Patrice's Heart Valve Journal

Four Months Post Op

April 16, 2012

Wow, my husband reminded me that I had surgery just four months ago...as I was out pulling weeds, building a greenhouse and also cleaning house inside, all day long and I was still ready to do more! I am in awe at times as I feel so good and am able to do more 'normal' activities after years of not being able to even do more than one thing in one day...such as if I vacumned the house, I'd probably be done with doing anything else that day! Sometimes I look in the mirror and the only reminder that I was laying for five hours on a surgery table with open heart surgery is my scar. I call it my 'reality'. It really does seem like a dream that a mere four months ago I was going through a life changing surgery. I'm very thankful for the technology we have that I am a result of that! With my mitral so bad, even worse than they could see, I probably wouldn't have been able to continue with a quality of life beyond 60! Now, I plan to have lots more days of being active and productive! For all of you who are just going through consultation and decisions on surgery, know that many of us have gone through the same thoughts and researching you are going through. We are all individuals and it is important that you take an active part in your planning and recovery. You will have good days and bad as you come through surgey and recovery. The time line was so on the mark with my recovery that I marveled at how our surgeons and cardiac care centers are so wise to the ways of our tickers! I'm doing great with my On-X mitral valve and doing well on coumadin! Life is good! My work and family keeps me going and less time to write here, but know how important it is for me to keep journaling! Til next time!

Feeling good!

February 22, 2012

I've lapsed in my journal writing...going back to work has put a crimp in my 'retirement' days of napping, reading on my Kindle, napping, enjoying my time at home, and napping...have I said NAPPING alot!! I'm sure part of it is my age, but I sure do miss my afternoon naps! I know my body is still healing, I can 'feel it' as it changes.
I have gone back to work full time, my eight weeks was on Valentine's Day! It feels good to be able to have a more normal activity level.
I did have some discomfort sleeping the first few days after starting back to work, as I'd lay on my side it seemed my ribs hurt more. As I'd stated at the beginning of my journaling...wearing a bra was the learning curve for after surgery...I found that time seemed to help releive alot of the discomfort. I ended up wearing my older soft underwire bras during the day. I did put a strip of gauze down the center so the bottom of the bra would not rub my incision scar. I scar easily and seem to get irritation easier on scars, so for me this was a fix. I also kept neosporin on the incision, especially when I was at work. My incision still is a red thin line. It is healing, but I am a slow healer and tend to scar so I have began to use liquid Vitamin E at least once a day on the incision line.
At night and weekends I wear sports bras, the night ones are all soft material and quite comfortable. I decided to try sleeping without the night time sports bra and I did okay, just was a bit tender when turning. I do think I'm on the mend! It seems like a dream that in December I was in the hospital for ten days...and the six weeks of rehab at home...how quickly time goes and we heal. I know alot of you are just now being diagnosed as needing surgery, or just about to go into surgery, or just going home. All those writing here give each of us a glimpse into the awesome ability of our modern medicine and skilled surgeons and their teams. I am so glad I was given a second chance with a mechanical valve! A valve for life!
I'll check in now and then and give updates. I do have to work on more exercise. I now love to walk but time seems to get away from me and I don't get as much done as I should.

Back to Work

February 22, 2012

I am quite fortunate to have a great job and great boss! They missed me greatly!! I do accounting, payables and receivables and most other jobs that are to do to keep an office humming. I started to work four hours a day; I'm about 45 minute drive each way to and from work, so that puts me at six hours. I was quite exhausted the first few days..I started back on Feb. lst, a Wednesday, so by the weekend I was ready for some rest. I found I had to take many breaks to stretch and walk. Working at the computer found that my back would start to hurt, once that began all I could do is take a walk and do some of my cario exercises that worked the shoulders.
Everyone was quite helpful and carried anything that they thought was too heavy! I figured I could let them wait on me for at least a couple of weeks!

Healing and Doctor Visits

February 22, 2012

Being home was good. I did have to go to our closest hospital for a Coumadin check on Christmas day, it was pretty quiet there and again my levels were good. I was not up for a crowd for Christmas so we delayed our Christmas with family until Dec. 30th-I was feeling a bit stronger and able to sit and enjoy the five grandchildren! Our grandchildren are ages 12, 10, 7, 5 and 4. Our son has three, the oldest and youngest, two girls and a boy. Daughter has two, boy and girl. They were so curious and careful when they gave me hugs and kisses. Two of the artistic ones drew pictures of grandma. Very cute!
January 3rd I saw the surgeon for a follow up. He was quite pleased with my progress. I asked to see a sample of the valve they put in. It was so small, size of a quarter and about four quarter stack high in thickness. It is called the On-X valve. It's awesome! For me seeing it and touching it was important to me-it gave me some connection to what was working inside of me. Dr. Graeve explained how it worked. I'd also gotten alot of information on the valve so seeing it was great. I also got to visit my regular Cardiologist (my electrician-for my ayrrthemias) and he confirmed I was doing well and within three to six months I would be humming along quite well. At three months he'd see me again and reevaluate if I need to return to any beta blockers. I also saw my other cardiologist (my plumber-for my valve), he confirmed I was progressing well and my surgeon's office will be following me with the coumadin checks and regular echocardiograms for the valve. With regular visits to the coumadin clinic I was staying quite level at 2.5.
I enjoyed my days learning to stretch and do my PT exercises religiously (sometimes before I even got out of bed!) I found the shoulders and sternum were quite achey and after being in bed for a few hours would need to stretch and walk. Occassionally the recliner was a good napping spot, or the couch. I'm a side sleeper so I found it hard to stay comfortable as I needed to change positions so often. I was getting a bit anxious when it was time to retire to bed...knowing I would have more difficulty with pain then. On some nights I'd take half a pain pill to help. Later I was prescribed a pill to help me get to sleep. That has been the best, take half a pill to get me off to sleep and then I rest much better. (I'm a lightweight with narcotics, so half a pill of anything is all I need!)
Each day I saw some improvements, some days after a rough night of sleep, I felt worse, so I did have a bit of depression, but then I'd realize what i'd been through and figured I'd better count my blessings and know that time heals all things! I was most delighted in the fact I can walk, without breathlessness, dizziness or feeling of light headedness. I also found walking was very good after sitting for very long, I could do my PT exercises and then walk and felt very good! Each week I felt stronger. I was to return to work on January 26th, some days I wondered if I could. By noon I was exhausted and needed a nap! Time will tell, I'm sure I'll miss my afternoon naps regardless!