I just read your entire journal and it brought me to tears...happy tears that is. I am 5 days away from my aortic valve replacement sugery. I only found out ...Read more
I just read your entire journal and it brought me to tears...happy tears that is. I am 5 days away from my aortic valve replacement sugery. I only found out two weeks ago that I had severe aortic stenosis and would need this surgery. SO happy and inspired by your successful recovery and I am now so ready to do this. Congrats to you!!
Chuck Holmgreen Maggie, you just made many of us on this side of the surgery cheer! When I was waiting for the surge ... Read more
Chuck Holmgreen Maggie, you just made many of us on this side of the surgery cheer! When I was waiting for the surgery, reading the posts of the people that went before me really helped me stay grounded and not let the emotions get out of hand. While your diagnosis was most likely a huge surprise for you, your are actually lucky. Most of us on this site had to wait a month or more - and in my case, I knew about my defect for about 31 years prior to the surgery. And as you've read, the waiting is the hardest part.
You have the right attitude and you can choose to do well. I believe you have.
You have warmed my heart (pun absolutely intended) with your entry in my guestbook - thank you. I write these hoping that I will be able to offer the same comfort I received when I was waiting and reading.
The best advice I can give is be patient, walk, listen to your body, start gently but continue to move. You'll be amazed at how quickly your endurance and abilities will return and exceed where you are now.
Everything gets easier from here. The surgery is just an event and the healing is a process. Enjoy the process.
Michelle Kitchens posted a note for Chuck that says:
Hi Chuck,
Its so great to know that you're still doing well after your surgery. I hope things are going well for you and your beautiful family. Two years ...Read more
Hi Chuck,
Its so great to know that you're still doing well after your surgery. I hope things are going well for you and your beautiful family. Two years went by like two months. Here's to your continued health and success. :-)
I\'m in the waiting period for surgery and you\'re right about it being the toughest part. Mark Twain once said, \"If you have to swallow a frog, don\'t spend ...Read more
I\'m in the waiting period for surgery and you\'re right about it being the toughest part. Mark Twain once said, \"If you have to swallow a frog, don\'t spend a lot of time looking at it.\" I\'ve been looking at this frog (surgery) for about 6 weeks now and ready to swallow it and move on.
Your postings have really helped me focus on the recovery aspect of the process and to know there is a light at the end of this tunnel. A bright light! Thanks.
Hey Chuck, Good to hear from you again. Glad you are doing so good but hope your arm gets better. I have trouble with my right shoulder too. Its rotator cuff. ...Read more
Hey Chuck, Good to hear from you again. Glad you are doing so good but hope your arm gets better. I have trouble with my right shoulder too. Its rotator cuff. I just put up with it, as long as I can use it. Yesterday I was 6 months out and feeling pretty good. Like you, I brag about how I can walk and do things without running out of breath. I still have a little pain but not much just the healing stuff. Life is so good.
LInda H and Elsie AVR 9/19/12
Happy first birthday to your valve!
Exciting and encouraging news- especially your 10 K run 106 days later...wow!
I am three weeks post surgery from MV and ...Read more
Happy first birthday to your valve!
Exciting and encouraging news- especially your 10 K run 106 days later...wow!
I am three weeks post surgery from MV and TV repairs and feeling great. Walking 1.25 miles at a clip. Healing is a wonderful gift!
Thanks for sharing your good news with us!
God Bless!
Sophie Marsh
Chuck Holmgreen Thank you Sophie. You are in what I term the "rocket stage". This is the stage where you start to r ... Read more
Chuck Holmgreen Thank you Sophie. You are in what I term the "rocket stage". This is the stage where you start to recover very quickly - or at least I did.
Enjoy your new found stamina. If you can do more activity - do it, within reason. Listen to your body and you can do wonderous things.
I wish you only the best and I believe you will achieve it!!
HI Chuck,
Glad to hear you\'re doing we\'ll. It\'s great seeing all the peopleI watched and worried with hit their one year anniversary! I still readtheentries ...Read more
HI Chuck,
Glad to hear you\'re doing we\'ll. It\'s great seeing all the peopleI watched and worried with hit their one year anniversary! I still readtheentries on this site daily to remind me that if I hadn\'t had my heart fixed I may not be here at all. I feel so normal, I have to keep reminding myself it really happened. I guess that\'s a good thing!
hope your shoulder heals quickly. That\'s the problem with exercise...you have to do it to stay healthy, but you put your health at risk by doing it!
Take care,
Nancy B
Chuck Holmgreen I give you credit Nanc - I don't come back daily, but it is nice to come back now and then as a remin ... Read more
Chuck Holmgreen I give you credit Nanc - I don't come back daily, but it is nice to come back now and then as a reminder.
