Diana's Heart Valve Journal

Its been a while since I posted on here, and thought I should give an update of things.
I'm doing fabulous. I feel great, back to doing normals things. The extreme pain I was experiencing that put me in the hospital back in October of 2010 I think was due to my incison. My incision became a keloid, very painful and itchy. This past November I finally had had enough and went to a dermatologist where she injected the incision with steriods and WALAAA....no more pain, no more intense itching, and the incision itself has deflated. Its still very wide and pretty red yet, but that doesn't bother me. As long as the pain and itching are gone. I can deal with the rest. I've been putting on some vitamen ointments to help with the redness, too. We'll see what happens with them. And, since I've had the keloid treated, no more intense pains in my shoulders and chests. So, makes you wonder if it was all connected somehow. Don't know!
Life has continued on the norm. Those of you that are waiting for your surgery. Believe me, it gets better, and the surgery was a piece of cake. There are a couple of things that you have to remember once you have the surgery. Patience, patience, patience,......oh and did I mention patience. Your going to have ups and downs, it goes with the territory. But, you will notice that in time, your ups out number your downs, until you have all ups, and hardly any downs. It does get better and you will feel as good as new. But, it takes time.
Had an echo a month ago and it was unremarkable. Good to hear!!! Had a CT Scan and everything looked good there, too. I have a follow up with the cardiologist next month and I should be good for a year. I did change cardiologists recently, only because to see my old cardiologist I had to travel a good distance. Where, the new one is very close to where I live and he treated me when I was in the hospital in October of 2010, right after my surgery. I liked him, so decided to go with him.
I'll be popping in from time to time to read everybody's posts, but I have to admit, I've been negligent in posting because I've been so busy. Life back to normal.
Love you all, Diana

I went to see the Rheumotologist June 2nd and I was very impressed with him. He looks like a Duggy Houser, very young. He spent over an hour with me, and gave me some scenerios. He ordered more blood work, a Sed rate, Rheumatoid Factor and several others. When I was having a flare in my shoulder, my Sed rate went up to 34, and now that I'm not in a flare, Sed rate was back to 15. Other blood work came back good. My Ferritin did not. Normal is between 75 - 150, mine was 283. He put in a standing order for another blood workup that I'm to have done when I'm in a flare again, to compare. And he also gave me a script for prednizone that I'm to take after the blood work to see if it stops the flare. I go back to him in July for a follow up. He said the blood work shows that there is something definately going on, but we have to find out exactly what it is. Can take time to figure it all out. So far, I have not had a flare for about a month. According to the history of when it hits, I'm due for one very soon. Time will tell. I'm wondering if I inherited something from the blood transfusions I got during surgery. Is that possible? I didn't have this problem before surgery. Makes you go......hummmmmmmm!
I'll keep you all up to date. Have a wonderful summer.
Diana

Well, yesterday was 1 year since my surgery. Thought about it all day and remembered how scared I was. So many thoughts rolling in my mind. I feel 100% better than I did then. I can't tell you how wonderful I feel. But I know you all know what I'm talking about. AND.........TADA!!!!!! I ride my motorcycle yesterday for the first time to mark my one year anniversary. It felt wonderful, I was afraid that I would forget how to ride, its been so long, but it was just like I rode yesterday, didn't even skip a beat. Going to a nice ride tomorrow and I can't wait.
Went to the rheumatologist yesterday. I like this one a lot better. He spent a long time with me and did some more blood work and we'll see where it goes from there. I see him again in 6 weeks, plus he ordered prednizone to take when the attacks hit to see if that will help. I think he has a few ideas of what it could be, but it will take time to sort through it all.
To all of you that are facing this surgery in the future. Do not fret about it. It really is a piece of cake. Sure, you have some ups and downs, but as time goes on, your ups are way more than your downs.
You are all on the right site when it comes to support, caring and love. You will get everything that you need here and then some.Hang in there, don't be afraid, and you will be amazed to how wonderful you feel when its all said and done.
Everybody enjoy this wonderful weather we are experiencing and I will check back in a few weeks.
Love to you all,
Diana

Well, almost a year since my surgery and things are really coming along. We have our motorcycles in the shop to get them ready for riding season. Won't be long now.
I'm heading to a rheumatologist again June 2, the 1 year anniversary of my surgery. Still having problems with severe chills, fever and shoulder,arm pain from time to time. Family doctor is really leaning towards a auto immune problem, and since I have a couple already, whats another one, right? We shall see.
Otherwise, I feel wonderful. Incision still bothers from time to time, and found out that my incision is a keloid and will be that way. You can google it. Other than itching and sore from time to time, its not too bad at all. Don't think I'll do anything about it right now. If it gets worse, there are a few options I can consider. But its good for now.
We're all settled in our new house, had a beautiful deck built and looking to do some finishing in the basement. Make a man cave for Dwight.
Started on Weight Watchers and doing pretty good with that. Lost 10 pounds so far. Its slow, but a really easy diet to follow. Jennifer Hudson is right, it works!
Everybody enjoy your summer. I'm looking forward to some really nice motorcycle rides this year. And we are going to start our shooting activities again. Things are back to normal.
I will let everybody know what the rheumatologist has to say.
Diana