Guestbook of Connie Jewell

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Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

1328 days ago

Ruth joy posted a note for Connie that says:

That’s great news Connie .

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

3779 days ago

Eric Guarin posted a note for Connie that says:

Hi Connie, Thank you for such a quick response. I really appreciate it. Since you are in the Maryland area, did you consult with any other surgeons besides ...Read more

Hi Connie, Thank you for such a quick response. I really appreciate it. Since you are in the Maryland area, did you consult with any other surgeons besides Dr. Cameron? If i set up an initial consult with Dr. Cameron, what can i expect that to be like? i.e: quick 20 minute conversation, ability to ask him questions regarding his repair rates/statistics. The reason I ask is because my first surgical consult at MedStar in Washington, DC with the surgeon my cardiologist recommended didn't go as I hoped. The surgeon i talked to informed he wasn't even the surgeon that would perform the surgery, so I wasn't even able to ask any relevant questions that would put my wife and I at ease. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks again.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

3780 days ago

Eric Guarin posted a note for Connie that says:

Hello Connie, My name is Eric and I am from Frederick, MD. I am currently looking for surgeons to perform a Mitral Valve Repair. I read that Dr. Duke Cameron ...Read more

Hello Connie, My name is Eric and I am from Frederick, MD. I am currently looking for surgeons to perform a Mitral Valve Repair. I read that Dr. Duke Cameron was your surgeon. What did you think of him? I want to set up a surgical consult with him before scheduling a surgery. Was your initial consult a quick one or did he take some time explaining the surgery before scheduling it? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4378 days ago

Janet posted a note for Connie that says:

You'll no doubt be on an antibiotic in no time! Are you walking? Do they worry you have pneumonia? I am finally scheduled for surgery this coming Thursday. ...Read more

You'll no doubt be on an antibiotic in no time! Are you walking? Do they worry you have pneumonia? I am finally scheduled for surgery this coming Thursday.

Connie Jewell No, I'm fine low grade temps seemed to have gone away on their own. Guess just my body adjusting to t ... Read more

Connie Jewell No, I'm fine low grade temps seemed to have gone away on their own. Guess just my body adjusting to things.

Glad to hear you have your surgery date set. You're going to do fine, my thoughts and prayers are with you, sending positive healing energy your way Janet.

Hope your surgery and hopsptial stay goes as smoothly as mine did and you'll be home and on the mend before you know it!

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4384 days ago

Janet R posted a note for Connie that says:

How did It go with the PT? Are you learning new muscle groups to use for what your arms used to do alone? Sore? It seems so unfair to have the surgery and ...Read more

How did It go with the PT? Are you learning new muscle groups to use for what your arms used to do alone? Sore? It seems so unfair to have the surgery and arthritis to, but you seem to handle it well. Considering the alternatives, we are very blessed indeed! My surgery is at St. Joseph's in Syracuse on 6/5. Wish I had thought to travel to a Mecca like JH, but I am reasonably confident in my team. Have a lovely day!

Connie Jewell It went well with the PT, the arthritis does complicate things a bit, but overall I'm doing well. On ... Read more

Connie Jewell It went well with the PT, the arthritis does complicate things a bit, but overall I'm doing well. Only exception is I'm still running a low grade fever and have been more or less since I left the hospital. The nurse took blood and urine samples on Tuesday, waiting to hear back about the lab results.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4385 days ago

Janet R posted a note for Connie that says:

In the grand scheme of things this is an amazing recovery! Keep up the good work!

Connie Jewell Thank you Janet, I feel very lucky and blessed to be doing and feeling so well at almost 14 days post ... Read more

Connie Jewell Thank you Janet, I feel very lucky and blessed to be doing and feeling so well at almost 14 days post surgery .

Dr Cameron and his entire team at Johns Hopkins hospital are amazing. My nurses were all so good and beyond kind to me, they take GREAT care of you at Hopkins. It was everything I had heard and more.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4385 days ago

Joan Rivera posted a note for Connie that says:

Hi Connie , Happy to see all is going well for you. Iam contemplating Aortic valve replacement soon . I really feel so much better seeing there are others ...Read more

Hi Connie , Happy to see all is going well for you. Iam contemplating Aortic valve replacement soon . I really feel so much better seeing there are others who have gone through this and came through with flying colors. I will look forward to reading your journal. and best of luck to you.Joan from New Hampshire

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4385 days ago

Beth posted a note for Connie that says:

