Hi Holly: it has been awhile but wanted you to know I am scheduled for a mitral valve repair redo on September 13 at Cleveland Clinic with Dr. Roselli. My ...Read more
Hi Holly: it has been awhile but wanted you to know I am scheduled for a mitral valve repair redo on September 13 at Cleveland Clinic with Dr. Roselli. My regurgitation has progressed to moderately severe with some symptoms developing over the last 6 months. I hope all is well with you!
Denise Kirchner posted a note for Holly that says:
Hi Holly! It is good to hear from you. I am so happy to hear you are still doing well. It is hard to believe 2 years have passed since we walked this journey ...Read more
Hi Holly! It is good to hear from you. I am so happy to hear you are still doing well. It is hard to believe 2 years have passed since we walked this journey together. My 2 year anniversary is coming up on May 29th. I am doing well and am scheduled for my Echo Stress Test on May 20th, but won't know the results till I see my cardiologist on June 10th. I have been really consistent with my 20 minutes of cardio in the morning and 20 minutes when I get home from work every day, so I am hoping that more remodeling has taken place and that there is an improvement in the valve regurgitation. I will probably not post anything until after I see Dr. Malone on June 10th. We shall see. You take care of yourself and stay in touch!
Denise K
Hi Holly!
So good to hear you're doing great! I feel great too and feel my surgery is in the distant past. I've been exercising a lot, it feels nice to have ...Read more
Hi Holly!
So good to hear you're doing great! I feel great too and feel my surgery is in the distant past. I've been exercising a lot, it feels nice to have confidence that your heart isn't going to cut-out if you stress it, isn't it?
Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary. I am just now having my 9 week anniversary. I too had MVP with severe regurgitation
and was told that I had less ...Read more
Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary. I am just now having my 9 week anniversary. I too had MVP with severe regurgitation
and was told that I had less then 5 years to live if I did nothing. Needless to say, I went through all of the emotions that most heart patients go through. My heart had to be repaired through my sternum so that meant my check being cracked open. Everything is going so well now. It\'s amazing that walking up a flight of stairs doesn\'t exhaust me anymore. I do have on kinda private questions for you as a woman. I was too nervous to ask my doctor. How long did you wait before resuming sex in your relationship? If you want to talk a little more private, please feel free to contact me at wanke41@gmail.com. Thank you so much.
Hi Holly..
Congrats on your 1 year anniversary!! It is hard to believe it has been a year since I followed your journey. Your positive attitude and great ...Read more
Hi Holly..
Congrats on your 1 year anniversary!! It is hard to believe it has been a year since I followed your journey. Your positive attitude and great support to others on this site helped me prepare for my own OHS without fear!!! Many blessings to you, Holly as you continue to live well!!
Connie T.
Holly Pomeroy Thanks, Connie! It's great to keep in touch and hear how others are doing after a year. I enjoyed f ... Read more
Holly Pomeroy Thanks, Connie! It's great to keep in touch and hear how others are doing after a year. I enjoyed following you also and hope things are going well for you. Stay in touch!
Good to hear. I was sort of worried about those things after my operation. I had lots of headaches. Sometimes two or three or a long duration one before the ...Read more
Good to hear. I was sort of worried about those things after my operation. I had lots of headaches. Sometimes two or three or a long duration one before the operation, but after, I now hardly get any. Unless I don\'t eat. Then I get what I call my hunger headaches.
I am glad those ocular things went a way. It was tough if I was driving. I had to pull over until it subsided. Now that it has been a year, I have a hard time even remembering the Hospital and all that recuperation stuff. I mean it is still there every time I look in the mirror and see the scars, but hard to think back at all that stuff. Luckily I must have a bad memory about it all. Well all except that tube that ran down into my back. Yeowee....LOL. Have fun and stay healthy.
Your Heart Valve Pal....
Paul G.
Hey Holly. I forgot to ask you how the migraines or ocular migraines are doing? Are you having any? Mine have really dropped off to the point of almost having ...Read more
Hey Holly. I forgot to ask you how the migraines or ocular migraines are doing? Are you having any? Mine have really dropped off to the point of almost having none any more.
I was just wondering.
