I suppose I should post this in the Civilization thread, but I don't think many people are in there anymore. 

I would appreciate your prayers as I undergo what my surgeon describes as "complicated" open heart surgery at 7 AM tomorrow, University of Michigan Hospital.  A septal myectomy (removal of some of the thickened and stiff tissue on the wall between the sections of my heart), removal of a sub-aortic membrane, and replacement of my aortic valve.

It will be a very long day for Spartan1 and our daughter, and I expect that they won't do any updating until the weekend.  Please keep them, and me, in your thoughts and prayers.

This is my best shot at having a few more years with normal activity.  I feel that I am in good hands with this surgeon, and with U of M hospital.  I also know that the Lord has me in his loving arms, no matter how it turns out. 

Prayers to you and your family, Lynda. Will send all positive healing thoughts your way.
Scott

Lynda.  Praying for peace, rest, successful outcome and quick recovery. Ps 138:3
Tim

  We'll be thinking of you and your family SP2 [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Best wishes Lynda and hope for a smooth recovery.

Prayers Requested......and Prayers Sent.
Best of Luck tomorrow and quick healing and recovery beyond.

MB

Proverbs 3: 5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” 8-)

Know that many are praying for you and that as you place yourself in God’s hands, there’s no better place to be. We look forward to seeing you again at Copia! 8-)

Will do Lynda. Will do. I'll even toss in a mention for your surgeon.

Lynda,

May the process be as peaceful as an early morning crossing on placid northern waters.  Silent but for drips from your paddle; mirror-like, save the ripples of your wake.

Find comfort in beautiful memories you've earned... and heal!

Best wishes,

Jimbo   8-)

Lynda
Prayers sent. We will be thinking of you.
Magic

Lynda -

Prayers for your surgery and healing on their way.  May God's peace be upon you and His angels be your ever-present companions.

dd

Lynda, wishing you all the best.

You got this!  Prayers to help you.

Wishing you and yours the very best.

Any word on how Lynda is doing?

I just returned from the hospital and Lynda is doing fine.  The breathing tube has been removed, but she will be in ICU atlest another day.
She appreciates all your kind wourds and thoughts

Neil

Thanks Neil. We are praying for you too. 8-)

Great news  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Nice to hear SP1.  Say hi to her for us. 

Neil,

Glad to hear Lynda’s heart surgery went well. 

More Prayers sent.

Mike

Great news!!  Keep on recovering.

Excellent news Spartans!  Blessings and a speedy recovery!

pd

Most excellent. :)

This evening Lynda moved from the ICU to a stepdown unit.
Still sore but is able to walk and sit in a chair.
Progress.

Neil

Fantastic news! 8-)

HI.  I am posting on Spartan1's account (long story) but wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the thoughts and prayers.  I am doing very well, and not too terribly uncomfortable.  Cranky and irritable now, so that's a good sign, right?

Lynda (Spartan2) :-*

Good news. 

That's great news, Lynda!! Continued prayers for your recovery.

Quote:

Cranky and irritable now, so that's a good sign, right?

  ;D ;D ;D
Yup, alive and BTCHING is WAY better than the alternative.  ;) ;D ;D

  Just don't let too many of those negative Molecules of Emotion get into your system.  :o ;)

Atta girl! The easy part is over. The rest is up to you. Cranky is way better than the alternative so I'm sure a short grace period is well deserved.

Lynda,  You have quite the following here in QJ land.  Glad to hear about the cranky and irritable status, I believe that is a lifetime of GRIT you have been accumulating for times like these when you need it.  Well Played.

MB

Crank on!

Things are going well, sitting in a chair and walking.  Dr said today that she would have "Priority" discharge tomorrow morning,  so should be out of the hospital by 11:30.

YAY

Neil

That's great news :)

Happy Days! Great to hear! 8-)

That’s great news!  Yes!

We made it home yesterday, after picking up drugs, about 1 pm.  Last night she got a good nights sleep and today had visitors and food has started to be delivered from church members
Things are improving.

S1.

Great news! 

[smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Hello guys.

Well, I have been home now for parts of five days, and I think it could be said that I am getting better.  Healing well in the incision area, all vital signs are good, more active all of the time.  However, I am greatly bothered by an intense pain in my shoulder blade area that then radiates down my arm to my already-numb and tingly fingers.  Don't know if this is spinal related or perhaps my ribs.  Hoping it will pass in time.

But overall, things are going well and we are thankful.  People from church are bringing meals every day, and I have received a fantastic number of cards and other greetings.

Thanks for your encouragement.  It looks like I won't be making 'Copia this year, but see you in 2021.

