ILBMF

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Just need to vent amongst some fellow brewers. Long story short, my wife Denise (46) had been diagnosed with a ''sub aortic membrane'' about 5 years ago. Basically, if they remove the main outlet of the heart after stopping it and bypassing the blood through a machine during the operation, they can look into the heart there's a membrane/tissue growth in front of the valve causing a bottleneck effect. For 5 years you could hear her heart make a squish sound rather than a boom boom just listening with my ear against her chest.

Well, they operated on her yesterday to pretty much stop the heart, bypass the blood and cut this membrane thing out and back together again...no problem...wrong, long day BS. First, this is one of the best facilities in the world and the head of the department did the surgery. All went well except the heart was enlarged from all the back pressure which damaged the opposite valve a bit causing it lo leak when it's supposed to be closed. That was easily repaired with a small mandrel part that is permanently attached to the valve to make it maintain it's proper shape. Not a problem and the heart will naturally shrink down to size. Just glad this was found now and not years from now causing a permanent valve replacement. Another problem was the electrical signals from the brain to the heart stopped working all together. They had to restart the heart and use a pacemaker to complete what the nervous system usually does...complete the electrical circuit to keep the heart beating in proper time.

That was cleared up and the heart started doing it's own thing within 5-6 hours...great, right? Wrong! My wife's cousin and I were standing there in the ICU room at her side and we noticed her right arm and leg had NO movement. The nurse wasn't too startled by this and made no big deal about it other than repeatedly saying ''Denise, can you move your toes and squeeze my hand?'' They made no big deal about it.

Then the head of the heart dept surgeon (the main man) Bartley Griffith came in just strolling through (he performed the surgery, world renowned big shot, great guy). He asked me, ''how's she doing sir?'' I said, looking good other than her lack of movement on her left side''. He yanked the sheets off of her and stepped up the team like a shot of caffeine in the arm. The immediately did a CT scan and sent her to the hyperbaric chamber to squash what may have been air bubbles in her blood causing stroke symptoms. At that point it had been 18 hours and I went home for pair of IPA's and some sleep.

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Primary 1: Nugget Nectar clone from Steelers77 (of course, more hops though)
Primary 2: Nugget Nectar clone from Steelers77
Primary 3: Empty
Primary 4: Empty
(no longer use secondary)


''Once, I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken'' (Read that somewhere, just loved it. Sorry if I stole it...consider it a compliment)

''I don't allow work during drinking hours''

ILBMF

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OK, got some sleep , called the hospital and got some better news. She's getting some movement on the left side and doing a little better, but 24 hours after the surgery is still on the breathing tube. They said she may be headed back to the hyperbaric chamber today. Well, cofffee, S..., Shower and shave, I'm heading back to the place that gives most men instant shrinkage...the hospital.

I want to thank Revvy for some encouraging words he gave me to pass to my wife weeks ago because she has been freaking out all through the holidays do to the anticipation and build up to this surgery. She was terrified of something going wrong and she was right, but it looks like things may turn out right. Thanks for listening, drink one for her!!

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Primary 1: Nugget Nectar clone from Steelers77 (of course, more hops though)
Primary 2: Nugget Nectar clone from Steelers77
Primary 3: Empty
Primary 4: Empty
(no longer use secondary)


''Once, I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken'' (Read that somewhere, just loved it. Sorry if I stole it...consider it a compliment)

''I don't allow work during drinking hours''

OpenContainer

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Sounds like she's in good hands and is doing better. Hopefully you slept for more than the 20 minutes between these posts.

Homercidal

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I can't imagine what you are going through. Praying for you guys.

SpottedDogBrewing

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Prayers Sent!!!

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Spotted Dog Brewing


"This is grain, which any fool can eat, but for which the Lord intended a more divine means of consumption.. Beer!"
-Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, Friar Tuck

"The nations of the West also have their own intoxicant, made from grain soaked in water...Alas, what wonderful ingenuity vice possesses! A method has actually been discovered for making even water intoxicated."
- Pliny the Elder

IrregularPulse

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Glad to hear she's doing better. I think I'd demand a new set of nurses after explaining what happened. You're the patient and you can do that. I learned all about being assertive last year when my daughter was in the NICU. You're there to take care of one person, your wife. Don't let their experience be an excuse for negligence. If you doubt something one bit, ask for a cardiologist or the surgeon. Go over the nurses head if you need to.

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TxBrew

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Sorry she's having to go through it but am grateful for the good news.

I wish her a speedy recovery!

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TyTanium

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Wow, definitely praying for you guys. We're here to listen if you need/want to vent more.

android

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sorry to hear about the complications. my brother underwent open heart surgery almost 5 years ago for an aortic aneurysm and had all kinds of complications from the surgery that weren't expected... i know how ya feel man, but it will continue to get better!

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kegged: Maibock, Schwarzbier, Irish Red, Oak Aged Dark Belgian

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KayaBrew

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Good thoughts and vibes sent your way. Hang in there...

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"...Careful, man...there's a beverage here!..."