Make sure to let me know the next time your travels allow you to stop in Atlanta.
Chuck
Im so happy for you. Im not sure if you remember me but I will celebrate my 1 year anniversary of AVR on May ,14th. I followed your blog going into ...Read more
Chuck
Im so happy for you. Im not sure if you remember me but I will celebrate my 1 year anniversary of AVR on May ,14th. I followed your blog going into the surgery, reached out to you post op and love your updates. This isa special community. Keep us posted. I just bought a treadmill and Im looking to do abetter job on my cardio training than Ive done so far.
My best to you
Steve
What beautfiul words you wrote, Chuck! I feel the same, but could not have articulated it as well as you did. I wish you the best and hope your shoulder injury ...Read more
What beautfiul words you wrote, Chuck! I feel the same, but could not have articulated it as well as you did. I wish you the best and hope your shoulder injury will heal quickly.
Thank you for sharing your update.
Sheila Garrison
Rock on Chuck! Glad you are doing so well. Torn shoulder, yes, it is comical in a not so funny kind of way. Hope you are back on the mend soon. Great update, ...Read more
Rock on Chuck! Glad you are doing so well. Torn shoulder, yes, it is comical in a not so funny kind of way. Hope you are back on the mend soon. Great update, great life.
We are all so very lucky!
Be well,
-Mitch Friedman
Nice post Chuck, The reason you missed it by 2 days is because you are feeling so normal and time just flies by. You like me have just been waiting for so long ...Read more
Nice post Chuck, The reason you missed it by 2 days is because you are feeling so normal and time just flies by. You like me have just been waiting for so long and then bam. I forgot what normal is like. Im not looking at running anything but just want to keep up with my neighbor when we walk together. She is a fast walker and I always have to tell her wait up. Now I want it to be the other way around.
When Dr Dennis called the other day and told me all this news, I told him I would probably need some brain surgery as well to get all of this stuff out of there lol. Just a good cleansing. And I love nurses too. We get along pretty good. Esp Nurse Charles, we walked together. Asked him if he wanted to run but he turned me down. Good thing my wrist decided to start dripping all over the place. He was nice though. Until later.
Mooving on up
LInda H
Way to rock your recovery Bro!! It does become a non-event.
Keep up the positive messages as it helps those waiting and recovering!!
Jimmy Johnson
Chuck Holmgreen Prior to the surgery, I read a number of accounts where the patients said they fealt great after 3-5 ... Read more
Chuck Holmgreen Prior to the surgery, I read a number of accounts where the patients said they fealt great after 3-5 months but didn't feel "Normal" until about a year after.
If I continue getting better for the next 7 months -- I don't know what I'm going to do with myself!!! Cause I feel GREAT!!!!
Yeah baby!!!! Way to go Chuck! Great post, could not have said it better. I still marvel at how \"I did not have any symptoms\" but feel so much better post ...Read more
Yeah baby!!!! Way to go Chuck! Great post, could not have said it better. I still marvel at how \"I did not have any symptoms\" but feel so much better post op.
Hey, I have not posted about it yet, but wanted to share with you I am training for a half marathon in October. I needed an event to commemorate what we have been through and a half seems to fit the bill for me. When I run, I often think of you, Mr. Peachtree. You are an inspiration.
Keep feeling good my friend. Sure hope we meet one day.
-Mitch Friedman
I can understand not recognizing the symptoms because the downhill ride can be so slow, we simply feel like we're getting older. But in my case, the symptoms were frustratingly obvious. Makes me really appreciate my new equipment!!
Awesome Chuck! It\'s an amazing thing that we can feel this good. When people ask me I say \"what surgery\" and \"its like it never happened\". So great to ...Read more
Awesome Chuck! It\'s an amazing thing that we can feel this good. When people ask me I say \"what surgery\" and \"its like it never happened\". So great to see these posts from our special \"first quarter of 2012\" surgery group. Everyone is doing so well!
Jeff
Chuck Holmgreen Thank you Jeff - It does feel wonderful. I like this New Normal!!
Hello Chuck,
I remember you talking about this goal way before surgery and it\'s so great to see that you met your goal. Amazing what has transpired in a few ...Read more
Hello Chuck,
I remember you talking about this goal way before surgery and it\'s so great to see that you met your goal. Amazing what has transpired in a few short months! It gives me great joy to read this post. Keep up the great work and I look forward to meeting you in person in the very near future.
Jeff S. - Orlando
Dr. Joanna Chikwe is a world-renowned cardiac surgeon that has performed thousands of heart valve operations that include minimally-invasive techniques.
I am from: Cumming, Georgia
I’ve forwarded this post to him. ...Read more
I’ve forwarded this post to him. Good to hear inputs from others that have traveled the same journey.