Paul
Holly Pomeroy Hi Paul, my ocular migraines have really dropped off too, although I did have one the other day, and ... Read more
Holly Pomeroy Hi Paul, my ocular migraines have really dropped off too, although I did have one the other day, and thought "wow, I haven't had one of these for a while"!! It had been several months since my last one. My opthamologist said he was starting to have some and he is in his late 30s!!!! He told me not to worry and he's not worrying, so I guess we're good!!
Holly
Hi Holly,
Thanks for all the information! I live in the Minneapolis, MN area, so I\'m only 100 miles from Mayo. I will let you know when I start my journal. ...Read more
Hi Holly,
Thanks for all the information! I live in the Minneapolis, MN area, so I\'m only 100 miles from Mayo. I will let you know when I start my journal. Thanks again for your help!
Lynn
Hi Holly,
I was excited to see your post and read your journal. I will be having robotic mitral valve repair at Mayo with Dr. Burkhart and Dr. Suri in June. ...Read more
Hi Holly,
I was excited to see your post and read your journal. I will be having robotic mitral valve repair at Mayo with Dr. Burkhart and Dr. Suri in June. I was wondering if there is anything specific you can recommend that I bring to the hospital with me. Was there any part of the surgery/recovery that surprised you, that you weren\'t expecting? Did they recommend cardiac rehab or was it your local cardiologist? Did you leave Mayo on a lot of heart meds and if so, were you able to get off of them soon? Sorry for all the questions! If you don\'t have time to answer them, I understand. I hope to start a journal a little closer to my operation date. I have learned so much from reading other people\'s journals, that I figure maybe I can help someone else who will be undergoing this in the future!
Thanks,
Lynn Newhall
One more question - Do you still have problems with your incision sites and do you still have memory issues? The memory/concentration issues are what concerns me the most. Yikes!
Holly Pomeroy Hi Lynn, I'm glad you contacted me and hope you start your journal soon! I'll try to respond to your ... Read more
Holly Pomeroy Hi Lynn, I'm glad you contacted me and hope you start your journal soon! I'll try to respond to your questions.... I know there are so many unknowns and anything I can do to ease your mind, I'm glad to help. Was there anything that surprise me? As far as surgery and recovery, the answer would be not really...Actually I was surprised that I didn't have more pain. I was expecting it to be excruciating and it wasn't. I was also prepared for lots of pain with the removal of the chest tube, and it didn't hurt at all. What I wasn't prepared for was the numbness and "heaviness" that I felt on my right side and right groin for so long after surgery. It's hard to explain, it's not really pain, but you definitely are aware of it. The nerves take quite a while to repair themselves, from 9 months to a year. I have minimal numbness now, right at the scar, which is normal. Mayo clinic recommended the cardiac rehab and my local Dr. actually prescribed it for me. I would definitely recommend it! The medications I was on after surgery were coumadin, a baby aspirin, and hydrochlorithiazide, which is a diuretic. None of those are really heart meds, and I was able to stop all of them after 2 months!!! My memory is getting better, and I'm able to concentrate , but for quite a while and up to this year anniversary it has been a small issue. I'm a nurse and know how important it is! Looking forward to reading your journal. Dr. Burkhart and Dr. Suri will take good care of you. My experience at Mayo was a good one, and I don't regret going there. They do many of these surgeries and repairs so you are in good hands. Take pajamas that button up the front, nothing that you have to pull over your head. Take a small neck pillow for traveling, I used it all the time! Are you flying or driving? Chapstick, an ipod or ipad, or something to play the relaxation file they send you, music to help you relax was very helpful for me. Buy or order the Aaah Bra, or the Genie Bra, it was a godsend with the incisions being where they are. I didn't start wearing a regular bra again until about 9 months post-op!!
Where do you live?
Hi Holly,
I also had difficulties with the insurance side of paying for my MVR.
That was quite stressful too, it\'s almost like there are three difficult ...Read more
Hi Holly,
I also had difficulties with the insurance side of paying for my MVR.
That was quite stressful too, it\'s almost like there are three difficult experiences with heart surgery. 1. learning you need it and picking a surgeon and learning about the whole process, 2. the surgury and recovery, 3. the insurance battles after the fact.
