Hi, Mary Ann,

I was sorry to hear of this distressing situation that you are dealing with, but got to thinking that maybe that is why your body has not been able to rest yet. As it was trying to deal with the extra fluid, your body was working overtime to accommodate it all. Perhaps now you will get the rest you deserve. I sure hope so. Happy Pentecost to and Gene.

Love ya,
Linda Reske

Thanks for the updates... my prayers for you continue. love marian

Thinking of you Mary Ann, I will be saying extra prayers for your setback.
Safe trip,
Love Harveen

Good Morning Mary Ann
In 5 months of journaling I personally have not heard of this but maybe someone has and they will respond. Even if you're the first the good news is you got early care at your local hospital and will have it taken care of at Mayo. A setback, but a few of us have had setbacks, some more serious than others and went on to make a great recovery and you will too. Prayers for a safe trip and repair.
Fran Z

Dear MaryAnn,
What a bummer! Do not like to hear of your setback. However, you are in good hands and they will correct the problem I'm sure. We will be praying for you. Lots of love, Theresa and Vern

Hi Mary Ann, love reading your updates. Must say it sounds kinda grueling. Hope you get some good shuteye tonight. Tim

Hi Mary Ann,
I have been thinking of you and prayers are also with you from Luverne!
I was glad Lori sent an email about your journal, I have been on "NANA" duties the past 2 days. Anyway take care! I have enjoyed your journal. Glad you are home and hope some of my parayers helped you.
Love ya, Harveen

Hi Mary Ann. I will also be going through heart valve surgery in July & have been following your progress. I notice in your latest post that you mention an inability to sleep. I teach a "Yoga for Better Sleep" series of classes & thought I'd share a breathing exercise that may be of benefit when the Lunesta runs out. I'd suggest running it by your Dr. and sister before trying it just to be on the safe side. The idea is to progressively lengthen the breath, particularly the exhale, which helps activate your parasympathetic nervous system (the rest/digest part of your nervous sytem). If, at any time, this exercise makes you feel anxious or uncomfortable, let it go & return to your natural breath.

1. Lie on your back with your head supported. (if you're using a recliner for sleep, that should be fine) Breathe normally several times, noticing with each breath how it feels to breathe in & to breathe out. When you feel calm & ready, begin step 2.
2. Inhale for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 4. Repeat several times. When you feel calm & ready, begin step 3.
3. Inhale for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 6. Repeat several times. When you feel calm & ready, begin step 4.
4. Inhale for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 8. If an exhalation count of 8 feels too long, either return to your natural breath or stay with the count of 6. Continue for a long as you like or until you fall asleep.

If you are comfortable trying this, I hope it helps & I wish you the very best in your recovery!

Be well - Joy Vera

Hi Mary Ann. I imagine that they intubated you during surgery so your esophagus is probably irritated and that's causing the cough. They still do intubate surgery patients, don't they??? Since we took our training back in the "dark ages" the medical profession as advanced so much that I no longer know what they do. Love, Jeanie

Good Morning, Mary Ann
Your recovery is remarkable. Getting some sleep will help to heal you even faster. Sleep also eluded me and I would take a Vicodan at bedtime to help me fall asleep, but awakened after 3 hours and tossed and turned. Was given a script for Ambien but was reluctant to take it after researching it. What position are you sleeping in? I have an adjustable bed and am sleeping on my back with the head slightly raised. Am sleeping better, but not as well as I wish and it's been 2 months. But then, never was a good sleeper. Are you napping during the day? It's just a bad period we each have to work through. Thank God for sisters!!
Fran Z

Mary Ann,

You sound amazing. And how lucky you have such a neat sister. I'm so happy to hear how well you've done this past week. Your improvement is truly remarkable and an inspiration to all of us getting ready.

What did you mean by "green houses" in your post? Just curious.

Amanda

What wonderful news. You're home and all our prayers have been answered. Now to rest and fully heal. Love ya. Mary C.

Hi Mary Ann,

I wish I could have been there to welcome you home and spell Gene. The good thing is you're home...

I'll see you Sunday.

Love, Kathy

Hi Mary Ann

Reading your detailed journal really says you had a particularly bad time of things. Being sick on top of the pain has to be a dreadful experience. I don't blame you for wanting to get home to your own surroundings and pet. No one feels comfortable stuck in a hotel, especially when you aren't feeling well.

How lucky you are to have a sister who can come and help out a bit. No doubt your husband could use the rest as well. Our caregivers are our best support and sometimes we might forget just how difficult and tiring this trauma is on them as well.

