Cleared to go home

The checkup with the surgeon today went well. (Yes it was a day earlier than originally planned, because the surgeon is unavailable on Friday.) Laetitia got all her remaining sutures out, and has been cleared to fly home! So we have booked a flight for Saturday evening (DJ341 arriving 1910).

Checking out of hospital

Laetitia has been discharged from hospital! We had to wait quite a while for approval to leave from the surgeon (because he was in theatre operating all morning), but once approved it all happened quite quickly. Paperwork was signed and handed over, medication delivered and explained by a pharmacist, and then down we went to the checkout desk and that was that. We caught a taxi back to Laetitia's sister's place (where I have been staying).

We have to go back to see the cardiologist and surgeon on Friday.

Meanwhile, Laetitia has to keep exercising and resting as her body gradually heals. Her heart rate is still pretty high, and she's continuing with the medication for that; apparently this is quite common, and the surgeon is not particularly concerned about it (only I am, it seems).

Please keep praying for her recovery, that she gets the rest she needs (at least it should be quieter for her to sleep here!), her wounds heal well and she remains relatively pain-free (this is important because it enables her to do the exercise she needs to do). Please also pray for me, for the energy, patience and wisdom I need to look after her.

Plans for leaving hospital

Today the surgeon said Laetitia could get the ECG cables and box taken off (yay!) and asked her when she wanted to leave. To her tentative "Tomorrow?" he said that should be okay! (Double yay!!)

Current plan: Leave hospital tomorrow (Tuesday). Return for a checkup and removal of remaining sutures etc. on Friday. If all is well then, return to Brisbane on the weekend.

We also went to an information session today about leaving hospital and rehabilitation programs and what to expect. Laetitia had a somewhat less active day, but apparently that's quite normal.

Stairs!

More exercise today, including stairs! Laetitia climbed slowly but confidently up one floor, then back down again. She says it was hard work (very short video here), but it didn't seem to stop her from doing the rest of her exercises.

She was moved to another room on level 6 today - no longer "acute care" (although being in a cardiac ward, she still has an ECG going full-time, monitored remotely from the nurses' station). Her blood pressure is now a quite normal 120/70, and although her resting heart rate is still a bit high (80-90) it's improving slowly. Her blood oxygen levels are excellent without any supplementation and her pain is well controlled with Panadol alone.

I had a listen to her heart beat today, with my ear against her chest: no murmur! Hooray! :-D

Walking laps

Laetitia's recovery is progressing well, much more quickly than we thought possible. Thanks for your prayers, and thanks to God for answering them!

She was much more alert today, and a lot more active. Today's physiotherapy included walking half a dozen laps (throughout the day, not all at once!) around the cardiac wards on level 6 as well as some stretches and twists, plus the deep breathing she's already been doing (which is to ensure the lungs are fully reinflated after surgery).

Her blood pressure has come down nicely (135/80 or so), but her heart rate is still pretty high (resting rate around 90-100bpm). They're giving her small doses of a "beta blocker" medication to control this. I gather this is fairly common after surgery like hers, but please pray that it improves, reducing to a more normal level soon.

All the exercise and hard work is pretty tiring, so she's still resting a lot, mostly drowsing now rather than the deep murky exhaustion of the last day or so. She remembers some of yesterday and only a little of Thursday, thanks to all the medication she was under (especially morphine).

If you have a good internet connection you can see a couple of videos of Laetitia walking around here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMZQBPbh-q4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHxvyLV9gn4

Small steps

Today Laetitia left the ICU! She's now in the acute cardiac care ward. The drain tubes which were causing her so much discomfort have been taken out - praise God! (The wound is still draining a bit into the dressing.) Many of the other lines have also been removed. There's still one line left as well as the pacemaker cable, in case they need them.

She's been on oxygen most of the day, but they've just (6:30pm) decided to try leaving it off for a bit. She's gone for a 10m walk to the toilet twice now! (That's quite a workout for a cardiac patient. They've got her ECG plugged into a portable wireless unit, so I get to watch the stress show up on the trace and her rising heart rate while she walks off with little shuffling steps.)

When she's awake, she's much more alert and aware than when she was getting IV morphine in the ICU. However she's still very tired and weary; she spent most of today sleeping.

Thank you again for your continuing prayers for Laetitia's recovery, and for your support of me also at this time.

Repaired valve!

I got to the hospital early this morning, and accompanied Laetitia to the waiting area for theatre. When it was time for her to go in, we said goodbye, and then for me it was time to attempt to distract myself from worrying for the next few hours.

Just after midday I got the call I was waiting for from the surgeon: Success! No more leaks. Praise God! Apparently the shape of her valve had been somewhat unusual, but I don't really know much detail yet.

