Damn. Sorry to hear that Steve. That's the second round of bad news here on HVJ that i've read in the last hour. Hoping this is just a bad echo or an overestimate on the amount of leakage. Will keep an eye out for your next update and wish you the best.

-Tom

Glad your echo got moved up! How did it go? It's good to see that you are doing so well and back to work, but don't over-do it! Each week gets better!
Holly P

Hi Steven-

Glad to hear you are progressing well and had an enjoyable vacation. Where did you go?

I am slated to see cardio and work doc today than surgical followup on Monday and hope to be back to work Tues after 7 wks post-op.

I too have a pre-planned, paid and approved vacation coming in 4 wks. We will head to Misquamicut Beach in RI where we will share a cottage with another family. We have been doing this for 18 yrs now and really look forward to it. My friend who joins us is having his defibillator replaced this coming Monday so we will both be in various stages of recovery.

Let us know how your echo goes. I hope they do one today on me.

Karen Campo

Great to hear you are doing well Steven. Good luck on the 7/24 echo, a big day.

Take care and keep up the great work.

-Thomas H.

Steven,

So glad you are doing so well and have come a long ways. If you ever get my way let us know we would love to see you it has been a long time. Even as family it is hard to get out to visit I hardly ever get home since I moved to KY and shame on me but its such a long drive and its something I can not do on a weekend. I love you and am so glad things are going good.

Aunt Dawn

Hey Steven-
Hope you are continuing well on your road to recovery.

Also checking in to see how you fared with the unexpected storm down there.

I have an uncle in MD who works for the weather service and I know he was impacted.

Take care and update us when you can.

Karen Campo

Wow! Back to work already! Good for you! Just be sure to not over-do it and listen to your body. Glad things are going so well.
Holly P

Steven,
Your progress in just 1 month is amazing!!! What type of incision did you get? I had to have the traditional 8" vertical incision so I'm thinking my recuperation might not be quiet as fast as those that get a minimally invasive incision. Take care of yourself!
Kathy D.

Nice work Steven. Was hoping to finally get a monitored walk in yesterday (Monday) so I could post my progress, but had my seroma drained and am back to resting and hoping it does not come back. At this rate, you're probably passing me by!

Great to hear your progress is going smoothly. Good luck moving forward.

-Thomas H.

Great update! Glad everything is on track and you are getting stronger every day! Keep it up!
Holly P

Steve, I have been following your great progress. My son had aortic valve repair at age 25 last year so your paths seem to be similar. He lives in Chicago and was in between his last two semesters of law school when he had the surgery. He was back running 4 miles a day and walking about 5 miles a day to and from work but now needs surgery on his torn ACL. I hope you continue to improve.

Dear Steve -- I'm so glad you are satisfied with your progress -- best wishes but don't overdo! Best,
Maureen

Hi Steve, I haven't had a chance to write again since the first time that I wrote a couple weeks ago, but even though you haven't hear from me, I have been thinking about you. I was happy to read in your journal today that you are progressing well. Keep up the good work! Things are quiet here today so no real court news. We miss you here in the office! Take care....Dorothy

Glad you are doing good. Sounds like you are getting stronger each day. Listento your body. If it needs rest take a break and rest. You have come a long way in two weeks. This tells me you are taking very good care of yourself. Keep up the good work.
Love you grandma Dean

sounds as though you are doing good. Keep up the good work. Listento your body and do not over do it even if you are confident. YOU HAVE ONLY ONE BODY.. take care of it. ilove you.

Hey Steve - thinking about you - hope each day you are feeling better and better. Be patient with your recovery - slow and steady wins the race! Plus - you'll just have to come back to work - so milk it!! Haha! Take care - Alice Kerns

Hi Steven-
Glad you were able to at least attend the wedding portion of the ceremony.
I came home Friday and have not yet 'gone out'. I am hoping to maybe get taken out to dinner at a nearby restaurant this coming weekend and see how that goes.
Definetly agree, for me nights are toughest getting comfortable. I too could prob step up the walking though Sat was tough with inclement weather.
Best of luck on your continued recovery.
Karen Campo

Steven, I hope your days are getting better and you are able to sleep a little longer stretches at night. It's hard to adjust to the home routine and figure out what you want to do when. After all, there is so much time on your hands!!! Seriously, take it slow and listen to your body and heart, it has been through quite a bit. Don't blame you for not wanting to read all the updates right now, but you'll feel better soon! Thinking of you!
Holly P

Hi Steven,

I am so glad to hear that you are on your way to recovery! It sounds like you are doing just great. I know you are gettting plenty of attentive nursing from Gloria and your Mom...enjoy it while you can. : )
You are probably now entering the phase where your mind is alert and you want to be able to do things, but your bodyis not quite ready to co-operate. It will come. Take care of yourself. I will follow how you are progressing here.