Wow. You are really doing well! So glad you are getting to enjoy this beautiful weather.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4387 days ago

Debra posted a note for Connie that says:

Keep up the great work!!! Remember... You are the princess now! You get what ever you want !! :)

Connie Jewell It's good to be the Queen!!!! Lol!! Thank you Debra, I'm doing well. My loyal subjects are taking goo ... Read more

Connie Jewell It's good to be the Queen!!!! Lol!! Thank you Debra, I'm doing well. My loyal subjects are taking good care of me. Lol

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4387 days ago

Peter willard posted a note for Connie that says:

Connie I will be 72 in August and I work out with light weights 6 days a week so I know you will get stronger every day and be sure to go to rehab.

Connie Jewell That's great to hear Peter!!!! You're inspiring me!! I am very fortunate to not have any other health ... Read more

Connie Jewell That's great to hear Peter!!!! You're inspiring me!! I am very fortunate to not have any other health conditions other than the bum bicuspid aortic valve. And severe osteoarthritis in my knees and a bulging disk in my lower back. I think that is helping me have a good recovery so far.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4387 days ago

Peter Willard posted a note for Connie that says:

Connie what kind of valve did you get.I got a bovine valve in Feb 2010.I know you will improve every day Best of luck Pete

Connie Jewell I received a bovine valve as well Pete.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4388 days ago

Janet Rider posted a note for Connie that says:

Good to hear! I was thinking of you this evening as I cooked dinner. Are you losing weight on those shakes? PT starting already is wonderful. Hang in there-the ...Read more

Good to hear! I was thinking of you this evening as I cooked dinner. Are you losing weight on those shakes? PT starting already is wonderful. Hang in there-the pain won't last forever and will soon be better day by day & week by week. I have a little note to myself: "Pain is my friend- it assures me I am alive!" We'll, easy to say from this side of it. My surgery in 15 days now if I stay well. Great going, Connie!

Connie Jewell Thank you Janet!! The PT is due to the sevre arthritis in my knees. They are more or less shot! I've ... Read more

Connie Jewell Thank you Janet!! The PT is due to the sevre arthritis in my knees. They are more or less shot! I've had 4 knee surgeries over the yrs. sports injuries, 3 on one knee 1 on the other. So the PT is supposed to help me learn to safely navigate things like steps. Over the past 3 yrs as my knees have gotten worse I've been using my arms to help pull me up the steps and now with the sternum healing I cannot do that, so have to learn new techniques for going up and down steps so my knees do not give out on me. Cannot afford to fall at this point not after going through all this and doing so well so far.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4391 days ago

Julia posted a note for Connie that says:

Connie, Glad to hear you went home yesterday. I am looking at Mon or Tue. You are recovering amazingly. I only feel back on line today. Thanks for sending ...Read more

Connie, Glad to hear you went home yesterday. I am looking at Mon or Tue. You are recovering amazingly. I only feel back on line today. Thanks for sending me encouraging messages during the toughest moments.

Connie Jewell You're doing good Julia!!! Hang in there! It gets a little better and a little easier every day ! Fir ... Read more

Connie Jewell You're doing good Julia!!! Hang in there! It gets a little better and a little easier every day ! First night home had its little ups and downs but we worked through all of them, just take a breath and relax no matter what you'll get through it. Had my first sneeze this morning that was fun hoping to not have to do too many of them.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4392 days ago

Beth Wheat posted a note for Connie that says:

So glad you will be going home. The saying " home is where the heart is" comes to mind. I would just revise it to home is where the heart heals! :-D

Connie Jewell That's a really cute revision there!! Very happy to be going home today. Lots of healing and work yet ... Read more

Connie Jewell That's a really cute revision there!! Very happy to be going home today. Lots of healing and work yet to go but at least have a really good start.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4393 days ago

Janet Rider posted a note for Connie that says:

I'm so amazed (and encouraged) at how lucid and active you seem already! Are you in pain? Fatigue? Love your plans for the Preakness!

Connie Jewell I get tired easy right now. Pain is being managed well Oxycodone I take that for arthritis so think t ... Read more

Connie Jewell I get tired easy right now. Pain is being managed well Oxycodone I take that for arthritis so think that's why they've stayed with that drug for me. Earlier had a pain pump with duladid and shots of toradol. But they took me off the pain pump etc yesterday doing well since they switcheded the pain in under control. Not too fuzzy in the head things are going better than I expected .