So I had some lunch and then returned to the ICU. Laetitia was ready for me to see about an hour later. She was still more or less asleep then. Gradually during the afternoon she woke up a bit more. By about 5 o'clock she was alert enough for her breathing tube to be removed - a very uncomfortable experience, as you can imagine.


Her condition is currently quite stable, and the cardiologist is very happy with her progress. She's in a little discomfort still from her dry mouth and throat, and from the drain tubes from the wound (which will need to stay attached for a couple more days unfortunately) and a multitude of other lines and cables attached to her. She's also got a pretty sore back - I mean, she's basically been lying down since 10 o'clock Wednesday night, with a lot more time in bed ahead of her yet. They're giving her plenty of medication, but this is certainly something we can pray about.

Thank you for praying. Please join me now in thanks for the successful repair, and please pray for continued healing and a complication-free recovery as well as strength and courage for my beautiful and brave wife.

Checked in

After a lovely sleep-in this morning and a quiet breakfast at home, we packed some lunch and Laetitia's bag, then caught a train and tram to the hospital in Richmond.

Since checking her in, we have met many specialists including her surgeon, surgeon's assistant and anaesthetist .. each stopping for a chat about their part in tomorrow's operation and answering our many questions with grace and humour. We were taken for a tour of the ICU, where Laetitia will be taken straight after surgery. She'll be there for one or maybe two nights before going to the cardiac ward. ICU is a busy place, every patient has their own nurse and there's a constant hum of machines. Apparently sleeping can be difficult there!

Laetitia also had an ECG and a chest X-ray and gave some blood. After I left she was to have a shower and scrub, then later she'll get some sleeping tablets to ensure she gets a good night's rest (anaesthetist's orders). Tomorrow morning another scrub and then off to theatre around 7:30. (I'm intending to try to be there by about 6:30.)

The operation should be finished and Laetitia settled in ICU by midday tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers!

One day holiday

We arrived in Melbourne yesterday afternoon in preparation for my scheduled surgery on Thursday morning. We were picked up by Ian's sister and brother-in-law (Ruth & Darren) who took us to their 'new' house for the afternoon.  Their house is new to us because the last time either of us was in Melbourne was when they had just signed a contract on it and were waiting for settlement.

At the end of the afternoon, just before we went out to dinner, we were able to meet their cat, Coco, who came in to be fed.  We went to dinner at a nice Indian restaurant, after which we were dropped off at my sister's (Alicia's) place. Alicia and her family are actually on holiday in Queensland so we are house-sitting for her while they are away.  Originally we were disappointed that we'd miss their visit to Queensland but this works well in that there is room for us at their place while they are away and they get house-sitters.  We did actually catch up a bit on Sunday, when we got keys.

Today I had a one-day-holiday in Melbourne before my admission tomorrow afternoon.  We had a leisurely breakfast, walked to the local train station where we bought public transport tickets and then walked through the local shopping mall to Sydney Road to catch a tram to the Queen Victoria Market.

At the markets, I took Ian to Invita, a vegetarian cafe where most options are actually vegan.  Ian bought a couple of biscuits and I bought a cupcake for morning tea.  Then we wandered through the markets but didn't buy anything apart from a tomato and a couple of mandarins, partly because we didn't want to carry anything heavy during the rest of the day.

Then we went back to Invita for lunch.  I had a baby spinach, yellow lentil soup and Ian had a "shepherd's" pie.  We'd actually call this cottage pie as there was no meat in the dish.  We also shared a mango, soy milk 'smoothie'.  Ian thinks it should be called a 'thickie' as the spoon that came with it could stand up unaided in it.  All in all, our meal was delicious and we got a couple of extra treats for 'ron'.

Then we trekked over to the Melbourne Museum to see the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs Exhibition.  We went for the full shebang of the exhibit ($29.50) plus the optional extras of the audio tour ($7.50) and the 3D movie ($8.50).  I think the audio tour was better value than the 3D movie so if you're going and have the funds for one add-on but not both, I'd recommend the audio tour.

After that, I decided that I'd like to have a hot chocolate from San Churro.  It took us a while to find it as first up I didn't remember where one was so we just meandered towards the city, then when I remembered that we could probably find one with Ian's smart phone, it lead us up a bit of a garden path, first directing us to the wrong place on Swanston St, then it seemed to suggest (to my eyes, although Ian read it otherwise) a street a block away.  Anyway, we finally managed to get to the outlet in the Queen Victoria Centre.  San Churro hot chocolate 'drinks' are a bit like Greek coffee - very thick and dark.  Basically they melt chocolate and add milk so it's more liquid chocolate with a dash of milk than a chocolate flavoured milk drink.

My enjoyment of my Mint Magnifico would have been greater if there hadn't been a table full of smokers at the doorway whose smoke drifted into the interior of the store.  We assume that Victoria's laws about how close to a doorway, to a public place, that people can smoke are rather different from Queensland's.