Lynda

Great news Lynda! But.... I think you should talk to your cardiologist about the pain and numbness. Could be important.

We’re glad that things are going well and that you are improving. I would suggest asking the doctor about the pain. We’ll leave the door open a crack for Copia.  ;)

Good to hear SP2 [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

  I have had the same issues with the shoulder blade pain/numbness in fingers before.
 
   In my case, it was because I was sleeping in a bad position to try and compensate for another injury I had. It went away when I was able to do some stretches in that area plus neck stretches as well.

  Hopefully, your issue is more cervical/mechanical in nature than something related to your heart surgery?

In response to concerns, my surgeon is quite aware of this problem, and they seem to think it is probably nerve pain from the cervical area.  On the other hand, I had a physical therapist here a couple days ago and he thinks one of my ribs is out of place.  He tried to fix that, but I am not sure it "took".

all of my doctors and nurses know of this issue; I have been complaining regularly.  If it isn't better next week we may make another trip to Ann Arbor to see what they say.

That’s good. You know what they say about the squeaky wheel... 8-)

Old Salt wrote on Feb 8^th, 2020 at 11:22pm:

That’s good. You know what they say about the squeaky wheel... 8-)

Well, I squeaked. In order to get more pain pills we had to drive to Ann Arbor for a clinic appointment, but I did get a few more and that should help me to be more active.  I guess cervical spine irritation is common with this surgery, and hopefully it will work its way out, but we shall see.  At least if I have a pain pill during the day I can more easily do the walking they insist I should do more of.   :)

Also got taken off the lasix and the potassium.  If you have ever taken potassium pills, they are awful.  Huge and don't go down easily as no coating.  Ugly medication.

They say I am doing really well.  Glad to have people be pleased with my progress, but sure would like my left arm back!!  (I am left-handed.).  :(

Thanks for the update. Glad to you're recovering well, Lynda. I don't know what was involved but I have to ask. How's your ribcage feeling?

After they split your sternum down the middle, I am finding that your ribcage is tender and a lot of things seem sort of "out of place."  Not sure if it is a rib or my spine that is causing my painful arm, but I will say that the physical therapist made it feel a bit better today with massage.  Probably just need more time for everything to grow back in place.  They told me that the sternum is "wired" back together until the bone fuses again.  That is why i need to be very careful about lifting, pushing with my arms, etc.  It would be fairly easy to displace that tender area.

I am getting stronger, walking a lot more.  They want me to walk, walk, walk.  Getting tired of the loop around our house, so today I went down and made a loop in the basement.

Lots of walking options at Copia... ;) 8-)

  My Dad had the type of heart surgery where they split your sternum as they did you.

   He was sore for months afterward and he was in good shape other than his heart problem. When they split you and open you up like that a lot of cartilage and soft tissue are being moved in ways it was never meant to move.
 
It goes away in time as yours will. People would ask him what the worst part of the surgery was and he said it wasn't in the chest area it was where you're having the pain.

  I know a guy that sells replacement artificial joints to surgical centers. Part of his job is watching them put them in IF he wants too? He isn't squeamish so he watched them put in a hip socket. He told me at one point the picked up a hammer and was beating the old one to get it out, like replacing a ball joint on a motor vehicle. He asked the DR wasn't that going to hurt the patient? Dr said "that's why we dope them up good, they're always sore as hell for a while"   :o ;) ;D ;D 

Old Salt wrote on Feb 13^th, 2020 at 10:56pm:

Lots of walking options at Copia... ;) 8-)

I had thought perhaps, but my after-surgery group of appointments are throughout most of the day on Friday the 13th.  Madison is just too far to come if we cannot come until Saturday morning, and we would miss most of it.  And I know I will be exhausted after tests, and something like seven appointments at the heart institute. 

I will get some walking on the 7th at the Quiet Water Symposium in East Lansing, and also get the chance to see Jerry Vandiver and Kevin Callan (as well as Cliff, but I'll probably skip him.)

Just too much of an effort to get to Madison this year, but I'll see you in 2021.   :)

We'll miss you for sure! Feel better soon.

HighnDry wrote on Mar 8^th, 2020 at 1:50am:

We'll miss you for sure! Feel better soon.

It sounds like they will be missing you, too!

This is a bummer, this Covid19 and all of the angst it is causing.  Up until a couple days ago I was still thinking, "Well, maybe we'll still just make the trip on Friday and get almost no sleep--manage to do 'Copia on Saturday at least."  But I think now my more sensible nature is taking over, and this just won't be our year to make the trip. 

