Christine's Journal

hello, I am three weeks out, doing well. I had a pulmonary valve replacement, RvOT patch and PFO closure. my questions are related to fatigue and nausea. one day I am doing well, going strong, only ibuprofen and Tylenol. next day I am in bed for a nap and nausea hits me midmorning and stays.

Hello: I am having PV replaced in one month at Lucille Packard, by Dr. Stanley. He is a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon and is doing this because this is a pediatric congenital problem. I'm 48, had a repair done at 8 months at Walter Reed Army Hospital in 1966.I am having a porcine valve replacement. So far I can't find anyone who has had this same situation, they must be out there. I think it is pretty straight forward. I am a pediatric nurse myself, so of course I have scared myself silly about many things. I do have a lot of questions, mostly about recovery. Questions: How long are/were you off work? did you go back to full duty? I work full time 12 hour shifts and have recently gone to modified. I spent the last four years in some denial over the enlargement of my heart and the regurgitation, attributing my fatigue to many things. My cardiologist even had an autoimmune work up done. I am in right heart failure, so labs are fine, I;m tired because my heart is huge, getting stiff, and not pumping well. Lasix and BP meds help. Very frustrating. Stanford took one look at my case and said yes, surgery is needed. I wish I had done this four years ago when my symptoms really showed up. When could you drive? work full time? full duty? Thank you in advance!