My husband is having bypass surgery and an aortic valve replacement in the morning.

[ratchiweenie]

and I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight. I know we have a really good surgeon and that these operations are pretty common these days but that doesn't seem to help me rest. They are doing bypasses on 4 arteries plus the valve. I just keep telling myself that he will feel so much better in the long run and that the alternative is just another 6-12 months. Gosh I am scared. Wondering how long he can expect to be in the hospital and how long it will take him to recover. He's 75.

[WA-03 Democrat]

1. Best luck and wishes for your husband

Surgery is scary even if it is common. Know that he will be better in the long run but waiting for the procedure is tough!

GOOD LUCK!!🍀

[PortTack]

2. Good thoughts your way!

[Wicked Blue]

3. Good luck to him and the medical team

And peace to you

[DarthDem]

4. My Very Best to Him and to You

With you in his corner, I'm betting that his recovery will be swift and strong. Best wishes!!

[woodsprite]

5. Sending many positive thoughts and prayers to both you and your husband! nt

[SheltieLover]

6. Sorry to hear your hubby needs surgery.

Hopefully, he will feel much better after surgery! Good thing they caught it in time for surgery!

I can only imagine what you are going through...

[ratchiweenie]

9. Typical guy, I had to force him to go to the doctor and even after he found out his aortic

valve was bad he put off dealing with it until I forced him again. Now it's critical.

Thank you to everyone for the good thoughts. It does make me feel better. I'm feeling pretty scared and alone right now. We've been together 32 years and I can't imagine my world without him.

[SheltieLover]

10. At least covid #s are down.

That's something, right?

You aren't alone, sweetie. We are here for you & with you. I truly can't imagine how frightened you are.

Healing vibes on the way to you both. 💓💓💓

[ratchiweenie]

17. Yes. He's had 3 covid tests in 3 days and cannot have any visitors except me but they do have

covid really under control at our hospital. They have a separate wing entirely for covid patients and glory hallelujah it's almost empty now.

[SheltieLover]

24. Glad to hear your hospital is taking covid seriously!

And that the covid wing is nearly empty!

[at140]

11. Germs from bad gums can affect heart valves

Best way to avoid this is floss teeth twice daily.

[ratchiweenie]

15. Before he could have the heart surgery, he had to have major oral surgery. They had to remove

2 very old root canals 2 wisdom teeth and one molar where the root had wrapped itself all the way around the nerve of the tooth. It was done all at once and took 3 1/2 hours. He is just now recovered, taking his last pain pill and now having this open heart surgery. Boy is he tough. And yes, you are correct, you cannot have any kind of dental bacteria when you have heart surgery. It is very dangerous.

[at140]

20. After I had 1 wisdom tooth extracted,

my mother in India told me to NOT extract other 3 wisdoms.
She was right! 60 years after the 1st wisdom tooth was extracted on recommendation by dentist, I had no issues with those 3 which never erupted out of the gums. Since I started flossing twice daily (usually after lunch & dinner) my gums do not bleed any more while brushing. OK I only have half of my teeth. Others all had root canals, which weakens the root structure, and eventually micro-cracks form from chewing hard foods like nuts, and infection sets in. Result? extraction, which is never fun. Dentures or partial dentures are horrible. Food always gets under.

[onecaliberal]

7. Positive healing thoughts your way..

[blm]

8. Resting your body is still beneficial

so please relax your body even if you can’t calm your thoughts.

Best wishes to you both.

[ratchiweenie]

12. It's the idea of opening his chest and stopping his heart that scares me so much. He seems to be

much calmer than I am. I guess we now know who is the tougher one in our family. I'm the one who keeps it all moving and gets things done but when it comes down to rock and the hard place, he's really there. We've raised our two grandsons and have an adult bi-polar son that lives with us and have 3 little dogs and a very big cat and I seem to keep it all running day to day but I guess I'm having a hard time with this one.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE KIND WORDS.

[cilla4progress]

13. Sending you and your husband healing thoughts!

Mine just went through emergency neck fusion surgery for a terrible ski accident. Came close to killing or paralyzing him.

So, I know your fear!

Hang tough - holding you in my heart!

💖

[skylucy]

14. Sending you and your husband good vibes and positive healing thoughts.

Many hugs to you, ratchiweenie.

