Angela's Guestbook

Angela Meletiadis  Thanks for your response, Ruth! I was a busy bee before surgery. After surgery, I've made it a personal goal to not be pressured to do anything I don't want to do. I was given the time off from work until now (Sept-Feb) and I am a PE teacher in primary school. I really want to get back into a routine and take my mind off myself a bit, so I requested to be placed at a smaller school at the beginning of March, as a warm-up to going full speed in September. The head of Ed in my region was very understanding and he said he would do this. As for chores - I've been doing the bare minimum and getting my children to do more (four, adults, two are still in the area!) I think that movement of any kind brings on the pain later in the day. It comes on later and later as time goes by so I AM getting better. The pain clinic was, perhaps a bit too aggressive for what I was prepared for. 

Angela Meletiadis  Donna, that service is not available here, even at the private hospital where I paid to have surgery. It's just never been offered through the state health care system in Greece and I was told to "walk a lot". I've been doing rehab on my own, but at least I can lean on my PE knowledge to monitor my progress carefully. For the painful areas, I've been doing some broomstick exercises (raising a broomstick above my head, behind my shoulders and left to right twist, all gently, of course). This way I've slowly been able to increase my range of motion.

Angela Meletiadis  Dear Private, I just saw this note from you! I normally answer within a day, if I can. I will get that information for you. The woman is an administrator (still!) at the hospital where I had my procedure done in Thessaloniki. Give me a few days to find out. 

Angela Meletiadis  Hi Ruth! I've been told by my Dr.s  to limit those foods in order to balance my INR rate. I've been eating them, but a limitted amount. 

Rita Savelis  I eat everything I want to (7 years on anticoagulants) in moderation. You can adjust your medication around your normal diet, rather than worry about not eating vegetables. If  you never eat spinach and then one day eat LOTS of spinach, you will see your INR change. However, if you eat everything including green vegetables in your normal diet there will be less of a change. INR goes up and down no matter what. That's what it does. There is so much that can affect it. I was SO nervous for so very long and then I just accepted that it will change. I now handle my own dosage of medicines because I know my body. This takes time, but you will get there. But perhaps you are only taking anticoagulants for a short time? Take care.

Angela Meletiadis  Thank you, Rita! I'm beginning to understand all of this, as well as how my body is responding to everything. I will hopefully be done with coumarol by Christmas and just take asprin. I was a huge veggie consumer and I'm getting back to that after all the comments I've gotten.  Be well!

Angela Meletiadis  Hello Klara! Thanks for asking!  I can't really tell yet because he's going very slowly, but I seem to feel that the duration of the pain has shortened. Something else came up that he (the neurologist) and the cardiologist are concerned about: My THS (thyroid hormone) is much higher than it should be. I was put on T4 by an endocrinologist, pending the approval of my cardiologist. ("The jury is still out" on that. I should know what to do by this evening) You???

Deena Z  Hi Angela, I wonder if you had a nerve or tendon partially torn, particularly since you had minimally invasive surgery.  It does produce those type of symptoms and takes a long time to heal. (eight weeks -ish)   Can you get an MRI?  

Angela Meletiadis  My cardiologist is sure that I have some nerve damage that may or may not repair itself. I'll be four months post op in 10 days. The improvement is ever so slight, and the pain is worse in the early evenings. Right now, I'm focusing on the thyroid issue in order to get the medication squared away. I most certainly can request an MRI, which is my next step if accupuncture doesn't help.  I believe I'm in good hands but the uncertaindties that pain brings on is, at times, overwhelming. 

Klara Čičić  Nerves take up to three years to fully heal. One year, most often. I know it sounds really long, but if it is larger nerve, that's the way it is. Comparing my pain to other people's from this site who had thoracotomy and to general data, I would say mine is also stronger and therefore I expect it will take more time to heal... I am kind of at peace with that. We are warriors and we will overcome this pain and kick those nerve's butt :))) just a little patience ...
Regarding thyroid, I myself have Mb. Hashimoto but I don't take any hormones because my TSH is normal. Last time I took thyroid hormone, I got Afib :( I hope they find the right balance for you. 
Do you still have pain when sneezing? I feel like a stab with a knife through my shoulderblade when I sneeze.

Angela Meletiadis  No pain when sneezing, just sensitivity. There are knife stab feelings in other areas, especially on the right breast. It's been hard to find a comfortable bra. I wouldn't even wear one if the breast didn't hurt but without support, it's very painful. You probally had the same procedure as me. Adam has a video of it by Dr. Doulabh.  As for the thyroid med, I'm glad you told me about your Afib. I'm still waiting for my cardiologist to aprove of the T4 that the endocrinologist prescribed. I won't take it until he contacts me (or I track him down. ) I haven't ever had to deal with so many doctors in all my life. I'm glad for this group because we are all just ordinary people trying to find healing. 

Ana Brusso  Angela, can’t even imagine how much you’re suffering from the nerve pain. Hoping and praying you will find healing soon. God bless you and give you strength 

Angela Meletiadis  Thank you, Ana!!! I believe the encouragement from all my fellow heartvalve patients has really helped! It's too early to tell, but I may be turning a corner on the pain! At least the duration is shorter.

Angela Meletiadis  Hello, Kristine! Thank you for reaching out to me. I had the same procedure (right side thoracotomy, but with the cannulation at the groin). I read your valve story and I, similarily, was discovered to have something wrong by my GP when I visited him for bronchitis 6 years ago.  I quickly paid a visit to a cardiologist in my town in Greece and was diagnosed with Barlow that got worse over time, and here I am.  I'm glad you mentioned the numbness and shocks. I'm assuming that as the numbness slowly goes away, there will be pain in those areas. I take paracetamol for the pain and it is getting better in tiny increments daily. I drive a standard shift here, but short trips only. Biking is harder and I go on very short errands (my city is small) and on side roads. I am interested in the exercises you do for arms. I don't have very good range of motion yet and was considering obtaining a physician's voucher for physical therapy. I think I am impatient about the pain and I miss tennis and, of course an entire summer of swimming in the Mediterranean. I started that two weeks ago. God is teaching me a lot these days. I am thankful to be alive, even with the pain. My family is a great blessing, too. I got leave from work for at least two months, maybe more. I may have to obtain a transfer to a different post for awhile, and trusting God for that  May you find peace in this incredible journey toward good health! 

Janelle Hurst  I'm 7mo post mitral valve repair and I still have a little numbness in my chest wall.  For me, the "thawing" of the nerves for the first 2-3 months was pretty painful, but I feel like I really felt much different around week 11-12. 

Angela Meletiadis  Thank you, Janelle Hurst, for this encouraging info! I will try to stay positive as week 12 is approaching!!!. Take care of yourself and be well.

Andy Nara  Did anyone experience high diastolic pressure or higher heart rate after surgery. I have developed it post surgery 

Angela Meletiadis  Dear Klara, thank you for the encouragement. You are brave to read a lot of journals before your surgery. For me, in order to maintain a good psychological state, I did the research, chose a team of doctors and went ahead without much thought. The waiting would have been worse for me. Best wishes on a successful procedure and an uneventful recovery!!!