|
Home | Forums | Gallery | Webcams | Blogs | YouTube Channel | Classifieds | Calendar | Register | FAQ | Donate | Members List | Today's Posts | Search |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
04-16-2012, 09:56 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,129
Thanks: 380
Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts
|
LakesRider: Update on Patriot's Day
Tuesday's update 1:00 PM
Thank you all for your kind words. I know Paul will be so happy to read all your best wishes for him when he is able. He was moved to the stepdown unit today around noon. He is resting, however has pain by the incision site, also where all the tubes are. They are trying to find a good pain drug for him too which will not make him nauseous. He just needs to heal & get better now. Not fun for him at the moment, but take this one step at a time. Thanks all for now! Kathy Hi all Winnipesaukee Forum friends & readers! This is Kathy here, reporting for LakesRider. We arrived at 4:30 AM - Patriot's Day in MA - Boston Marathon & a Red Sox game, no less! However, Mass General Hospital was definitely still open for business! Paul had his BP checked (very good) & his temperature checked with a new-fangled thermometer waved across his temples. I want one of those! After putting on his johnnie, robe and socks, Jorge wheeled him to the surgery suite where we parted ways at about 6:15 AM. No messing around there! The surgery should take several hours, and the nurse, Melissa, told us that we wouldn't get to see Paul much before approximately 10-12 hours. That seemed longer than we were initially expecting. Feel free to go to this Heart website & I will be able to post an update later, when the patient is wheeled to ICU. Here is the site for future reference: put in patient's name Paul http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/j...ry/paulgamache Thank you all for your well wishes - I know LakesRider appreciates hearing from you all. Take care. Kathy Last edited by Lakesrider; 04-17-2012 at 12:14 PM. Reason: Tuesday update |
The Following User Says Thank You to Lakesrider For This Useful Post: | ||
Rattlesnake Gal (04-17-2012) |
04-16-2012, 10:48 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Chelmsford Mass and Moultonboro
Posts: 58
Thanks: 43
Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts
|
I don't know Paul but am wishing him the best anyway. He is in the best place he can be in. My husband suffered a heart attack 10 years ago and had a couple of stents put in at Mass General.....Great place. His suffered 75% heart damage but with rehab and new meds is great today! I am sure Paul will pull through just fine.... Best Wishes
|
04-16-2012, 02:20 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,129
Thanks: 380
Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts
|
LakesRider - out of surgery
Thanks again for your reply WinterHarborGirl! Paul is now out of surgery & will be asleep between 4-6 hours.
Best for now, LakesRider (& Kathy) |
The Following User Says Thank You to Lakesrider For This Useful Post: | ||
WinterHarborGirl (04-16-2012) |
04-16-2012, 02:48 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 735
Thanks: 4
Thanked 254 Times in 166 Posts
|
For those curious, I found (easily) a couple of URLs with more info on robotic assisted surgery:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotic_surgery http://www.davincisurgery.com/cardia...alve-prolapse/ Gee, LR, it seems like complicated surgery is getting more and more like taking the car in for engine problems. Need a valve job? No problem, drop it off in the am, back on the road in no time! Glad to hear the procedure went well. We'll look for a post about your first ride out on the lake after you're back home. |
The Following User Says Thank You to DickR For This Useful Post: | ||
Lakesrider (04-17-2012) |
04-16-2012, 02:54 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Winter Harbor
Posts: 214
Thanks: 75
Thanked 37 Times in 14 Posts
|
Kathy,
I don't know Paul either - but like so many on this forum, I too am including him in my prayers. Thank you very much for the updates. He's sleeping - but I bet you're exhausted! Don't forget to take care of yourself while he's got all those doctors and nurses taking care of him! |
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to rrr For This Useful Post: | ||
Lakesrider (04-17-2012), WakeboardMom (04-16-2012) |
Sponsored Links |
|
04-16-2012, 06:11 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,410
Thanks: 719
Thanked 1,381 Times in 957 Posts
|
So glad to hear he is out of surgery, Kathy. Thanks for keeping us all informed.
|
04-16-2012, 06:28 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 3,531
Thanks: 1,570
Thanked 1,607 Times in 822 Posts
|
Not too smart but can lift things!!
If you need anything let me know. I am pretty sure I know where you live and we are close.
|
04-17-2012, 05:52 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Winnisquam, NH
Posts: 613
Thanks: 419
Thanked 163 Times in 115 Posts
|
I hope he starts feeling better in the days to come.
__________________
"I'd rather be ridin than rolling" |
04-17-2012, 06:04 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Central NH
Posts: 5,252
Blog Entries: 1
Thanks: 1,447
Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts
|
Lakesrider
Thanks for the update Kathy. I am so glad that Paul is doing well!!! Thinking of you all and sending lots of healing thoughts and prayers.
|
04-17-2012, 06:05 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Central MA
Posts: 2,352
Thanks: 18
Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts
|
Wishing you a speedy recovery
Glad to hear you are in recovery mode.
IG
__________________
Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade |
04-17-2012, 02:59 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,129
Thanks: 380
Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts
|
Tuesday 4 PM - LakesRider moved to Cardiac Stepdown
Today around noon, Paul was moved from the SCICU to the Cardiac Stepdown Unit, (Ellison - Floor 8) which is across the hall, but specialized for Cardiac patients. The night was uneventful; he was trying to get into a comfortable position, but his incision site had (and still has) a lot of tubes still sticking in, & it was difficult to get comfortable.
