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. 

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

Best wishes Lynda and hope for a smooth recovery.

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.”

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!

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   

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

You got this!  Prayers to help you.

Any word on how Lynda is doing?

Thanks Neil. We are praying for you too.

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

Great news!!  Keep on recovering.

Most excellent.

Fantastic news!

Good news.

Quote:


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

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

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

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

Happy Days! Great to hear!

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.

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

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. 

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.

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


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.). 

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.

  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"   

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

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.

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


Hope your tests go well on Friday!

That's great news SP2 

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

Great news!

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

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.

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


True Rumor!

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


And, according to Bill Conner, they showed up!