Dan's Heart Valve Journal

LIN posted a note for Dan that says: Hi Dan,
I live in Tampa, Fl. and will need aorta valve replacement in the future. I wanted to find others that have had this type of surgery that live in my area so I could talk to them since I am fearful.

Ernie Keen posted a note for Dan that says: Damned Cowboys.

Ernie Keen posted a note for Dan that says: I hope doing well. Happy and healthy. My heart valve won't kill me, but work might.

:D Ernie

Ha! (Regarding the no snow shoveling). Good one- made me smile.

Gary Mercer posted a note for Dan that says: Hey Dan, just read all your posts and certainly hope I do as well as you. Unfortunately I will not be walking near the beach post operative. I will be in Ohio dodging the snowflakes. I meet Dr. Gillinov on Monday and I'll let you know how things go.

Hi Dan. I just read though your journal and want to thank you for sharing. My surgery is 9/29. I was shocked when I read about the collapsed lung, was not expecting that, yet you seemed pretty calm and better within a couple of days. wow! It was nice to see your day 2 pic - you looked great and your caption made me laugh. Glad all went well for you.

Ernie Keen posted a note for Dan that says: Your wife is an angel.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: I intend to live forever… or die trying.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: What is the difference between ignorance and apathy? I don’t know, and I don’t care.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: How do you make Holy water? You boil the hell out of it.

Carol Jackson posted a note for Dan that says: Dan,
Wow! Ten mile power walk! I wear a Fitbit and I got 17,000 steps in on Sat. and 15,000 steps in on Sun. helping my daughter pack and move.Hard to believe it's been 6 months for you and 7 months for me! Glad to hear you continue to do so well.

Tom Huskisson posted a note for Dan that says: Great to hear you are doing so well !!

Lynn Ennis posted a note for Dan that says: Wow, ten miles?? How many times did you stop for a beer?Thats very impressive ! Its great to see you are better than ever and that the surgery was all good.
A great thing to do for a 6 month marker- I feel more confident knowing YOU walked 10 miles!

Jim Jones posted a note for Dan that says: Dan:
You are the man! Congrats. Your attitude is contagious. I am going to get in my car right now and drive 10 miles. What, you walked it? Amazing. The best to you, big guy.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: 10 mile power walk-------you are a monster!! Good for you. My feet hurt just thinking about it.

Glad you are doing well, and feeling well. keep it up.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: Yeah, I guess I'm going to have to stick to walking for now. When I left cardiac rehab, the exercise physiologist told me to just walk and not jog. She said my joints would thank me down the road.

Good luck with your Bucs and Steelers. I don't have much faith in the Cowboys, but who knows, maybe Romo will slip up and forget he's supposed to choke every other game.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: Damn. Got back to jogging/walking, then yesterday made it about 2 miles into a 3 mile round trip and injured my right calf again. I stretched good too before I started my jog. I had to call my roommate to come pick me up because I still had a mile to go to get home and a lot of it was uphill. I would have just injured my calf further. Arrrrr!!

Jim Jones posted a note for Dan that says: Dan
This is wonderful news! You are an ironman. I remember the first day you started your journal. So much has happened for so many of us since that day. Keep up the great life.
Best.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: Good to hear you are doing well. Keep it up.

Susan Smith posted a note for Dan that says: Dan are you a work-a-holic??? Probably not, just doing what needs to be done, is my guess. Power walks....wow. I can't wait to get on the other side of this situation. I am 2 weeks and a day out from my scheduled surgery date. Yes I am nervous about being out of commission for the time it takes to get recovered, but I know I must go through this to get to living a good life again. I just love living in Florida, my son lives in the foothills of the Rockies outside of Denver and it is snowing.....yuk! Do drop in every now and again and let us all know how well you are doing.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: Dan!!!

Good hearing from you, buddy. I'm doing well. Feeling good. Didin't make it back into the gym, but I've started walking on and off a bit. I usually do 3 miles, and that's what I did today.

I still have a weird pain in my sternum. My cardiologist thinks I might have done something to loosen the wires, but chest x-ray showed the wires at least weren't broken. I think it's from compression on the sternum from laying on my side when I sleep. I may have to go back to sleeping in the recliner again to try and get that baby to heal. I need a job. Thanks for checking in on me.
Glad to hear you are doing well.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: Dan Sinc!!

