Emily's Guestbook

Emily Rowley  Hey Sophia, Thank you for your lovely message. I'm so sorry I didn't see your message until now. I'm going quite well. How are you going Heart Sis? Love to hear the adventures you've been upto. I have an email address I use more, do you use email? I too have been thinking of you 😊💕

Emily Rowley  Hey Louise, I am really well thanks, keeping very busy! I did have bad chest infection and sinus infection but am now feeling much better. How are you? Sorry it has taken me sooooo long to reply!! I haven't been on here in awhile xoxox <3

Emily Rowley  Hey Louise, thanks for leaving me a lovely Guestbook Post. First time I've heard the word Antipodean. It's great to find people on here who live relatively close 🙂 Yes, I've underwent 2 repairs and I'm still here-there is always hope! That is good things are starting to come along together for you. I would like to hear how your Echo goes. Have you been reffered to a Heart Surgery? Our Surgeons come under the same association+both our Countries served together in the War, upcoming ANZAC Day. I too have read through your heart journry story and I can defiantly relate to you: Both female, non-smokers (never smoked), slim, fit, Mitral Valve Reguritation and had experienced shortness of breath. What other symptoms do you have? I would recomend surgery, we have amazingly experienced Surgeons and pre-op I couldn't walk far without getting extremely out of breath, although now I still do get out of breath when moderate-high physical activity, it's improved alot! Thanks, I will 🙂 Take Care Louise.

Emily Rowley  Aww thank so much for your lovely message-you have touched my heart 💕 I know I haven't posted for awhile. How are you Linda? We all have our ups and downs-Heart Surgery is no easy journey, but I am very pleased to have special heart friends like you by my side 🙂 I'm glad we can share our journeys together 💞 Do you have an email address, so we can talk more? 😀 Once again, thank you so much sweetie xoxoxox

Emily Rowley  Hi Kim. You must of read my mind, because today I too was going to send you a guestbook message. Thank you for your lovely message! Aww I'm happy to be here to help you 😊 I turned 22 last November, had my 1st OHS at 16yrs old & 2nd OHS at 21yrs old & probably another one down the track-think I could perform surgery with all this experoence lol hehe 🤓. I have been in your position, I understand this is one of the hardest parts as there is no turning back, no way of stopping the enivatbly, but I also know you will come out of this life-saving Operation stronger. You too are very brave! Naww how many babies do you have & will someone be looking after your children while you are in Hospital? Nowadays Hospitals like to get people feeling well to go home in little time. This is now your time, so take your time to relax and enjoy the care given to you 🙂 I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers 🙏🏼 I found thinking of a place that makes me happy, made me feel at peace going into my operation, you might like to think of your beautiful children who will be so happy to see their Mother again with her [your] mended heart. 💟 Know that I never too far away to talk. I look forward to hearing updates from you. Take care xoxo

Emily Rowley  Hi Linda. Talking with you would be really nice. Do you have an email address? I can give you my number too. I assume you live in the USA, so there will be abit of a time difference, but that's okay 🙂

Emily Rowley  Hello Beautiful Jan, I am well thanks beside being tired. How are you going? It is lovely to hear from you, including your Christmas Letter 🙂 Yes the migraines and headaches are non-existant now.

Oh no, will they be able to visit you?

Wow you sound like you are going well. Do you document your Warfarin intake, levels & daily food down? It's good to hear you will soon be off it.Oww I know what Sternum cracks are about, has your Sternum healed together well?

It's been very hot even reaching 40 Degrees. Is it humid over your way? You deserve and need your nanna naps, we all do. Happy Birthday for January, what day? I just turned 22 years last week....

Whoa that's a long, probably too long. They should grant you a home closer to medical access, make sure you tell them about your Heart Condition hun.

Alot has been going on some good, some bad and some okay. This past week didn't go too well, I will explain more over email.

