I'm BACK! With a new aortic valve!
The TAVR went great. I checked into the hospital at 5:30 AM Tuesday, taken into surgery about 7:30, into Post-Op about 9:45, and into my hospital room by 11 AM.
The anesthesia was the conscious awareness type - while I did doze off for part of the procedure, while they were placing all the lines going into me, I woke up while the surgeon was explaining to the team what they were going to do. There were five things in my blood vessels - an IV in each arm, a port for a blood pressure monitor in the right wrist (that directly measures the blood pressure in the artery), the port for the TAVR in the right femoral artery, and another one in a vein on the other side of my abdomen that I never got the purpose of.
When the surgical team (there were five of them) briefed my husband they said everything went smoothly, no complications. For me the worst part of the entire thing was at the end when I was coming out of sedation and they were using pressure to make sure there would be no bleeding - on each side of my very full bladder! They don't like to use catheters because of the chance of infection, so I just had to suffer.
The next most painful part was the next four hours - to prevent bleeding I had to keep my legs and hips straight. My lower back didn't like that and after the first two hours started spasming. Meanwhile I got my first experience using a bed pan.
As soon as I was permitted to move, I had the nurse help me to the bathroom. This turned out to be a mistake. I took care of my business and started to feel woozy. The nurse had stepped out so I called my husband in. He came in, reached for my hands, asked why I was so pale. The next thing I knew, there were five people in the bathroom, none of them my husband, and a whole crowd more in the entrance and in the hallway.
I had had a "vagal" or vasovagal syncope and the heart monitor had sent out the panic signal to the entire hospital! Most likely there was an electrical disruption so my heart momentarily stopped. Fortunately I was seated and my husband was right there so I didn't fall and get other problems. Until yesterday morning, I used the porta potty chair that we put next to the bed so I didn't have to move very far.
Yesterday my goal for the day was to go to the bathroom without fainting and to get a shower. I managed the first goal very early. Then I sat up as much as possible, walked up and down the hall, and tried to do as much as I could to get back to normal. I did so good they checked me out mid afternoon. I was tired when I go home and have been mostly sleeping. I took a nap, had a shower (our shower is much larger and better for when help is needed than the one in the hospital), and had dinner, all in between more naps.
I am not running out of breath like I had been. I am tending to list to the left when I walk but I am getting steadier. Before they approved my release they did the basic tests for stroke and I was cleared on that score. The sleeping is my normal reaction to injury and surgery, the way my body heals.
The week after Thanksgiving I should have the next two procedures - taking out the kidney and repairing the hernia. After that my husband an I have a goal - New Year's Day we want to go to St. Marks Wildlife Refuge and go birdwatchin!
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I'm glad everything is moving in the right direction. 
Day at a time...
Rest when you need to. 
Thank you for your good news. Birdwatching, what a lovely thing to look forward to!
Here are some native birds for you. I dont have an image account anymore so here"s a link. Your courage and positivity is awesome 
What a positive, beautiful spirit and attitude you have! 
Welcome to our latest "bionic" Duer!
So good to hear from you and all is going so well.
Take lots of naps - sleep is the best medicine.
Wishing you the best!
Pictures or it didn't happen!
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Naps, naps and more naps post op are good things. Glad you're home.
Sleep as much as you need. Hope you will be feeling better every day and ready for your New Year's Day birdwatching!
What kind of valve do you have? Wishing you a speedy recovery, with lots of naps.
I hope you have good luck with the other two as well. Should we be looking for birdie pictures after the New Year? 
Take care and carry on!
Just take things slowly and don't overdo it, but it really sounds like you're already better! And your husband sounds like a peach! Thanks so much for checking in and I have no doubt you'll make it to your awesome birdwatching refuge on New Year's! We're all behind you... 
Happy to hear things went well. Here's to bird watching! 
you're approaching it head on with determination to get it all behind you. Cheers to your husband who's been by your side throughout!
Welcome back!
