IM BACK!!!

Finally!!! after most things in the hospital went to plan i have got home signifficantly earlier than expected and recovered much faster than anyone thought possible at the time. Great to be home as hospital food, beds, SOME patients and just the place and atmosphere in genral was TERRIBLE. Fortunatley don't remember virtually anything until last tuesday though and maybe even wednesday. Body clock and everything was knocked around a heap through this time though.

A brief explination:
Mon: Flew out to Melbourne.
Tues: First time to hospital, tests and crap all day, admitted to my discust to be taken off all medication and put on drips.
Wed: Most boring day ever, still well but in hospital with drips in my arm. Good to get visit from cousin and good mate though.
Thurs: Surgery very early morning after a shocking sleep. Ended up not going completely how planned and took almost 14 hours.
Fri:Out for full day in ICU, opened eyes for first time very last that night apparently.
Sat: Still in ICU, not much changed.
Sun: Came out of ICU late in day to normal cardiac ward, nothing much changed either.
Mon: Good day, drank for first time (coke) and had TWO WHOLE spoon fulls of jelly. Unfortunatley that night i vomited all night and had a very bad one which resulted in me loosing the affect of my first dose of medication as well. Took me off another drug which was very affective pain relief post operative, however also made me very sick.
Tues: Prity standerd day, was comfortable and nothing to much happend. That night chest drains and that were taken out and i was stitched up which made a HUGE difference.
Wed: All of a sudden this was a major rurning point and i was walking and eating this day for first time.
Thurs: Improvement but once again prity standerd and was comfotable. Also saw out a window and outside for the first time.
Fri: AMAZINGILY let back to the motel and big improvement. Just great to get out the hospital and everything. Ovcourse the first thing i did even before being let out that day was when the drips were taken out i headed straight to the hospital park to get outside. Sleep wasnt great but better than in hospital. Caught a taxi the 400M back to the motel.
Sat: Relaxing day saw friends, family etc. Still had to go back to hospital though.
Sun: Relaxing day saw friends, family etc. also got to go the the Melbourne Zoo.
Mon: Relaxing day saw friends, family etc. Still had to go back to hospital though. + discharged formally which was awsome. Also got out of motel to stay at families place for the night which was great.
Tues (today): Once again just a blood test and then came home which is great.

(P.S: ICU stands for the Intensive Care Unit by the way and this runs 24 hours a day flat out. I saw it for the first time today to meet the people who had looked after me over the many years i've actually had of surgery. Never seen it before and was prity comfronting really)

Bloody brilliant news Bubs,

Glad to hear all is well.

Better watch out guys, the boy'll be firing on all cylinders soon

what happpened to you that took 14hrs. of surgery??glad to hear your fine and don't you just hate the smell of the hospital every inch of it

Well i didn't put it in because i thought most wouldn't quite understand but i'll give it my best go. It was most likely going to be a 6-8-10 hour surgery anyway without these other things making it more difficult. Thats as accurate as they could be though as they really had no idea what exactly would be involved, just guidlines and a job description.


Reason 1:
Because i have had an artificial valve for so many years now (since i was 9 months, but the last one put in at 5 years old) the arteries/veins in the heart had gradually become smaller and gummed up just like the valve was because it was so small. This lead to the surgan having to do a lot more "unanticipated" work which took quite some time. However this is another thing that would have contributed to me getting very tired leading up to the surgery and should make a HUGE difference when i fully recover.

Reason 2:
They did not think they would have to replce the leads that lead from the pacemaker to the heart but it the end thy did and this is quite time consuming.


Not idea about how long i will be off the water for either. Will keep you imformed though. Might have to start with a VERY light sail though. I am told when fully recovered i should notice signifficant difference and Dad said the last time i had surgery (5 years old), i came home a different kid and it was just amazing the improvement. That time was not planned surgery however, i did colapse at school and was air ambulanced to Melbourne. Should still be good this time though hoopefully.

Cheers
Bubs

well done bubs!

all the best.

also well done to your parents. i imagine they are very proud of the way you've handled things.

Was just walking to my puter thinking - where's Bubs...

Good one fella... Welcome back!

Welcome back Bubs, doesn't surprise me at all that you're recovering faster than the experts expected. I'm sure it's got a lot to do with attitude to life, good on ya mate, hope you're also back on the water faster than anybody expects.

so you're the first bionic windsurfer.am intrigued you look at sailing as your sport where others would probably be backgammon by now...maybe nebbian can figure a way to boost the amperage of your pacemaker for those sick contorted jumps...cool

Good to hear everything went off without a hitch and you are back fighting fit.

Best of luck with everything bubs you have an amazing attitude to life beyond your years.

Well done Bubs, hope you get better soon.

I could have bought some Fish'n'chips up to the hospital for you, but a Hamburger with the lot, and a pineapple fritter probably would not have been too good for you straight after the operation.

Actually, the speak of food makes me feel hungry, I'm going to throw some scallops on for morning tea, yum.

Bubs, you missed Richiefish Day www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=36810 which was good. When you are better, and up to it, we can have a Bubs Day.

Onya Bubs. Happy for you and hope you get back on the water soon.
Feel for ya mum and dad, as a parent its the worst time.

Awesome News Bubs! Cant wait to see you and the fam.

You timed it quite well with the wind here, its been dead calm for weeks!

Will try and catch up with you soon!

Back in action! Good new mate.

Great stuff Bubs! You are inspiring. Take your time recovering properly. There has only been a few puffs lately anyway.
Susie

A feel good day all round, seeing your post. Great that ists all good, and your on the right track to recovery.

Look forward to seeing your first "on water day post"

Mineral