My Grandpa

Magnethead

Magnethead

Admin & Resident Techie
Staff member
Joined
Oct 18, 2005
Messages
11,393
Points
783
Location
Ft Worth Tx
He's had a leaking heart valve, and getting run around by doctors, so he finally made the trip down to Scripps.

Email said:
Had second TEE today at Scripps. Far different and I believe more thourough then one with my cardiologist at local hospital. I suspect equipment was also better quality.

Still feel like I was run over by a Mack truck bcause I had a dose of the anesthesia that killed Michel Jackson.

While under and at rest, the valve leaks mildly. Anesthisologist then raised blood pressure at doctors instruction. As pressure went up, the leak increased until it got bad.
To me, this is simple hydraulics.

Doctor now says it is up to the surgeon to decide what he can do for me if anything.He also mentioned the possibility of total valve replacement which means openinig my chest zipper. Sai he will also meet with the surgeon to personnaly discuss my case.

I have appointment with the surgeon 3:30 PM Tuesday.
Click to expand...
 
Grandpa was at Scripps yesterday to meet with the surgeon. He's going under the knife next wednesday, a week from today. Dad is using his frequent flyer miles to fly into San Diego on Tuesday, and coming back Saturday. I have to work so i can't fly out.
 
Right now, the plan is for My uncle to drive down from washington state, pick up my dad, then they'll meet up with my Aunt and Grandpa at Scripps and stay at a nearby hotel till thursday, then they'll all stay at my Aunt's house in Bonsall till saturday.
 
They're going to start with the robotic procedure. If they encounter the unexpected, they will probably have to open him up.
 
Fyi my grandpa is 74 years old. Surgery at Scripps Mercy in San Diego at 7:30 am Wednesday.
 
Had a brief scare yesterday, 2 hours before the plane was to leave, grandpa called said they didn't like the last minute tests.

But everything got cleared up, went in at 8:00 this morning, for a 7 hour surgery. Dad has called twice saying it's been going good. Awaiting 3rd call to say he is out and breathing on his own, off the machine.
 
He's on his own, in recovery. Awake, not exactly alert yet. Will be in ICU for 3-5 days.
 
He was coherent this morning, but his heart monitor alarm went off because his heart rate was elevated. this was at 10am texas time, 8am cali time.
 
Got to talk to grandpa on the phone tonight. Said they've taken all but 4 needles out of him. He's had 2 in his back, 2 in each arm, and all sorts of other places. But he's fine, just resting in the hospital bed, the alarm from this morning got rectified, he's been fine since.
 
Lost power at 12:30 am here. So i cant post ghe update email from my nana. Posting from phone.
 
email said:
As you are aware, Tom's heart surgery occurred on Wed. Aug. 4 at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego. His heart Mitral Valve was repaired completely by the robot which was the way we hoped it would go. He has 5 small incisions, but no big cutting had to be done. It was a very long surgery. They took him to the operating room at 7 AM, but it takes 3 hrs just to get everything ready for the surgery and the heart lung machine that has to be used. So at 10 AM they started and finished at 4PM. We saw the Doctor about 5PM and Tom a little after 6PM, but he was so sedated he didn't know we were there. I walked into intensive care on Thurs. about 9AM and there he is sitting up in a chair. About 1PM they moved him upstairs into a regular room. Today they took out the chest tube and he is able to get up by himself. Steve (Tom, Texas son) and I came home this afternoon to get the dog out of the kennel and take a break. I talked to him about a half hour ago and he said he walked without the nurse, just a walker, down the hallway to the visitor waiting roon because it has a super view of all of San Diego and the bay and ocean. The Dr. told him this morning that he might get to go home on Sunday. We thank everyone for their prayers. They certainly were answered. The next time you get a message it will probably be Tom himself writing it.

Thank you all for you thoughts and prayers.

Barbara
Click to expand...
 
His heart Mitral Valve was repaired completely by the robot which was the way we hoped it would go.
Click to expand...
vision of the lost in space robot performing open heart surgery. <g> glad your grandpa is doing well mag. :)
 
Dad just called. He said that grandpa gets out of the hospital today- Scripps has never seen a person have such a fast recovery from major heart surgery. Normally a patient is in ICU for 3-5 days and another 2-5 in normal care. He was out of ICU the same day as the surgery, and is looking to be released around 3pm today. Of course, the normal "dont's" list applies, staying low stress. And he can't be anywhere alone, has to always have someone with him in case of emergency.

Dad's plane lands at 9:45 tonight.
 
Grandpa is at home and well, just resting. Dad said that the doctors wouldn't normally have let him go home, but because he was doing well enough, they felt it in best interest for him to go home, as he could get better rest at home, than in a hospital bed.

Dad said the total needle count was 9- two in the left arm, 2 in the right arm, 2 in the back, 2 in the front of the neck, 1 on each side of the neck, plus the breathing tube. He just has 5 tiny incisions on his left side.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom