Eric's Heart Valve Journal

What a difference a year makes, it's been a tough road for you and Lydia, but look how well you are doing now. So much for both to look forward to, a son getting married and another son and his wife are going to make you a gd-father, and your 31 anniversary coming up, life couldn't be better. Just wish Paul could be here to share this with us.

Take care.

Eric, Our last 2 Springs have been horrendous to say the least. April 2010 - your heart attack and May 2011 - your open heart surgery. I was dreading what this April/May would bring but we were happily surprised at what was to come. We are going to be Grandparents in December. Our son Josh and daughter in law Amber will be blessing us with our first grandchild and I am thrilled that you will be here to enjoy this new time in our lives. I am also looking forward to celebrating our 31st Anniversary. I love you, you still take my breathe away. xo :)

Hey Eric....way to go!! I'm heading into month eleven and am living as if everything is normal. Heavy labour, long days, catching up on everything that didn't get done whicle waiting for surg. After 3 days of full bore I take a day off to catch my breath and off I go again. Had a -10 yr
angiogram pre op so am taking advantage of my biologically young heart post op.
All the very best to you and your family with His richest blessings.

Hi Eric and Lydia,
Jen sent me your link after my husband, Jeff's, surgery. Thanks so much for this. Gives me a bit of a glimpse into the future.

My best regards for continued health!

Darlene

Eric...curious as to how you are doing now. Hope you are still kicking tail in rehab. Take care my friend.

JH

It's been slow, but it's only been 6 months, and you have come a long way. Not losing weight could be the meds you are on or you have been eating to much smoked meat, etc., and not being as sharp as you were before surgery could be due to the anesthetic, that does take up to 6 or 9 months or so, to get out of your system. And those passewords will come back in time, don't forget you haven't been using your brain much (lol) until you got back to work.

Hang in there, take care, Bernice.

Hey Eric...sorry to read about some of the issues, but I am certain you will get it corrected and be back to your best in no time. I know what you mean about all the passwords...if I did not write them down, there is no way I can remember them all.

Hang in there.

JH Mattingly

Thanks for the update. Good luck on the 15th, I'm sure the numbers you want will be there, so keep up what you have been doing. Who knows, maybe soon you will be cooking dinner for Lydia with the fish you caught in the lake, so that's the next goal you have to meet, "fishing". And I want to see a picture of that catch. Good luck.

Way to go Eric! Good job and keep up the good work! Your walking distance certainly has improved, that's great. I'm very confident on August 15th you will get the numbers you want.
I agree..... never let a NO recevied from a medical insurance company stand in your way! :)
Hugs,
Cathy

Thanks for signing my guestbook. I've read your journal and really enjoy your sense of humor. Your experiences have helped. Thanks brother.

Happy to hear you got your medical clearance to drive, so I guess your eye sight is better, but how is the speech going? So the the doctor didn't hear a murmur, that is wonderful. It won't be long and you won't need two tylenol at bedtime. Can't believe you have to go all the way into Mtl, on Atwater St to do your rehab.
Take care, and as the saying goes,
"Just take one day at a time:.

Bernice.

Hey Eric, glad to hear of the progress you're making. Not meaning to be a Job's comforter here, but just think of all the patience you're learning!!

Keep plugging away, you'll get there someday. Winnie the Pooh Bear (from Winnipeg BTW) said that.

Hi Eric,

How's it going. Is your eyesight and speech getting better? Hope the pain has gotten a little less. So you're taken two 20 min walks every day, that's good, it won't be long and you will be doing two 1 hr walks every day.
Has my daughter let you back in the bed yet, or are you still sleeping on the recliner, lol.
Take care and keep up the good work.

Bernice.

Hi Eric,

Thank you for reaching out to me and sharing your story. All of the info really helps put me at ease.

I wish you a continued successful and speedy recovery.

Matt Fountain

Hi Eric:

It was good to hear from you!!! Some words of comfort, "The pain passes but the beauty remains" --Pierre August Renoir
Hoping that your convalescence continues apace.
Peter W.

Way ta go Eric. Sounds likes things are coming together for you. You're in my thots are prayers. Hang in there and keep up the good fight.

I'm slated for anytime after July 16th. This is Manitoba and we make headlines with our surg wait lists.

They've got me slated as a "run thought", no secondary issues and the heart of a horse. So we'll see.

I've got some Irish going for me but by far the Lord Himself is my anchor. When I head into the op theatre I'm landind straight in his hands.

All the very best to you and your stedfast wife and family as they walk the journey with you.

Paul M

Eric:

It is so good to hear how well you are doing. Have a great long weekend!!!

PW

Eric,
I am so glad to hear you are doing so well. Keep it up, and take care!
Tia

As the day goes on, I hope that you feel better. You know what that saying is "Take one day at a time" and don't over do it.

Take care, Bernice.

Happy Birthday and many many more. The initial weeks proceeding surgery go so slow and we tend to measure everything in menial baby steps that inch us forward in progress however; this is the road to recovery and before you know it you will be fully restored and revitalized.

