Sunday, September 15, 2013

Three Days After Surgery

I thought it would be a good idea to post an update while I'm awake enough to do so.  I am really not up to commenting on blogs although I have sat down to read them on occasion since I have been home.  I am still very tired & weak.  It is a huge effort to do much of anything.  The doctor told me my heart would hurt for a few days.  I'm not sure if it's hurting but my chest is very tight & my breathing is somewhat difficult.  It's as if I have pneumonia only without the coughing & chest congestion.  I'm not sure if this is what he meant by my heart hurting but I hope it goes away soon.

Please know that I have been greatly blessed by all your prayers.  God has definitely heard them.  I am not in a lot of pain.  The doctor was surprised that both upper portions of my heart were not affected by the "deformity" (or whatever you call it) that causes a-fib.  He just had to fix the right side.  Since this puzzled him a bit, he decided to check the lower portions of my heart & discovered an abnormality there that was causing my heart to flutter which he was able to repair.  As I understand it, this abnormality may have not been discovered it it wasn't for this puzzlement making him look further into my heart, so praise God!  I had a pretty bad time just before the surgery when they had to place a tube down my throat in order to place a camera into it to see if I had any clots in my heart.  I also had to be placed on a breathing machine during the surgery & I think they must have had some difficulty getting that tube in or out of my throat as it is quite sore & almost feels as if it has been scraped inside.  Swallowing is a bit difficult but it's getting better.  They placed some ports in various areas so they could access my heart ... one in my left leg, 2 in my right leg, & 2 in my neck.  They left them there for several hours after surgery.  I do not know why they did not remove them before they woke me up in the recovery room.  John couldn't believe it.  He only saw the neck ones & said they looked like bolts coming out of my neck like Frankenstein's monster had.  Three nurses stood around me & removed them all at the same time except for one of the ports which had to be removed after the others.  The pain when they were removed was unbelievable.  It was worse than any pain I've ever had in my life.  I just can't describe it to you.  I almost went into convulsions at one point.

We won't know if the surgery has been successful until 3 months go by.  I pray that it has been successful because I don't ever want to go through this or anything like it ever again.  The doctor usually keeps patients on their same dose of heart medication until he sees how things are going at the end of 3 months.  However, since the increase he tried in mine a few weeks before surgery caused me to have Parkinson-like tremors which still very faintly make an appearance, he decided to cut my usual dose in half.  So far, so good.

John has been taking very good care of me. I am sleeping a lot.  Last night I actually tried stitching for a bit.  I didn't accomplish much but I did get some stitches in.  I will try doing a bit more today if I can.

I ask for your continued prayers.  

41 comments:

Carolyn said...

Glad it's over for you and hope each day brings comfort and improvement. Continued prayers for you and thankfulness for your great hubby!

Myra said...

Thank you so much for posting an update Shirlee. You have been constantly in my thoughts. I will continue to pray for you and for John too. Take care of yourself.

Dawn said...

Will keep praying for your continued recovery and that all went/ goes well in the weeks of recovery ahead. Love you Shirlee! Behave and rest, listen to your body, the stitching will be there :)

Karen said...

Wishing you a quick recovery!

TheCrankyCrow said...

So glad to hear that you have had some good news....I am thankful the surgery went well, and that your surgeon was thorough enough to act upon his puzzlement.... The pain of removing the ports....ummmm....not so good. Of course you have my continued prayers....hoping that it was a resounding success and at the 3 month mark, your heart is fixed up better than new..... Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

Robin in Virginia said...

Shirlee, thank you for posting an update. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Robin in Virginia

Krista said...

Hi Shirlee, I am so happy to hear that you are home and recuperating. Continued prayers for you for a speedy recovery!

butterfly said...

Shirlee I hope you get back to your old self real soon you poor girl sounds like you have been throught it.
I am happy that John is looking after you so well, big hugs.

Marilyn said...

Thanks for the update Shirlee.
You are still in my prayers.
I pray that in 3 months, you see a big difference.
Get some much needed rest.
Marilyn

marly said...

So glad it's over and sounds like it will all be worth it! Great news that he looked further and took care of the lower problem. Rest!!!

Vickie said...

