Hi all, I had my 6 mth visit with my heart surgeon on 20 September. I had an echocardiogram first followed by the visit with my surgeon. The echo showed my ...Read more
Hi all, I had my 6 mth visit with my heart surgeon on 20 September. I had an echocardiogram first followed by the visit with my surgeon. The echo showed my valves were in good working order and my surgeon is pleased with my progress. I will come and have the same follow-up visit at the 12 mth mark next March. I am also trying a silicone gel called Dermatrix to help fade my scar line in preparation for the warmer months approaching. Take care.
Hi all, it has been a couple of months since I have started my job at a aged care facility in Ballarat. I work 15 hrs per week and also fill in for those on ...Read more
Hi all, it has been a couple of months since I have started my job at a aged care facility in Ballarat. I work 15 hrs per week and also fill in for those on holidays or sick. we provide activities and concerts and I have even taken up singing to the residents now and again. I really love the work, it is really rewarding. I have my next visit with my surgeon on September 20 so I will let you know how I go. Take care!
I have become a member of Heartbeat Ballarat whose members (who are previous cardiac patients) raise money for our local hospitals and it also works as a support ...Read more
I have become a member of Heartbeat Ballarat whose members (who are previous cardiac patients) raise money for our local hospitals and it also works as a support network for it\'s members and members also visit patients in hospital that are having cardiac surgery to give them support too.
Winter is upon us and at the moment our days are averaging 14 degrees celsius but we can have days that only reach 9 and overnight can get down to minus 3 degrees celsius. Cheers, Thalia
Well all my family helpers have gone home and life goes back to normal which is nice to fall back into your routine. My eldest daughter is thankful to get her ...Read more
Well all my family helpers have gone home and life goes back to normal which is nice to fall back into your routine. My eldest daughter is thankful to get her room back as she hasn\'t had it for about 2 mths! I have been amending my resume today in readiness to look for work in the Aged Care sector, wish me luck. Cheers!
I had my 6wk visit with my surgeon a few weeks ago and he was very pleased with how I am progressing even after my lung clot diagnosis. My aortic valve was ...Read more
I had my 6wk visit with my surgeon a few weeks ago and he was very pleased with how I am progressing even after my lung clot diagnosis. My aortic valve was in worse shape than it showed on the Ecocardiogram so I am so glad I went with my gut instinct of feeling that all wasn\'t right. He had cut me back off most of my meds and now I am only on the Warfarin until June. I still can get a bit of stiffness around my collarbone and neck area which I take Paracetamol for.
I am rubbing Bio Oil onto the scar and hopefully that will help it fade, it looks good really. Once I go off the Warfarin I am to take one asprin each day for the rest of my life. Thalia, Ballarat, Australia
Hi there I have forgotten to mention that I developed a lung clot back at the beginning of April and was put on Clexane injections which I was shown how to ...Read more
Hi there I have forgotten to mention that I developed a lung clot back at the beginning of April and was put on Clexane injections which I was shown how to inject myself and Warfarin. The lung clot is being reabsorbed by the body and has probably gone and I am now only on the Warfarin until early June with blood tests every 2 wks. The lung clot felt like a bad stitch pain around my right side and obvious when I breathed in.
Thalia, Ballarat, Australia
Hi again, I had my 4 wk check last week with my Cardiologist which was a bit of a waste of time. For a 10 minute visit and $72 is just listened to my heart ...Read more
Hi again, I had my 4 wk check last week with my Cardiologist which was a bit of a waste of time. For a 10 minute visit and $72 is just listened to my heart and lungs and told me every was fine and that he didn\'t need to see me again! I am hoping that my check up with my surgeon in 2 wks will be more thorough!
Thalia, Ballarat, Australia
Sorry I haven\'t been on for a while, I had a bit of dramma about 2 wks ago. This involved me being diagnosed with a small lung clot on my right lung which ...Read more
Sorry I haven\'t been on for a while, I had a bit of dramma about 2 wks ago. This involved me being diagnosed with a small lung clot on my right lung which was detected on a CT scan and a couple of nights in the local private hospital. I had to learn how to give Clexane injections which thin the blood and that took some getting used twice a day and am also on Warfarin for about 3 mths and weekly blood tests to check my doseage levels. My INR level for Warfarin are stable at about 2.8 so I no longer need the injections (thank God!) Am feeling good now and back at Cardiac Rehab last week so hopefully I am back on track again. Cheers! Thalia Faunt, Ballarat, Australia
I had a check up with my Doctor today. She checked my temperature, pulse, heart and lungs and looked at my wound. She was happy with everything which is great ...Read more
I had a check up with my Doctor today. She checked my temperature, pulse, heart and lungs and looked at my wound. She was happy with everything which is great and wants a report from my Cardiologist and surgeon when I see them so she will be up to date with my progress. I am feeling good, no pain just a little tightness around the wound and I am taking Panadol to keep me comfortable. Cheers!
