Where I've been....and tis the season to be thankful....

People have asked me where I have been. In simple terms, I have been to physical hell and back!

On December 4th I went to Vancouver to have what is considered a risky surgery yet becoming a more common surgical procedure. You see, I have a pacemaker. I have had one for almost 25 years. Through those years I have had 4 pacemaker replacements and one lead replacement. I won't get technical about pacemakers et al here, but if you would like to know more you can send me a private email.

Anyhow, some time ago I started having increased discomfort at my pacemaker site. I spoke with the surgeon. Already having done some research I asked him about pacemaker lead extraction. He said of course it was tricky and that he didn't do it, and suggested I get a second opinion from a surgeon in Vancouver. I saw that surgeon at the end of September. He gave his suggestion of what could be causing the problem and suggested what should be done. I followed his suggestion, I opted to have the surgery to have the pacemaker and the leads extracted and a whole new unit put in. I did lots of research.....the more research I did the more anxious I got. I checked out a Pacemaker website where people who have had pacemakers or ICD's(implantable cardiac defibrillators)and read about their experiences. This site is an American site so there are a lot of variables....but the heart is the heart and hence the common ground.

The surgeon who performed this procedure is the only surgeon I am told in Western Canada that does this procedure and he only does one a month. So I was his December date.

My hubby and girls accompanied me the morning of the surgery, how they did it I don't know. We had to be at the hospital by 0615 in the morning. We arrived with bells on. The one thing I can say about this hospital is that everyone was so efficient,polite and generally helpful. By 0630 I was changed into my hospital gown, I had already briefly been seen by a nurse. By 0645 I was called again by another nurse who went over my documentation, ensured I had removed all of my jewelry, identified me and my list of allergies. That was it....I was to get settled into a bed and prepare to be taken to the OR. I kissed and hugged my hubby and daughters gave them all bright smiles and off I went.

The surgeons assistant came in to see me along with half a dozen other people....I had been well prepared for all the invasive lines that would be inserted into my body...of which again I won't share here....but if you would like to know you can email me. Anyhow, I enter the OR suite there are about 16 people in this room....a group of them are responsible for the open heart equipment if that should be needed.....of course never in a million years did I think they would be needed but it was a precaution that had to be in place. My procedure was scheduled to take 2 hours. The last thing I remember was the anesthetist inserting an IV in my arm, the OR nurse putting a warming blanket on me(me commenting on how nice it felt) and then the mask.....It was lights out time.

Next thing I remember I had a tube being pulled out of my mouth. I looked at the clock.....I could have sworn it said 11 am.....I looked again.....it was 1500 hrs (3pm)! What happened? Almost as I said that I felt my chest....the pain. Yes my 2 hour surgery turned into 5 hours and I was the recipient of open heart surgery. The worst case scenario reared it's ugly head. Apparently whilst they were trying to laser a lead it nicked a heart vessels and I bled, necessitating them to crack open my sternum and do the repair.

Once I was extubated from the ventilator I looked over and saw my husband and daughters.....I made some kind of motion pointing to my chest...and I pouted....hubby nodded....we all knew what that meant. The next 18 hours were the most painful hours of my life. I would honestly have to put it right up there with childbirth. Actually at least after the birth the pain is gone and you have this wonderful baby to hold. Not so in this case.

My nurse, I will call her my angel worked so hard at trying to keep me comfortable, she bathed me, provided mouth care, gave me medications as needed(which seemed to me to be all the time). She was quick to give me ice chips and whatever else she could do. By 0630 the next morning still being attached to all kinds of machines and equipment she had me standing......vomiting of course....but I did stand. By 1100 I was out of the CSICU(Cardiac short stay intensive care)and up on the cardiac step down unit. That is where I spent the next 4 days. I was discharged on the Monday.

I spent the next couple of days convalescing at my sisters before I made the 3 hour journey home. Here I am just a week post op, up and writing a post about my experience. If you had asked me then...I would have said hell no. But every day I get stronger.....every day I can walk farther.....I can manage walking up and down my stairs with minimal assistance, and although uncomfortable at times I am surviving on extra strength Tylenol.

I am not allowed to lift anything greater than ten pounds, here in Canada that would be like lifting the Toronto telephone book. I am not allowed to lift my arms above my head, and I am not allowed to drive a vehicle for 6 weeks. My chest looks like a very bad painting. My eldest daughter has come to stay with me for a couple of months and for that I am truly thankful.

My husband has been my life support. He has bathed and dressed me, fed me when needed positioned and repositioned me to help me find my comfortable spot, he has just been amazing.

I have been surrounded by so much love and support....and I truly believe it is all the well wishes that have been sent my way that has helped me through this first week.

I was thankful that I did so much Christmas preparation before the surgery. I had decorated the inside of the house, put up the lights, done some baking and left things relatively presentable for our arrival home. Funny, prior to surgery hubby and I had been working on our bathroom we have painted and repainted and have now decided we don't like the current colour...I told him that I would paint when I got home from hospital.......guess that isn't going to happen....ah well best laid plans.

So there you have it, my story about where I have been. Every day is a gift...and I am thankful for the gift of today!

Cheers all!