About Me and My daVinci Surgery

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

I have never written a blog before or read one, but figured I would write one now to document this crazy time in my life. On November 11, 2008, I am having the daVinci Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery to repair my mitral valve. Let me back up by giving the long boring details leading up to this. When I was about 12, I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse. This is actually a pretty common syndrome. A lot of people have it. My Mother and Grandmother have/had it. I also have a handful of friends who have it too. My only requirement was that I had to take antibiotcs before any dental procedure to prevent bacteria from getting into my blood stream, causing Endocarditis, an infection of the mitral valve. Well, when I was 26, I became VERY sick with flu like symptoms. I was convinced I had a rare disease, but Dad took blood and with his suspicions, sent me to an internal Med Doctor who confirmed what Dad thought-yep-the very rare, you will never get, Endocarditis. Five days in the hospital and 6 weeks of IV antibiotics later, I was cured. The valve was a little more scarred, but I could not tell any difference. On a funny note, I had just started dating Michael at the time. Can you believe what he thought about dating this sicky girl on IVs...and he married me anyway!

When I was pregnant with Hunter, I had a hard time catching my breath. I was diagnosed with anxiety and put on Prozac. If you have ever been on Prozac, you are on cloud 9 and I felt better right away. When Hunter was 6 months old, I was still having a little trouble with the breathing thing, so I decided to go check out my heart just to be sure since I had not been in a few years. I went to a Doctor on my plan who after an EKG told me I had severe regurgitation in my valve and would have to have open heart surgery and decide if I wanted a pig valve or a mechanical valve and there would be 3 months where I could not lift more than 2 pounds. Let me re-iterate-I had a 3 year old and a 6 month old. Needless to say I flipped out! A week later, I had a camera down my throat. The Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Emory told me it was not that bad yet and there was a new surgery coming out where they would be able to repair the valve with gortex stitches by going through the ribs on my right side. Here I am now-3 years later. The minimally invasive robotic surgery will be performed by Dr. Douglas Murphy at St. Joe's. You can go to their website and search the daVinci robotic surgery if you are bored enough or interested enough! I have been put in contact with my new best friend and "Leonardo Sister", Jane Robelot, who had the surgery 2 years ago and it is documented on the website too. She has been a huge help in telling me what to expect. It sounds like it will be a breeze -ha! If heart surgery can be a breeze.

Tomorrow I have my pre-op and will know more and post it. I know now that I will be in the hospital 3-7 days and in ICU for the first 24 hours because I will have a tube in my lung. They will stop my heart and have a catheter in my artery in my neck. Jane said her worst pain was a lung cramp when she first woke up and the "stab wounds" being right at the bra area. After that is about recovery. Dr. Murphy asked Michael to be off work for a week after my surgery, but I know I am expected to start walking immediately, so I will not be bed-ridden-I don't think. That was the part I was sort of looking forward to-being a Mom of a VERY active 3 and 5 year old-that sounds a little too heavenly. I am actually mostly worried about Michael and the boys. I have been on a girl's trip for a couple of days before and let me just tell you-he was ready for me to get back to work!! This is seriously going to be a crazy shake up in the Bryant house! I think he can handle it though (with a lot of help from Honey and Mimi)!