I'm Fixing a Hole ....

Wow, Brent, you might actually have to admit to all those people who've called you a "bleeding heart" all these years that they were actually right! ;)  

It sounds as if what's planned is a fairly "routine", one-day surgery, quick recovery, and home-on-the-same-night kinda thing? I sure hope it is and goes without a hitch for you!  If you're planning to do the procedure at a teaching hospital, make sure you request the "attending" doc for the procedure, OK?

I'm SO very glad that the mass was not charged with any 'arrest'... here's to good behavior!

Maybe one day we'll all be able to pick up spare parts for our failing bodies at Home Depot (but a store called Body Depot just sounds so wrong) -- guess until then we can console each other singing C&W songs :).

All my best wishes for a smooth and successful Wednesday!
~eureka

I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday.  The one thing these surgeons do seem to get right in the medical field is heart stuff, especially when it's something they see as operable.  (A friend of mine has had a pigs valve in his heart for years, and two other friends have had successful triple by-pass surgery!!).

I hope it makes a huge difference afterwards to how you're feeling and I'll send warm fuzzies and prayers for a smooth procedure.

Kind regards
Kristina

Brent,

Best wishes and prayers for great success with the procedure.  

"I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in and stops my mind from wondering where it will go..........."

Una

I wish you the best possible outcome with this procedure and  vis a vis treatment and vis a vis all things in your life.
Be well Brent,
Mike

I'm a bit late here. I hope everything went well and am praying for a quick recovery and no complications. God bless, Marcia

Hi Brent,

A friend of mine who is around 40 just had this done about 6 months ago.  She never even knew she had a hole in her heart until then... Anyway, the procedure went off without a hitch and she was back at work in a week or less... and out on the golf course in two weeks or so.  The device is like a tiny umbrella -- isn't that amazing!  She said that she felt sooo much better after her recovery and never knew how easy everyone else had it breathing/exercise wise...

Wanted to share so that you had some firsthand info going into it...  Hope your procedure goes as well and that you feel so much better afterward also!

pK

Oh!  Duh, just re-read your post!!  You've had it done already (I think!)  How are you doing??

Brent,

good luck with your procedure,   and yes i was also thinking of the that song.." i'm fixing a hole so the rain wont get in"


Good luck and will have you inmy thoughts

peace
rita

Brent!

Oh goodness! Your poor wife! Give her a break!  :)

Seriously hope all went well,  


Deb

good luck .....
hopes all is well
love&light
kimmy

Im late too I just saw this post and wish you well. Hoping all turned out !

btw..I love that song!

take care of yourself Brent and please keep us posted.
Sorry you had to go thru this..


Charm

Wednesday!  I missed this too.  My sister in law just had her hole plugged on July 30, in and out the same day and then rest afterwards.  I hope this went well for you, Brent... please do post how you're doing?  Take care and thinking of you.

Trish

Thanks for all of the good wishes. I'll just post a quick update here because it might be a while before I can catch up on, and thank each of you personally.

Actually the procedure went off without a hitch. It included a better look at the "unknown mass" on the aortic valve via intracatheter echocardiogram and this contradicted the MDs supposition that this was a healed vegetation, but supported his conclusion that it was probably not a threat.

They kept me at the hospital overnight for observation and I was released. Unfortunately I was back in the ER the next day with a fever and was admitted. I just got released tonight. They never found out the cause of the fever, but ruled out the dangerous possibilities. They made me stay until they were sure it had nothing to do with the implant.

I think my problems probably have more to do with my continued hemaglobin in the 9's. The liver doc is going to start me on Procrit. I am hoping it helps.

This is all  pretty tough on my wife.

Oops! I forgot to mention: the "hole in head" remains untreated.  Wife will have to continue to accommodate.  ;)

Brent,

Glad you're on the mend.  I'll bet the hgb has a lot to do with the post-op complications.  Procrit made a big difference for me but it took a while to get the benefit.  Soon you'll be at 10 and feeling like Superman - hgb of 10 feels SO much better on the way back up than it did on the way down!

Its good to hearyou sounding chipper!

Una

Brent best wishes, I know personal surgery during tx is no picnic, but it is doable. Thank God you have a good wife!!
You'll be fine, just keep believing it.

MaryB

Brent, great to hear that the procedure went relatively smoothly.  Once the Procrit kicks in, you can get back more to living instead focusing on this stupid virus.

smaug

brent,

procrit is the saving grace for me on txt,     low Hemo, is no fun,  

give your wife a big hug, she is one special women!   Course you know that!    Take care and I will stock on peeps for us for your full recovery!

Deb

Brent,

Glad to hear the procedure went on so smoothly, sorry you ended back there., but glad it was nothing serious.  You should start to feel better soon with the Procrit.. Hang in there.    And give your wife cudo's for putting up with everything..  LOL  my other half is so glad its all over and I am back to myself.. Sometimes he starts to get into how bad I was, and how much he put up with, while I was down and out.   I was not a pleasant person , he said.  

LOL  HOpe  you feel better soon.  Would like to ship you a bottle of this Mona vie juice.  I am feeling wonderful.  I swear I should have been drinking this stuff while going thru treatment.

Dana