S'posed to get my biggest heart valve replaced

[FinsnFur]

Survived the surgery. It's a miserable ordeal,

I cant even imagine.Thanks for the update. Glad to hear things are looking good.
I hope I never ever have to go through this.

[KySongDog]

Great news and prayers sent for a speedy recovery. 

[Okanagan]

Am awake and trying out my computer for about the first time, so will update this saga for those who have prayed for me and cared enough to follow. 

They let me out of the hospital one day early, either healing well or tired of putting up with me. They have a good team of confident, competent people in the cardiac surgery, with good morale and it always shows.  I go back for my first follow-up exam tomorrow.  Have been looking forward to hitting a good BBQ joint near the hospital, but am just not up to it yet.

LOTS of procedures and protocols, four walks per day, myriad home tests of blood pressure, glucose, etc. to measure and write into a log, etc. etc. Full time tiring job to get it all done.

For anyone considering similar, herewith a few changes I have made to their after-surgery instructions, which I consider improvements.  First, my power lift/recliner chair eliminates the most painful, incision stressing  problem, which is getting into and out of bed. I painlessly get up and lie down. I sleep in it, with no twisting nor turning, rolling,

Second, putting on clothes.  This young physical therapy fellow spent a lot of time showing me how to put on a T-shirt etc.without damaging the wound. I looked at him without a word and did the excecise, but I thought "If I have to spend 5 minutes of painful conortions doing a Klingon Tea Ceremony to put on a T-shirt, I just won't wear a T-shirt."  I don't.  I have to put on a freshly washed shirt after each daily special shower.  I bought a half dozen men's short sleeved shirts from Goodwill in size 3x or larger, powered laundered them and put them on backward, with buttons down the back.  That puts a fresh clean shirt covering the wound.  It's an easy and painless way to acheive the same goal. I usually don't button or will have my wife button one on the back.  I'm home in my house and have asked for no visitors for awhile.  Who cares what I look like?

We dredged up a stadium blanket, simply arm sleeves in a big flat fleece blanket, and I flop that over me for warmth and stylish modesty when sitting or reclining in my power chair.

Y'all come visit and bring some whitetail tenderloin... but not for awhile yet

[nastygunz]

Survive adapt overcome! It seems like you have things under control sir!

[Hawks Feather]

Great news that you got out a day early and I am sure that it was because of the progress you made. Thanks for the tip on the chair. I don't need it yet, but probably will in time. I also like the shirt idea.

[HuntnCarve]

That's great news Clyde!  Won't be long before you'll be able to handle some outdoor adventures (at your own pace).  Heal up, and listen to the doctors.  We'll keep you in our prayers.

[Todd Rahm]

Glad to hear you're back in action!!!

[nastygunz]

I always suspected he was tougher than boiled shoe leather  🇺🇸

[FinsnFur]

You had me at Stylish Modesty 

[Okanagan]

Saw the surgeon yesterday, for the first time since the operation.  This awful fatigue is normal and I'm doing pretty good. Took all day today to recover from a trip to the doctor yesterday.

They split the breastbone (sternum) from top end to bottom, gullet to gizzard.  My wife says my chest looks like someone filleted a fish and did a poor job of it. 

They pulled the sides of the split bone together and wired them together with stainless steel twist ties.  Did I mention that it hurts a little sometimes?    Actually my pain is less than I expected and considerly less than the docs projected for me.  I'm still taking some Tylenol but haven't needed the Oxycontin (SP) since I got home from the hospital, though I keep it handy.

[remrogers]

Glad to her you are doing better. Keep up the healing and enjoy the sunshine, while we still have it.

[KySongDog]

Glad to hear you came out the other side in one piece. I've always heard getting old ain't for sissies.   

[HaMeR]

So happy youre doing better!! Always loved your stories.

[Okanagan]

Always loved your stories.

Not sure I like the past tense of your compliment!

An having my best morning since surgery, FWIW.  Don't feel good but don't feel as bad as usual.  I suspect it is the deflated lungs that are making me so tired for so long, getting them back to full function.  Talking on the phone tires me more than a half hour walk, and I'm guessing because it makes the lungs work more to talk.

[Hawks Feather]

Just remember that you are taking Baby Steps on the road to getting back to 100%.