Myectomy Canceled

[mtlieb]

Hi Folks,

The myectomy for tomorrow was cancelled. Nothing serious. There just wasn't time to get everything in order prior to surgery and it had to be postponed. I'm pretty upset about a few things that have happened here, but i'm trying to keep my cool and not say anything negative about the Cleveland Clinic. I'll be headed home to PA tomorrow.

Jim

[Reenie]

Jim, I'm sorry. I hope you get all lined out and get your surgery soon. I wondered if you could get all your ducks in a row so soon. I know you know we're all still here for you regardless.

Reenie

PS: How's the CHF?

[shirleymahoney]

Oh my Jim

I hope you get things ironed out soon, you have to be disappointed, let us know when things get rolling again

Shirley

[Burton Borrok]

Hi Jim,
Go get a mirror and check out your back. Is there a sign there that says, “Kick me – Hard!”? With all the bloody fool things you’ve had to go through – and now this. They get you a cancellation and rush you down there, and then say, “Later Baby.”

OK, what happened this time?
A) Did they at least do the Angiogram? What’s the story on that?
B) Are you still ‘dropping’ water? How do you feel? Are you back to your starting weight yet? (i.e. how’s the CHF?) At least there was some progress there.
C) When was the procedure re-scheduled for? I guess it’s like every hospital, the specialty team is top of the line, but the hospital procedures and paperwork is sixty feet deep.

Hope you have/had a safe trip home and at least are feeling better. Write soon.
Burt

[mtlieb]

It'll be fine,

Like Reenie said, we were really rushing things with only three days to prepare over a holiday weekend. The pre-op dental exam here at the clinic found some infection in one tooth, and that's an instant cancel for heart surgery. This would have been taken care of before my original surgery date on the 10th, but when they moved it up to the 3rd there was just no time. Secondly, my insurance finally DID come through and approve the surgery. Woo hoo! BUT... it is approved for the 10th... NOT the 3rd. LOL. It's always something. I really wish that when Dr. Lever called on friday to change the date, i had simply said no and stuck with my original surgery date. Sometimes the docs forget that there's a lot more for us to do than just jump in our cars and drive up there :wink:

The heart cath results were fine... my arteries are clean as a whistle. HCM is my one and only problem there, thank goodness.

Thanks,

Jim

[mtlieb]

P.S. It wasn't a wasted trip... i would have needed to get all these pre-op tests out of the way, regardless. Hopefully now i can get the surgery re-scheduled quickly and get right back up here :)

[Burton Borrok]

Great news.

Yeah, dental infections can travel to the heart very easily, and cause a world of trouble. That was a smart move on their part. I have to take Amoxicillin before I even have my teeth cleaned – like many of us I guess. It’s that important.

When have you been rescheduled for – and how’s the CHF? You sound a lot better.
Burt

[Reenie]

Well, I'm glad that you are getting thorough care and not just "Let's do this thing right now!." Take care.

Reenie

[mtlieb]

Yeah, i'm very glad we didn't proceed. Endocarditis is certainly not something to fool with, and once it sets in, extremely difficult to get rid of. We tried to find somebody here in Cleveland to take care of the dental issues, but it was afternoon already and too late to salvage the surgery. If i sound really disappointed, it's only because i am really disappointed. I'll get back here soon though. Have fun at the conference everybody ;)

[swinand]

Jim, I know you had you mind in "let's do it" mode. Then the cancellation and having to get yourself "psyched up" all over again. But, in the long run you will look back and know it was the right thing to do under the circumstances. Hopefully you are in better shape now than when you went, and as you said, it wasn't a wasted trip. The next week or so will go by fast enough and allow all the I's to be dotted and the T's to be crossed so things will go smoothly on the reschedule date. Rushing as you were there was a good chance something would have fallen through the cracks. Good news your cath is clear, now just get your tooth fixed. Stay well in the meantime. Steve.

[Glen Beamish]

Well Jim, the saga continues, so is it a go for the 10th for sure?

[mtlieb]

Nobody's called me from the scheduling department yet, so i have no idea when the surgery will be now, and i haven't heard from Dr. Lever since i arrived on tuesday. Heck, you folks going to the conference have a better chance of talking to him than i do here in Cleveland, and you won't have to sit in a waiting room for three and a half hours either! LOL. :roll:

[Friend]

Jim,

As someone said, things do happen for reasons we may not understand at first, and perhaps the surgery was a bit rushed. Best to get the tooth sorted out and be in tip top condition for the procedure.