Getting bills for $15K and $87K with sentences like \"You owe this amount\" next to it, can friek a person out. Then the battle with insurance. Thank GOd we finally got the insurance to cover everything they were supposed to, but it was not fun.
GOd Bless,
Scott Newson
MVR 11/20/12
Holly Pomeroy Hi Scott, thanks for your note. I hope you're doing well and the memory of your surgery is fading a ... Read more
Holly Pomeroy Hi Scott, thanks for your note. I hope you're doing well and the memory of your surgery is fading a little. It is nice to come back to the journal to re-read about your experience after a year, and it brings back Sooooo many memories. How is the numbness around your incisions? It took about 10 months for my numbness to go away. I am thankful that I was able to have the Robotic Repair, and hope to encourage those that are hesitant about it, as you have done with your journal! Glad your insurance covered everything, what a pain!
God is good.
Hi Holly!
It\'s getting to be that time when we\'re all going to hit our one year anniversary! Pretty cool, huh? It\'s almost surreal.
Glad to hear you\'re ...Read more
Hi Holly!
It\'s getting to be that time when we\'re all going to hit our one year anniversary! Pretty cool, huh? It\'s almost surreal.
Glad to hear you\'re doing well. I\'ve gotten away from checking this site too....been busy raising chicks and building a coop for them (chickens in the house is not a good idea).
Take care! I\'ll have to come up with something to say on my anniversary. :)
Nancy B
Holly Pomeroy Hi Nancy! Chickens!!!! Wow, that's quite an endeavor. Are you still working at the hospital? Fee ... Read more
Holly Pomeroy Hi Nancy! Chickens!!!! Wow, that's quite an endeavor. Are you still working at the hospital? Feeling okay? I'm so glad that this year is behind me and looking forward to hopefully many more ahead. Thanks for all your support. I'll be looking for your update!
Holly, Glad to see you are doing well. Doesn\'t a year fly by? Hard to believe we were going through all this not so far back together, and now it seems like ...Read more
Holly, Glad to see you are doing well. Doesn\'t a year fly by? Hard to believe we were going through all this not so far back together, and now it seems like forever ago. The stress of getting ready, the nervousness, and then it was all done and the recuperating began. Well life goes on and we get back on our feet and plug along. All with the support of our loved ones and friends. It\'s good to be loved. It\'s good to be healthy again. It\'s good to be alive. We expect to hear from you again, even if it is just the yearly anniversary postings. Good Luck Holly. Go have the time of your life, and enjoy the life of your time. Remember...keep walking and smell the flowers.
Your friend,
Paul
Holly Pomeroy Hi Paul, I just realized that I missed your yearly update, and feel really bad. I'm sorry. You were ... Read more
Holly Pomeroy Hi Paul, I just realized that I missed your yearly update, and feel really bad. I'm sorry. You were such a support and encouragement to me last year, and I feel I have a special "bond" with you!! You still are, and I appreciate your positive comments and wonderful sense of humor. How are you doing/feeling? You haven't said much about the regurgitation... Do you have another follow up echo planned soon?
It is good to be loved, and healthy, and alive, and know that God is in control of our future. Keep in touch.... I plan to.
Hi Holly,
It was good to see an update on you in the blog. It sounds like you are doing great - well except for the rejection from the life insurance company ...Read more
Hi Holly,
It was good to see an update on you in the blog. It sounds like you are doing great - well except for the rejection from the life insurance company - lol! It is good to touch base with those who have traveled this road. I always enjoy receiveing the updates. Continue to enjoy your grandsons - grandchildren can brighten up a cloudy day and make you laugh when you don\'t feel like it - everyone needs a few of them! Mine are the light of my life. Take care and God bless! Denise K
Holly
I have just realised you replied to me and I didn\'t see it! Thanks for getting back to me. It must be frustrating getting the ocular migraines but ...Read more
Holly
I have just realised you replied to me and I didn\'t see it! Thanks for getting back to me. It must be frustrating getting the ocular migraines but I\'m glad you\'re doing so well otherwise, you seem very positive :)
Incase this is of interest, I asked my consultant and he said migraine only relates to \'atrial septal defect\' or hole in the heart, and when this condition is treated it cures migraines - but mitral regurg isn\'t the same. There is obviously a link between the heart and migraine though I just don\'t know what!
