Jim's Heart Valve Journal

Feast of Saint John of God

March 8, 2012

Today is the Feast Day of Saint John of God, the Patron of Heart Patients. I always remember Saint John of God in my Prayers and I will remember all of you as well, as I always do. God Bless each and every one of you on your journey.

Jim

Sentimental old fool...

January 19, 2012

Call me a sentimental old fool. I saved every text message that my wife sent to me while I was in the hospital for 2 weeks in Cleveland. Many of those were while she was gone back to Cincinnati to care for our girls. The memories came flooding back. Memories not of the pain, loneliness, fear, and uncertainty; but more memories of the deep love that we shared during that period and continue to share. Reading those messages brought a tear to my eye even today. I don't think that I will ever be able to delete those messages. I don't know how I would have made it without her. I'm glad I didn't have to figure that out. I am one lucky man, on so many levels.
Four months out tomorrow. I would say that I feel about 95% back to my old self now. God Bless each and every one you as you continue on your journey.


Jim

12 weeks out and amaurosis fugax?

December 16, 2011

First some good news...I went to the ophthalmologist and got a totally clean ocular bill of health. My eyes are totally normal. However, he diagnosed with amaurosis fugax. That is transient monocular blindness. A TIA by any other name would not smell as sweet. My vision always completely returns to normal. So what seems to be happening is a small plug of aggregated platelets that embolize from my graft or valve and travel into the small arterioles in my eye. I go blind in that eye for 5-10 seconds and then my vision clears. He suggested that I add 81 mg aspirin to my regimen of meds. Since adding the baby aspirin, I have had no further problems. Hopefully as my after market cardiac parts endothelialize, this problem will go away. Otherwise, I feel great. I can cough and sneeze at will now. I am running and playing tennis again and will soon begin training for my first marathon in 3 years. Life is very good. Things do get better. For all of those out there who wonder about the "ticking" noise, now it is almost comforting. It is a normal noise that I have come to understand and welcome. It doesn't bother me or my wife at all. Thanks Adam, I will "keep on tickin' "
Jim D

Okay, Okay...Now its not funny

November 22, 2011

As I said yesterday, I am now 9 weeks out from my composite St. Jude Mechanical Valve and aortic conduit. I am doing great. With only very minor snafu. On 4 separate occasions now since my surgery I have had strange vision disturbances in my left eye. It seems like someone starts with a can of bright almost brilliant white spray paint and paints my entire left visual field. I have no pain, no headache, no associated numbness or tingling. It lasts about 10 seconds and goes away quickly and completely. I also notice that it seems to move with the movement of my eye after some vision is restored. It first happened on post op day #1. I thought I was having a stroke. It happened again in the hospital and then once fairly soon after I got home. It happened again yesterday. It seems like scotomata (those bright lights preceding a migraine or seizure). I do take coumadin, my INR is within range. I was just wondering if anyone else had similar problems.

Jim