Jacqueline's Journal

Christine Oliva  Nice to hear from you and see you have been able to overcome this hurdle. Congratulations and enjoy your new and improved life. Its funny we can use this as a motivator to really enjoy and make a difference in our life. God's blessings to you and yours.

Sophia Ridley  That's wonderful news. You must be over the moon!

I had a similar report, I think I grinned from ear to ear for days afterwards! Just need to reduce the atrium and my spectre of AF will hopefully be a distant memory.

I was going to check in with you regarding your eye aura.... What's the latest? Has it improved, if so what did you do? I have had the aura every morning for the last 10 days, BP and pulse all normal. It's beginning to irritate me even though passes in 20 mins.

Jacqueline Cook  Thanks for the messages ladies! Sophia...about the aura....I used to get this prior to surgery several times a month. Now I get if very frequently...seems like every day or every other day. Mine typically pass in about 20 minutes also. I just make sure that if it happens when I'm out and about that I wait until it goes away before driving.

Shirley Wong-Cruz  Very happy things are going well.. Tell me what exactly you do in Cardiac Rehab and how often please.?. Blessings 😊

Kimberly Biddick  I am so sorry this has been such a frustrating experience for you! I hope that your cardiologist can get this sorted out quickly and get you some answers. I am glad to hear the pericarditis is under control though!!

Michael Meyer  I am glad to hear the pericarditis is resolving and have confidence your cardiologist can help resolve this next concern.

Kate Watson  That sounds really frustrating and scary but is great news that the pericarditis is under control. Hoping you get some answers at your upcoming appointment! Hang in there.

  Sounds like you are doing the best that you can do. Glad to hear the pericarditis is under control. Have your cardiologists looked at other tests besides an echo? We had a blip where we thought I may have a clot and I ended up with a 4D CT scan and it showed much better valve function (and a more reliable picture) compared to the echo I had. It sounds like your cardiologist is being vigilant about your care! Best wishes to you!

Jacqueline Cook  Thanks everyone. I am so very thankful for this community! Laura....I am considering traveling to UPMC to see the cardiologist that did the cardiac MRI when I was hospitalized in December. He was pretty adamant about getting a follow-up cardiac MRI 6-8weeks after starting the pericarditis treatment. I asked my cardiologist about the MRI and he seemed to think that it wasn't necessary at this time. But you are right....CT scans and MRIs are more in depth. They took thousands (literally) of images of my heart when I was at UPMC. I'll keep everyone posted.

Kelly Weisgarber  Sending prayers sorry you are still struggling with some issues, I hope that you get some answers soon.

Kelton Glewwe  Hello, I was diagnosed with pericarditis last June. I had all the common symptoms and I suffered for about a month before I got an x-ray that lead to an echo, and then the diagnosis. The echo also showed I had a leaking bicuspid aortic valve that may or may not be related to the pericarditis. I had no idea I had a heart issue until that day. I was admitted into the hospital immediately for the pericarditis. I had 2cm of fluid around my heart and it was effecting my heart function. I had the normal tests, CAT scan, Echo, TEE. They pumped me full of antibiotics and IV fluids. I felt like a water balloon. I was responding well to treatment and sent home after 2 days with ibuprofen and the colchicine. I followed up with my GP a day later and she sent me back to the hospital immediately. My pericarditis was not getting better and I looked, "like sh*t." In the hospital, it was then decided they would drain the fluid with a needle. I the procedure the next morning in a surgical lab. I was awake for the procedure. They drained .5L from my pericardium. I felt immediate relief.

I was sent home 2 days later with the Ib and colchicine. A week later after a follow up with my cardiologist, we did a cardiac MRI. It showed a lot of inflammation. I was put on a steroid treatment. That prednisone is an amazing drug short term. I felt better right away. I was on the prednisone for about 4 months. I gained about 15 lbs, but I was feeling much better. I started at a high 60mg dose and slowly tapered off.

On December 10th I had the aortic valved replaced with a bovine tissue valve. I'm still in recovery from that, but I'm doing great. The pericarditis sucked, but it was my early warning for the bad valve. I was able to get that fixed before it did any serious damage to me heart or aorta.

Good luck. I hope you feel better soon.

John Schutte  I had a bout of pericarditis that sent me back to the hospital for a week only one month after surgery. In retrospect, I suspect a large (5 cm) effusion behind my heart is what pushed me into AFIB. Fortunately, my pericardium responded to the meds (colchicine and high dose ibuprofen). I was finally able to start cardiac rehab two weeks ago (10 weeks post op). Hang in there. Your patience and strength will help you get on the other side of this minor setback!