In answer to your question, I don\'t know when I\'ll have surgery, but I have severe mitral regurg and a check in April when I might find out I need surgery or if it will have to wait longer!
Holly,
I\'m truly doing great. No after effects other than lately I\'ve been having some discomfort and possibly a little swelling or enlargement of my xiphoid. ...Read more
Holly,
I\'m truly doing great. No after effects other than lately I\'ve been having some discomfort and possibly a little swelling or enlargement of my xiphoid. This was always a problem post surgery there, where it was tight and restricted with scar tissue on the lower right side of the scar/xiphoid. It\'s not really a big deal unless I extend myself back/arch my back him. And again, if I touch or compress it, it is tender. It does not restrict me in any way at this time and hopefully it won\'t. Sorry, I don\'t know anyone in Kansas at all. Too bad you don\'t live closer, I would take good care of you. And yes, we are extremely busy. There are a lot of people out there that horrible spines that need help. I also got the job here in Orlando, treating the professional minor-league hockey team, The Orlando Solar Bears. So, the this is keeping me busy as well. I had an echo done back in September and it looks fabulous. The doctor said my numbers like an adolescent. I am going back around the one-year mark and I assume I will have an echo then. After that, I think I can go back to every 2 or 3 years follow up schedule or something like that. Still hard to believe I am “fixed”. Somewhere,in the back of my mind it still doesn\'t seem real. Keep me posted
Jeff Shebovsky
Hi Holly!
I am so happy to hear that you are doing so well. I\'m sorry about the life insurance issue. I am 46 and my life insurance is up this month. We ...Read more
Hi Holly!
I am so happy to hear that you are doing so well. I\'m sorry about the life insurance issue. I am 46 and my life insurance is up this month. We have an appointment to renew and I was wondering what they would say about the surgery. Will they not cover you at all? My surgery was 7 months ago and I feel great! I also get the ocular migraines. They are very strange how they just come on. Do you know what causes them?
So happy to hear you are doing well!
Gina H
Holly Pomeroy Hi Gina, the company I was with won't cover me or my spouse, but I was grand-fathered in on an old ac ... Read more
Holly Pomeroy Hi Gina, the company I was with won't cover me or my spouse, but I was grand-fathered in on an old account.... I was just wanting to increase the amount but each time you apply they ask you several questions.... with treatment for heart or surgery being one of them.
From what I've heard and read about the ocular migraines, they aren't sure what causes them, and there really isn't a cure for them, they are just a nuisance! I think they occur more frequently when I'm tired or at the end of a long day.
How are you feeling? Hope all is well, thanks for the note!
Holly, We have both been rejected. As I am certain many thousands like us. It really doesn\'t make sense to me as this procedure was supposed to \"fix\" us. ...Read more
Holly, We have both been rejected. As I am certain many thousands like us. It really doesn\'t make sense to me as this procedure was supposed to \"fix\" us. I mean were we more insurable when we had something wrong with us? Don\'t make sense...But to the insurance company, we are now \"Tainted\" by a hospital stay. Kind of like your rates go up when you get into car accidents.
Oh well. Just save a bit more in the investment portfolio or buy some cheap real estate that your family can sell later.
Maybe gold? Seems like a safer bet than insurance anyway. Heck buy some scratch tickets with the saved money....who knows? You might hit the lottery.
God Bless.
Paul
Holly Pomeroy Hi Paul, good to hear from you. You're right, of course, it doesn't make sense, but like Nancy said, ... Read more
Holly Pomeroy Hi Paul, good to hear from you. You're right, of course, it doesn't make sense, but like Nancy said, I won't be around anyway so it shouldn't matter. I'm not much for lottery tickets, so that's out... and gold...??? hmmm I'd rather spend it now!
How are you feeling? and what's new with you? I'll be watching for your update. Keeping you in my prayers!
Thanks for the note.
Hi Holly!
so good to hear from you.