Lots of hugs, prayers and love to you and your family xoxox 💕

Janette Rehua  Send me an email hun x Hope you are feeling better and Im sorry I missed you birthday Best wishes and Blessings to you you are the same age as my youngest daughter ;) Include your postal addy in your email xxxx

Emily Rowley  Hi Phyllis, it is great to hear from you and thank you for ending me a lovely Guestbook Message. 🙂
My recovery has been going well, it's a long road (not trying to scare you for your upcoming operation). I just need to allow my body time to heal and rest when needed. Particularly because my Sternum didn't heal fully together after my first OHS, but with new bone formation this time I am remaining hopefully + my leaflets are bit stiff but had 2x ops on it. How are you feeling about your upcoming Operation, do you feel ready hun? It is wonderful your Surgeon will repair your valve. You have an excellent experienced team who know what they are doing and will look after you well. I'm wishing you the very best for your Operation and a smooth Recovery for you. Sending my prayers 🙏🏼 Please feel free to ask me any questions 💕 Take Care and Go Gently, Em.

Phyllis Petersen  I'm very thankful that I have so much less being done, and I feel very confident in my surgeon and hospital. I still have things to get done at home, but have reached the point where I'm ready to get this surgery behind me. This community has been such a blessing. Thank you for your kind words and support.

Emily Rowley  Hi Regan,
Thanks for leaving me a Guestbook message. 🙂 I was amazed to see an Aussie, from same area with the sane Surgeon as mine. I couldn't believe it, especially as the majority of people on here are from USA! Feel free to ask as many questions as you wish. I read you are visiting Dr Emily Granger this upcoming Thursday (she usually sees her new & out patients Thursdays). Have they told you where you need to go to see her? As she now has a new office (with all the other Cardiothoracic Surgeons) in the Private Hospital. Her old office used to be in Public Hospital and bulk billed through Medicare, but now you need to pay fee (just be aware) which you may be able to claim back through health insurance. Also check what your health insurance covers, I've been caught out with this before. I went private this time and glad I did. My first OHS was at Westmead Public Hospital.

I haven't heard of your Cardiologist before, what is the name of their Centre? Sydney has best technology such as 3D TOE machines/scanning, excellent Specialists with experience. I now go to NSW Cardiology, St Vincent's Clinic with the excellent Cardiologist I had in Hospital.

I found Dr Granger (Head of Heart Transplant team) easy to talk to, I always felt comfortable and she took the time to make sure my questions were answered and her patients are well looked after. Like all Surgeons, they do get really busy so talking with her PA Donna, helped. There is alot of before and after care support with St Vincent's, which I didn't have at Westmead. If you are curious, like I was then you can always Google Surgeons+Hospitals before hand. Let me know how you find her and how your Appointment goes. I know everyone is different and likes different approaches.

What mode of Transport do you use to navigate your way around the busy city?

Look forward to hearing from you 🙂

Emily Rowley  Hi Jan, it is lovely to hear from you sweetie ☺ I am well thanks and the headaches come and go but I am allowed to now take Aspirin and Iburprofen. Aww hun, I am here for you 💕 Now is the time to focus on your health and as you are busy preparing, to find moments of peace and serenitity. Once I was diagnosed and coming closer to my heart surgery, I became (not only more emotional..) but centimental about the beauty in the world around me, such as cherishing small things like sunshine - do you find this is what you too are doing? That is wonderful you have them in your life ☺ I'm nearly 22 lol. How did it go with your Granddaughter's Autism diagnoses? It's good she will be able to gain valuable support and help esp at 3 yrs old. I am going to post my CT Scan Results soon which I heard back from my wonderful Surgeon. It's more knowing others (inc you) are going through a difficult time, this is an important time for giving my support and sending my prayers-it's your moment, not for me or anyone to take away. I always have time for you and help other people. Do you feel ready and packed+what date in September? Hoping this makes sense xoxo 😙

Janette Rehua  hi back xx I do know what you mean about treasuring the small things I am doing fine though to tell you the truth I was at mass this morning and went back into church after and cried and cried but Im allowing myself that its between God and I o I feel free to howl and complain and feel sorry for myself there and not the burden that I feel I am to others in my family. However outside of my crying church days hahaha I am at peace and just want this over with now. I have noticed the past few weeks more breathlessness and a few palpitations bouncing around and I feel quiet honestly that this is the perfect time for this surgery. I have doubted that I even needed it but I have to admit Im tiring and noticing my walking is more of a struggle. I kind of cant wait to see how much difference the surgery will make. xx
You take care speak soon x

