Guestbook of Deb Bialecki

My Guestbook

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4147 days ago

Maureen posted a note for Deb that says:

What an inspiration you are! You've done an amazing job and have been so very brave through it all! Here's to a new and improved life...less stress and healthy! ...Read more

What an inspiration you are! You've done an amazing job and have been so very brave through it all! Here's to a new and improved life...less stress and healthy! Hugs! Maureen

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4148 days ago

Jill posted a note for Deb that says:

Deb, you've done a fantastic job of recovery! You took your recovery and cardiac rehab seriously and did everything they told you to do; with great results. ...Read more

Deb, you've done a fantastic job of recovery! You took your recovery and cardiac rehab seriously and did everything they told you to do; with great results. I'm so impressed you joined the gym and are continuing to work on getting stronger and healthier. I know this journey was a struggle for you physically and mentally. I am so glad you realize it was worth the effort. Love you sweetie and looking forward to our long, healthy, happy life...together!

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4168 days ago

Joan R posted a note for Deb that says:

Hi Deb, So happy that you are doing so well. Ihave the same avr coming soon. I hope I do as well. You sound a little anxous and impatient , again like me. ...Read more

Hi Deb, So happy that you are doing so well. Ihave the same avr coming soon. I hope I do as well. You sound a little anxous and impatient , again like me. try and relax remember stressing out will hinder your immune system and make recovery take longer. Best regards. Joan

Deb Bialecki Hi Joan,
Hope your surgery goes well. When is it scheduled? I'm updating my journal today - it's be ... Read more

Deb Bialecki Hi Joan,
Hope your surgery goes well. When is it scheduled? I'm updating my journal today - it's been a while.
Best of luck with your surgery. I'm sure you'll do fine....I'll be thinking of you.

Take care,
Deb

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4189 days ago

Eleanor posted a note for Deb that says:

No wonder you feel tired, girl, with all that activity. I am awaiting AVR myself, and hope I can be as active as you after six weeks. Give yourself a break, ...Read more

No wonder you feel tired, girl, with all that activity. I am awaiting AVR myself, and hope I can be as active as you after six weeks. Give yourself a break, and enjoy lazy days of doing nothing, or almost nothing. You sound like a Type A, so "nothing" is probably not in your book, but chill out with a book or a video, or just sit outside, you seem to be doing well.

Deb Bialecki Thanks Eleanor...... What a difference a few weeks makes. I'm updating my journal shortly....since ... Read more

Deb Bialecki Thanks Eleanor...... What a difference a few weeks makes. I'm updating my journal shortly....since it's been awhile.
Chilling out and not feeling guilty about it is not something I do well - but I'm getting better at it.... ha ha!

Keep us posted when you have your surgery.... I find the journals a good place to commune with people who understand what you are going through.

Take care,
Deb

Deb Bialeckigot a new guestbook post

4191 days ago

Meredith Bray posted a note for Deb that says:

Psshhh, I'm 4 months out and still like to take a late afternoon nap after an early morning rehab session. Glad to see you're doing well!

Deb Bialeckigot a new guestbook post

4201 days ago

James Jones posted a note for Deb that says:

Hey Deb, Sounds like you are coming right along. I think you are a lot like me - Type A - get'er done kind of person. :) My wife tells me slow and steady and ...Read more

Hey Deb, Sounds like you are coming right along. I think you are a lot like me - Type A - get'er done kind of person. :) My wife tells me slow and steady and listen to my body - I'm learning to listen to her too. You can do this - I've got 3 weeks till surgery and then I'll be right where you are! I'm encouraged by your reports because you are being transparent. Thanks for that. Hang in there - we are praying for you!

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4201 days ago

Joan R posted a note for Deb that says:

hI Deb, Iam glad to hear you are progressing steadily . you are getting impatient to become back to normal. you will get there.remember slow and steady. I ...Read more

hI Deb, Iam glad to hear you are progressing steadily . you are getting impatient to become back to normal. you will get there.remember slow and steady. I am sure you will be fine . I also get aura but no head aches. I will be having my surgery in aprox a year my dr estimates. I have aortic valve stenosis.so your getting better means a lot to me personally too. best wishes Joan

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4209 days ago

Carol posted a note for Deb that says:

Deb, Hope you feel better soon. Carol

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4209 days ago

Carolyn posted a note for Deb that says:

I had mitral valve repair a year ago and I can relate to the migraines. They seemed to happen quite often the first 6 weeks post op. My surgeon said this was ...Read more

I had mitral valve repair a year ago and I can relate to the migraines. They seemed to happen quite often the first 6 weeks post op. My surgeon said this was normal and would subside which they did. Also, it was kind of freaky when I started bleeding 3 days after surgery when I had just had it 2weeks prior. It does get better you just have to listen to your body when it tells you to slow down. Best of luck!