Jacqueline Cook  Thanks guys for sharing and for the encouraging words. John, I too am on the same meds. I feel like they are helping as my symptoms have disappeared. I see my cardiologist next week and will find out what he makes of my recent echo. My ejection fraction has plummeted. Not sure why. Thanks again for taking the time to respond!

Emily Rowley  That's good you and your Cardiologist are investigating to try help you. I was on Ibuprofen for a long time afterwards!

Michele Tracey  Hi Jacqueline, can you check your guestbook tab? A few people have left you messages, in clouding me, with some questions! Thank you and make God bless you with continued and amazing recovery!

Jacqueline Cook  Thanks for the encouraging words! Michele...sorry about the guestbook tab...my response is out there now... :o)

Wanda Mroz  I'm sorry to hear you've had some problems but it sounds like you are on the road to recovery now! Take it easy in rehab... One step at a time. Hope things continue to get better and better!

Enrique K  Dear Jacqueline, I wish you a speedy recovery and trust that everything will be alright. Please keep us updated and take care of yourself.

Sophia Ridley  Jacqueline, I'm so sorry to hear about your pericarditis. I hope that the medication kicks in very quickly and you feel better soon.

pino correale  Now what a nightmare that must have been!!! Just think this way........that experience will make you stronger in the future. I hope you will solve your situation quickly. Good luck Jacqueline

Liz Burroughs  I'm so sorry to hear about your recent setback. I hope you're feeling better now. Best wishes for a full recovery!

Kimberly Biddick  so sorry to hear about your set back! praying it resolves soon! did they say the night sweats were related to that??

  Sounds like you monitored the situation closely and were able to make sure you got help when you needed it. I hope you feel better soon. Thoughts for healing are being sent your way.

Wanda Mroz  So sorry for your setback. Hoping you feel better very soon. At least you know what's going on now and have meds to help. Hugs.

Steven A Husted  DEAR LORD GIVE JACQUELINE YOUR HEALING TOUCH AND GIVE HER A SMOOTH RECOVERY IN JESUS NAME WE ASK AMEN BEST WISHES AND PRAYERS YOUR HEART BROTHER STEVE (POPEYE)

Michael Meyer  Sorry to hear about the pericarditis. My hope is this is a minor bump on your road to full recovery.

Sophia Ridley  You guys are so lucky. I received my letter from NHS yesterday and unlikely to start any exercise class until February! I'm having to look into funding a private one (not cheap!) as insurers won't pay. There's a issue on the classification of 'rehab' :(

Steven A Husted  i think cardio rehab is a blessing i entered it in phase 2 and now i am in phase 3 i hope for the rest of my life its great i meet new friends and keep my heart in shape

Michael Meyer  Glad to hear your progress to rehab. Rehab will really provide you with confidence in the healing process.

  I started on Wednesday and went again today! Really enjoying it! Feel productive afterwards and comforted to know I am being monitored while I exercise. Sophia, I hope you find a good option!

Sophia Ridley  Yes, whilst in hospital I would get hot and then clammy. Now I get hot and cold, I start cold and then get uncomfortably hot and sweaty. I was wearing socks and when I take those off I feel better. Been told it's medication and aftereffects of surgery (seems to be a stock answer!). I'm awaiting blood test results for iron, electrolytes and thyroid (underactive already). Do suggest you have a chat with doctor, I'ld be interested to hear what they have to say.

Jean Raber  Yes, my mother had internal "thermostat" problems after OHS. It seems to be pretty common. It goes away.

Jacqueline Cook  Hi Jean and Sophia. Thanks for the comments. I have a call into Cleveland Clinic about it....I'm at 5 weeks post op and I've been off my pain meds for about 2.5 weeks. I was told by CC in the beginning that this was typical with all the meds. It just seems like it is going on a lot longer than I anticipated. I have to get up 2 to 3 times in the night to change my pjs. Not getting much sleep as a result. Sophia, how long has it been since you had your surgery?

Sophia Ridley  I'm 4wks post. Apart from in hospital I never needed to change my night wear during the night. It certainly needs washing daily! Do get them to check thyroid.
Sleep - oh! What joy that would be! I seem to never get comfortable, get up every 2 hrs and then morning comes and I'm out for the count :(

susan kotansky  Yes...it's just one of those things than happens post surgery I'm told. I'm almost 3 months and it doesn't happen anymore!!! yay. Have faith, it will pass along with many of your symptoms.

  I did, especially when I first got home! My BP was out of whack. I also froze my family out of the house because I was so hot. It has gotten better and we are now at a more comfortable temperature according to my family! Good luck!

Jean Raber  Jacqueline, let us know what you find out from the doc, but my guess is that it'll just take a while to go away.

