Post-Surgery Advice Requested

[RenoDoc]

Family medicine doc here and my wife in an anesthesiologist. Are they repairing the aortic arch or is the aneurysm further down? Did they bring up why they can't do an endovascular repair. I'm sure they have a good reason for it but I'm more just interested for my own edification. I was talking to my wife about this and this is one of the bigger surgeries out there. It's definitely going to hurt for a good 4-6 weeks while you heal up. Your breathing for playing the tuba is going to help you and probably will act as well as an incentive spirometer. Good luck!

[prairieboy1]

This past September I was diagnosed with a melanoma on my stomach. After two early biopsies, in January of 2023 the surgeon decided to go ahead and remove the melanoma which had dropped 1 mm into my stomach wall. As well, he also removed 4 lymph nodes from directly underneath my left armpit. While the results were negative and brought joy to our family, the effect on my playing was that it took at least 2-2.5 months before I could play well again and I have really needed to strengthen my lung capacity to reach the upper register (Bb above the staff and beyond). The best advice I can give you is to take it slow and be as patient as you can. The payoff will be playing well in your groups with your friends. Best of luck from your neighbour to the North!

[bloke]

When you feel good enough to be restless, pick up that guitar first.

[MN_TimTuba]

When you feel good enough to be restless, pick up that guitar first.

Absolutely! My 6 string is on the guitar stand in my den 24/7. I also have my ukulele right there. When the time is right I'll start gently blowing on my baryton and move on from there.
My surgery will be Tuesday, April 25th. Sandy will be completely retired before then, so she'll hang around me full time that first week at home, making sure I follow doctor's orders. I'll miss our first outdoor concert of the season in early June, but am hoping to make the July 4th pre-fireworks concert in the park on the river. I appreciate all the "take it slow and easy" advice, and I will certainly do that. Things are looking good, and I'm not all tied in a knot about it. The whole concept is tougher on wife and kids, for sure. I have confidence in the present and peace about the future.
Thanks, all.
Tim

[MN_TimTuba]

Family medicine doc here and my wife in an anesthesiologist. Are they repairing the aortic arch or is the aneurysm further down? Did they bring up why they can't do an endovascular repair. I'm sure they have a good reason for it but I'm more just interested for my own edification.

Andy,
The aneurysm starts right at the point where the aorta leaves the heart, before it branches off. I brought up the less invasive idea to the surgeon and other docs and nurses. They all told me that, while this is the most invasive, it's also the very best way to get it replaced effectively. Like pulling the engine out of the car to work on it and have full visibility and access to everything, rather than reaching around fenders, alternators, etc., that are in the way. They also said that since I'm still young (at 64!), strong, and healthy, with no underlying issues, that this is the best chance to give me another 20 or 30 years of active life. I'm all for that.
Tim
Ps. It was an anesthesiologist from a previous surgery who brought this to the attention of a cardiologist. It wasn't your wife, of course, but thank her anyway!

[bort2.0]

Good news, everyone...

With permission from Tim/his wife, I just wanted to share that @MN_TimTuba's surgery yesterday (4/25) was a success and went very well. Sounds like he will be in the hospital for a couple more days to get through the initial recovery phase. Let's hope the road to recovery is short and quick as possible.

I believe in the power of prayer, and will keep Tim and his family in mine -- and I invite anyone else that's interested to do likewise.

Best wishes, Tim!

[prairieboy1]

Thank you for sharing this news with the TubaForum.net community. Best wishes and prayers to Tim and his family from Canada!

[bloke]

[bloke]

Surgical procedure advancement is amazing.

My brother (80) had a hip replacement less than a week ago, and just yesterday walked (not yet allowed to drive, so...) to a restaurant up a steep hill and half a mile away...and then walked home (per doctor's recommendations).

He tells me that its bruised, swollen and aches, but it WORKS.

They no longer cut any muscles when replacing hip joints, go in from the front, and just push all the muscles out of the way.

He's driving down here (850 mi.) in June.

[bort2.0]

Update...

Shared a few texts with Tim/family today... He is out of the ICU and doing a little better each day. Has been walking a bit, no more tubes, etc. Could be back home in a few days, to continue the slow but steady recovery. Stay strong, Tim!

[YorkNumber3.0]

.