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4209 days ago

DVB posted a note for Deb that says:

Off days are gonna happen. Just keep in mind that you did this for the long haul. Eventually *all* days are going to be better than what might have been. ...Read more

Off days are gonna happen. Just keep in mind that you did this for the long haul. Eventually *all* days are going to be better than what might have been. Be proud of yourself, you are in the middle of doing a hard thing.

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4210 days ago

jeff o posted a note for Deb that says:

I went through many cycles of feeling better, doing too much, hurting myself (nothing serious, but good and sore) and repeating. Even put myself back on ...Read more

I went through many cycles of feeling better, doing too much, hurting myself (nothing serious, but good and sore) and repeating. Even put myself back on my pain pills one time.

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4210 days ago

Meredith Bray posted a note for Deb that says:

Rehab is great! It's nice to work out and know that you can't over-do anything because the nurses and therapists are watching every move you make. Rehab is ...Read more

Rehab is great! It's nice to work out and know that you can't over-do anything because the nurses and therapists are watching every move you make. Rehab is what got me really feeling better, closer to normal than ever before. We've all had little setbacks where we thought we were feeling moremended than we really were. Three weeks is about where I got the courage to really let loose with a sneeze, provided I had Hearty Harvey nearby. You're doing great so far!

Deb Bialecki Thanks Meredith! I'm thinking rehab will help move things along.

I still try not to sneeze but I've ... Read more

Deb Bialecki Thanks Meredith! I'm thinking rehab will help move things along.

I still try not to sneeze but I've done it 4 times --- once without Hearty Harvey nearby ---- that SUCKED. Surgeon checked at my regular checkup and nothing was out of line and things were still healing well - so, no harm, no foul. I still prefer not to do it though. ;)

Thanks for the encouragement! It really does help to hear from others who've gone through the same thing.

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4210 days ago

Clare Auten posted a note for Deb that says:

I would do the same things early on...forget that I just had major surgery and over do it. Just remember there are ups and downs to recovery. Take it easy for ...Read more

I would do the same things early on...forget that I just had major surgery and over do it. Just remember there are ups and downs to recovery. Take it easy for a few days and you will be back on track. I think shoulder pain is fairly common after open heart surgery. It was for me. It is gone now and I don't have range of motion issues. Good luck.

Deb Bialecki Hi Clare,
You are right....definitely ups and downs but getting better.

The shoulder problem for me ... Read more

Deb Bialecki Hi Clare,
You are right....definitely ups and downs but getting better.

The shoulder problem for me isn't so much from the OH surgery but from a different surgery in December --- bone spur removal, rotator cuff and labral tear repairs --- the recovery from that took until May. I had just gotten almost all of my range of motion back in that shoulder but didn't have strength yet. Then I had the mitral valve repair surgery and it kind of froze up again. My regular dr says that's typical - since I kind of didn't want to move the shoulder and arms much past being close to the body for the last few weeks.

I'm sure the range will come back once more recovered and able to start doing the shoulder exercises again.

Thanks for writing!

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4212 days ago

Julia Hsu posted a note for Deb that says:

Deb, I am 4 weeks post surgery. After 3 weeks, I developed sleeping problem. I can't sleep at night. Like you, it is not so much pain, but very uncomfortable. ...Read more

Deb, I am 4 weeks post surgery. After 3 weeks, I developed sleeping problem. I can't sleep at night. Like you, it is not so much pain, but very uncomfortable. I can't find a relaxed position so that I can fall asleep. I also had some headaches last week. But they went away this week. Good luck to you.

Deb Bialecki Hi Julia,

Thanks for responding....it makes me feel a bit better to know I'm not the only one having ... Read more

Deb Bialecki Hi Julia,

Thanks for responding....it makes me feel a bit better to know I'm not the only one having the problem.
Still get headaches just about every day and ocular migraines too...will ask the dr about that next week when I see him.

Hope your recovery is progressing and that you are able to get some sleep and find a comfortable position soon.

Wishing you all the best. :)

Deb

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4212 days ago

Joan R posted a note for Deb that says:

HI Deb, Happy to see you are doing well.look forward to reading your journal. you said you had difficulty concentrating, will that eventually go away ? Did ...Read more

HI Deb, Happy to see you are doing well.look forward to reading your journal. you said you had difficulty concentrating, will that eventually go away ? Did the Drs explain what causes that? Don't forget think positive. I am routing for you, Joan

Deb Bialecki Hi Joan,
Thanks for signing my guest book and for the encouragement.

I've been told the concentratio ... Read more

Deb Bialecki Hi Joan,
Thanks for signing my guest book and for the encouragement.

I've been told the concentration issues will go away in time. Could be because of a number of things - time on the heart/lung machine, anesthesia (I've been told it takes a while to get all the residual stuff out of your system), use of narcotic painkiller initially, etc. I'm feeling much better than before and am able to read more and spend time on the iPad and such since I stopped using the prescription pain meds....hurt more but can at least think.
I'm sure it will continue to get better further on...