I'm back at work and will be checking in as often as I can.

Chin up!

Laura

[felixdacat]

Jim,

* You now know that you have no other heart issues besides HCM.
* You now know that your insurance will cover the surgery.
* You now know that a possible complication caused by a tooth infection will no longer occur.
* You currently do not have a sternum that hurts like the devil and tubes coming out of all areas of your body.

You know, this was not a bad week.

And I'm sure that at least a few of us will corner Dr. Lever this weekend on your behalf.

[mtlieb]

...You currently do not have a sternum that hurts like the devil and tubes coming out of all areas of your body... You know, this was not a bad week.

Ummm... Felix? Please don't try to cheer me up any more okay? :shock:

And stay away from my doctor! LOL.

Jim

[Ronnie]

Wow Jim-
What a Bummer. I know you were all psched up for your Surgery. Since everything happens for a reason - there must be something else you're suppossed to do prior to your Surgery (besides see the Dentist). Like maybe: accumulate more reading material (for during recovery), accumulate more foods, in your house that are easy to prepare, high protein & cofort foods. Double check your suitcase-did you pack PJ Bottoms? You can always practice saying "A Back Rub would feel Wonderful"-so you can say this to your Nurse. Believe me, long about day 4-5, a backrub does feel Wonderful!
Any way, you just bought a couple more days to "ponder" your situation-so THINK POSITIVE! Any questions, you knoiw we're all here to help
GOOD LUCK
BE WELL

[mtlieb]

Thanks Ronnie,

I'm good to go... really. Just blowing off a little steam, but still very excited about the surgery! I've gotten quite a workout trudging all around the CCF campus these past few days, and i don't have to tell you folks what that's like for a water-logged HCM'er. I'm pooped! LOL. Dr. Lever put me back on the diuretics though and i'm already starting to feel better again. I was supposed to be on a greyhound bus headed back to PA today, but thank god i overslept and decided to stay an extra day. Looks like i might be having the myectomy on monday, but i don't want to jinx it and say it's definite. I'm going to chill in Cleveland for the weekend, keep my feet up, and watch lots of cable tv. Woo hoo!

Jim

[Pam Alexson]

Hang in there Jim , I'll be thinking about you and waiting to hear. I'm going into the hospital tomorrow ( out patient) to get my NIPS done!( non-invasive programmed stimulation). Doesn't that sound dirty? It's to get the defibrilator tested and check the voltage on that bad lead of mine. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for Monday if it's a go. Pam

[Dorothy]

Jim, Just to let you know while you're vegging out in Cleveland: The cheesecake at the Chicago Deli on the corner, is the best. Have made trips to Cleveland just to get a taste of the raspberry cheesecake. Of course, I had to go to the Clinic on those visits, too. What a drive just for cheesecake! It's about a nine-hour drive from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, but worth every mouthful!!!

Praying everything goes well for you while you are there next week. Keep all of us informed as to your progress; or in your case, lack of..

Thinking about you.

[mtlieb]

Dorothy,

I'm laughing here after reading your post. I have in fact just finished a slice of the Chicago Deli's strawberry cheesecake that i had purchased earlier today! I've been looking at those darn cheesecakes in the bakery case for several days now (they're a little pricey), but finally decided to cave in and treat myself to some today. You are soooo right... it was worth every penny! What a hoot that you happened to bring that up on the same day i finally gave into temptation.

Thanks for the nice post :)

Jim

[Burton Borrok]

Hi Jim,
I’m heading to LA tomorrow for an affair on Saturday. I’ll be staying with my daughter and son-in-law and the twins, so I may get a chance to get on the boards Sunday. I’ll be driving back home on Monday after lunch with a good friend.

Don’t know for sure if, or how much, I’ll be able to get to a computer, so let me wish you good luck now. I really hope everything goes as smooth as that cheese cake you had. (Ye Gads, I haven’t had cheesecake since 1985. The best was at Lindy’s at Times Square.)

