Thomas's Heart Valve Journal

I am so happy to report that one year has passed since my AVR surgery and I am doing GREAT! I cannot begin to thank everyone that touched us in some way, but please know that Kim and I are truly thankful for everything. I thank God for watching over us and putting many special people in our lives.

I give thanks to Dr. Boruff (Jeff), Dr. Marietta, Dr. Briggs, the medical team at Vanderbilt; Dr. Petracek (surgeon), Dr. Slosky (Cardiologist), Dr. Eagle (Anesthesiologist), nurses, staff and Dr. Wes Thayer (my good friend from college). Vanderbilt is top notch in my books and I trust and recommend their heart team.

One year has gone by and many key words and phrases represent the year:
Prayers, Kim, my family, oh no, tired, fear, tears, anxiety, insomnia, heart flutter, Dr. appts, Echo, research, Adam Pick, The Patient's Guide to Heart Valve Surgery, phone calls, face to face meetings, insurance, HR, short term disability, understanding boss and co-workers, surgeons, types of valves, measurements, Google, Youtube, Facebook, my friends, logistics, Thanksgiving, dinners with friends, pre-op, writing letters to my children just in case, saying goodbye to my children and in-laws, TEE, Cardiac Cath, needles, "the shave", bactroban, the holding room and briefing, praying with Stephen, saying my goodbye to Kim, friends in the waiting room with Kim, hearing Kim's voice, thumbs up, “I made it”, "the vent", seeing Kim for the first time, PAIN, crazy dreams, "hit by a train", "breathing on his own", “no more dilaudid or morphine = hallucinations”, “no more percocet = itching!”, ice chips, moving to step-down floor, seeing my mom, pain killer that works with no side effects = Tramadol, chest tubes out, "what's that ticking sound?", first walk, sitting in chair, Jell-o, needles again, one pint of blood, insulin, coumadin, visits from friends, guestbook entries, phone calls, Libby's cookies, "4 laps and we are gone!", discharged, Kim driving me home, back seat, pillows, snowing, home safe, seeing kids for first time!, hugs from my kids, 3 little nurses and one little doctor, Jeff checking in on me, my first breakfast, chocolate milk, recliner, pillows, cold, television, I-phone, laptop, Blue hands, ambulance ride, Parkwest ER, alcohol swabs, embarrassed, feeling better, first INR check, Christmas Day! New Year, bowl games, first trip outside the house with my buddies for BCS game, awesome kids, loving wife, no sleep, Ambien, sleep, not more than 6 pounds, feeling better, Pericarditis, feeling better, walk to the mailbox and back, visits from my buddies, more energy, first sled ride down the hill, low sodium, INR checks, Cardiac rehab, "you're too young to be here", 1st visit back to Vandy to see Dr. Petracek, "doing great", first time to drive, plane ride, back to work, DISNEYLAND with the family, turkey hunting, gaining some weight, fast pitch softball with Kaci & Molly, football with Conner, swim team, Lainey at the City Meet Finals, re-elected to the school board, back to school, Kim and I in NYC alone!, 3rd visit back to Vandy to see Dr. Slosky, test results – GREAT!, No more Beta Blockers!!!!!, Halloween, deer hunting, Thanksgiving, pheasant hunt in South Dakota, December 15th – my new birthday, the joke my friends played on me - my twin in my front yard with blue hands & blue gloves all over my car, and my family & friends joining me on my one year anniversary!

What a year it has been and so thankful that I am back to 100%! My goal for the start of year 2 is to finish the Knoxville half marathon on April 3, 2011.

Thanks again for your prayers, encouragement and support! Here's to year #2!