[MN_TimTuba]

I'm home, whew!
I'll update more tomorrow, but I'm still alive and kickin'.
I greatly appreciate all the prayers, etc. Thank you all so much, and thanks @bort2.0 for keeping all informed!
Status - I'm in constant mild pain, frequent severe pain. The walks outdoors are helping both my physical and mental states of mind. Played guitar today, felt great, but my voice is too week to sing, much. Miska the red husky is sure glad to have me back.
From those who've been down this same road, I'd be curious to hear how long before the stabbing pains beneath shoulder blades, along the spine, at knees and hips, all go away!
I watched Galaxy Quest today. Always makes me smile.
Tim

Outdoor Walk w Canes.jpg (84.3 KiB) Viewed 922 times

[bloke]

I didn't have any life or death type surgery, but I had some really extensive lower abdominal hernia surgery (that I talked about here), and it was done the old fashioned way - which hurts more. It felt like knife blades sitting up, sitting down, and walking around for two or three weeks, and then it felt like dull knife blades for another week or so, and then it just hurt. I marched in a Mardi Gras parade and then played a stand-up sousaphone (party afterward) job barely more than a month later, and was just able to do that. By "just", I mean just barely. A friend of mine had similar surgery and still has little pains to this day after decades. Mine are mostly - if not completely - gone, and every once in awhile I feel a little tightness but no pain in one spot that was the worst. I wouldn't be surprised if there's some tight or different feelings in some areas from now on, because they did a lot of stuff to you.

[Rick Denney]

Tim, I’m glad to hear everything was successful. Time goes slowly when in pain, but it goes. One day, sooner than you think, you’ll see the sun shining and hear the birds singing before you are aware of any pain. May that day come soon.

(After cancer surgery, I had pain in supposedly uninvolved places from air that was not fully removed from my insides when they were closing me up. Once it was absorbed, it went away. And there was also a bit of fluid buildup about three weeks after surgery that hurt a lot until it resolved a week or so later.)

Rick “whose cancer surgery was a cakewalk by comparison” Denney

[RenoDoc]

Glad to see you up and around! That's a huge operation!!! Hope rehab continues to go smoothly for you!

[The Big Ben]

Very good news! Good to see you are up and around!

[Mary Ann]

Just some encouragement -- my brother who had a split-the-sternum double bypass a few months ago at age 67 is back playing competitive tennis. You can do it!

[bloke]

truth, though:

When still at the intense pain stage, it's noticeable to the person who's experiencing it.

[MN_TimTuba]

Hi, all!
First, I want to thank those who've posted wishes and prayers, either here or in private messages. It does mean a lot to me!
The past 10 days have had too many ups and downs to document. Briefly - surgery went very well. The day they were going to send me home I had a TIA/Mini Stoke in one eye, so they kept me overnight for observation, sent me home Tuesday the 2nd. Between Thur and Fri I had another 6 TIA strokes at home, so went back to the local ER where I had more scans both with and without dye. No answers. They wanted me to see both a neurologist and a stroke specialist, so that meant a midnight ambulance ride to Fargo. More MRI's there Sat and Sun, no blockages no brain aneurysms, no damage. They sent me home Sunday night. Tuesday I met with my primary care physician here locally, he had some ideas; same afternoon I met with an ophthalmologist/stroke specialist about 2 hrs away. He had ideas but no concrete answers, will be sifting thru information for me. Oh, for a week or more after the surgery I had periodic hallucinations. Nothing freaky or scary or 'demonic', just weird. They have stopped, for which I am glad.
In general I feel almost great. Low energy, but I'm walking our property up to 800 yards at a time a couple times per day. The outdoor walks are great medicine for my mind and soul. I'm usually pretty worn after the walks but will keep it up. I always have a cane or two with me outdoors, only actually use them about half the time. I have these two little exercise things - one you blow, one you suck. My insightful wife said, well why don't you just use a harmonica? So I bought a new one and love it! Most fun exercise plan ever.
The pain of the incision is generally decreasing - only hurts a bunch when I cough, or puts me thru roof when I sneeze. Doc says I most likely have a cracked rib or two in back, from the rib spreading machine, so I often have excruciating pain in back and beneath shoulder blades 3 to 6 or more times per day, lasting up to 10 minutes. Sandy's back massages help mitigate that issue.
I have a weight limit of lbs right now, but I will ask Sandy to hand me my little rotary baryton in a day or two, just to see how it goes. I will be singing with our men's quartet in church this sunday, just one song for offertory. No bass playing for a couple of weeks. I have played guitar for a bit, and that goes just fine. Other than taking a walk or three every day, my energy level is just barely above zero. Doing a lot of resting, napping, taking it easy. Lots of colorful new birds at the feeders.
I think I was going to say more, but I forget.
Although I don't currently post much I do read our Forum almost every day. Keep the fun stuff coming, it does brighten my day.
Thank you all, absolutely sincerely.
Tim

[bloke]

I'm thinking that they almost never track down the cause of a TIA.

Obviously, I don't know what damn thing, but I'm thinking that all that stuff is related to the stress of the surgery and you being put under with anesthesia. Wild guesses from this dumbass include that your body will settle back out and all that stuff will quit happening. It has to be quite unsettling though, particularly combined with the physical pain. You know that we're all with you.