I am recovering well, and feeling good now.  Looking forward to all of the testing and doctor appointments on Friday, and hopefully to having my restrictions (lifting, pushing, driving, riding in the front seat of the car) relaxed.   But both of us have significant health issues, and we are 74 years old.  Just not a great time to come spend two days with a few thousand people in Wisconsin.  So far Michigan doesn't have the virus. . .but of course it is just a waiting game.

Spartan2,

Glad recovery is going well.

Your Spartans played well today and had big win at home in East Lansing vs.Ohio St. Really enjoyed watching Cassius Winston these past 4 years. The All American went out with 27 points today. The hug with Izzo at the end of the game was a highlight.

I am sure you are smiling today.

Wally13 wrote on Mar 9^th, 2020 at 12:17am:

Spartan2, Glad recovery is going well. Your Spartans played well today and had big win at home in East Lansing vs.Ohio St. Really enjoyed watching Cassius Winston these past 4 years. The All American went out with 27 points today. The hug with Izzo at the end of the game was a highlight. I am sure you are smiling today.

Thanks.  Yes, we are smiling--we were with a small group of area Spartan Alums at Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the game, and it was a fun time.  Added bonus was that on our way home we could listen to the post-game festivities, and hear the seniors speak, as well as Izzo's remarks. 

Now on to the tournaments! 

Spartan2 wrote on Mar 8^th, 2020 at 11:38pm:

HighnDry wrote on Mar 8th, 2020 at 1:50am: We'll miss you for sure! Feel better soon. It sounds like they will be missing you, too! This is a bummer, this Covid19 and all of the angst it is causing.  Up until a couple days ago I was still thinking, "Well, maybe we'll still just make the trip on Friday and get almost no sleep--manage to do 'Copia on Saturday at least."  But I think now my more sensible nature is taking over, and this just won't be our year to make the trip.  I am recovering well, and feeling good now.  Looking forward to all of the testing and doctor appointments on Friday, and hopefully to having my restrictions (lifting, pushing, driving, riding in the front seat of the car) relaxed.   But both of us have significant health issues, and we are 74 years old.  Just not a great time to come spend two days with a few thousand people in Wisconsin.  So far Michigan doesn't have the virus. . .but of course it is just a waiting game.

Hope your tests go well on Friday!

Thought perhaps I should report that we are home from seven appointments plus a blood draw at U of Michigan Hospital.  All went very well, and all of the news I got was really good!  I asked Dr. Pagani if he "fixed" my heart and he smiled and said, "Yes I did."

He ordered some cardiac rehab here in town, but he said my concerns about Neil's vulnerability to Covid19 are valid, so I can wait for a month or so to decide.  In the meantime, keep walking a lot, riding the stationary bike, and get on with my life.  NO RESTRICTIONS!!   ;D ;D

Now if the world just weren't such a mess.   :'( :'(

That's great news SP2  [smiley=cool.gif]

  Now that you have a good heart, you can get moving more which will make you feel much better over-all.

This Coronavirus non-stop coverage is making me nuts. I remember when the Swine Flu sickened 60 MILLION Americans and killed 12,000 plus and the media DIDN'T make it out as bad as they're doing right now with less than 100 people dead.  :( >:(

Spartan2,

Great news. Glad all is going well with you.

Spartan2 wrote on Mar 13^th, 2020 at 7:16pm:

I asked Dr. Pagani if he "fixed" my heart and he smiled and said, "Yes I did." He ordered some cardiac rehab here in town, but he said my concerns about Neil's vulnerability to Covid19 are valid, so I can wait for a month or so to decide.  In the meantime, keep walking a lot, riding the stationary bike, and get on with my life.  NO RESTRICTIONS!!   ;D ;D Now if the world just weren't such a mess.   :'( :'(

Great news!

It always feels less of a mess when you know you have a spotter you can count on.  ;)

We’re glad things are looking good. We’ll save spots for you guys at Copia next year. 8-)

You guys are the best!  I have felt like a part of the QJ "family" for a very long time, and I do appreciate your friendship and your concern.

I heard that if the Spartan’s weren’t coming they would cancel Copia.

Magicpaddler wrote on Mar 14^th, 2020 at 1:17pm:

I heard that if the Spartan’s weren’t coming they would cancel Copia.

True Rumor! 8-)

We even had a band from Nashville pre-arranged to serenade you guys! ;D

HighnDry wrote on Mar 14^th, 2020 at 2:02pm:

We even had a band from Nashville pre-arranged to serenade you guys! ;D

And, according to Bill Conner, they showed up! 8-)

Yes, they showed up!  They were one of the reasons I hated to miss Canoecopia.  I guess they did a gig at the Clarion last evening, but it was only on FaceBook and I don't do FB.

However, Jerry did send me one of his new CD's to enjoy during my recuperation.