Terry Tannenbaum

Hi Bernie,
Hapy Birthday! I hope you already got your treat. The best treat is that you are going home. Home, home? or will you stay at a hotel nearby for a few days?
Maria

Great, a birthday to mark and put all this behind you. It can only go up from now on.

All the very best wishes for your day and the coming years.

Please have your cake and eat it but only a few small focused bites.
m

Thank you to everyone for writing in Eric's guestbook. Nice to see you here Jim and Merilyn. Eric won't be home today but hopefully tomorrow. Jim, I will keep the steak to the size of his palm. Thank goodness he doesn't have big hands. Mom, I will have to look at the pictures and see the bottles and I cleaned the poop before we left so I hope there isn't to much more. Again thank you to EVERYONE for visiting and I am sure Eric will keep posting and checking up on all his new Heart Journal friends. Take care all of you.
Lydia

Now, you do have a wonderful site, only my computer ignorance did not allow me to finish my previous note.
And I do want to wish you good steps forward each day.
Look forward to having you back in this corner.
Merilyn

Going home right on schedule, well done. Enjoy the birthday party, but remember according to my dietician keep the steak to no larger than the palm of your hand.
Welcome to the zipper club. My bypass surgery Mar.10 exactly 2 months lead on yourself. We'll enjoy the summer at Beaven's Lake and compare scars
Jim Ross

Your're back, is right, guess that happened when you saw the squatters at your home in
Arundel, they have dogs, so that means a lot of poop, and they also have beer, bottles all over the ground. That sure would get me up & out of bed real quick, lol.
I see your have your humor back, that a good sign, each day will be better, so just take one day at a time, and you will get there.
Great pictures of your big giant zipper, I guess this summer you will be going around with no top on, to show it, be careful you might get a bad sunburn on it.
So you like the food at the hospital, it's the best, it's good healthy food, coffee is great, now that might be good, what is the saying, it's so weak, it might put hairs on your chest, well, that would be good, it will hide the zipper.You just have to get someone to bring in a nice big smokemeat and fries, so sorry you can't have that, well Lydia can, you can watch her eat it, and tell her it's no good for her.
Well you take care, and it's like I said, just take one day at a time and you will see you will be doing more each day.
Hugs & kisses to you both, Bernice. xoxoxo

Way to go Eric, you've got the jam to do what it takes. Vintage ride in a couple of weeks? LOL

I think I mentioned the co-ordinators at St B Hosp are going to let me make the call for my op window. Too much going on with my Dad right now. Pretty neat, I call them, they say C'mon Down!

I so pleased that it's mostly "over" for you. They gave you a mechanical I bet. That's my
prosthetic as well. Hope they get the warfarin straigtened out quick. The best to you Eric. You're in my prayers.

Paul M

Good morning Eric. Glad to hear you are doing well! The pictures weren't gross but they did give me a little image of what I will look like. It's good to see you have a sense of humor about the whole experience. Stay strong and God bless. Jon Farmer

I am so glad to hear you are doing better. Slow progress in the right direction is great. You will get there. I think that poor appetite is not uncommon after this surgery. Mine was not great after my surgery. Also, foods do not taste right for quite awhile. You were such a great support to me as I went through my surgery. Thank you. I am glad your surgery is behind you and you are now on the road to recovery. My prayers are with you and your family, Eric.
Tia Phillips

Eric, hold on to His hand, He'll never let you down. My turn is coming, likely sometime around the middle of or late July. Everything is going to me OK and you're going to be all right. You're in our prayers. CUDO's to your courage and the stedfastness of your wife and family.

Hi Eric and Linda, Keep your good sense of humor up. It will help you to go through. You are #1 in the Hit Parade! My prayers go out there for you. Maria

Hi Eric and Lydia,
Thank you for letting all us know everything went well in the OR.
I wish you the best and I can't wait to hear more. Hopefully the tube is out now and you are recovering nicely.
I'll keep you in my prayers.
Maria

Hi Tia.
Its great news that all is well,nothing can be rushed. Time is a good healer,so listen to what the doc's and nurses say .Will keep watching for your update.
God bless.
Alan.

Eric and Lydia,
I am so glad to hear that surgery went well, but not about the shocking part. It is good to know that won't cause any problems. It will get better once the breathing tube is removed. I wish you all the best and will keep you in my prayers.
Tia Phillips

So happy that it is finally over with and that the surgery went well. You and Lyd have been under so much stress. Now for a speedy recovery and get on with your life.
I know the next few days you will feel like crap, but it won't be long and you will be up and giving the nurses & Lyd a hard time. I was glad the two boys were with Lyd as it's hard just waiting for news on the outcome of the surgery.
Hugs & kisses from Calif., take care, Bernice.

Hi Eric:

The hole gang at DP Environmental is thinking of you and hoping that your surgery is a resounding success. We pray you have a speedy recovery!

Peter Wyssen

Today was a long day. Eric arrived at the hospital around 12:30 where he was then told that they had ordered a lunch for him so he told them that he wanted his steak medium rare. The nurses and residents all know Eric and seem to like his sense of humor. Eric is in good spirits but was tired by the end of the day. He was ready for bed when we left him around 9. We will be there bright and early tomorrow morning as he is the first one on "the hit parade" as he calls it. I will keep you all posted as best I can. Eric and I really appreciate all your prayers and well wishes and we are thinking of all of you also.