After this we headed back to the tram line to catch a tram to Alicia's street.  Fortunately for us we ended up sitting across the aisle from a lady who not only was going to the same street (so we knew to get off with her) but has also experienced being a patient at Epworth Private Hospital, Richmond and says it is a top hospital.

At home we cooked dinner which, although a little different from how we would make the same dish in our own kitchen, I thoroughly enjoyed as I expect I won't have a 'home'-cooked meal by Ian for a while as tomorrow night I should be eating hospital food.

Speaking of which, I still haven't heard from the hospital (maybe there are messages back on our answering machine in Logan) so I'm hoping that they received my information pack which detailed my dietary requirements.  Unfortunately, by the time we arrived home, and answered a couple of phone calls, it was 10 minutes past the admissions closing time (8pm) so I will have to call early in the morning (they open at 6am) to check that everything is on track.  At least I know that the surgeon is expecting me.

Arrived safe in Melbourne

We have arrived safely in Melbourne. Ian's sister and brother-in-law picked us up, and we spent the afternoon and evening with them. We especially enjoyed seeing their new house and garden, and of course meeting their cat!

They took us out for dinner to a nearby Indian restaurant. Now we have been dropped off at Laetitia's sister's place, which will be our home here for the moment - house-sitting for them for the next week or so while they're in Queensland! :)

Tomorrow, a day on the town - Laetitia has planned a trip to the Queen Victoria Markets and to see the Tutankamun exhibition at the Melbourne Museum.

Operation Timing

I'm often asked just when my operation is and when I can be visited.  So here are my expectations based on, as a friend wished for me, a 'boring' operation.

Admission: 2pm Wednesday, 21 September
Operation: morning of Thursday, 22 September (I think prep starts around 6am)
Move to ward: Friday, 23 September

The operation would take 2-3 hours if it were through the breastbone.  The surgeon (Mr Aubrey Almeida) says that it takes him another 20 mins for minimally invasive (robotic).  I expect it takes longer because the access isn't as easy.  Breastbone or robotic, it's still open heart surgery.

Assuming it all works out for minimally invasive, I will be in hospital for 4-5 days post-op and I think I won't be signed off to fly back to Queensland for another 2 days.  I won't be allowed to drive for 2 weeks and many people are back up to full speed in 4 weeks (in which case my income protection insurance won't even kick in since it has a 1 month waiting period).

However, if they find they can't do minimally invasive, but instead have to go through the breastbone, I will be in hospital for 1 week post-op, will not be allowed to drive for at least 5 weeks and could expect to be back to full speed in around 3 months.

Of course, for all these figures, it's a case of "your mileage may vary" as Ian would put it.

At this stage I expect those in Melbourne will be able to visit on Friday.  Best to check with Ian or the hospital (Epworth Private, Richmond - 89 Bridge Road, Richmond Vic 3121; Phone 03 9426 6666) as I don't know when visiting hours are.

Cheers,
Laetitia

Sick before the op?

Dear friends, please pray for my health - my body is fighting something - my glands (particularly across the chest and under the arms) are sore. Normally this wouldn't worry me too much as I'd just rest for a while; however I'm concerned about it now because my op is only a week away and whether it will have gone by then is the last thing I need to worry about.  For instance, I'd rather worry about getting my tax return and life insurance paperwork done than sore glands.

The surgeon has said that if that's my only symptoms then it shouldn't be a problem.  Unfortunately for me, every time I do anything that results in something brushing against my chest (such as putting on the car seatbelt) certain parts of my anatomy scream vociferously.  Aarrgghh!!

Laetitia.

One week to go

With only a week to go before the surgery (next Thursday morning!) Laetitia has now finished her last TAFE assignment and all the lessons and observations for her TESOL course that she's going to do before we go.

We're booked to fly to Melbourne on Monday (DJ324 leaving at 1055). We'll spend Tuesday doing a few things in Melbourne (Tutankhamun exhibition etc.) and then Laetitia needs to check in at the hospital by 2pm on Wednesday.

At this stage Laetitia's biggest concern is not getting sick between now and then. (She'll write a post here on that shortly.)

Thank you for the many words of encouragement and promises to pray. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Ian

Distractions can be a good thing

Several people have asked me how we're going in the lead-up to Laetitia's operation, so perhaps it's worth a quick update here.

At the moment Laetitia is finishing off a TESOL course and a TAFE subject, so she's busy enough to keep her from worrying too much about what's ahead. In another week or so, though, once the distractions are out of the way.. then it might be a different matter.

Me, I'm just glad we live in an age when heart surgery is a relatively routine operation - not without risks, certainly, but with a very good chance of being able to fix what's broken.