Well, I knew I wouldn't nurse forever, but I didn't think I'd be quitting after less than 20 years. I have talked here before about some health problems and problems with my 16 year old stepson who never really accepted the fact that his dad and I got married, even though we will celebrate 5 years happily married in August.
I was diagnosed with HTN 2 1/2 to 3 years ago and started on meds for it. It didn't improve much and the doc played with meds, doses, that kind of thing. I finally started seeing a new doc that was very close to our house, and was one that a friend of my dh's - one of our local ER docs - suggested I see. She is just wonderful, really worked with me to get better results and some relief. She referred me to a cardiologist who I have been seeing for 2 years or so, and he started new meds, tests, that kind of thing.
He referred me to another cardiologist that performed the EP studies that he thought I needed. Did that, and was glad to get it done, but it the results we got did not help any. The EP studies were negative, but he did find the root of my problem. Turns out, I have the asd - atrial septal defect, and of course was sent to yet another doc. This one resides and works about 5 hours from us. He does travel up here to our city to see some patients every 2 weeks. Of course, he can't do what I need done here because the hospitals don't have and won't purchase the equipment to do so.
I am now in a holding pattern, waiting for the new doc from south Louisiana to get my films and all that and decide if he can fix my problem in his cath lab.
If he can't, then it looks like I will be having it taken care of here in our city. The thing is, it will probably require the open sternotomy incision (I think I'm calling it the right thing) and with it, all the yucky post op cardiac stuff, being on the vent post op, chest tubes, art line, and on and on and on.
That is enough to terrify me, but I have already gotten pulmonary HTN and some of the complications that the asd cause. I can't even walk to the mailbox some days to check the mail. I had been going to the gym and getting on the treadmill, but I can't do that now.
I did quit my nursing job when we started having trouble with my stepson. I kept up my license and CEUs to go back later if I wanted to when he got straightened out. I will be 39 in August, and I can't clean my house. Heck, I can't even take a shower at times without getting short and have to get out and sit and catch my bearth.
Hate to sound negative, but this is just getting me down by now. I've done some research online and I know some places do the minimally invasive surgery - robotic assisted surgery. They don't do that here either, I don't think.
I hope your ASD can be repaired and your PHTN controlled. If they cannot place a patch via the femoral approach, know that open heart surgery, while it is a Very Big Deal, is not the end of the world. Yes, it will take strength and courage, and yes, it is a life changing event. However, it is not an end, but rather, a new beginning. Focus on getting through this phase right now, and maybe someday you can get back into nursing in some role or another. Best wishes to you!
Well, I knew I wouldn't nurse forever, but I didn't think I'd be quitting after less than 20 years. I have talked here before about some health problems and problems with my 16 year old stepson who never really accepted the fact that his dad and I got married, even though we will celebrate 5 years happily married in August.
I was diagnosed with HTN 2 1/2 to 3 years ago and started on meds for it. It didn't improve much and the doc played with meds, doses, that kind of thing. I finally started seeing a new doc that was very close to our house, and was one that a friend of my dh's - one of our local ER docs - suggested I see. She is just wonderful, really worked with me to get better results and some relief. She referred me to a cardiologist who I have been seeing for 2 years or so, and he started new meds, tests, that kind of thing.
He referred me to another cardiologist that performed the EP studies that he thought I needed. Did that, and was glad to get it done, but it the results we got did not help any. The EP studies were negative, but he did find the root of my problem. Turns out, I have the asd - atrial septal defect, and of course was sent to yet another doc. This one resides and works about 5 hours from us. He does travel up here to our city to see some patients every 2 weeks. Of course, he can't do what I need done here because the hospitals don't have and won't purchase the equipment to do so.
I am now in a holding pattern, waiting for the new doc from south Louisiana to get my films and all that and decide if he can fix my problem in his cath lab.
If he can't, then it looks like I will be having it taken care of here in our city. The thing is, it will probably require the open sternotomy incision (I think I'm calling it the right thing) and with it, all the yucky post op cardiac stuff, being on the vent post op, chest tubes, art line, and on and on and on.
That is enough to terrify me, but I have already gotten pulmonary HTN and some of the complications that the asd cause. I can't even walk to the mailbox some days to check the mail. I had been going to the gym and getting on the treadmill, but I can't do that now.
I did quit my nursing job when we started having trouble with my stepson. I kept up my license and CEUs to go back later if I wanted to when he got straightened out. I will be 39 in August, and I can't clean my house. Heck, I can't even take a shower at times without getting short and have to get out and sit and catch my bearth.
Hate to sound negative, but this is just getting me down by now. I've done some research online and I know some places do the minimally invasive surgery - robotic assisted surgery. They don't do that here either, I don't think.
Anne :banghead:
I ve had problems with my daughter (14) and her step dad and she is now not living with us. Dont have any regret about that sometimes its whats best. Hope everything works out.
litbit - Thanks for your response. I certainly do appreciate it. Dh and I have been married almost 5 years, and we dated over a year before that. He has a daughter that is almost 25, and two boys, ages 16 and 11 now. I love them dearly - and have had trouble with only the 16 year old.
We've had him in counseling so many times and many different therapists, both voluntary and court mandated. I know all kids do stupid things, goodness knows I did, but please!!
It's not like his dad and I haven't tried to set a good example for the kids since the boys have been living with us since we got married. Their mom has a lot of "problems", shall we say. Caleb has been in trouble at school multiple times. This years he is flunking 9th grade for the second time. Last year he got expelled for drinking at school (SITTING IN CLASS!)
