, so my blood pressure and heart rate were controlled with medication. I also took medication to lower cholesterol. I was tired for about a month after the surgery, so I took several hours of naps every day and slept well at night.

Around this time, I realized for the first time in my life what it feels like to have a strong heart beat. I am still going through my recovery period. I have been going to cardiac rehabilitation to strengthen myself. I truly feel that I have been given a second chance to live, and I am grateful.