Best Wishes,
Nina Ericksen

peruvian chicken, sounds yummy, I am going to have to google that.
I too could use a shave, but after having my first hot shower today after a week I am not complaining.
Keep up the good work.
Karen

Had the same problem when I tried to reduce my Percocet prematurely around Day 5. Gave it another couple days and then was able to step it down to 1 without having my temperature edge up. Guessing your body is just heating up a bit when the pain is closer to the surface.

I'm now alternating one hydrocodone (7.5) and two ES Tylenol every 5 to 6 hours. Can't wait to ditch the hydrocodone for Ibuprofen, but seems like I am still a few days away. My pain may also be slower to subside since I had a right thoracotomy. I heard there is more cutting through muscle and nerves when the enter through the side.

-Thomas H.

Steven,

Remember you are still healing and try not to do too much or you may have set backs. I know you want to hurry up and get back to normal but that will come. I do understand not wanted to stay on pain meds and you have fears of getting hooked but knowing you I do not think that will happen. Mr Health would never let that happen. I sure look forward to your updates and so glad you are doing well. We love you

Aunt
Dawn

Sorry, forgot to sign my last post....

Nancy B

You can't be having withdrawals from oxycodone after taking it for one week, can you?
I just looked up the withdrawal symptoms and it says chills, but not fever.
I think a fever warrants a call to your doctor.

Hi Steve,
I hope work is the last thing on your mind, but in case you did not see the Senate approved the 2 judicial nominees so as soon as the President signs their appointments we will have 2 more judges on our court!

Otherwise, it is a typical Wednesday, so you know what that means!

Lindlee

Steve,
Glad to hear you are back home and pacing yourself in recovery. With the "dog days" of summer making an early appearance in D.C., stay close to the AC and put off the uphill walk out of your neighborhood.
Our AC in Baltimore was out over the Memorial Day weekend (Got it fixed this morning). The only cure for it was reclining in the Tiki Barge pool. Hopefully you and Gloria will join us there before too long!

Patrick

Hello Steve,
Glad you are home and all went well! Went to Maine over the long weekend but could not remember the restaurant in Portland you said was really good. Oh well, another trip perhaps. Jon and I are the only clerks in today! Wishing you a pain-free day.
Lindlee

Steven, glad you are home, now take it easy and don't over-do it! Walk several times a day, I know it's hard with the heat and humidity! Hope you are able to stay on top of the pain, I alternated ES Tylenol and 600 Mg Ibuprofen every 4 hours for the first several weeks after getting home, it worked for me, but I know everyone is different! Just don't get too dependent on the narcotics!!! Linda is right though, we did have MAJOR surgery!!!
Hang in there, listen to your body and stay positive!
Holly P

Steve,
Glad to hear from you personally and glad you're back home. I'm confident that the worst of it is behind you. In the office, it's been pretty quiet; it was only me and Liisa on Friday. You'll be happy to know that Paul Clement on behalf of the House filed a Motion to Intervene. We should be issuing a briefing schedule today or tomorrow :)
- JBK

hi Steven,
So glad to hear you're home!
I've had other surgeries before and come home and relied on taking the prescription pain meds every dose on the exact time as prescribed. I weaned myself off of daytime use when I got tired of falling asleep every time I sat down. Then I started ibuprofen during the day and the narcotic at night to sleep comfortably.
Don't worry about using the med too much. You'll know when to start cutting back. Personally, I plan to take them when prescribed only because I'm afraid of the pain I "might" feel. At least until I feel confident enough that I'm all in one piece and parts aren't going to start falling off left and right. :)