You can count on continued prayers Shirlee. God bless you my friend. Rest well.♥

Stitchy Mc Floss said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
gracie said...

Oh my dear friend, I hope the worst is over and only feeling better comes next. You are in my daily thoughts.....rest .

Jodi S said...

Wow - you have been through quite the ordeal with all of this. Hopefully you are now on the road to recovery and will feel much better once everything is all healed! Wishing you luck!

Melody said...

I am glad to read you are in recovery phase. Take it easy. How awful that you had to go through the pain of the removal of the ports. You would think they should have done it while you were still under...

Take care.

Maggee said...

You have them! Gentle hugs!

Linda said...

Continued prayers, hugs and happy thoughts being sent your way Shirlee.

Linda

Kaisievic said...

Lovely Shirlee, so good to read an update from you. You are so brave and good and we love you. "Talk" more soon.

linda said...

Prayers coming your way for healing and comfort as you convalesce.

cucki said...

My dear friend you are always in my prayers ..
Get well soon
Take care ...sending you huge hugs x

Pam in IL said...

Oh my, sounds like quite an ordeal. Glad you are home and John is taking really good care of you.

Sending gentle hugs and prayers!

Farmhouse prims said...

Wow, you certainly have been through alot, I am so thankful that you aren't in much pain. I will continue to pray for your full recovery. Hugs, Lecia

prims by olde lady morgan said...

Glad to have a update, thinking of you.. rest, it's what your body needs. I am sure everything crossed, this is going to work for you! hugs! OLM

leftystitcher said...

God surely has put His angels around you. I will pray for peace and comfort for you and great results in 3 months. Hang in there.

Danice G said...

Shirlee, it's so good to hear from you. 'Will continue praying for you as well. Your husband is so attentive, how blessed you really are. Hoping that you get plenty of rest and continue to do well. Blessings.

capecodgirl565 said...

Sounds like you went through the wringer, but hopefully the worst is behind you now and healing can take place. Continuing to send prayers and good thoughts your way.

~Sara said...

Praying!

Chris said...

So glad that the surgery is behind you. Just continue to rest and heal. I think that we always think that we should just bounce back but that is not the case, it takes some time.
Hugs and prayers!

Barb said...

You have the prayers in bucket loads Shirlee. You have had major surgery and need to rest and let the world go by. TaKe great care and I hope you will be back to good health soon. Hugs (gentle ones).

Catherine said...

Sending healing thoughts and prayers your way. Hugs..

Anonymous said...

Shirlee,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your recovery.

(((Hugs)))

The Inspired Stitcher said...

Oh Shirlee,I'm so relieved to read these words from you. I had you on my mind a lot yesterday. I sent up some positive thoughts for you before I drifted off to sleep last night. They were heard. I am thankful. Keep us posted when you can and know hugs are sent your way.

Melanie said...

Good thoughts for your recovery! Glad to hear you aren't in too much pain now, after all that. Yikes. :(

Judy said...

Happy to hear your surgery went well. And hopefully good news in 3 months. Keep resting. Each day will get better. Continued prayers coming your way.

Judy heartland stitcher

Anne said...

Oh my dear Shirlee. What you are going through I can't even imagine. Don't strain yourself, just rest! Sending you lots of love and prayers!

Jeanne said...

Keep doing what you're doing Shirlee...resting and letting others help you out. Your body needs time and rest to heal...glad to hear you came through the surgery alright but it sounds like you've had some very tough moments. God bless!

Michelle said...

Sending you much love my friend xx

butterfly said...

Thinking of you sweet friend , hugs.

Carol said...

I hope you are feeling better and stronger with each passing day, Shirlee!! Please know you are in my thoughts and prayer--I'm sure John is taking excellent care of you!

~Sara said...

Checking on you. Keeping you in my prayers. Blessings~Sara

Chris said...

Hellloooo Shirlee!!! So glad to see an update. I am glad that you have been resting and that you are feeling better. If that strange thing happens again do got to the ER!
Lovely stitching, I love having kits ready to choose from! Lovely gifts for your stitching friends.
Your bird pics are fabulous.
Continue to rest an heal! Hugs! Hugs to John too for taking such great care of you!