How are you doing? I hope recovery is still going well for you. Middle of March will be 6 months for me, so I'll be writing something else in my journal at that time. I've been really bad. I strained a muscle in my calf a month and a half ago and quit walking and lost all my momentum. Gotta get my butt back into the gym. Take care. Be well.

Jim Jones posted a note for Dan that says: Danny Boy
Your news is terrific! As they say, well done. I am so glad to hear how well you are doing! We all have come a long way in a short time.
Keep up the great work, enjoy life and hi to Mrs. Sinclair! Best.

Meredith Bray posted a note for Dan that says: I just stumbled on your journal, and am looking forward to reading it thoroughly when I get home tonight. I'm in Holiday, and looking at Morton Plant Mease for my surgery sometime in the next three months. Keep warm!

Susan Smith posted a note for Dan that says: Hi Dan, nice to hear from you and to find you doing great. Back to normal and doing your thing. I'm still waiting. I see the cardio 3/7/14. Will see what he says about the echocardiogram. Kind of yucky weather wise,but our weather is so much better than everyone else can't complain. Take care and drop in when you can.

Stephen K. posted a note for Dan that says: Dan...Thank you for posting your journal. It truly helped me get through my surgery, and I'm sure many others also were quietly following your journey. As you know the Cleveland Clinic was awesome....great, great doctors and an awesome staff. I am back to normal in just 7 weeks. What a gift we were both given. Thanks again Dan!

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: Dan,

Sorry I'm late getting back to you. Wasn't notified somebody signed my guestbook until today.

I didn't have a fever either when I got Dresslers. Just had pain in the chest a smidge left of the sternum. It was harder breathing and I tired really quickly trying to walk. Took several days taking Naproxen to get over it. Frustrating part of recovery. Good luck.

Susan Smith, from the East Coast posted a note for Dan that says: Dan, Sorry that you have a glitch go on with the Lung, but you will over come that, just has you have over come the other issues with your health. I want you to know that I consider you, Jim and Ernie, the 3 Musketeers of Heart Valve Land. I have truly enjoyed the lessons learned, the stories told and victories won by you all. I still have a ways to go, but one day soon I will be catching up with you in my journey to a new heart valve. 2014 is the year I believe my surgery will take place and my family will have its first wedding as my eldest granddaughter will be marrying her high school sweetheart in September and they will have the ceremony in Florida, rather than in Denver where they live. So these will be a great year. May God continue to bless you and your sweetheart. Do keep us posted on how you are doing, as I am interested in my fellow Floridians well being, as always your friend

Carol Jackson posted a note for Dan that says: Wow! collapsed lung! Hope you are on the mend. That makes me want to take it easy. I returned to my 1st power water aerobics class yesterday. I couldn't do the crawl or breaststroke laps but was able to do 6-7 "continuous" laps with the board and/ or flippers and not get out of breath. Before surgery I could only do 3-4 laps and would get out of breath. Amazing how the surgery helped.
Take it easy and Good luck!

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: DON'T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE!!!

No power walking. You can do LONG, regular walking. You can add distance now, and vigorousness later. This is NOT A RACE. Give your body time to heal!! You're not a spry teen any more. Takes a little more time to heal for us more mature guys. Healing is job number one for you. Don't sabotage yourself. I'm picking out a board right now to make into a good paddle in case I've got to come over there and spank you.

Take it easy. Good luck and good health to you in 2014 and beyond.

Jim Jones posted a note for Dan that says: Hey Dan
Good luck with that lung! It is funny-we need to remain vigilant for a while. We mustr find a solution called "Minute Surgery" to make this recovery move along faster! Heal well, brother!

Deb Ziegler posted a note for Dan that says: So what causes a partially collapsed lung this far out of surgery? Just curious.

Hope you have a happy, healthy and worry free 2014!

Linda posted a note for Dan that says: Thanks, Dan for your recommendation for a local cardiologist. I , too, would go to the Cleveland clinic for valve replacement.
Happy New Year to you.

Linda posted a note for Dan that says: So glad your aorta valve surgery went well. I live in the Tampa and St. Pete area and was wondering if you could recommend a good cardiologist for valve
problems.

