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.

Sunday end.

It's so crazy how things change in the course of one day. I think I keep saying that.

I spoke to Todd this morning and after a night of no sleep he was annoyed and feeling pretty negative - tired of feeling yucky, tired of being sore, tired of being sore from being sore! I left him to rest in the morning, brought the kids for lunch (which went well) and then back home to gather things to spend the afternoon watching the Super Bowl with him.

And it couldn't have gone better. We relaxed together, we snoozed, had snacks and drinks, I massaged out all his stiffness and we even got to walk outside for some fresh air. So I've left him feeling good, ready to take a sleeping pill and get a good night's sleep and hopefully.... get discharged tomorrow.

We'll see... I hope so. All his bandages have now been removed, all lines are out, he's only on oral pain meds, no more oxygen, his mobility is awesome. All signs bode well for a release tomorrow.

I am so ready to get him home and help him work back to full strength.

Super Bowl 50.

We'll remember this year for some time to come.

Party in Rm 323!

Saturday end.

This whole process is so interesting (some might say traumatizing lol). In just four days we've reached so many highs and plunged to some pretty low lows. Thursday was an amazing day of achievement, then Friday was a tough one. Today was another great day. On the great days I feel like this whole thing will soon be behind us and all the stress and worry is coming to an end, then a few short hours later the low side of reality hits and I wonder how we ever got to this point and how life is ever going to go back to normal.

But today was a good day. Todd went back on the drug he really likes (Tramadol?) and got plenty of rest in between his exercise. The kids came to visit at lunchtime and I got to see him again at dinner time. He took a shower, dressed in his own clothes and ate a dinner I made for him. He looks pretty normal to me. Maybe just like someone looks when they've had a rough day of stomach flu, or maybe when they've been up all night on a SWAT op ;)

I think he does best when he's alone most of the day so we'll limit tomorrow's visits to just two small intervals again. It will be interesting to see if tomorrow is a harder day and whether it's just a pattern of recovery - one good day followed by one bad day.

He's almost off all oxygen, every line is out except an IV for in case they need to access anything and there are still wires attached to his heart. These are not doing anything, but can be used to control his heart if that need were to arise (Yikes). I was able to be involved in the majority of his physical care this afternoon/evening am an now familiar with the new landscape of his body and ready to take over his care at home.  He still has some things elevating and lowering (platelets, hemo-something (something related to anemia) and this and that) but overall it's continuous forward progress.

So excited to have him home very soon!!

Recovery in perspective.

Thought I should take a minute to put Todd's recovery thus far into perspective. He is doing really, really well and making great strides and improving every hour, that being said, he still has had major, major surgery and very much looks and feels like it. My reports come from the perspective of someone who feels like they've won the lottery every hour that he continues to move forward. The fact that we caught this, the fact that nothing happened between Friday and surgery day and then the fact that he has come safely through the surgery has me feeling on top of the world. He could smile at me and I'd think he'd just scaled the equivalent of Mount Everest.

He on the other hand is right in the middle of the most grueling task he's probably ever faced. He's doing an amazing job, but he's feeling every second of it.

Friday end.

Sometimes I can't believe that it is just one day that I am writing about. So much seems to happen in one day and by the evening, the morning seems such a long time ago! 

Today was exhausting for Todd. He had a good morning, he visited with his parents and did his PT and breathing exercises. At two o clock he left the ICU and walked himself to the regular cardiac ward. Two failed attempts at a shower, coupled with the removal of a very effective drug and his blood count getting low left him with very little energy. He ended the day somewhat defeated.

It feels like such a long time, but in fact we are just day 2 post surgery. Really, it's incredible how far he's come. It's just hard to see him work so hard and end the day frustrated. Tomorrow I'll spend less time with him so he can recuperate his strength and rest more. The kids will finally get to see him, but it will just be a very quick visit while he has lunch. Hopefully they'll get to see him feeling good and chatty. 

I can't believe in seven short days we have gone from diagnosis, to scheduling surgery, surgery and now to recovery. I really don't think we've had time to process the diagnosis never mind get our heads around that massive surgery he just had!

It's crazy, and exhausting and sometimes impossible to believe! 

Looking forward to another day of forward progress tomorrow. 

Friday

Today has seen all Todd's lines come out and drug totals decreased. He's working so hard he's exhausted but every step is a step in the right direction.

We're about to be assigned to a regular room and leave the ICU.

Please no visitors yet but as soon as it's ok, I will get word out.

Thank you a million times over for all the support.

Thursday end

Finished up his day with another five circuits and a full dinner. I think he's put this whole experience behind him lol.

Rockstar

Quick summary of the day:

Walked three times round the nurses station.

Sat up in a chair eating lunch with knife and fork, scooping cranberry sauce onto turkey like it was no big deal. 

Walked another three times round the nurses station.

Total walked in feet. 2100. Do you know that is coming close to half a mile?! I always knew he was tough... But that is crazy.

Of course he's slow, of course he's sore, his body's been through so much, but the fact that he's doing any of this at all... 

Our game plan at the moment - work hard and rest equally hard. Just like at the gym where the resting phase is as important as lifting, so we will work together while he is up and awake and then I will leave him to rest and recuperate that energy. And we'll do it again and again until he's where he needs to be. Everyone is impressed. I am too. 

Thursday am

Superman sat up and got into the chair by himself this morning. 24 hrs ago he hadn't even begun surgery so this is phenomenal. He's really doing very well. He's getting some extra breathing treatments to make sure his asthma doesn't require his body to make extra effort. I'm hanging with the kids for a bit this morning and will spend the rest of the day with him. He'll go for a little walk later in the day too.