Enjoy your visit with your sister and continue to rise and shine and enjoy the gift you have been given.

Cheryl, Ontario

Hi Mary Ann,
So glad to know you are back in Sioux Falls and recuperating nicely. Those wonderful grandchildren here will be good medicine. We cheer you on the path to recovery. Karel and Joyce Vander Lugt

Hi Mary Ann, glad you are doing well.
You have (silently) been on our mind and in our prayers.
Carla tried to get on you'r facebook, unsucsesfuly surprised myself when I managed.
We leave for R in the Am. W sceduled for surgery Friday. needless to say we have maney people praying.

Hi Mary Ann,
I'm sending you an email about being cautious using Advil and any other NSAIDs while taking Coumadin. Jeanie

Glad to hear you're home. I know Curly Max missed you terribly!

So glad to hear that you are back home. I know what you must have gone through but thank God it is over with and sounds like you were a real trooper.I hope you get stronger each day.Love Joyce Tierney Suddoth

Happy you are home and Gene can putter again, love, Kathy

Hello and Welcome home! So glad you are in your comfort zone! We hope you take it slow and do not overdo anything. It is great that Sharon will be there to help. We continue to keep you in our prayers and hope for a full recovery. This journal has been so helpful to learn about what you have been going through. Keep recovering! Love, Theresa and Vern

Hi Mary Ann,
Glad you are on the road to recovery. Take it easy going home AND take it easy when you get home. Do NOT over do things. Let Gene and others pamper you for awhile.

Lee was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation Dec of 2008. Has been on Coumadin (Warfin) ever since along with a beta blocker. He's done just fine on this treatment. Statistics say that as we get older our atrium tends to enlarge and thus many people end up with atrial fib. The Warfin is a pain in the patoot as you work to get it regulated with your diet but you'll soon manage it. You'll also bruise easily but you can live with that too.

Love, Jeanie

Dear MaryAnn,

Great news that you get to go home. Can't beleve that you healed that quickly but am so glad. Keep on recovering. Sharon told me that she gets to go help you recover at home. That is great. Let everyone around you pamper and wait on you. You will be up and at it in no time. Love, Theresa and Vern

Keep on recovering Mary Ann. The only thing good about it right now is it is behind you. Thank God and we know you are going to be alright. I know it is still going to take a lot of recovering. I have been praying for you every day and also lit a candle. It seems I am always lighting a candle for someone. I can't hardly believe you get to go home so soon. Good thing you have got a good caretaker in Gene. Love you, Kathryn

Hi Mary Ann:

Great news to hear of your quick change from pain. Take good care and relax at home knowing all is well as you return to your lovely home in Sioux Falls surrounded by your wonderful family.

Love, Betty Ann

Love the updates and am SO glad you're feeling/doing well! Seems like you get to go home so soon after something so major, but that's GREAT news!

Chris Zenger

Hi Mary Ann

That's unfortunate that the removal of your chest tubes was so painful but thank goodness it is done and over. Much like Fran said, I too have a high pain tolerance and honestly, never felt a thing other than a kinda wooshing sensation. I was still on pain meds at the time and maybe that helped as well. Perhaps the removal process has something to do with how they are put in to start with.

You are coming home in really good time so I wish you well. There is nothing like returning home afterwards to the sanctity of what is yours and familiar. Then you will truly begin your healing.

Good luck.
Cheryl, Ontario

Yippee, enjoy your own bed and be spoiled awhile.
love, mary t.

Hi, Mary Ann and Gene and Greg,

We again rejoice with you on the removal of the chest tubes. They are so necessary but nasty things. We smile as you move without discomfort once again and can experience some good moments now and then. They will get more plentiful as time goes on. Am sure you will enjoy the motet this time around. Hats off to Gene and Greg for their bedside vigils and newsreporting all through this time! A job well done and well appreciated. We are thinking of you and praying for you as we all take nice deep breaths!


Love ya,
Linda Reske

I have been following your progress and am so happy you finally got rid of that nasty chest tube and are feeling so much better. It sure will be wonderful to be back home won't it? It only gets better and better.
Kay L.

