Hi, Chris my name is Tom I am a survivor of (3) open heart surgeries. I was 41 (4) children 12, 5 and 3 year old twins, when I had to have aortic valve replacement, 17 days later I was back in surgery having Mitral valve replacement, my hospital stay was 89 yes 89 days. I went through all of the emotion that you are feeling now. Trust me you need to takes it one step at a time and you will continue to improve and feel better every month. I now have had a 3rd valve replacement and a "quad bypass" (8) years ago 49 day stay, a stent & a ICD installed since my original surgeries. Keep the faith my children are now 47,35 & the twins are33. I am now 71 years old still working full time, I have tried retirement twice and it hasn't worked for me. I volunteer with Mended Hearts and continue to move forward. Stay positive, keep moving, and stay healthy and you too can get old and gray like me.
Tom Seiter
Mended Hearts # 126
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Hello everyone. I have never in my life posted anything to a message board. On May 25th 2018 I had the carpet ripped out from under me when I went to the ER with some difficulty breathing. I was told that my left main artery(the Widow Maker) was about 95% blocked. They did attempt to install a stint but it was unsuccessful so my surgeon told me I would need to have open heart surgery. I was floored! I'm 42 years old! I'm a husband and father to two children(ages 3 and 7) and all I could think of was the possibility of them growing up without there daddy.
I had surgery the next morning and then woke up in ICU to begin my process of recovery. Staying in the hospital for a week was hard! Its the longest I've gone without seeing my kids. I didn't want them to see me with the drain tubes and IV and such hooked up. Especially my 3 year old. A day or two before I came home I did allow my daughter(the 7 year old) to come visit.
Once I got home I feel like it got harder. I started to get really down. I started to get depressed. My doctors all told me that these were normal feelings and they would pass in time. It didn't make it any easier. I felt like a useless member of my family. A burden! I couldn't make a living for my family, I couldn't help around the house, and I couldn't be the rough-housing dad I had always been for my babies! I missed wrestling with them. I had to keep telling them to "be careful with daddy!"
This Thursday will be 8 weeks since my surgery. For the most part I feel better physically. I still hurt most days, some are worse than others. Mostly soreness and stiffness. I went back to work on July 2nd. Mostly because sitting at home wasn't doing much for my mental health. The depression is better but not great. I keep looking forward to feeling "good" again. I suppose it will come in time!
If you read this, thanks for reading my venting. I hope you or your loved one are doing well in there recovery.
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chris rhoads
maintenance director
land clearing specialists
beaver PA
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