He's been arrested for theft multiple times, drunk and disorderly, fighting, hitting his mother, ect. It's bad when you can't even remember all the things he has done. He's been to rehab, counseling, detention center, and nothing seems to help. He got into my medications and took some of my meds - Lortabs - and also got caught switching my meds into different bottles. He apparently thought that I wouldn't notice and it would kill me. I guess he didn't realize they have a description on the pills on the bottle.
So, long story short, he went to live with his aunt and uncle when dh tried to get him some help. They finally asked him to leave after he got into a lot of trouble there. From there he went to his mom's house until he got high and threatened to kill her. Then he went back to aunt and uncle's house. There he got arrested again for something else and the PD took him to our local detention center (again).
Please don't think bad of me to say this, but it has been so much more pleasant since he left. No one fighting, no more of our stuff coming up missing, no more physical damage to our home or vehicles. Please know I love him very much, but dh and I just can't deal with it, not while we are trying to deal with my cardiac stuff. He is almost 17 and at that time, he will be responsible for his own actions in the court system. He is living with a friend and the friend's mom, and doing exactly what he wasnt - drinking, smoking, and having sex with any woman he can find.
like I said, we just can't roll over and take it anymore - and the difference in our household has been so remarkable.
litbit - I guess I jinxed us or something talking about the troubled stepson. It's just after 10am here and the school has already started calling us - I just can'r wait to find out what our little angel has done now - he he.
Good luck to you, Anne. You've faced tougher battles in the past, and came out just fine. There's no reason to believe you won't succeed in this battle as well.
Hi Anne,I'm so sorry to hear of your health problems.I can relate to the feelings you're going through.At one time in my life I spent 6 months in the hospital and another year sitting home trying to get strong enough to go back to work.It is a blow to your emotions and self esteem to not be able to do things for yourself.I remember how something as simple as taking a shower could leave me exhausted for the rest of the day.I pray that you will get the care you need and be able to return to normal soon.Try to let the problems with the step son go for now,stress will only make things worse.I know it's hard,believe me I've had my share of problems with my kids too.Best of luck to you.
Hi Anne, I wish you the best with all the trials you seem to be facing.
I don't know if this will make you feel better at all, but I had ASD. I had the surgery, I'm not sure what you called it, but the opened me up from collar bone to the end of my sternum. I was in surgery for a few hours... not sure how long exactly, as I was told this from my mother. After the surgery I spent 2 days in ICU and three days more in the hospital.
I don't remember being too uncomfortable at any time. I even managed to 'disappear' from my room and go hiking around the cardiac unit on my first day out of ICU. By the time I left, I was running around, playing the the play room and begging to go home . At home, I was on routine meds and had routine bandage cleanings and wound cleanings, which really sucked... but I don't remember to well if it was painful or not. However, I do remember that it was like turning on the switch, so to speak. I went from having no energy, always being sick, never being able to go outside and play for along time, or going to visit people (if they had a cold, I got pnemonia), to being able to do all those things and then some.
The only residual effect I've had over the years is that I sometime's have heart palpitations and I have to watch my heart if I'm doing anything crazy, like Karate or swimming... just to make sure I don't over work myself.
My grandfather recently just went through the same thing not too long ago, and before me, his twin brother had the surgery. Both my grandfather and his brother had excellant recovery times and no complications....
So as far as the surgery goes, I wish you the best on you health and the best of luck getting this resolved quickly.
Unfortunatly I don't have any experience with stepsons, or I would give you everything I know. But I do hope things get better for both you and your stepson.
I can only imagine the way you are feeling when you think about having open heart surgery. But,, try to think about AFTER the surgery, when you're able to breathe and walk to the mailbox,, when you can do all these things and you'll be able to look back on the surgery as an experience.. a badge of honor ..
Good luck to you, Anne. You've faced tougher battles in the past, and came out just fine. There's no reason to believe you won't succeed in this battle as well.
Hey Bortaz! Glad to hear from you on this - you always help so much! I don't know , I just don't know if I can do this. I have felt SO bad now for so long. I stay SOB so much of the time. I have trouble even just trying to keep up the housework...
I just don't know if I'm a strong enough person to do this -I have not slept much at all, even after my PCP gave me a script for some Ambien. When I do sleep, I have vivid nightmares, being on the vent without sedation. I'm restrained and bucking the vent. Other ones I am in the OR on the table and the electricity goes off and the emergency generator doesn't kick in, the sternal saw quits working halfway through, and on and on...
I don't think I have EVER been this scared of something. I feel like a baby - I know there is a chance they can take me to the cath lab and plug the defect -I am praying and hoping - I just know I can't continue like this. I HAVE to do somethins.
Well, hang in there and know that thousands of us are pulling for you. Keep in mind the article I wrote about my (then) 4 year old niece Olivia. She went through both a heart transplant AND a subsequent valve replacement, and though she's still not 100% healthy, the last time I saw her she was running and playing with the rest of the kids, hunting Easter eggs. It wasn't easy for her, and won't be for you, but the potential for an excellent outcome is just so high that we have to be happy about it.
:banghead:
. At home, I was on routine meds and had routine bandage cleanings and wound cleanings, which really sucked... but I don't remember to well if it was painful or not. However, I do remember that it was like turning on the switch, so to speak. I went from having no energy, always being sick, never being able to go outside and play for along time, or going to visit people (if they had a cold, I got pnemonia), to being able to do all those things and then some. 
Virgo_RN, BSN, RN
3,543 Posts
I hope your ASD can be repaired and your PHTN controlled. If they cannot place a patch via the femoral approach, know that open heart surgery, while it is a Very Big Deal, is not the end of the world. Yes, it will take strength and courage, and yes, it is a life changing event. However, it is not an end, but rather, a new beginning. Focus on getting through this phase right now, and maybe someday you can get back into nursing in some role or another. Best wishes to you!