Jacqueline Cook  Hi Jean and all...I saw my cardiologist on Monday and he was actually quite concerned about the night sweats. He sent me for blood work, blood cultures, urinalysis, CT scan, and an echocardiogram. He managed to make all this happen before we left for Pittsburgh on the 23rd! I will let you know what the tests reveal. All I know right now is that my white blood cell count is elevated and he is concerned about possible infection.

Wanda Mroz  I had them for a while. My surgeon said it was not uncommon to have them. Eventually they became less frequent and are now gone.

  Congratulations on your recovery. I am learning as well that this is a process of patience. I hope your recovery continues to have more peaks than valleys. Best wishes to you!

Christine Oliva  Jacqueline, that incisional pain is 100% normal and as you can see it will get better. The nerves coming back on-line seems to be a consequence of the surgery and you may have additional pain when you start rehab as I am now doing. Actually, the pain is a sign that you are healing normally and no pain means loss of nervous sensation which is not result you want. The good news any discomfort will be a lot less than those first few days in the hospital. Nothing that a Tylenol/pain tab cant handle-. Yea!

Keep your incision clean and dry, no direct hits with the shower head now, kind of trickle down & dry with separate towel if you can. Just remember less scaring with a nice dry incision. Good luck dear and keep on your path to recovery. Fingers crossed for you.

Kimberly Biddick  Glad you are doing well! It's definitely a lesson in patience and we do have good days and then bad days. Hopefully things will be on the up and up very soon all the way around for you!!

Tim Goff  Good to hear you are on the mend! It can be a slow process full of strange beats, aches, etc, but on the whole it gets better every week. The hr may stay a bit higher than you are used to, just part of the deal. Mine used to be about 70 at rest yet now Im likely in the 80's. The cardiologist told me to get living and quit worrying about the hr. so I did. Now 9 months out.

Michael Meyer  Jacqueline:

I did have both an elevated heart rate during rehab (after coming off toprol). I also had some sinus tachycardia upon waking. I did call CC, but they indicated no information for me.

I went to the cardiologist and completed some thyroid testing bloodwork. Long story short the tachycardia resolved itself for me around 9-10 months and my resting heart rate is back to normal. As others have said it may take some time an patience.

Jacqueline Cook  Thanks to all for sharing your experiences and for the encouraging words. Good to know that I am tracking along and that what I am experiencing is normal.

Cheryl Shute Walter  Jacqueline, so glad that your surgery was successful! Prayers and Thanksgiving wishes to you and your family. My surgery is next week.

Michael Meyer  It is great to hear you had an excellent surgical outcome. Enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and get plenty of rest.

Liz Burroughs  Hi Jacqueline, I'm glad that you're doing so well! Happy Thanksgiving to you too! Yes, we all have so much to be thankful for! Best wishes for a complete recovery! Take care. Liz

Melinda Queliz  Jacqueline--I am looking to have my valve repaired at Cleveland Clinic as well and am just in the beginning stages getting all my records and trying to get in, I will be traveling from North Carolina. I am absolutely terrified of all of this. My biggest fears are: heart cath, chest tubes, IV in neck, heart wires. How much do those hurt? I hope to be drugged on some pretty good stuff through all that. I will say your recovery is making me feel a little at ease.

Phyllis Petersen  I'm glad to read this. I'm heading to CC in October for, hopefully, the same procedure. I've heard good and bad, so I'll focus on your good outcome.

Cheryl Batzing  Jacqueline...I think I said the exact thing you did...nervous and at peace at the same time. Praying for you now as you are in surgery!

Tammy Pilcher  I was too Cheryl and Jacqueline, (nervous and at peace at the same time) and also happy to be getting it overwith. Praying for a successful surgery and recovery! God bless!

Elaine Cutri  I'll be thinking of you and your husband. I'll be in Cleveland in Dec. with my husband for my final post op check with the surgeon. Best wishes!

Steven A Husted  prayers and best wishes for you and may the good lord above watch over you and give you a great surgery and speedy recovery amen

Kelly Weisgarber  Thinking of you Jacqueline and hoping all goes well. Hope that by the time I arrive early on the 16th you'll be on the upswing. Sending prayers.

Emily Rowley 
My prayers are with you and your family. I know pre-op testing can be long and very tiring. Hang in there, soon enough you'll be on your road to recovery :)

All the best,
Emily.

Jacqueline Cook  Thanks to all for the well wishes, thoughts and prayers. Headed to bed now...tomorrow is going to be another long day!

Lynee Casper  Good luck Jacqueline, thinking of you as you get closer, and that's a good idea about relaxation music! I am collecting music too. God Bless,meet us posted.

Tim Goff  Enjoy the weekend and the company of family. Many find the last few day's to be relaxing as all the decisions have been made and nothing left to do but enjoy the time with those around you. Soon you will be on the other side of this and recovering. Best wishes for a smooth procedure.