In the SCICU, the Hill-Rom bed had an inflatable component to it & he was more comfortable on it. Now he is in a Stryker (Secure II) bed, which supposedly is not as comfortable, he said. He sat in a chair briefly today. Percoset, gave him a nauseous feeling, so the doctors have found a better medicine for him. He has drunk a little ginger ale for his dry throat. Paul is sleeping on and off, which will be good to help in his recovery. Thanks to you all for your prayers and good wishes. We will get back with an update as things progress! The best to you all, Kathy, for Paul http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/j...er/paulgamache |
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Lakesrider For This Useful Post: | ||
04-17-2012, 03:07 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Billerica, MA
Posts: 57
Thanks: 13
Thanked 44 Times in 13 Posts
|
Hope it continues to go well Glad to hear
|
04-19-2012, 03:07 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,129
Thanks: 380
Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts
|
Lakesrider: Thursday April 19th @ 4 PM - Recovering
Hello fellow Winni friends!
We can see the changes in Paul day-by-day & he is feeling better. The rest of the tubes came out today, another couple X-Rays & he does not feel as loopy & having had eaten is making him feel so much better. The doctor described Paul's mitral valve as having an extra fold of tissue on the posterior side that flapped and would not close that previously was not seen on the pictures. This needed to be cut back, reshaped and sutured back together to form a snugger fit and a ring was sewn in to make a better structure against the heart's pumping action. As a result, the surgery was longer and little more complicated than they had anticipated. He also said that if Paul is not woosey, can manage walking several times a day & going up a couple flights of stairs, he may be able to be released tomorrow (my birthday - quite a present!). He will really be happy to leave the hospital. It seems amazing that one can have this surgery Monday & be released in 5 days, which I read that is the average length of stay for this surgery. Thanks again for all your words of encouragement - I can't wait for Paul to read them. We shall be in touch soon. Best - Kathy & Paul |
The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to Lakesrider For This Useful Post: | ||
Greene's Basin Girl (04-19-2012), NoBozo (04-19-2012), Pontoon Goon (04-20-2012), Rattlesnake Gal (04-20-2012), trfour (04-19-2012), VitaBene (04-19-2012), WinterHarborGirl (04-19-2012) |
04-19-2012, 06:30 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Portsmouth. RI
Posts: 2,231
Thanks: 400
Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts
|
Things are always looking better when the nurses Make You walk up and down the halls pushing your own IV Stand. 5 days sounds right when everything is going on schedual. That only happened once with me. A couple of times (there were 4) it went to 12 days. Mass General did the trick. NB
|
04-21-2012, 06:06 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,129
Thanks: 380
Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts
|
Lakesrider went home April 20th 12:25 PM!
Hi all,
Just wanted to post an update for you! Sorry to be a little late We left the hospital Friday and are head to the Lakes & our house after a quick pit stop for some ice cream which Paul loves. He is still quite sore, but it is so amazing to see the results of the surgery! He told me to mention, that he will do the further updates once he has gotten good solid sleep. Mass General DID do the trick! Once again thank you for your well wishes, and we consider you our extended family. Best to you, Kathy |
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Lakesrider For This Useful Post: | ||
04-21-2012, 06:47 PM | #16 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Portsmouth. RI
Posts: 2,231
Thanks: 400
Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts
|
Quote:
PS: Time to buy something big that he has always wanted....but never could justify... |
|
04-22-2012, 04:24 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,129
Thanks: 380
Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts
|
Well I am home and alive. It is rough being house bound and not being able to drive for a month. It is only day two of being home and it is already boring just sitting around. I just wanted to thank everyone for the well wishes if I didn't already. The Tylenol with Codeine really helps with the pain but it makes everything a bit of blur right now. Hopefully that will get better in a few days.....
|
The Following User Says Thank You to Lakesrider For This Useful Post: | ||
WinterHarborGirl (04-22-2012) |
04-22-2012, 05:03 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,410
Thanks: 719
Thanked 1,381 Times in 957 Posts
|
Glad you are home. It sounds like a long time now, but I am sure the time will go by fast.
|
04-22-2012, 05:29 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Manchester, NH
Posts: 58
Thanks: 48
Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts
|
So happy all went well for you. Being home will help you feel better even faster.
|
04-22-2012, 05:47 PM | #20 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,084
Thanks: 1,267
Thanked 557 Times in 286 Posts
|
Quote:
|
|
04-22-2012, 05:48 PM | #21 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Portsmouth. RI
Posts: 2,231
Thanks: 400
Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts
|
Quote:
They didn't crack your chest..so maybe things will improve faster. One of the most interesting things about this experience..Your outlook on life ...WILL change. NB |
|
04-22-2012, 06:25 PM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 722
Thanks: 337
Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts
|
Nice to have you at home. But you were always with us here.
Relax and do some walking when you can. It made my bypass recovery quicker.
__________________
Waking up in the morning is the greatest, everything after that is a bonus
|
04-22-2012, 07:01 PM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 446
Thanks: 70
Thanked 57 Times in 40 Posts
|
Welcome home LR and get better quick.
|
04-22-2012, 07:34 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island
Posts: 5,932
Thanks: 2,290
Thanked 4,941 Times in 1,917 Posts
|
Get Well Soon!
Wishing you a speedy recovery Lakesrider!!
Dan |
Bookmarks |
|
|