I started my first session of cardiac rehab yesterday which involves rotating through various work stations including exercise bikes, steps, walking, weights ...Read more
I started my first session of cardiac rehab yesterday which involves rotating through various work stations including exercise bikes, steps, walking, weights etc. The Physiotherapists check your heart rate all the time and make you rest if you need it. My session was low impact and I was tired after the hour, next session on Friday and this will continue for 6 wks.
Well hello, and is it great to have my valve replacement surgery behind me. The worst part of my stay was ICU. I am so surprised at how little pain I feel, ...Read more
Well hello, and is it great to have my valve replacement surgery behind me. The worst part of my stay was ICU. I am so surprised at how little pain I feel, just tightness really along the wound and only Panadol for pain relief. I am feeling quite good really which I am grateful. I will write more later.....
Cheers
Hi there, I am sitting here having breakfast, checking emails and the realization of tomorrow is hitting, once I get to hospital today there won\'t be any more ...Read more
Hi there, I am sitting here having breakfast, checking emails and the realization of tomorrow is hitting, once I get to hospital today there won\'t be any more distractions of home, so I will
have to try and focus on being positive and not worry so much (not easy though)...
My husband isn\'t the type to report on my progress via the journals so I don\'t quite know when I will be able to be back in touch with you all. Thanks again ...Read more
My husband isn\'t the type to report on my progress via the journals so I don\'t quite know when I will be able to be back in touch with you all. Thanks again for communicating with me on my journal.
I am busy doing last minute jobs and hoping I have all my bases covered, have I forgotten anything? I have a recliner and shower stool being delivered next ...Read more
I am busy doing last minute jobs and hoping I have all my bases covered, have I forgotten anything? I have a recliner and shower stool being delivered next week, a friend dropping off lasagne for the family on Wednesday and family arriving to help out on Thursday. So at the moment I am thinking...BRING IT ON!..
Thanks to all of you who have been replying to my constant stream of questions this week I have really appreciated all the information. I really do value what ...Read more
Thanks to all of you who have been replying to my constant stream of questions this week I have really appreciated all the information. I really do value what you can learn via these journals. To Heather who replied and lives in Melbourne, I would love a visit from a cardiac patient who can relate to my situation, my surgery is on Tues 2, what about a visit on Monday 8 March? I will be in the Epworth in Richmond. Thanks again!
My surgery is at 8.30 am on 2 March and we live 1 1/2hrs away did most of you see your partners/family members before surgery? Did your partner/family see you ...Read more
My surgery is at 8.30 am on 2 March and we live 1 1/2hrs away did most of you see your partners/family members before surgery? Did your partner/family see you every day and what about when in the ICU?
I don\'t have family in this state and my mother-in-law and great Aunt are coming down to stay for 2 wks to help look after my girls so my husband is free to come and go from the hospital as required.
Hi all, I have another question for those of you who have experienced heart surgery.
How long was it until you felt comfortable to reach up above to wash your ...Read more
Hi all, I have another question for those of you who have experienced heart surgery.
How long was it until you felt comfortable to reach up above to wash your hair?
Hello again, I have been thinking of things again this morning and wanted to know from those of you who have had to have your sternum broken, what was the most ...Read more
Hello again, I have been thinking of things again this morning and wanted to know from those of you who have had to have your sternum broken, what was the most comfortable position to ride home in a car from hospital?
My first choice for surgery is the Ross Procedure because I have age on my side and my Pulmonary valve looks to be in good condition to use. If we can\'t go ...Read more
My first choice for surgery is the Ross Procedure because I have age on my side and my Pulmonary valve looks to be in good condition to use. If we can\'t go with that option on the day a metal valve will be used and thus I will need the warfrin drug for life
I am from: Ballarat, Australia
