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Prayers needed again - Latest Updates in OT
Posted on 2/23/17 at 7:40 am
Posted on 2/23/17 at 7:40 am
You guys came through for my cousin's hubby a couple of weeks ago and now for my son.
He's (22 yrs old) having open heart surgery tomorrow morning to replace his aortic valve; due to his age they're replacing with a mechanical one. The only drawback is he'll be on blood thinners for the rest of his life but the valve itself should never wear out or have to be replaced.
This surgery was always a question of 'when', not 'if'. He's in good shape & the surgeon is as good as it gets; I had a good conversation with him yesterday. Recovery time is about 2 months.
TIA guys.
1st Update:
Out of surgery about noon on Friday
Out of ICU early Saturday afternoon
Chest tube out early Sunday morning (nice breakfast huh?
)
Back on solid foods Sunday for lunch (is food THAT important for ALL 22 yr olds?)
Hopefully he'll be home Tues or Wed
2nd Update:
He came home yesterday (Monday) afternoon late.
Really hard to wrap my mind around having open heart surgery Friday morning & coming home Monday afternoon.
Thanks again for the prayers
3/8 Update (it's been a long few days):
After being home for 4 days he suddenly couldn't keep anything down; not even water. We took him back to the ER on Saturday (3/4) and they admitted him. They ran a bunch of tests and determined that his gall bladder was the issue (sometimes when you go through major surgery your digestive track, in in part or whole, will go to "sleep"). Fluid had built up and it became quite enlarged and inflamed. Monday, 3/6, they removed it (it was worse than they thought) and yesterday they did the latest "procedure" by removing fluid from around his heart....500cc; if you want to know how much that is, it's 1/4 of a 2L soda bottle. His anesthesiologist said some people wouldn't have survived it but being 22 and fairly strong he came through it fine. They kept him in ICU last night and hopefully he'll go back to his normal room. The thing about the finding the fluid on heart is his heart surgeon didn't order the 'echo' test....someone else did. His surgeon even told me afterwards that he wouldn't have ordered it but is damn glad someone did. He believes the fluid build-up was bc of the combination of the original heart surgery and the issue with the gall bladder; fluid has to go somewhere in a close system.
Anyway thanks to all for the prayers bc they work; just see the part about the 'echo' test.
He's (22 yrs old) having open heart surgery tomorrow morning to replace his aortic valve; due to his age they're replacing with a mechanical one. The only drawback is he'll be on blood thinners for the rest of his life but the valve itself should never wear out or have to be replaced.
This surgery was always a question of 'when', not 'if'. He's in good shape & the surgeon is as good as it gets; I had a good conversation with him yesterday. Recovery time is about 2 months.
TIA guys.
1st Update:
Out of surgery about noon on Friday
Out of ICU early Saturday afternoon
Chest tube out early Sunday morning (nice breakfast huh?

Back on solid foods Sunday for lunch (is food THAT important for ALL 22 yr olds?)
Hopefully he'll be home Tues or Wed
2nd Update:
He came home yesterday (Monday) afternoon late.
Really hard to wrap my mind around having open heart surgery Friday morning & coming home Monday afternoon.
Thanks again for the prayers

3/8 Update (it's been a long few days):
After being home for 4 days he suddenly couldn't keep anything down; not even water. We took him back to the ER on Saturday (3/4) and they admitted him. They ran a bunch of tests and determined that his gall bladder was the issue (sometimes when you go through major surgery your digestive track, in in part or whole, will go to "sleep"). Fluid had built up and it became quite enlarged and inflamed. Monday, 3/6, they removed it (it was worse than they thought) and yesterday they did the latest "procedure" by removing fluid from around his heart....500cc; if you want to know how much that is, it's 1/4 of a 2L soda bottle. His anesthesiologist said some people wouldn't have survived it but being 22 and fairly strong he came through it fine. They kept him in ICU last night and hopefully he'll go back to his normal room. The thing about the finding the fluid on heart is his heart surgeon didn't order the 'echo' test....someone else did. His surgeon even told me afterwards that he wouldn't have ordered it but is damn glad someone did. He believes the fluid build-up was bc of the combination of the original heart surgery and the issue with the gall bladder; fluid has to go somewhere in a close system.
Anyway thanks to all for the prayers bc they work; just see the part about the 'echo' test.
This post was edited on 3/8/17 at 6:29 am
Posted on 2/23/17 at 8:13 am to Wtodd
Prayers sent. Hope the operation goes well. Even at his young age and in good health, that's serious operation. God Bless.
Posted on 2/23/17 at 8:28 am to Wtodd
Praying for your son and his medical team. Please keep us updated.
Posted on 2/23/17 at 8:51 am to Wtodd
What's his name? What time does the surgery start?
Will pray throughout
Will pray throughout
Posted on 2/23/17 at 9:11 am to Wtodd
Prayers sent. Had Open heart myself at the end of last year. Never knew how bad I was feeling until I had the surgery.
Medicine is amazing! God bless your family and especially your son!
Medicine is amazing! God bless your family and especially your son!
Posted on 2/23/17 at 9:13 am to Wtodd
Hoping he does well. Did he have a bicuspid aortic valve or rheumatic valve disease?
Posted on 2/23/17 at 9:15 am to Wtodd
Prayers sent. Please update the thread when it's over.
Posted on 2/23/17 at 9:26 am to Wtodd
Wow, saying a prayer for this young man.
Praying for wisdom for the Dr's and a quick recovery.
Praying for wisdom for the Dr's and a quick recovery.
Posted on 2/23/17 at 10:04 am to Old Sarge
quote:
What's his name?
Austin
quote:
What time does the surgery start?
Don't know; they didn't have the exact start time when I was there last night. I'll find out today.
Thanks guys (and gals)

Edit: I'll update probably Monday
This post was edited on 2/23/17 at 10:05 am
Posted on 2/23/17 at 10:43 am to Wtodd
Prayers sent for a great outcome.
Posted on 2/23/17 at 2:39 pm to Wtodd
My thoughts are with your son, you and your family. Medical technology is so advanced now that I feel confident that he'll come through in good shape. Looking forward to your updates.
Posted on 2/23/17 at 3:22 pm to Wtodd
Absolutely have prayers on the way.
Posted on 2/23/17 at 4:58 pm to Wtodd
Sending prayers from Oxford. Best of luck, hoping everything goes well!!
Posted on 2/23/17 at 7:07 pm to Wtodd
Prayers sent, keep us updated.
Posted on 2/23/17 at 9:21 pm to Wtodd
I'll be thinking of you and your son ... Prayers sent.
Hope he has a smooth and healthy recovery.

Hope he has a smooth and healthy recovery.

Posted on 2/24/17 at 7:07 am to Roger Klarvin
quote:
Did he have a bicuspid aortic valve or rheumatic valve disease?
I'm pretty sure the doc said bicuspid.
He went in about an hour ago. I'll update as necessary.
Posted on 2/24/17 at 7:38 am to Wtodd
You got it.
I had the same surgery when I was 7 years old (30 years ago). I've been taking thinners for just as long too. I get my blood checked monthly (supposed to anyway) and I have to minimally watch my diet (gotta stay away from that vitamin k). I live a normal, happy life with little to no restrictions, and I'm positive that your son will be able to do the same.
I had the same surgery when I was 7 years old (30 years ago). I've been taking thinners for just as long too. I get my blood checked monthly (supposed to anyway) and I have to minimally watch my diet (gotta stay away from that vitamin k). I live a normal, happy life with little to no restrictions, and I'm positive that your son will be able to do the same.
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