sarah's Heart Valve Journal

thank you HVJ friends!

February 27, 2012

thanks for all the very supportive, positive words!
your kindness and uplifting thoughts are appreciated.
i was d/c yesterday-it was my choice-i could stay if i felt i needed to, or go home and f/u w/ the doctor. after a few laps around the hospital floor, i felt i was doing okay, they checked my vitals, i chatted w/ the doctor, and was d/c.
so...i'm home on antibiotics, prednisone, pain meds and still the lopressor....i do feel a bit more energy and my HR as come down a lot (70-80s!).
mitch had posted to share if there's anything to prevent this/cause this...it sure doesn't sound like it. in fact, the interventional radiologist that performed my thoracentesis explained that it is quite common w/ heart surgeries.

my surgeon, however, was very sympathetic, and is on his toes to take care of things. i have another chest x-ray tomorrow morning and will then meet with him again to see what the next step is. there is still fluid around my heart so....we'll see what tomorrow brings!
thanks again for your positive thoughts!
on to the next day!
sarah

9 weeks, update

February 26, 2012

Quick update-yesterday morning my hr was higher than usual (130s) and I was feeling short of breath.
I paged the on call cardiologist and headed to the ER.
I had a pleural effusion, as well as fluid around my heart. My white blood count was elevated. So, I had a thoracentesis to drain the fluid (NOT my favorite procedure), and am on antibiotics in case I have pneumonia.
For now I am admitted on the cardiac floor, taking things one step at a time. I already notice how much easier breathing is -yay!
Thanks for the supportive words HVJ friends! You're so kind!

long time, no write-9wks out

February 24, 2012

I haven't updated in awhile!
Looking back at my last post-I didn't fend off sneezes much longer. Yowza.
At 8 wks I've returned to work and started cardiac rehab. In retrospect, maybe not the best plan, that was 2 major things to do at once. I've been active at home on the treadmill, bike and even snowshoeing a few times so I thought I'd be prepared. WRONG. I am so wiped out. And discouraged! My heart rate is still pretty high, 100-115 resting, 130ish at rehab...on lopressor...so rehab is calling to consult with my cardiologist.
It has been SO helpful to use HVJ and read other people's experience with elevated hr...thanks!
So...I am trying to rest, re-evaluating my own expectations and trying to stay hopeful. Ultimately, this recovery is much better than the alternative :)
Thanks again for the kind words...

4 weeks-prepare, then compare

January 13, 2012

4 weeks out!
before surgery i was obsessively preparing.
post-op, all i can do is compare. it is very difficult not to think about myself before surgery, what others are doing or did at 4 weeks post-op. even though i KNOW everyone is different, it is very difficult not to compare and try to measure myself against others' progress.
last week and the beginning of this week i was doing (in my mind) "great". i was off pain meds, i was feeling awesome on the treadmill, i was doing dishes and starting to cook again (something i love!), i started doing organization projects around the house, i didn't need any assistance in the shower, didn't need the shower chair at all anymore, i heard from my old pals from Grand Rapids and was renewed and uplifed by all of their comments! i was moving along!

then...things slowed down. i had been having back pain a bit (i mentioned before in a post), i thought because of the awkward positioning with sleeping. by wednesday night i could hardly move and breathe at the same time. i started to get scared. when i took a breath it really hurt. my biggest fear was pneumonia. oh boy. i surrendered (after a pep talk from my best friend and personal child life specialist, amy) and called dr. baldwin's office. he wanted me to come down to have a chest x-ray and to have a look at me, just to be sure everything was okay.
everything was fine! besides my pride. i was quite embarassed for calling there. he was very nice about it, and reminded me that things were going to hurt. just because i was sailing through so smoothly at first didn't mean i wouldn't hit a few rough patches. it was also nice to know how careful he is and wanted to double check that everything was a-ok.
so...i'm back to taking pain meds when i need them. and resting a bit more. i posted some 4 week photos. my scar is healing nicely!
i've also become a pro (knock on wood) at fending off sneezes. i'm so afraid of sneezing! i wanted to try to not sneeze for at least 4 weeks...so i'm glad i made that goal...we'll see how long i can go until the "first sneeze"...which i've read and been told is horrible. i also read (on this blog) to open my mouth to keep the sneeze away, and it works! i also plug my nose, then blow my nose. whew!
another exciting thing with week 4 is that i am OFF coumadin. hooooooray! i feel so bad for those of you who have to take this forever. i cannot wait to enjoy leafy greens again! i sure have missed that!
thanks again for everyone's continued kind words and confidence. especially my GR pals-it's been great to hear from you all :)
on to week 5!