Enrique K  Great to hear that you have the support of your family. Sending you good vibes for a successful and uneventful surgery!

Emily Rowley 
Hello Jacqueline,

Firstly I hope your operation and recovery goes well :) I had my mitral valve repaired few years ago (but not using any robotic equipment).

The relaxation music is a good idea, I'm going to do that too, so I can listen to it in Hospital (also having mine on the 18th but in January)

Also about the bra, I'm ordering an Aztec Surgical Bra, you might like.

Best of Wishes,
Emily.

Michael Meyer  Jacqueline:
Enjoy a relaxing weekend in preparation for the procedure. I will look forward to hearing an excellent report from you and/or your family. My prayers will precede your surgery.

Jacqueline Cook  Thanks for all the kind words, thoughts, and prayers! All went well with my first day of pre-surgical testing....more tomorrow....

Betsey Osgood  I used a sports bra after about 2 weeks. I'm on the smaller side so no bra worked best! Also camisoles with the built in shelf bra are comfortable.

Elaine Cutri  For a few weeks I wore a snug, not tight, camisole with cotton with spandex. The surgical NP said no underwire until the tissue was healed (worked for me). After many weeks with the camisole, I found a sport bra 2 sizes larger that I was comfortable wearing. It went on from bottoms up. I had a full sternotomy and I did not want to cause injury or pain to myself by trying to negotiate it over my head. My husband always chuckled when he saw me working it on :-).

Tammy Pilcher  The hospital gave me a front closure bra that I wore home and I sometimes slept in it, too. It just helped, until I had time to heal a little better, to have that support.

Jacqueline Cook  Well, I got online and purchased a front closure lightweight bra (no wires) and three camisoles with the built in bra shelf. I went with one size larger on each. Thanks for the tips ladies!

Sophia Ridley  :) I've just had my delivery too. Thankyou for reminding me to track down some camisoles. Have been buying some lovely pjs too, guessed this was a good excuse !!!

susan kotansky  I found the pressure from any bra very irritating so I've been wearing snug undershirts and am very comfortable. Hopefully you won't even have to think about it if the robotic surgery is possible. I wish you the very best!!!

Mary K  I found the surgical bra from the hospital to be very helpful with my breathing after surgery. Walmart has all kids of sports bras. I bought a couple of front closure ones that were perfect.

Christine Oliva  I used either a one size/roomy larger tank tops or cami with a sports bra. I don't need a lot of support so it worked. Keep the fabric lite/wicking and definitely not binding or tight, no wires at all. Most important protect your incision and keep comfortable.

Kelly Weisgarber  Hello I just wanted to say good luck to you and I'll be having my turn a few days after you. Nov. 16th also at the Cleveland clinic. By the time I'm there you'll be on the upswing!

Connie Jewell  Good luck with your upcoming surgery, Jacqueline. I'm 18 months post aortic valve replacement and believe it or there are times I almost forget I even had it done. Going into it, it seems overwhelming but you'll see improvement faster than you think. As for the bra issue I normally wear an underwire, so that was out for sure. I found this one on Amazon called, Leading Lady Women's Sleep Leisure Cotton Bra, it worked great for me, and it's a front closure. Hope this helps with your question and again good luck with your surgery, you're in all our thoughts and prayers.

Tammy Pilcher  Jacqueline, it will probably be okay, but I'd call anyway. It will make you feel better to know they know about it. Prayers and hugs, Tammy

Jacqueline Cook  Thanks girls. I called CC and let them know and I am going to see my PCM to have my ears, nose, and throat and lungs checked tomorrow.

Enrique K  Hi Jacqueline, Many thoughts and prayers for you as you face your upcoming surgery. Hope to hear from you soon that all is well and you are on the mend. You painted your room and I bought a new bed. New Heart-New Bed!

Doran Herritt  Stay busy! The waiting is the hardest part. Your gonna do great.
Prayers for peace for you, skill for your medical team and a quick uneventful recovery leading to a long life.
Drn

Jacqueline Cook  Yes! Doran. The waiting is the hardest part. Can you imagine if they had not been able to move me up? I'd be waiting until December 17! Enrique...well...this is a huge event in our lives right! Nice to do something special in preparation! Thanks guys for the encouraging words. I will keep you posted.

Jeanette Davidson   You will be so relieved when it is over. Take good care of yourself and see yourself well. Reach out as often as you need to!❤️

Betsey Osgood  You'll be on the healing side of this journey sooner than later! Praying the day's ahead include relaxation, acceptance and strength. You got this...keep us posted. Interested in hearing about the robotic MVR experience!

Jacqueline Cook  Thanks for the encouraging word, Jeanette, Betsey, and Doran. Can't wait to be on "the healing side of this journey"! You are all inspirations to me!!!