[MyMission]

16. Both of my parents had heart surgery

My dad had a quintuple bypass in 1989, months before her turned 70, and he lived 10 more years with a much better quality of life. My mother, an RN, was involved in his recovery.
20+ years later my mom had valve replacement at age 86, after suffering congestive heart failure.
She lived several more years, and died peacefully in her sleep before her 90th birthday.

I was very nervous when my mom had her surgery, but she came through it and also had a good quality of life in her final years. She trusted the procedure and the surgeon more than I did. She was released to the facility she was living in, and I didn't have to worry about arrangements for post op care and rehab. Usually the medical staff make those referrals after surgery.

With both parents having heart issues, and 3 out of 4 grandparents I figure I may be looking at heart surgery down the road. The cardiac care has gotten better and better over the years, but it's still scary whether the surgery is for oneself or a loved one. Please keep us posted.

I find baths and classical music relaxing, individually or together. I hope you can get some rest tonight, and that everything goes smoothly.

[NoMoreRepugs]

18. Looking at a similar procedure shortly. 7-10 days seems to

be the norm for us 70+ year olds. Recovery varies greatly. In part on physical condition prior to the operation, diligence in rehabbing and most importantly how the particular body heals.

Keep us informed. Best of luck.

[ratchiweenie]

19. Thank you so much all of you. My Mission suggested a warm bath and some classical music

and I think that is a wonderful idea. Might not put me to sleep but would certainly help me relax. It's so good to have a place to come to be able to voice our fears. DU is such a wonderful place. I guess I will post tomorrow when I know how it all has gone. Thanks again my kind friends.

[MoonlightHillFarm]

21. My Dad's Experience

I know how anxious you must be. But I think all will be fine. My dad had two heart attacks and emergency quadruple bypass and valve replacement surgery, All in the same day.

Three months later, he built floor to ceiling cabinets across my garage. His doctor wasn’t too happy about that, but dad felt great.

He lived to the age of 95, a vibrant and vigorous man.

Warm thoughts to you.

[Pepsidog]

22. Be an advocate for your husband. If something doesn't look or feel right

ask about it. You must be vigilant. About 15 years ago my mother had a simple stent put in. She was 65 and in otherwise good health. In recovery room, she complained of nausea and back pain which are classic signs of the anesthesia and/or bleeding. They ignored her for about 4 hours. She was bleeding, a common complication of the surgery but they did nothing. The next day I spoke to the interventional cardiologist who said he could have gone in and fixed the bleed but it wasn’t his place. That was doctor code for the interventional radiologist would be mad I took the billing away from him for fixing the bleed. My dad, brother, and me are all lawyers and we said nothing until the second day when I started throwing around the “sue” word. The hopped to it then but it was too late. She was suffering from sepsis and died a horrible death, bloated and ventilated like Covid patients. When the interventional radiologist did show up he was screaming “WTF is going on”. I don’t mean to scare you but speak up and question everything. I’m sure your husband will be fine.

[summer_in_TX]

23. My husband had aortic valve replacement surgery and a bypass

maybe seven years ago. He was about 64 when he had it. My dad had quintuple bypass a year later at about age 89. Each had a different experience. Dad didn't have nearly the pain my husband did. The surgeon said that wasn't uncommon to have less pain when older.

They had the same surgeon, who was top-notch. My husband was able to come home 4-5 days later, Dad perhaps 6-7.

There were new procedures being piloted then and perhaps your husband's experience will benefit from new developments.

My husband quickly felt much better than he had in a long time even before his chest healed. He was having severe long-lasting migraines because he had 80 percent blockage. With so little blood flow getting through to bring oxygen and nutrition to the cells and remove wastes, that was the cause of his migraines. We'd never made the connection between migraines and heart before then.

I wish you both the very best.

[niyad]

25. Sending vibes for healing and strength. You know that your DU family will be holding

both of you close in light and love.

[Nululu]

26. Scary. Best of luck for his swift recovery.

[Fla Dem]

27. Sending good thoughts for a very successful surgery.🤗

[TygrBright]

28. Holding you both and all your family in my heart for strength, ratchi! n/t

[Grumpy Old Guy]

29. Sending you good thoughts. ❤

[lucca18]

30. Stay strong. Sending positive thoughts to you and your husband.❤️

[Hulk]

31. Wishing you and your husband all the best....

Went through two surgeries myself in December. Medicine is amazing these days. Hope they share another miracle on your husband for years more of happy healthy years to follow.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

32. Best wishes for your husband