Thomas

The title is very fitting to this journal entry. Seems I cannot get a good length of time going and I hit another hill on the recovery ride.
Kim and I made the soggy and wet journey over to Nashville to see Dr. Petracek on February 5th. My visit went great and he was very happy with where I was at 6 weeks post-op. He took me off some medications and gave me the green light to go back to work as well.
I celebrated my 39th birthday on February 6th and took 2 of my daughters to the father / daughter Valentine dance.
Everything was going great until Thursday, February 11, when I started feeling bad. By the weekend, I had severe pain in my left shoulder and back, fever of 100+, and some discomfort in my side.
This Monday, I called Vandy and spoke to the nurse there and told her what was going on. I was instructed to go to see my doctor here ASAP for tests. My PCP (Jeff) took charge of the situation and by 1:00, I had an echo, a lot of blood work and some other tests. The concern was that I had Endocarditis in my new valve or Pericarditis. If you need to choose an "itis" you would go for Pericarditis. Jeff discussed my test results and echo with my cardiologist here in Knoxville and my surgeon at Vandy. They all agreed on Pericarditis and the treatment started.
I am on an anti-inflammatory medication as well as an antibiotic until we know for sure a bacterial infection is not present (30+ hours so far and no positive)! I already feel better as the pain is on its way out and the fever is gone. I should be good to go by the weekend.
I am so ready to get all of this behind me and soar over the hill back to cardiac rehab. I use the roller coaster analogy because it really seems like you hit so many ups and downs in this road to recovery. I can tell you that I am looking forward to no more hills until we ride the real roller coasters during our spring break trip to California - DISNEYLAND!
Thanks again to everyone for the support!
Thomas

It is hard to believe that this will be my 6th week home from Vanderbilt! Kim and I will go to Vanderbilt this Friday to see Dr. Petracek for my follow up visit. As I have mentioned before, Dr. Petracek does not encourage driving after 6 weeks. He thinks I should not drive until week 12. I am going to try and negotiate something between 6 and 12 :-).
Last week, M-R, was not a good week for me. I caught a virus that made me feel awful. I ran a 102F fever for several days and my neck, shoulders and back really hurt. I went to see Jeff at his office and he verified that I did not have a bacterial infection or issue with my heart. I think I just caught some random virus since my immune system is so worn down. Last week really set me back on my rehab and I am not sure I am ready to go back to work on February 8th. I will discuss this with my doctors and see what they think.
I felt much better on Friday and just in time for the upcoming snow storm. The snow came on Friday night and Saturday, but we did not receive as much as everyone thought we would. I enjoyed watching the kids play in the snow and we had a great time!
I look forward to getting back into cardiac rehab this week and my visit on Friday with Dr. Petracek. I think I just need to hear him say that my sternum is healing and my valve / heart are doing great. I just need a confidence boost!
I am hopeful my next post will be a good report from my visit with Dr. Petracek.
If you get a chance, look up Duane Hunt's journal. Duane was reading our posts since he was scheduled for heart surgery 6 weeks out from the date of my surgery. Duane is a great guy and serves as a pastor at a church in Florida. We corresponded several times and talked on the phone about my surgery and his upcoming surgery. Duane's last 48 hours have been truly amazing and GOD is in control...just read the last 6-8 posts from his wife, Peggy.

Thomas

It is hard to believe that it has been 36 days since my surgery! I cannot even begin to tell you how much difference one week makes during recovery. I really think it was weeks at first and now I see it every day.
I started cardiac rehab and feel good about it! I am on a M,W,F schedule and trying to walk on my days off as well. The weather needs to cooperate! I am at least 30 years younger than most of the patients and I get lots of questions :-) My favorite comments / questions, "why are you here and you are too young to be here". Once I explain that my AV was replaced and I had some repair work on my Aorta, I get the shocked look. Seems most people assume I had a heart attack or bypass. I am very happy to report that my cardiac cath showed I am clean and clear!
On Monday I took my first big walk. Conner and I walked around our entire neighborhood and his pace is perfect for me right now. We visited with neighbors and had some dad / son time!
My "zipper" is healing and looking great. I have had no issues with the incision and followed the Dr's instructions. I still have some soreness on my right side, but happy to report that I slept on my side last night. This is huge because I sleep better on my side. Just imagine your sleeping position and not being able to sleep that way for 36 days. I am sure you get the picture now :-)
My chauffer, Kim, is doing a great job shuttling me around. I really feel like a burden at times because I cannot just jump in the car and drive. As I said before, Kim wins the award for best supporting role!
I have to note that a friend of mine fell off a ladder and broke both wrists and an ankle. I sent him a note on Facebook telling him if he needed anything to call Kim because I can't drive :) My humor is coming back and I wish my friend a very quick recovery!
Here's to tomorrow!
Thomas