OMG, I miss you! For so many reasons but mostly because nobody else can find a song that matches every stupid thing I say. Right now you would be singing :Every little thing she says is magic." lol. Well, I am happy you are doing well and feeling a tiny bit better with each new day. (Day by day, day by day, oh sweet Lord, these things I pray)...Sheez, it is just coming out, I am not planning it. It's like you are still here with me. I am sorry if I sound goofy, I actually mean it. I miss you! God, please, make it end! (We've only just begun, to pledge...) SCREAM!

Selma, I had an appointment the other day and the Dr. also said all was quite in the murmur department. So yeah that is a great feeling eh? Hope you are doing well, and taking it easy still. No need to rush things like I did. I just finished my first week back to work and everything is great. I felt a little better every day.. Oh and yes...Naps. Lots and lots of Naps. Problem is I have gained 10 lbs. Now I have to go on a diet already. Ha! So watch how you eat and exercise, as you heal. God Bless.
Paul G.

Hi Selma-
I havent been watching too much tv or reading much. Just trying to walk and rest, visit.
What is the med for?
Do you work and if so do you have a planned return date?
The wine sounds good:)
Hope we get an update on Nancy soon...
Karen

The cough will go away. What a wimp runnIng to the dr

Yea It was frustrating. But again. Patience. It's great to feel great Give it all some time lady.

I never had weird skin tho

Your pen pal. Nancy. St Louis 2/9/12. Ave.

Hi Selma,
I had the weird skin too! It just sort of rolled off all over. I attributed it to not showering for a week. Whatever......it was gross, but it went away.
Glad you are doing well.
Deb Ziegler

Great news Selma!!! Glad you are feeling and doing so well. I read the Hunger Game Trilogy in one week, I was so bored!! Keep up the good work!
Holly P

Hi Selma,
Thanks for your note(s). Glad you are doing well! I am pretty tired today; did my 15 minute walk and that was it... no 10K for me this month. How DO they do it?? :)
I was wondering, too... have you had any shoulder/collarbone pain? Someone told me it was the way I was holding my arms when I walk (i.e. tense..not swinging them naturally).. but I have a fair amount of collarbone pain from time to time.. just wondering if it's just me...
Anyway, so glad to see your post and best wishes always! Kate R

Getting Bob off of Coumadin will make me happy, but don't want to compromise his outcome! You are hysterical. Dark films eh?

Great to read your update and to see you are doing well. "We all heal at our own rate" Very well put! Continue doing what feels right to you and you will continue to do fine. Walks are great, keep it up. Be well. - Mitch Friedman

Oh Selma....I had the same flaky thing. I posted in my journal about needing some lotion. Just take a look at my pictures. Did you have robotic? I can;t remember. If you did yeah they paint you with that orange stuff and then lay a piece of this plastic on you when they cut into you. this plastic sort of melts to you with the orange stuff. So when they take it off it leaves a bad skin burn if your sensitive to it. I sure was. Once again look at my pictures. and those were a week later. Took about a week after that to heal and not itch.. Glad to hear you are up and walking. One comment I will say is to watch your blood pressure. If your getting light headed like I was my BP was way too low and I hd three or four mini-strokes. TIA or low flow strokes. That is why I am on Coumadin now. If I was laying down and got right up I damned near passed out. Too low BP. Keep checking. I had the lights in the eyes and tingling fingers too. Just just a heads up on the BP. Great to get back to somewhat normal though isn't it? Keep on healing, and God Bless.
Paul G.

Hi Selma-
Glad to hear you are ok out in NY. I know nothing about the peeling skin. I have experienced some eye floaters and finger numbness that passed quickly.
My heart rate was opposite issue, lower than 60, but is now regulated. VNA to confirm when they visit this afternoon. Phoned Nancy B yesterday so that was a nice chat. Keep the updates coming and hope to be able to meet in the near future.
Karen

Selma! glad to hear you are doing ok and healing. I never had any kind of rash, it's probably some kind of an allergic reaction to "something"!!! Hope it heals quickly. My resting heart rate has also been slightly elevated since surgery, it runs mid 80s and sometimes 90s. They say it takes a while for the heart to heal and to get that heart rate back down, so I'm trying to not worry about it! I still have some numbness in areas too, and hope someday I will have that feeling back! Good to hear from you!
Holly P

Hi Selma. You remind me that my fingers were tingly for a couple of months after. It will likely all sort out. Walks around town sound great. Peace -- DVB

Selma,

Good to hear things are going well.