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4393 days ago

Sharon posted a note for Connie that says:

Hey Connie, Mike sends you best wishes. We are glad you are doing so well.

Connie Jewell Thank you!!!

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4393 days ago

Beth Wheat posted a note for Connie that says:

Dietrich is anxiously awaiting your arrival home!

Connie Jewell You're probably right,he came home from the kennel yesterday rocking his cocker hair cut from what I ... Read more

Connie Jewell You're probably right,he came home from the kennel yesterday rocking his cocker hair cut from what I hear. Just have to keep him from hurting mommy when he gets excited about me coming home and seeing me. He last saw me Sunday evening.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4393 days ago

Janet Rider posted a note for Connie that says:

Got milkshakes?

Connie Jewell They gave me a milk chocolate Ensure complete over ice this morning was much better than the breakfas ... Read more

Connie Jewell They gave me a milk chocolate Ensure complete over ice this morning was much better than the breakfast of French toast and bacon they sent. Just don't have an appetite to speak of , I hear this is common and nothing to be concerned about

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4394 days ago

Meredith Bray posted a note for Connie that says:

I ordered cottage cheese and fruit plate for every meal. All else tasted blech. Did your first shower wipe you out? Will you be going home soon? Glad you're ...Read more

I ordered cottage cheese and fruit plate for every meal. All else tasted blech. Did your first shower wipe you out? Will you be going home soon? Glad you're doing so well, keep smiling!

Connie Jewell I'll have to remember and try the cottage cheese and fruit plate nothing else is appealing, just don' ... Read more

Connie Jewell I'll have to remember and try the cottage cheese and fruit plate nothing else is appealing, just don't have an appetite at all! Coffee here is dreadful!!! Lol, never had any this bad in my life!!! No somehow did not get my shower this afternoon/evening :-(. so I guess I'll get that tomorrow , feeling pretty good otherwise have a bit of a whizIng going on I do have asthma and this is about what I sound like when I get a bad chest cold or respiratory thing in the winter. They are still telling me I'm doing amazing, considering just had this done Monday morning .still targeting
Saturday discharge date. So that's good !!! Home is alway better. Weight the same I did at pre-op visit when I was fully dressed on May 2nd so that's good not holding fluid . So still pretty good all and all, thanks for asking Meredeth. Hope you're still doing well in your recovery.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4394 days ago

Deb Bialecki posted a note for Connie that says:

Hey Connie! Glad to hear you are doing so well... Keep up the good work! :)

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4394 days ago

Annie Janey posted a note for Connie that says:

Hi, Connie! I am so glad to hear of your awesome progress after! You sound very brave–just doing what you are supposed to –Heal!! I will continue ...Read more

Hi, Connie! I am so glad to hear of your awesome progress after! You sound very brave–just doing what you are supposed to –Heal!! I will continue to keep up with how you are doing.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4394 days ago

Sharon posted a note for Connie that says:

Connie, I am thrilled that everything went well and that you are up and about. I love your journal.

Connie Jewell Thank you. They say I'm doing really well. Looking forward to getting a shower today. I'm supposed to ... Read more

Connie Jewell Thank you. They say I'm doing really well. Looking forward to getting a shower today. I'm supposed to do 2 more physical therapy walks up and down the hall later today.

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4394 days ago

Beth Wheat posted a note for Connie that says:

Yay Connie! It's great to read your updates and to hear the progress you are making! You will be out and about in no time!

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4394 days ago

Beth posted a note for Connie that says:

Yay Connie! Its wonderful to get your updates and to hear how you are progressing!

Connie Jewellgot a new guestbook post

4395 days ago

Meredith Bray posted a note for Connie that says:

Hope you are up and walking around a bit. Keep breathing! And sleeping! And walking! Is your appetite back yet? (I couldn't really tell, because even on ...Read more

Hope you are up and walking around a bit. Keep breathing! And sleeping! And walking! Is your appetite back yet? (I couldn't really tell, because even on my last day the hospital food tasted like BORING. I had my family bring up food from the cafeteria. At least it was fresh!) Take care, and keep breathing! (Also, to alleviate back pain once you get your tubes out, make sure you stand up straight, not hunched over like a heart patient!)

Connie Jewell Connie says in response,
"Yeah I haven't had much of an appetite lets just say my favorite thing on ... Read more

Connie Jewell Connie says in response,
"Yeah I haven't had much of an appetite lets just say my favorite thing on every tray has been the apple juice. So... Kind of tells you were that's at, lol when the highlight of your day is Apple juice."