Emily Rowley  It's great having someone who understands and can relate to ☺ It is a special connection we each have with God, he/she has always time to listen 🙇🙏 You are defiantly not a burden to anyone, but I do know how you feel and how wonderful it is to speak freely to God without judgement. My work place pre-op used to be a very old church ⛪ with alot of history/originality and I would getting emotional thinking in there. That said a church or place of worship and prayers doesn't need to physically be made of bricks and water for many. I really loved my Pastoral Care Team at St Vincent's Private, they each brought different qualities/ways and there for me, they were God's Angels, I could see how suited they are to the role-something I would like to do when older. The Chapel was beautiful too, there was a prayer book where people wrote in prayers and strangers would prayer. See if you could perhaps check out your Hospital's Chapel and you can request your Minister to visit you in Hospital, giving a blessing pre-op. You are ready 😔 I worried before hand if I should of had mine earlier but like you I wanted to get my & other's Birthday's/Christmas done first...but after glad it was postponed so everything go better to plan. You will feel better esp on terms of breathlessness, tiresome. Alot inc me say the exact same thing before hand...initially it is tough I will be honest but things improve and we are given a very precious gift of life again, I know you can get through this difficult time with a smile. 😘 xoxox
How did you go finding that other woman from Aus? Have you heard from Stephen guy from NSW?
Ps. The weather is lovely over here, how is the weather at your place? 🌞

Emily Rowley  Aspirin with Caffeine, I have never heard of that, does it help? I don't have Caffeine much cause I find it gives me headaches. I strangely found I didn't have migraines on Warfarin. I recently watched a Doco on Aurora light in the night, how powerful it gets so migraine would be terrible. I am going to ring my Surgeon this Thursday-still waiting on my CT Scan results and seeing my Cardiologist soon. Aww thank you ☺ That is lovely. Do you have a Guestbook Post?

Emily Rowley  Hi Kate, sorry for the late reply. How are you going and have you been experiencing Migraines recently? What is Excedrine? Good to see what works. I was told Aspirin can help but I'm not sure with my Heart Condition so I will ask my Surgeon or Cardiologist when I talk to them next.

Emily Rowley  Hey Enrique, thank you for your lovely message, it is very thoughtful. I like your photo! 😁 I am doing well, however lately I have been quite unwell (hence I haven't been much on here lately). How have you been going? Enjoying the snow? ❄ Em.

Enrique K  Hi Emily, its great to hear from you. I hope you get well soon, what is the problem? I love skiing so we go away for 2 weeks to Colorado with my 2 kids and my wife and we always have a blast. I started skiing at the age of 5.

Emily Rowley  Likewise Enrique! 😁 Migraines (I am wondering if I can take Aspirin to help) and tummy sickness. Nice, sounds great! 😊 We had alittle snow fall in Aus-my Surgeon took her kids/family away to the snow.

Eddie Patton  I've had the same for years. Got fairly regular for a few weeks after surgery then tapered off to one every couple of months though they don't seem as intense as before surgery.

Emily Rowley  Thank you Kate for leaving me a Guestbook and Eddie for your message. What are Aura Migraines? Did yours come and go Kate? Top of my head feels pounding, it has eased off abit, when I have them sound seemed to aggrivate it. Oh no sorry to hear you both have suffered with them, I wouldn't wish it upon anyone, it is comforting to know I'm not the only one however. What seemed to help your Migraines?

Emily Rowley  Hi Mia,
Thank you for leaving me a message. That's okay, I don't always check either.
Are you allergic to the nickel or what the wires are made of? That would of made it hard when your body rejected any foreign objects, luckily your bone was healed. How did your recovery go and were you in much pain Post-Op? My Surgeon said she mostly removes wires in young patients especially when they can feel them rubbing on the skin. How were your wires positioned in your Sternum? I had my CT Scan done and now waiting to hear back from Surgeon after she looks at the images+report. Aww thank you so much. I feel my Sternum cracking alot. After my first OHS the bone didn't heal fully together, creating a gap (no one told me until now) so having a second OHS harder to heal. What did they do when you had OHS? I hope you are feeling well without pain ☺