Hi Eric,

Nice to hear you are scheduled for surgery in early May. I think one of the worse things is the unknown date, when will it happen, am I going to get sick before surgery is scheduled. We know we have a cardiac malformation that it is not going to get better so, let;s do it and get over with our lives.

I wonder if you develop any sx since the stenosis reached a severe grade. Can I ask you how many months have elapsed since it became severe and tiem for surgery.

I wish you the best and I'll have you in my prayers and thoughts.

Best,

Maria

Eric,
It sounds like you have a very wise surgeon. My surgeon also said, when we were talking about the possibility of replacement with a tissue valve, that by the time this would need replaced, they would have perfected the procedure where they go into an arter with a catheter and replace the valve that way. I know they are doing that experimentally now. He said my repair could last a very long time. I wish you all the best, and will read about your progress often.
Tia

Eric,
I am glad to hear your date of surgery will be soon. I am also glad to you selected a tissue valve. If I had needed a replacement instead of the repair, I would have gone with a tissue valve, which is what my surgeon recommended. He said this is what he would choose if he had to have one and that there are dangers to the blood thinners you must take with the mechanical valves. I pray that your surgery date will be soon and that all goes well. I am sure it will. Take care and God bless you!
Tia Phillips

Hey Eric, may the peace of God keep you in the count down to ift off! I'll be praying for you that your surgery and post op recovery will be uneventful, that the Doctors and support staff will have Divine wisdom throughout.

Hi Eric,
You will be having your surgery soon. That will be good. You are in my thoughts and prayers. My recovery is going well. Take care.
Tia Phillips

Hey Eric...so my day is structured in the AM and then I start fretting if I have hang time in the PM....that;s when I start to fret and by 6 PM I am exhausted so lay down and crash, awaken refreshed....have supper,,,etc

tonight I found my alltime comfort music that kept me alive when my wife went to Minneapolis for 2 years to finish her master's...

it's the Pslams set to music....I listened to that for a little over an hour tinight...practised my breathing.....feel like a dish rag now....and am ready to go to bed....

....tomorrow will be another challenge but each day I'm getting stronger at being "weaker"....for me that means there must be a God...bless ya and I'm praying for you

Paul

Hi Eric,
I hope you are doing well as you eagerly await your surgery. You will feel so much better afterward. Take good care, and you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Tia Phillips

Eric,
That is fantastic news. I did great with my bicuspid aortic valve report and replacement of an aneurysm in the aortic root with a daicron graft. Best of luck to you! It is finally almost here! You and your family continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.!!

Hi Eric, thnak you very much for your email. My aortic valve is 0.7 cm2 but I don't have any sx yet. My EF is normal as well as all the other cardiac functions and not LVH. I'm scheduled for an MRA at the end of March to accurately measure the size of my ascending aorta. I'm in a tough situation beacuse I don't want to have surgery yet but eventually I'll need it. I recently started contacting the nurses at the Cleveland Clinic to be ready for surgery if tehy saud that I need it now. At the same time sis hard to make a decision when I don't have symptoms yet.
I'm very happy I found this site and found all of you like me with same dilemmas, fears and hope. I really appreciate all your advice. Keep me posted about your surgery. You will be in my prayers.

Things happen for a reason. We had two cancellations and then we got to do your pre-op stuff all on the same day. If your other two appointments weren't cancelled we would have had to go back again and do the pre-op stuff. So it turned out to be a good thing that your two other appointments were cancelled. See, things happen for a reason. :)

Eric, I'm sorry that posting today at 9:10am is from me!
Big hugs,
Cathy
xoxo

Great news that things are moving foward again. I will assume that your Surgeon feels comfortable with early to mid April dates as a priority case. Is it possible you will be called earlier than that? Keep us posted when you get scheduled. xoxo

Hi Eric,
I think waiting and postponements are part of cardiac surgery. There are always emergencies, and these people cannot wait. I am disappointed that you and I both must wait, but I am glad that we are not in emergency situations right now and pray for those who are. God is in control, and everything happens for a reason. I wish you the best when you do get to your consultation appointment. Do ask any and all questions. There are no unimportant questions. If you are wondering about something, you should ask about it. My pre-op appointment went well but was longer than the three hours they said it would be. We were there nearly six hours, mostly to wait to be able to talk to the surgeon and anesthesiologist in person, which I wanted to do. I was able to get more of my questions asked. The more I learn and the more time I have to think, the more questions I come up with. The list of questions you shared with me was very helpful and much appreciated. Hang in there. I, too, am dealing with lack of energy, which for me has been present and getting worse for nearly 15 years, and I have only recently experienced the shortness of breath. The heart pounding is no fun, either. I know how frustrating it is to not be able to do the things you want to do. It is difficult to wait. I pray that you have had your last postponement and that you will have your next appointment as scheduled and then will be another step forward on the road leading to full recovery. Thank you so very much for your support and encouraging posts. I will continue to keep in touch. God bless you and your family!
Tia