Linda's Posts

Monday April 11th was the start of 6th week since my valve replacement. I am getting stronger every day. They are still working on my INR, it is not where they want it to be. One day I am 2.2 which is good then a few days and I am at 1.6. The DR says sometimes it takes awhile to get it right. I am walking every day now. Up to 20 min twice a day. On my 8th week I am going to join rehab. Today I got nervous because I was watching TV then my vision got all out of focus and felt dizzy, started crying because it felt like before my surgery. Has anyone had this happen? I am wondering if its the coumdin or low BP? Let me know Thank you

On March 10th at 6am I was taking to be preped for surgery. We were told surgery would be 3-4 hrs. The surgery ended up taking 7 hrs. Instead of having a bicusp valve I actually had a ONE Cusp valve. Because of this the heart decided to shrink the artery going to the valve because it realized it was working with one cusp. The DR had to blow the artery up to fit onto the new mechanically valve. They also found buildup of calcium so they took all that off while in there. because of the one cusp I am so grateful that the DR insisted on operating right away, they were amazed I was still living with one cusp. After the 7hr surgery I was brought to ICU. I do not remember much about ICU just that they were trying to wake me and I felt the vent in my throught and asked them to take it out. The next night I was brought to a regular room, it was actually another part of the hospitial for just Heart patients. They only pain I had was my lower back. Operation was Thursday and Saturday they took the chest tubes out. What a relief that was. Once those came out my back felt better.

March 1st I had the cath done. Everything is fine just need the new valve. Cath took about an hr then I had to stay in recovery for a few hrs to make sure I did not bleed and also to get my head back together as they do give you medication. Was not as bad as I thought. Today is March 8th my surgery is Thursday the 10th. I am nervous in a way but will fell better once it is over and I am awake. Kind of scary listening to how they do the surgery and what happens after. I guess the main things are to hope for no bleeding, no fluid on the lungs and that I wake up. They are saying surgery is 3-4 hrs. Which I should be out by 10.30am. Then at 6pm they will wake me and if breathing on my own the vent will come off. Tomorrow I just need to make sure everything at home is done as I worry about my daughter who is 10 and has diabetes. I think I am more worried about her then me. I will write again when I return home and let you know how it all went. Wish me luck!