Emily Rowley  Yep I have 😁 If I didn't "follow you" too I would not of recieved this update...I know what you mean it's strange+hard. I can't send Guestbook posts while on my phone/mobile website and I make sure I copy my text because sometimes it exist out without pressing any button then I need to re-write. I doubt a robot will post here-they may be useful in robotic surgery though 😃 Besides these bugs, it is a great community with so many lovely people such as yourself. That's gpod, I wasn't sure if you had the book with you. I couldn't see much mention of the Tricuspid Valve, though I did skim through....I did some research and learnt the Mitral Valve is also called the Bicuspid Valve (even know it has two leaflets compared to the Tricuspid which is a different shape), which might not help in your situation. Wow, it would get confusing. Which Surgeon do you trust and which place do you feel comfortable with? How are you feeling? The ones that said cut, what were they going to do with your Heart? In America you guys have so many choices for Surgeons. I have heard there is large financial costs over there though. Look forward to hearing how you go hun xx

Emily Rowley  Hello Sameer, I am doing well thanks. How are you? Yes, there are a few which is always nice to know. I am the youngest at Cardiac Rehab and was in the Hospital Ward. I see you have experienced the same heart problem as I have - that being Mitral Regurgitation. Were you born with a heart defect and how did come to decide on replacing your Valve at such a young age? Does your Mitral Valve leak anymore? In regards to removing Sternum wires, generally Surgeons leave them (except replace if having multiple Open Heart Surgeries). Are they affecting you? I am going to ask my Surgeon about my Sternum cracking. Thank you for sending me a lovely Guestbook message. Take care.

Sameer Khan  I am fine, thanks and pleasure is all mine. I read your story which says you had two OHSs. I can understand what you have been through but its good to see you are doing well. No, I wasn't born with heart defect but, according to doctors I got rheumatic fever which left my mitral valve calcified when I was 11 years old. The condition remained hidden until I got 20 y.o, then my valve was completely calcified and leaking badly and that's when I got severe palpitations and hospitalized. When the doctor examined my heart he said that how could possibly you not visited any cardiologist before and it could be repaired easily with minimal invasive surgery but unfortunately it was too late. So they decided to replace my valve. they put 2 options 1) mechanical valve 2) Tissue valve and told me whole pros and cons so i decided to go for mechanical because it lasts lifetime and I can get along with coumadine. and I am glad that I made the choice and its was the choice of my surgeon too. Since then, my valve never leaked and my heart beats like "I can play a non-stop Piano with it" :) . And didn't get hospitalized since and I feel great and energetic. So this is the short story how I come to replace my mitral valve.
Thank you for your helpful response regarding sternum wires removal. No they don't bother me but sometimes it feels weird, that's why I asked.

Emily Rowley  Yes I have underwent 2 Open-Heart Surgeries nearly 5yrs apart and more to come along the way. I have been through alot, let me know if you have any quarries or questions. Will you need futher surgeries in the near future? Having Rheumatic Fever must've been hard & not so pleasant. Did you have any symptoms with RF, how did you catch it and what treatment did you have at the time? It is a shame the Doctors didn't pick it up earlier, mine wasn't picked up until I was 15 years old. Faith in your Surgical Team and your decision of what Valve is really important. How did your recovery go? Sounds like a great outcome for you. Actually I never thought about removal of Sternum wires, the day or so after I commented on your Post, my Surgeon discuessed about removing my Sternum wires and placing plates+screws in my Sternum. I can hear & feel my Sternum cracked alot so I need to go for a CT Scan. She told me after my 1st OHS there was a gap in my Sternum, it never actually healed together properly instead fibrous tissue tried joining together.

Sameer Khan  thank you and I appreciate your help. If there won't any issues then I won't go through any further surgery because i have heard and saw a lot that its life long. RF was very hard. major symptom was my joints ached very badly and i barely walked and moved around. Doctors said that its a bacterium streptococcus found in the throat and it affect two major organs, Kidneys and Heart. and it affected my heart valve. I agree with you if the doctors picks it up earlier then one could be saved from such disaster. my recovery went well but I got sick with severe fever few times within 6 months post surgery. I hope your doctors do something to heal your sternum gap. does it hurt? I wish it not hurting you.
I will ask you anything if I need to and you can ask me anything if you need to.