Stephen K. posted a note for Dan that says: Hi Dan....congratulations!!....sounds like you will be better than before soon enough! When you say you are working out full days, what are you referring to? (how did you built up your workout schedule and what do you include). I am up for surgery myself in the future and I cannot tell you how much your postings, and your Guest's questions have meant to me personally as it helps to conquer the fear of the unkown. I am sure you have touched and helped so many others who don't post too. You rock!

Rose Sinclair posted a note for Dan that says: You rock dad!!!
Xoxo

Jim Jones posted a note for Dan that says: Dan
You are doing great! So pleased to see how well you are doing. Happy holidays to you all and keep up the good work!

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: Your cardiologist favorite rock band is HEART!! Good one. Glad to hear you are doing well. Keep it up.

Carol Jackson posted a note for Dan that says: Dan,
Glad to hear you had a good report and life is good! Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas! It will be a very special Christmas for all of us.

Susan Smith posted a note for Dan that says: Dan, life is good and getting the surgery behind you, along with having your family with you is the icing on the cake. Have a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year. Keep on keeping on.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: You must be waiting until after your Dr.s appointment on the 19th to post again with news. Either that, or you're out overdoing again, or you DID overdo it again after your last post and now you're too embarrassed to post, because you know I'll have to spank you hard for not listening. You take it slow.

Like I tell my dog every time I take it for a walk, " Heal, damn you, heal!!"

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: I had Dressler's Syndrome, which was a form of Pericarditis, so I went through the same thing with shallow breaths and pain breathing. Spirometer numbers dropped like crazy. Roller Coaster recovery. Highs and lows get less and less over time. take it slow to heal quick.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: Hopefully you can get into cardiac rehab and they will give you a good idea of how much, and how fast you should be going for your cardio exercise. Don't worry about stamina. With your new valve it'll come back quick enough. Let your heart heal. It went through a pretty traumatic ordeal, being stopped, cut open, valve cut out and a bovine one sewed in, and then the heart was sewed up again.

Today was my last day of cardiac rehab. They kicked me out and said I was doing really well.

Good luck, and thanks for the update.

Jim Jones posted a note for Dan that says: Hey Dan
It is tough to do slow and steady but that appears to be what the heart and body want. Good that you are adjusting. It truly is trial and error to get the pace right. Also, I do think you just make Ernie's day! Ernie has become our Yoda. A most powerful Jedi Master. Best.

Aubrey posted a note for Dan that says: You obviously gave much longer legs than me. Keep up the slow and steady. Sounds like your doing very well. Keep us posted on it all.

I still take the occasional ibuprofen and the rehab has not only helped my stamina but the upper body weights and the core resistance bands are making a noticeable difference. I will try to keep the three to six hours per week of exercise going. I am looking for a six pack abs. I will post if it ever happens, lol.

Joseph Kusiak posted a note for Dan that says: Dan,

So glad you are doing so good. This surgery saved your life and soon you will feel even better then you did 10 years ago.
Keep up the great work in recovery.

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Dan that says: 4 miles at 16 1/2 minutes. That still seems like you're pushing it a bit too soon. When was your last or is your next doctor/cardiologist appointment? Be sure and tell them how much walking you're doing, how fast, and how you are feeling.
This ain't no race! Gotta let the ticker heal.

Susan Smith posted a note for Dan that says: Great going Dan. Love the Grouper sandwiches. I went Christmas Shopping this morning and I must confess our weather was lousy today. Gray and misty, but the temp. was 77 so shouldn't complain. Keep up the great recovery and as I move forward, I will keep your words in mind.

Jim Jones posted a note for Dan that says: Hey Dan
Nothing we would enjoy more. Let's see what the future holds. The best deal would be the Rays and Red Sox playing in January of course,

Jim Jones posted a note for Dan that says: Dan
I don't hate you because you live in Florida. (we had a bit of snow on the ground). I hate you because you are not a Red Sox and Pats fan! (just kidding- we are rabid fans.)
I was thinking of you folks today and your great weather. I hope at some point in the future to be as fortunate. Great walk and great sandwich. I love grouper sandwiches. Continued healing, Dan. And hi to Mary!