Trent V

Hi Selma, Nice to hear from you again. Glad you are doing ok and got rid of some of those nasty symtoms. But I think you gave me some of the dizziness. I had that today hardly could get my shower and in church kept bumping into people. I feel like I have been on that cheap booze kick again lol. And I dont even drink. Oh well keep up the good work.
For the long haul
Linda H

Hi Selma, glad you are doing so well. Keep up the good work. Keep doing the breathing exercises and walking. No worries on the no visitors, of course I totally get it. Be well.

-Mitch Friedman

Hi Selma,
thanks for the tip of the neck pillow as my surgery is coming up soon. Also I just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed following your progress and reading your very well written posts (love your style) and your sense of humor. I'm sure the latter helps alot in these situations.
I also noted that you and several others have talked about dizziness after surgery and I thought you might like to know about a product called DMG (dimethyl glycine) which is available at good health food stores (not GNC). It gets more oxygen to the brain and mountain climbers use it alot and people who have to be at high altitudes and are not accustomed to the thinner air. They are small white pills that you place under your tongue and they dissolve quickly...you can even chew them if you like.
Also for scars I recommend NELSON'S CUTS AND SCRAPES....it's a cream and also available at health food stores.....very healing and I use it for lots of things.
I hope you continue to do so well at home and I know it must be a bit unsettling to be "on your own" after being so closely watched in the hospital. But it does sound like you have good support at home. I won't have anyone with me when I get home, but I do have wonderful neighbors who will look in on me from time to time and hopefully make me dinner as I hate to cook.
Take care and be well,
Joan Davenport 6/12/12 AVR

Thanks for the tip. I made myself a note on the microwave neck pillow.

Karen

Selma,

I am so glad you are home and on the mend. Best wishes.

Rob Tucker

Selma, glad to hear you are doing so well! It feels so good to have it over with, doesn't it. I think all of us experience that nagging feeling of worry, that something didn't go right, or that the repair/replacement won't "hold". We probably will for the rest of our lives!! As far as your EKG, have your cardiologist fax it or send it to Dr. Adams so they can compare with the ones they have on file for you. I never even had a follow up EKG done... just chest xray and echocardiogram, which will be on Thursday. Are you having any chest pain? (besides the incisional/sternal pain). If not, I wouldn't worry about it. Are you on any BP meds? that may be the reason for your feelings of dizziness and being light headed. Glad you are feeling so well otherwise!!! Keep it up!
Holly P

Sounds like you are doing really well, but I liked your sense of humor when you were feeling lousy.

Enjoy your recovery time as before you go back to work.

Jerry V

Selma,
I would call Dr. Adams office and voice your concern. Maybe they could put you at ease.
Take Care,
Theresa C.

Selma,
Your get up and go is inspiring.
I am sorry your f/up appt. was not all that you had hoped for. My appt. is Thursday; here's to hoping.
I am glad you mentioned your migraines; I've had 3 "shimmery" type migraines since I've been home. Further, I 've had a low grade headache off and on all day today. Someone has told me to count to 10 after you stand up and before you move.... It helps. Best wishes, I'll let you know how my appt goes... KR

Abnormal EKG...hmmmmm...I would wonder about that too. BUT if you have faith in your cardiologist and he isn't worried...try not to either. Sorry....it would bug me a little bit too. I still have difficulty believing I'm really fixed, lol!
Linda Dixon

Hi Selma,
Glad to hear you're doing well.
I'd guess that the Wobblies are due to the lingering affect of anesthesia. I've heard that it takes a while to get out of your system.
Are you able to drive? I was told I'd be able to drive after a week. Whether that meant one week after surgery or one week after discharge, I don't know.
I can't answer your question about the abnormal EKG. Is your local cardiologist someone you saw before surgery? Did you make that appt before your surgery? Just curious....I'm not sure if I'll be going back to my own cardiologist or traveling to Yale for follow ups.
I hope others have a better guess at your EKG dilemma. I thought I'd heard abnormal heart beat is normal right after surgery.