Whatever happens, I’ll be pulling for you.
Burt

[Glen Beamish]

Jim, good luck on Monday, lets hope it's a go this time.
Burt, I hope you enjoy your affair on the week-end.
After all the things you list as your ailments it's amazing your able to still have affairs. :P

[LynnS]

Hi Jim,

Wishing you the best for a good weekend and that the surgery goes forward on Monday!

Lynn

[Laoshur]

Jim,

I have been off the boards for several days due to too many things to do, so just found out what happened there in Cleveland. I will be praying that you will be much lighter after Monday having lost all the fluid and a big chunk of heart as well.

Rhoda

[Burton Borrok]

Hahahahaha. Glen, you are a card. The only affairs I have like that any more is just sitting around trying to remember.

About all my ailments – I just listed the ones that were bugging me now. I checked my list and currently there are fourteen diagnoses posted, and I know I missed a couple here and there. If they don’t make themselves known, I forget about them. They just get lost in the shuffle.

Take care. I’m looking forward to meeting you in August. We’ll all have some fun.
Burt

[Ronnie]

Jim-

Go ahead 7 treat yourself to another slice of cheesecake on Saturday-trust me, you aren't going to be hungry for awhile! Not to mention the "healthful" benefits of eating cheesecake (which they may mention to you at Cleveland - @ Mayo I sat thru a Nutrition class)
Be good to yourself this weekend, so you are all relaxed & in a Great state of mind for Monday.
I know how you are feeling & I know what you are facing. I'll be Praying for you
BE WELL

[pmurphy]

Jim,

all best wishes and good thoughts for you for your rescheduled myectomy. You're in great care there and we'll all be anxious to hear from you once you're feeling better. Now enjoy today and try to get over to Little Italy for a great pizza at Mama Santos or at least a doughnut at Presti's!

Paul

[Pam Alexson]

Or more cheese cake would do. I will be thinking about you tomorrow AM. I hope cousin Laura gets to that computer OK, We certainly all will be waiting. Thanks in advance to you cousin Laura! Have a very wonderfull restfull happy , happy day Jim. Thoughts and Prayers, Pam

[Dorothy]

Jim, Will be thinking about you tomorrow; and hope all goes well. The team at The Cleveland Clinic is a great one. My myectomy was in Aug of 2000. Have had some ups and downs (like every HCM'er) along the road to recovery; but going strong, after finding what things I could push and things I couldn't.

Just keep thing "cheesecake" and I'll get the message! Take care and keep us posted.

[Lisa Salberg]

Jim,
Good luck .... you are in great hands. Call me if you need anything.

Lisa

[mtlieb]

Hi All,

Looks like everything's a go for tomorrow. Woo hoo!

I'll be reporting in at the hospital at 5:00 am, so the 'results' should be in pretty early in the day. I know Cousin Laura will do a good job letting you all know what's going on. I'm still not very nervous at all... but i'm sure it will hit me as they're wheeling me into the operating room screaming my bloody head off! LoL. Actually, i think i'm just so excited about having the surgery, i may end up keeping my cool throughout 8-)

Lisa, i left the phone number for the guesthouse with Kelly, so if ya wanna call and chat tonight (or anyone else for that matter) i'm in room 307. I can pretty much guarantee you i won't be sleeping at all. But hey, i have all day tomorrow to do that, right? I have the easy job here... all i have to do is lay on a table, fall asleep, and a couple seconds later (for me at least) it'll all be over.

Just think, by tomorrow night at this time i may already be out of ICU and on the road to recovery!

Thanks to everyone, you've all been great.

Jim

[Laoshur]

Dear Jim,

Great news!

I, and I am sure a host of others, will be praying for a successful surgery with a quick and easy recovery!

Rhoda

[shirleymahoney]

Jim

I 'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, but i know everything will be great, and i will keep you in my prayers as always

Shirley

[Tigger1]

Jim ... sorry to hear about your delay. I guess I was lucky. Everything went as planned. I got my myectomy, spent 11 days at Cleveland and now I'm home recovering. Things will work out for the good. Keep beliving and stay strong...

Tigger1
Patrick Ekardt

[Tigger1]

Great news on the surgery. I loved the cheesecake at the deli and the corn chowder at the bakery. That was one of the few things I felt like eating after my surgery.

Good luck and keep us posted.


Patrick Ekardt
(Tigger1)