I drove to Portland and met my surgeon-Harkness Storm Floten. He goes by Storm. He is a tall gentlemen with an air of confidence about him and a slight southern accent. I immediately was comfortable, but could tell that his speech was memorized and the script is not deviated from. There was also a PA in the room that asked me more questions. I thought I might leave, but then they gave me a map of the facility and 6 other tasks to take care of. I went down to the radiology department for an x-ray and then was sent to Pre-op for some information session. I then was sent to the Operating center for blood work, and more information of dos and don'ts as well as what to expect from recovery. As I was in the hospital, McMinnville called and asked if I couldn't come down and get some blood work done for my angiogram the next morning. I told them that I would be there by 5. I left St. Vincents about 3:30, and hadn't eaten all day. I was a little in shock from all the information that I wasn't ready for. I drove to the hospital in McMinnville and was told they can take the blood test results from Portland. They gave me instructions on how to prep for the angiogram. Basically, they took a tube full of radioactive dye, stick it into a main artery by my groin, and push it up to my heart and inject the dye. Then a machine reads the dye and shows a complete structure of my veins and arteries. Oh, the fun!
I then called some friends and was able to go out to a local pub to eat and have distracting conversations.
The next morning, my friend Pam drove me to the hospital around 7am. They shaved my groin area and gave me an IV drip. I remember them smoothly covering me with blankets and ripping off my gown as I was going under. It was quite the talent. I then remember them telling me that it would be warm as they injected it and I certainly felt that. I also remember them pulling out the tube. I then had to lay flat for 4 hours as my artery healed and they made sure my incision was safe. I was released but not allowed to drive that day. I was taken back home, and packed a small day pack. I was to drive to Portland to meet my parents and stay at my friend Talia's parents house for the night before my surgery.
My friend Ryan came over and helped me pack and move around, my right leg was sore and I was limping. I needed my car in Portland so Pam had to pick up another friend and Joe drove me in my car to P-town. We arrived at the house almost the exact same time as my parents. The house was a huge home with a pool, hot tub, a theater room and other amenities. I still was hobbling, but Mom, Pam and Joe went through the house enjoying the novelty. Talia came by and we took her out to dinner. My friend Daniel joined us as well. Great friends, family and laughter was present to celebrate my last day without a mechanical valve.
The next morning I went to the hospital with Mom and Dad and was taken into a room quickly. I changed into my gown, was shaved from my neck to my toes, but only the inside of my legs. I then had to shower with super antibiotic soap. I came back, took a pill and the anesthesiologist came in. I don't remember anything else. Mom has since told me that they put in my IV's and Mom and Dad walked me to the OR door. We squeezed hands and shared "I love you"s before I passed through the door. I of course remember nothing of about the next 36 hours, save a few painful moments. My heart was put on bypass for about 2 hours as they operated and I was then again pumping my own blood. Immediately after the surgery, my young heart was challenging the new valve.
I was told that it was normal, but my ventricle was trying to beat independently of the rest of my heart. It was used to such efficiency.
I was in the Cardiac Rehab Unit (CRU) until Saturday afternoon. I had two tubes from my abdomen, as thick as my thumb, draining fluid and a catheder. I had an IV in my left arm, one in my right hand, and a tube in the right side of my throat that connect very near my heart. They were able to administer drugs through that tube. I also had tubes in my heart and for a while, they thought that it was creating the problem with my heart, but when they took the tubes out, I was still having some electrical problems. I don't remember much. I remember the dark room, the sound of the waterbath bubbling with the tubes attached. I remember trying to eat my first few meals, and I remember a couple of the nurses. I also remember having a morphine button that I would push when I would wake up, and then I assume I would just go back to sleep.
I finally got all of the tubes pulled. I remember the pain of all the tubes being removed. Very interesting feeling of them pulling so many long items out of your body. I then was put in a holding room before making my way up to the recovery room. My friend Neil visited as I was in the holding room. You would have to ask him what we talked about but I do know he gave me a dinosaur balloon!
I was in room 601 West side from Saturday afternoon until Tuesday Afternoon. I remember my nurses making me feel comfortable, my great visitors, and my parents being there everyday. I don't remember much else. Oh, I guess there was pain too. Upon release, my parents knew that I was not able to take of myself. I was invited a month earlier to go to a house out in the country to recover. A family of a former student had a extra "apartment" in their garage. It had a large living room with tv, couches and recliner.
It had a bathroom and a bedroom as well. The family was amazing. They let me have as many visitors as I wanted. They took care of my pills, made sure I was walking and showed me love for a week. I stayed with them from July 12-July 20th. I don't think I will ever be able to pay back the Schwartz family. Thank you.
Here is the scar 3 weeks after surgery. Check out how high I can raise those arms!?