Take care,
Nancy B

Selma,

I continue to enjoy reading your journals! Guess all of us pick certain HVJers to follow around so to speak.

Still trying to decide whether our old home recliner will do the trick, and whether or not to have it moved to the upstairs bedroom (in lower level den right now, but that is where the TV is and the walk out onto the patio, so am tempted to leave it right where it is.) Any advice on that?

Am still trying to get over the URI, on a very strong antibiotic just as backup, can't sleep at times, and then sleep around the clock. Am trying to discipline myself on that. This extra wait has increased the anxiety a bit, I will admit.

But keep up the good work; you are a good role model!

Vel T.

Guest quarters.?? Did I see guest quarters.?? Party at Selma's !!!!

Pix look great. Dalit to NYC late die to weather sitting in admiral club.

Later. And don't pick anything up Til 3 things drop. LOL

N.

Hi Selma,
Thanks for the contact. Enjoy your down time while you recover ... it sounds like you have a good spirit and lots of loving support. Make the best of it. My recovery was punctuated by an additional week of hospitalization due to infection (see my journal - David Budd).

I had to chuckle with sad familiarity at your reviews of hospital food. Why can't health care organizations get it right when it comes to nutrition? It seems that they go out of their way to present horrible unappetizing food to those who most need tasty vitamin-rich meals.

I hope you continue to have a smooth recovery.
-David Budd

Great pics, Selma. Thanks for sharing. Your room looks relaxing. Have you been able to make it to bed and if so do you have stairs to climb or have you been on the first floor and/or in a recliner?

hey lady... we'll make it back again to see you...

mitch in vegas... but we did hook up (is that a good word? ) in Ct. at Mohegan Sun a few weeks ago. Great guy.

ok.. lay low for a while.. let 'em wait on you .. and in 3 months you'll be whizzing around. !

hugs, N

Glad you are home, nothing like being in your own space.

Trent V

Selma,

On 5/9/12 I too had mitral valve repair. I found your way of explaining hospital recovery very familiar, you have a very good way with words and they will be helpful to all who read your journal posts. Thanks for the encouragement.

Wes P.

Welcome home. Be a good patient

Am in NYC. Mon - wed. Too bad you're house bound !

Will call later. Enjoy. Each day gets better

Hugs. Nancy. St Louis. Avr 2/9/12

Great to hear you are home and doing well. Coffee.....Caffeine? My heart would be doing the jitters if I had any coffee. That is why I a on BETA blockers. Lucky you. Coffee....mmmmmmm.....
Take care of yourself and don;t try to do too much now that you are home. Let the family do for you what you have done for them. You deserve it. God Bless.
Paul G.

Hi Selma Glad everything is going good for you. The cat will get over it. Shes probably mad at you for leaving her or him. My cat always ignores us if we leave for a while but they get over it.. Is was sad about Cindy. I really lover emailing her she was so sweet. I had a very emotional day that day when I read it. Of course that doesnt take much these days knowing we are all in the same boat. Take care.
For the long haul
Linda H

I'm still very sad about Cindy too. It must have been pretty upsetting for you being surgery sisters. I'm having a hard time separating between mourning for her and staying positive for my own surgery. Her last email to me was so hopeful.

On a positive note, I live in the country too and look forward to recouping on my back deck, listening to the birds chirp with a cup of coffee and strolling through the woods on the trails my husband has made. I'm just getting the flowers and veggies planted so I'll have them to tend to all summer. I hope I feel well enough to get it all done. All of you mitral regugitators that breeze through surgery have been an inspiration. Thanks for that!