Deb Bialeckigot a new guestbook post

4219 days ago

DVB posted a note for Deb that says:

Rehab is the best! It helps you heal, makes you strong, and gives you physical confidence. You are gonna like it.

Deb Bialeckigot a new guestbook post

4219 days ago

Meredith Bray posted a note for Deb that says:

My mom drives me crazy too! i didn't want to do all that stuff, she was waking me up at 8 every morning asking what we were going to do next. The standing ...Read more

My mom drives me crazy too! i didn't want to do all that stuff, she was waking me up at 8 every morning asking what we were going to do next. The standing up stright part really pertains to your shoulders. My PT didn't want me walking around hunched over, with my shoulders curled in. He also suggested a small pillow or folded throw blanket between my upper back and the recliner, so i didn't "sink in" so much. Make sure you get lots of rest!

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4220 days ago

Meredith Bray posted a note for Deb that says:

My mom visited me my second week at home. We went grocery shopping, got a manicure, went shoe shopping, got a haircut, went to visit an old friend of hers, ...Read more

My mom visited me my second week at home. We went grocery shopping, got a manicure, went shoe shopping, got a haircut, went to visit an old friend of hers, etc etc. It was EXHAUSTING! Add that to the fact that i still wasn't sleeping more than 6 hours at a time....whew! Each day i got a little stronger, and slept a little longer. Keep up the good work, keep walking, keep breathing! And stand up straight! (It makes a HUGE difference!)

Deb Bialecki I couldn't do what you did Meredith....
I love my mom but she drives me a little crazy. And it's enou ... Read more

Deb Bialecki I couldn't do what you did Meredith....
I love my mom but she drives me a little crazy. And it's enough to try to get daily stuff done and rest and then call her almost each day.

Sleeping is getting a bit better. Still sleeping in the recliner in 2-4 hour chunks. Part of that is because our bed frame broke over the weekend and we haven't gotten it fixed yet and part of it is I've always been a lousy sleeper.

Standing up straight is hard to do although I keep trying. Tipping my head back makes it feel like everything is pulling on my incision - makes it burn and itch at the same time. I'm sure it's just scar tissue and muscle tightness - which means I need to do that more frequently. Oh joy.

Thanks for your support! :)

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4220 days ago

Deb Ziegler posted a note for Deb that says:

You will start feeling a lot better and more energetic in another week or so. The "brain fog" fog will also lift and you will be able to read and concentrate ...Read more

You will start feeling a lot better and more energetic in another week or so. The "brain fog" fog will also lift and you will be able to read and concentrate again. recovery takes awhile, but the first two or three weeks are the most difficult. Hang in ther!

Deb Bialecki Thanks Deb. That's good to hear. It's very frustrating and aggravating right now but if this is "nor ... Read more

Deb Bialecki Thanks Deb. That's good to hear. It's very frustrating and aggravating right now but if this is "normal" and it's going to get better then I can suck it up and ride it out.
I'm finding that my walks outside make me feel better so that's something good - and good for me.

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4220 days ago

Anne Adams posted a note for Deb that says:

Hope this finds you feeling better. All those, "long roads to recovery" start with the first step and I'm sure you're well on your way. Listen to your body, ...Read more

Hope this finds you feeling better. All those, "long roads to recovery" start with the first step and I'm sure you're well on your way. Listen to your body, your doctor, and Jill (although maybe not in that order) and you'll be up and around in no time. Be well.

Deb Bialecki Thanks Anne..... Feeling better but slow. I hate being home already and have told Jill a number of ... Read more

Deb Bialecki Thanks Anne..... Feeling better but slow. I hate being home already and have told Jill a number of times I'd rather be working....at least I have a routine then. She's helping me to get a routine in place while I'm home and that should help.

Feeling better - first time actually cleaning up email on my computer in almost 2 weeks.

Thanks....hope things are going well for you. Belmont is Saturday - can't wait.... :)

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4225 days ago

Maureen posted a note for Deb that says:

Hi Deb! I'm so glad to read that you're doing well. Remember...baby steps! You are amazing!!!

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4229 days ago

Robby Khanal posted a note for Deb that says:

Deb - glad to hear the surgery went well. Hope you are feeling better. Relax and recover well.

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4231 days ago

James & Tammy Jones posted a note for Deb that says:

Great news Deb! Glad to hear you are doing so well. That's very encouraging. Keep it up. Look forward to hearing more good reports. God Bless!

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4231 days ago

Maureen McDermott Cannon posted a note for Deb that says:

What a model patient you are, Deb! I can see you supporting others in the future...telling them. "it's just a week out of commission"! Looking great! Maureen ...Read more

What a model patient you are, Deb! I can see you supporting others in the future...telling them. "it's just a week out of commission"! Looking great! Maureen