Nancy B

Steven, each of us have/had different experiences with surgery and recovery so don't let someone else's discourage you. Listen to your body, it will let you know what to do and when to do it. If you need the pain meds, take them. You may find that you don't need them today and then really need them tomorrow. Don't "overdo", thinking that you need to be doing more. It was BIG surgery. I will caution you to be careful being around people. If you read my journal, you will see that a "simple head cold" can turn into a bear!
There probably will be days that you feel discouraged, but then the next day you will say "I can do this". You can!!!
Get plenty of rest, when your body says "nap time"...take a nap. Please be wary of the heat...I know you need to walk, but be careful.
Take care and enjoy being home!

Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12

Fantastic news!

Now you can get in your own routine at home for recovery.

Jerry V.

Steven, it is good to be back home again.
I feel as though your healing will go a little faster now that you are in your own soroundings Just take it easy and try not to run any raceses in the next day or two.
Sincerly you have fought a good fight.and I am proud of you. You are still young. Just take one day at a time. Remember God loves you and has a plan fou you. He will reveal it in His time. I am glad your surgey is over.. I love you.
Grandms Dean

Yeah...theres no place like home

Aunt Dawn

Glad to hear the bed works and Steven is doing so well! Unfortunate about the catheter, everyone is different and have their own struggles! Keep walking and sitting up in that chair! Glad almost all of your tubes are out! Stay strong!! You can do it!
Holly P

Hi Gloria,
Good to hear Steve had a decent rest and that they have improved his pain relief.
I didn't realize they kept you catheterized for that long. Couldn't have been pleasant having it done all over again.
tell him not to worry about the inability to journal. I'm sure I won't be capable either. You're doing a really good job keeping everyone up to date on his progress.
Hope Steve has a good day today!

Nancy B

Steven, my congratulations. Your mom has given me a new home TWICE, helping me buy the house I live in, and I will always be grateful for that. She told me about your progress and it is really good to hear good news again these days. Take care, Steven! Heal!

Great day for Steven Dean Indeed. Many accomplishments today and the past few days for that matter,. I can't imagine anyone who could have handled them better. He is stronger than he knows....For those of you facing this in the upcoming days, weeks and months,please know that while it is not the easiest nor most pleasant journey it is such a worthwhile one and with the love and support of friends (Including your Journal friends, you can do this...YOU CAN...Plus that little magic button is really a nice bonus.
I love you son....
Mom :)

Any junior mint incidents?

-C.K.

So sad to hear your 'joy stick' was taken away. I imagine you like Christopher in the Sopranos!

So glad to hear all has gone so well. Keep it up, Steve!

Kim and Don

Thumbs up indeed! We'll have you "hiking" Mt. Pleasant's hills in no time. Keep it up.

-k

Love the photos so good to be able to see him even when I cant be there. Looking forward to his post when he is able. We love you guys Give my big brother a hug for me and a hug to Linda too. I know all you guys have to be exhausted
Some good ole Southern Cooking will fix you right up

Aunt Dawn

Sounds like you are well on the road to getting home - Bravo! ` Sam H (mom's friend in CA)

Hi Steven, Sounds like you are making great progress, one day at a time! Fondly, Kathleen

Hi, Steven --
Every day, when the tubes come out, you'll feel lighter, both physically and psychologically. The first few days are pretty miserable, but it does get better.
Selma

Dear journal friend,
Best wishes. Hang in there. It is rough..I know.. But it will ease up soon. Hang in there, Kate R

Hi Steven:

This is wishing you a speedy recovery, sounds by the e-mails you're really moving ahead, and out of ICU that is terrific. Take care and I will be reading your journal, that is tertrific, and keeps people abreast about your situation.

Sue Murray......(Mom's friend)

Hey buddy,

I'm so glad that you got the "ideal" situation. I hope everything else is going well.

~Geoff

Hey Steven

Glad to see all is going as good as it can and you’re out of ICU. Won’t be long before you’ll be eating that chicken fried steak haha :) Take care and I’ll be checking in on you to monitor your progress.

Uncle Mark

Hey Steven, glad to here that they were able to repair your valve. You will start to turn the corner before you know it, especially when you are able to go home. Take care.

Robert Hartner