Wow, what a recovery! I am not lying, but having my chest tubes out was not bad at all. I do have a high pain tolerance level and that may be why. Well, it's all past you now and you put your energy into your recovery. Prayers have been answered.
Fran Z

So glad to hear all went well and that you are feeling better! We pray you have a speedy and nice recovery!
Blessings,
Roberta & Roger

Mary Ann,
Nice rebound!! I have been following your progress and am so glad to hear you're doing great!! I was even out at the grocery store and thought, "I wonder how Mary Ann is doin?"
My surgery is going to happen soon (no date yet) and I hope I can be as awesome as you

Amanda

PS I have had a chest tube. It was put in through my sternum. When I woke up from the surgery, I thought they surely opened up my chest because the pain was so intense. No, it was just the chest tube. OOOOWWWWW!!!

Your timing was great, I just sent a whiney note to Greg wondering how you were doing, thanks goodness better, I will stop fretting, love, Kathy

I am so glad you are doing better today. What a relief. It sounds like you will be home on Monday! You know how to make a quick comeback!
I will try to call you a little later today.
Much love,
Sharon and Roger

What a relief to hear you are past that terrible pain. Was surprised to hear you will be discharged and going home so soon. Will continue to pray that all goes well and that each day is better. Love, Marleen

Hi Mary Ann
Hope now that it's one more day post op that you're feeling better and have better pain control. Trust me, a few weeks from now this will all be a blur! Keep us up to date. Praying for your recovery.
Fran Z

I hope today is a better day! We have been praying for you!

With Love,
Connie

2nd & 3rd day always the worst, so praying you feel much better soon!!! Hang in there old chum.
love you, mary t.

Hi Mary Ann

My pulse still is in the low ranges so don't let all that get you worried just yet. Your heart will take time to adjust to the trauma it has been through. Pray you find something that helps with the pain soon because it's really difficult to do your walking and breathing when you aren't comfortable. Keeping you in my prayers.

Cheryl, Ontario

Hi grandma! You were my petition when we asked if we had any to pray for at school! I am glad your surgery went well, but i also hope that your recovery is the same. I watched the video on the side of your home page. It shows the type of surgery you had, but humans did it not robots (i think). We are all driving down to Kansas tomorrow, if my dad hasn't already told you, to pick up Josie. Shes lucky! She gets out 3 days before us!!! No fair! well i guess one day and two half days are okay.
I love you,
~Jackie

Mar mar,
Sorry to hear the pain control isn't going so good! Sydney recommends a spoon full of sugar to go along with the medicine. You are in our thoughts every second!

Love,
Ann Marie, Andrew & Sydney

Mary Ann,
I feel your pain. In my experience the second day after surgery is the worst, and good pain control is essential. Keep asking and trying.

When I was in college, my mother sent a poem to me which I carried around in my billfold for years, and our family used it for Thanksgiving. Your soul is the one the poet is asking for--a greatful heart.

The poem is by George Herbert (1593-1633) a metaphysical poet along with John Donne.

Thou who hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
Not thankful when it pleases me,
As if thy blessings had small days.
But such a heart whose pulse may be thy praise. Carolyn Geyer

Hello,
Can't believe that you are able to write in journal, MaryAnn. It sounds like things are a little more difficult today. Thanks Greg for keeping us posted. We continue to keep everyone in prayers. Love, Theresa and Vern

My thoughts and prayers are with you Mary Ann. Praying the pain gets better and your recovery easier. You are a strong woman!
Jeremiah 30:17
"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,"
Kimberly S.

Just a little blip. Did they put in pacemaker wires during the surgery? They did for me at the Cleveland Clinic and the temporary pacemaker took over for my heart several times post op when it dropped down to 40 beats a minute. Later today and tomorrow will be better, I just know it. Praying for a great recovery.
Fran Z

Just go to show - you can't keep a good woman down! You & Gene remain in my thoughts & prayers. love, marian

You know it's a miracle that all of us aren't as grey as you after the past few days!!And why is it that Jeanie is so knowledgeable regarding narcotics? - maybe all those trips to Mexico.

Anyhow, you did it Roomie. You go girl! Take care of yourself and listen to those nurses even tho they look 12 y.o.

We have a lunch date in Denver and a reunion in '12 so let's make a promise to each other to be there!

Love you mucho, mary

What wonderful news. With all you did before, I can only imagine what you'll be doing now after you've rested for a few days. Warm wishes and big hugs to you.
Mary C.

So thrilled with your last note! It's been a very long two days for all who love you. John Bylsma even called at 8 AM worried as he hadn't seen a light on at your house.I too remember heart surgery many year ago..thankfully I then spent time with DeBakey so know there have been great strides since our student nurse days. Tomorrow it's off to Haiti. I'll see you the 24th. Love Kathy and Gil