Thank you for all the messages and well wishes. It really helps to know people are supporting us. I'll get word out when he's ready for visitors. Right now all his super human effort is going into getting his body moving and getting it healed. I know he'll love to see some people in a few days time.

The view from his ICU suite. Ocean view. Not too shabby.

Last post of the day

Just home from final visit of the night. Todd was sitting up, fully cognizant and drinking water and eating ice chips. Sore and beat up but able to FT the kids and wish them a good night. We pumped him with some more drugs, reclined him and tucked him in for the night. I'll be back first thing tomorrow before shift change. 

Update

Of course, I already know this, but oh my gosh, this man is incredible. I checked in again with the ICU nurse via phone and she told me his tube was out in record time and that she couldn't believe it. Then she transferred the call to her iPhone (hello, technology?!!) and I got to speak to him.  He sounded normal and then I chatted with the nurse and she said he was doing amazing. Once the kids are in bed, I'll head back to see him. 

ICU cont...

I checked in with the ICU nurse. Todd is fully sedated so his body does not have to do any work. He looked amazing and his color was great. I decided to leave his care to the professionals and headed home to see the children. I'll call and check in on him again shortly. When he is extubated I'll head back and check in with him again.

ICU

Moved to ICU. I'll head up there shortly. Surgeon is amazing and I'll update more later, but he was more humbled that he was able to assist an FBI agent than I was grateful for what he just did for us. Amazing man. 

Off bypass

Off bypass. Ready to be brought out of sedation. Couple more hours and I can see him.

Bypass

So far so good, Todd is on bypass. Nurse is checking in regularly.

Game time.

Left Todd in the more than capable hands of the team at Scripps. Through some crazy coincidence the anesthesiologist is our good friend's brother. I feel calm and confident that he will take good care of him.

Some of Todd's work buddies came with us to keep the atmosphere light and focused on the goal. Couldn't have gone better. Now we just wait. 

The sun coming up over the hills in the east. Cold, crisp day. 

Let's get this started.

We're headed to bed feeling confident about the morning. Todd's surgeon called this evening just to check in and make sure he didn't have any last minute questions (he didn't). It'll be a long day, but we're looking forward to being on the other side of the unknown. It's never as bad as the anticipation.

Angiogram and pre-op.

Today was the angiogram and pre-op. Todd's heart was inspected through and through and found to be in perfect working order apart from the aortic complication. This is good in that no extra bypass will be needed. His leg veins were mapped, he had an EKG and bloodwork, his surgeon met with us both again to go over any questions, I had a long chat with the team about anything else that was still on my mind and  and we started to get to grips with the finances.  FBI definitely brings a certain celebrity status which is actually nice in times like this. Couple that with the accent and everyone knows who we are! 

And if you have to have heart surgery... There's worse views to be had...

January 2016 ain't over yet - aka we don't do anything half heartedly (pardon the pun)

So there we were thinking it was enough to deal with a flood, and a torn out wall, a possible re-landscape project, a rotten patio cover, not forgetting the electrical problem which broke the receiver and the fan, but no, dear January had more to offer us.

Todd has a bicuspid aortic valve which he's not really been keeping a good enough eye on (what can we say, these are busy days), but which equally has never seemed to cause him problems and has never interfered with his yearly physicals; he has always been declared fit for duty. Well turns out that sneaky thing has had a mind and life all of its own.

An echo cardiogram last week revealed he has a severely dilated aortic root, (this is called an aortic aneurism) and a poorly functioning bicuspid aorta. After some confusion and a 24 hour delay due to a bout of stomach flu (for me and the kids, of course, right? When it rains...) we finally got some clarification on Friday afternoon of what this means, and what it means is heart surgery for Todd on Wednesday. Which can't come soon enough because his heart is severely dilated, don't like to say it, but beyond a size the office we were seen at has ever seen before. That's not something you want to be known for. You know you're special when you walk straight through the waiting room, into the office and are met by the surgeon. Yikes.

Quick illustration of the aorta and what a root should look like, because lord knows before today, I had no idea...

See where it says ascending aorta? All nice and uniform and then a slight bulge at the bottom where the root meets the heart? That's a healthy one. 

And here is Todd's. I took a photo of the screen! His ascending aorta swells almost its entire length and by the time it gets to the heart, it's almost as big as the heart itself - it looks like he has two hearts.

So obviously that's not good. But... what is good, is somehow, by the grace of God, he thought to go get an echo out of the blue last week and we were able to see what was happening before it was literally, too late.  It is somewhat unbelievable that he has been working and going about his life virtually asymptomatic with such a poorly functioning heart. And it is a wonder it didn't burst years ago. And bursting isn't good. Like, it's really bad.

So this week he'll undergo surgery.  They will cut away the entire aortic root and replace it with a graft (like an artificial sleeve) and also replace his poorly functioning aortic valve (might as well, while they're in there) with a bovine valve.

Surgery is on Wednesday, it will be open cavity, he should be in the ICU for about 24 hours, then recovering in the hospital for 5-7 days, then home for about three more weeks. He's taken 6 weeks off work, but the expectation is 4 weeks. Work is great, everything should be fine, he has plenty of sick leave, we should get our pay as usual and insurance should cover the bulk of the treatment.

An odd thing to blog about... but, it's what we're facing next week and having it written down here makes it easier for everyone to see and visualize and then know what's going on! All will be well and we'll be in touch. Todd is ready to take care of it and find out how it feels to have a proper functioning heart!