It's a wrap!

Two weeks to the day from surgery and we're washing our hands of this whole "open heart" experience. Todd's incision is almost healed, it's crazy how quickly it's disappearing, he's feeling good, his numbers are rising where they should rise and falling where they should fall,  he's up and mobile and on minimum pain meds. All he needs now is to get to the point where he can work back up to his former strength and fitness. Cardiac rehab is being scheduled and he can't wait to get started.

And so at this point, I will sign off from the blog. Thank you a million times over for your love, support and concern as we walked this path the past 18 days. It was made so much easier with everyone's support and encouragement. We've learned so much over the past few weeks; keep your body healthy - it will pay you back in spades, love your community, be thankful every day for what you have and never, ever take anything for granted.

Feel free to communicate with Todd at any point, via phone, via email (twalbri1@yahoo.com) and our door is always open for visitors.

Thank you, the words don't seem enough, but thank you so very much.

Beginning of the end?

It's pretty much been a week since Todd came home. The advances and changes seem to have slowed down but still when I look back over the week, I can see that we are further along than we were a week ago. Todd is much more mobile, much more able to take care of himself and his needs, the days and nights are defined and his appetite is pretty normal. We've muddled our way through taking vitals and dispensing meds to the point where it now feels normal and part of the routine. 

The big thing we've managed over the week is pain control - or lack thereof. It's a been a tricky one...to drug or not to drug? Would you rather be stoned and disconnected from family but not in much discomfort, or feel more discomfort (Todd might call it pain!) but feel part of things and part of family life? Quite the choice post heart surgery as I'm sure you can imagine.

Hoping over this coming week this will become more and more of a non-issue as pain and discomfort diminishes.

It's been so nice hearing from so many people over the past few days. Please know you are welcome at our house any time. Todd's starting to get antsy so any distraction is welcome!

Not sure how many more updates there will be to the blog. Todd is more than capable of communicating for himself these days and so my role as chief communicator is coming to an end.

My role as commander-in-chief of the household remains however :)

Postpericardiotomy syndrome.

Today's visiting nurse was concerned about the low grade fever Todd has had since he came home as well as his descriptions of how he's been feeling generally unwell in fits and spurts. A quick call to the team at Scripps and they had us come in to check all was well ahead of the three day weekend.

And thankfully all was indeed well. What he is feeling is due to postpericardiotomy syndrome, an immune phenomenon that occurs after surgical incision of the pericardium (the membranes around the heart). 

Todd had a chest X-ray, did some blood work and had an examination which set everyone's mind at ease and boosted our confidence that all is going well and to plan. 

Some fun photos from the day:

Todd's ribs with the eight wires that now hold them together.

Can you spot the new valve?! To the right about even with the fourth tie from the bottom.

Here's what it looks like... The cream colored part is the part manufactured from bovine tissue. Crazy!

Cool stuff. Happy they know how to make all this happen!

Surgery summary

Had the physician's assistant jot down all the work they did on Todd. Posting it here for safe keeping and future reference.

Thursday

All continues to go smoothly. We're through the transition part of hospital/home recovery; Todd's mostly self sufficient now (within the realms of what he's allowed to do), he's managing the pain pretty well and his appetite is back. 

Feel free to drop him a line any time or swing by the house on the way to or from work or over the weekend. He's ready for visitors and I know they'll help pass the time and keep his spirits high.

Thank you for everything you have all done and continue to do for us. Our community is the best.

Home update

These days they let patients go home when they are at the minimal level acceptable for not receiving professional care. This is wonderful as it takes away the driving between two places for me and gives Todd a more pleasant, familiar environment in which to recover.

With that said, the recovery is still very much a work in progress. The man's beat up - bruises, abrasions and nicks all over his body, veins and arteries accessed and closed up, one major incision on his chest, another where they accessed his femoral artery, more where the chest tube and central line went and two more from the wires used to jump start his heart. Let's just say he's had more comfortable days. 

He's up and moving every day and working towards gaining his strength and mobility back. Walking up the stairs or around the cul de sac leaves him breathless like he's just completed a sprint. I can't imagine how frustrating that is for him, but thankfully every day sees small improvements. He's trying his best to stay off the narcotics (yes, he's crazy and stubborn, but what's new there?) He's not a fan of how they make him feel or the side effects they bring, but he's starting to realize at certain times of the day (or actually, the night) they are necessary.

Of course our routine is messed up, it's exhausting caring for another adult all day long, but equally it's not going to be for long, and it's easily done when it's for your husband whom you're eager to see at full strength again. Just thankful every day that we're doing this when we're in our late 30s/early 40s. It could be so much harder.

Home!

Lying on couch snoozing as I type. Home care will come tomorrow but for now he's all set with his very own therapy dog.