So I'm going under the knife, soon...

[mjr]

Wish me luck...having a procedure done to correct an issue with my pulmonary valve...

It's probably going to be in early January...

Thoughts/prayers/whatever are appreciated...I'm actually kinda scared.

[csquared]

Will it be open or cardiac catheter?

Good luck!

[mjr]

Will it be open or cardiac catheter?

Good luck!

At this point, I'm thinking it's going to be open. Because they're replacing the valve completely. It's not closing all the way, and is causing some regurgitation, which is causing regurgitation in the tricuspid valve.

Apparently this surgery on the pulmonary valve will fix both issues at the same time.

I'll be in the hospital between 3 and 5 days, but I won't be able to drive for a month or so afterward. Lot of pressure on the Mrs.

I'm gonna talk to my boss tomorrow and see if I can work from home during that month period. I don't wanna use my short-term disability if I can keep from it, but it's good to know it's there if I need it.

[Javarod]

Good luck, heal fast. We're kinda in the same boat over here, my were needs the same surgery as he was born with a bicuspid valve.

[Crossbow]

Best of luck to you!

[iradney]

Holding thumbs!

[mjr]

Thanks, everyone! This is one of those things that, from time to time, absolutely permeates my thoughts.

I've already talked to my team lead, and he's suggesting that I don't work at all during my recovery period.

[Eireann]

Best of luck! You'll be fine, and your team lead sounds like a great guy!

[drunkenwildmage]

Good luck!

[Gizmo]

Best of luck! I hope it goes very well for you.

[mjr]

Not to show vulnerability here, but when this creeps into my thoughts, I get terrified. I've got a family (wife is a stay-at-home mom, and our son is 10), so I'm praying (literally) that everything goes well.

[csquared]

While it is natural to get freaked out over heart surgery, you need to fight it and stay under control.

And while this will not help you feel more at ease, please make sure your will and advanced directive are in order. It will be one less thing for Mrs MJR to worry about.

I will second you r team lead's advise. Double check how your disability works, going back part time too soon may screw up your benefits.

[Lady Legira]

*hugs*

No matter how often you go under the knife you never get used to it. Feeling very much the same for different reason (surgery for cysts of doom in 16 days).

Listen to the instructions they give you and give them as much info as possible about previous surgeries and reactions to the knock out meds as you can if you've had previous. I'll be letting my surgical team that I'm asthmatic, have one kidney, had previous surgery in the same area and I vomit like a good one afterwards if they don't give me anti-nausea drugs (I once threw up over a nurse who now knows not to stand near the head of a patient while they come round).

[mjr]

So my wife has decided she's going to put me on some type of insane diet. She's going to do it with me, but it's almost a "rice cake and water" diet. It's her version of the Pritikin diet from the 1970's.

She's doing it because I gave her some numbers from some blood work I had, and she didn't like them.

[mjr]

So to update this, as I did in the other...

It's looking like early February. They're gonna use a cow valve (or a valve made from cow vein, or something like that).