Nancy B

Selma:
Home is heaven! Thank you for your guestbook message, my husband was a rock through the whole process for both surgeries. I'm jealous! You got narcotics; they wouldn't give me any; which is too bad, I'm not sure though if it would have helped me, though I had no filter for quite awhile. My husband had to be careful where he took me because I would just blurt out what ever opinion that popped in my head. I did get better over time but do notice some residual issues :-).

The dreams last for months! So interesting though; it is amazing how many drugs you are given for surgery and in ICU. Have your husband take pictures through your recovery, I know I used that as a measure of my progress: looking horrible the first few weeks post surgery and then more myself later.

Recovery involves things you notice and things you don't and it all seems to move along at a slow pace but of course your body knows best. At 5 1/2 months, I still have a small hematoma on my right leg (from scar tissue from the 1st surgery--bi-pass machine hook-up) and if I get up or move too quickly I get that weird wavy feeling. Walking is the best, though. And spring is here, being outside is magnificent.
Gayle Dudley-Coe

Good morning Selma-

First and foremost congrats on 10 hrs of uninterrupted sleep!

I have also been turned off by the thought of no shower. I am planning on bringing dry shampoo (not sure how good it is) and def some lavender scented baby wipes.

I woud think that food might not be so great. After the throat tube and trauma to the chest I could see where things might take a while to get back to good.

I am looking forward to receiving my heart pillow as I understand you need it for coughing, etc.

We have 3 cats, all of which cuddle and purr. The baby (maybe 5 months) will most likely be the one who cuddles most.

I hope you are able to get outside, even briefly, to enjoy this beautiful weekend we have in store.

Hope that this time next week they will have me up for my first steps and eating...

Karen

Sorry, I forgot to sign my name on the post below.

Gayle Dudley-Coe

Hi, Selma:

I also had Dr. Adams as my surgeon for my mitral valve re-repair on December 6th of last year. My first surgery was robotic, in Spokane, Washington in January of last year. Dr. Adams kindly called it a "technical failure" . His skill and expertise were awesome. We traveled 3,000 miles to NYC and even though I had complications (due to the scar tissue from the first surgery) the cardiac team just handled it. And the staff on 7W was fantastic.I feel so grateful! I even have one of Dr. Adams' angioplasty rings. It took me 21/2 months of living in a recliner (my post-op nest) before I could transition back to work, part-time at first. Good luck with your recovery. Looking forward to reading your updates!

Hey we have possums here in SC too. In fact when I was walking not to long one was taking a permanant nap if you know what I mean. Not very pleasant after a few days. Oh well thats the country.
Take it easy and dont over do.
For the long haul
Linda H

Congratulations!
I'm very glad for you.

Nancy B

Selma,

You are so fortunate to have this behind you. I am still on "hurry up and wait" with a re-scheduled date of the 31st.

Hope that Stewart is a good cook and/or you have a lot of good restaurants to pick from back home. My husband told me I was going to be eating some of the best canned vegetables money could buy...oh!

Vel Turner

Way to go Selma! So glad to hear you are heading home. I hope you heard I was going to visit you last weekend, but you were not ready. Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you. Home is a great place to be! - Mitch Friedman

Good for you! Glad you are going home, now take it easy and don't try to do things too fast!! Good luck with your first night not in a hospital bed!!! It's tricky. Remember to eat protein!!
Holly P

Glad to hear you are on your way home. What a beautiful day for a ride, though I am sure at this point you would have welcomed a rainy ride :)

Yea you broke loose from all that wonderful food. Anyway welcome back home. Good luck to you have a nice day.
For the long haul
Linda H

LOOK OUT WORLD, HERE SHE COMES!!!!!! :-)

YOU'RE FIXED!!
Linda Dixon

Not sure who wrote this but no, it looks alike I won't be home today. :-(. Maybe tomorrow? Hurry up and wait.

Good Morning Selma!
Are they letting you come home today? Do you want chicken soup or mac and cheese?
I have jello!