No big deal about the insurance...after all, you wouldn\'t be around to enjoy it! :)
Glad to hear you\'re feeling we\'ll ...Read more
Hi Holly!
so good to hear from you.
No big deal about the insurance...after all, you wouldn\'t be around to enjoy it! :)
Glad to hear you\'re feeling we\'ll and your scars are healing. I barely notice mine.
I know what you mean about forgetting you\'re a heart patient. This past weekend I started getting a pain in my left shoulder that radiated down my arm and into my chest and jaw....classic heart attack symptoms. it was quite painful and didn\'t go away after taking two Aleve. I was thinking \"am I more likely to be having a heart attack because of my MVR?\" . To be honest, I really don\'t know the answer to that question. I\'m 54, otherwise healthy, in fairly decent shape. Am I more or less likely to have a heart attack now that my heart is fixed?
I think the pain was caused by lifting too heavy loads of wood for our stove, although the pain in my jaw and chest don\'t make sense. I can understand why so many people don\'t seek medical attention for heart attack symptoms....I\'m one of them!
Take care and keep in touch!
Nancy B
Holly Pomeroy Hi Nancy, good to hear from you! I've been wondering about you because you haven't updated your jour ... Read more
Holly Pomeroy Hi Nancy, good to hear from you! I've been wondering about you because you haven't updated your journal in a while, have you? Maybe I missed it.....
and Shame on you! not seeking medical attention for that jaw pain. You know that heart disease is the silent killer in women and will present with symptoms that are different than in men. I also wonder if we are more prone to heart attacks, you should ask Adam and maybe he'll post the question on his blog! How is work? You take care and keep in touch too!
Glad to hear you are doing well. Things are great here too. My 1 year will be Match 7th. The life insurance should have at least insured you maybe with a \"heart\" ...Read more
Glad to hear you are doing well. Things are great here too. My 1 year will be Match 7th. The life insurance should have at least insured you maybe with a \"heart\" exclusion or something. That\'s insurance companies for you! As for your headaches, have you tired chiropractic. I have helped more headaches over my last twenty years than I can count. I\'ll admit, migraines are tougher than tension headaches but still, I have helped SO many. You should give it a try. The worst that can happen is it won\'t work for the headaches (though it most likely will), and even if is doesn\'t, you\'ll have a healthier spine for it. Headaches are my favorite thing to treat in my practice, because they are often caused by neck issues, almost always get better with treatment, and people are so much happier when they are headache free.
Give it a try. You may also want to try \"Migraspray\" , which is a natural remedy that helps to both treat and prevent migraines. More info here: www.migraspray.com
Jeff Shebovsky
Holly Pomeroy Hi Jeff! Glad to hear you are doing so well! Any after-affects that you deal with at all? Thanks f ... Read more
Holly Pomeroy Hi Jeff! Glad to hear you are doing so well! Any after-affects that you deal with at all? Thanks for the advice about the migraines, I'll look into it and appreciate it. Do you know anyone in the Abilene, Kansas area!!!??? Wish I lived closer to you, but I have a feeling you're pretty busy! Will you be having a yearly echo done soon?
Take care, and thanks again!
Holly
Fantastic news Holly. So happy to hear you got that bill dropped. You should never have had to go through all that trouble, but glad there is at least a little ...Read more
Fantastic news Holly. So happy to hear you got that bill dropped. You should never have had to go through all that trouble, but glad there is at least a little common sense over at Mayo Clinic.
We have some similar side effects from the right thoracotomy surgery this far out. I still have numbness, sensitivity and sometimes a tiny bit of pain in the right pectoral muscle area, and I also get ocular migraines every once in awhile.
Wishing you the best going forward and hope to hear some more positive updates down the road!
Take care,
Thomas H.
Really good to read your good news, congratulations! Sounds like you have done well.
I am curious, could you explain about the ocular migraines? Did you have ...Read more
Really good to read your good news, congratulations! Sounds like you have done well.
I am curious, could you explain about the ocular migraines? Did you have them before surgery? I have eye trouble and migraine but I\'ve not had surgery yet.
Rach
Holly Pomeroy Hi Rach,
I never had any ocular migraines before I had surgery, and didn't know what they were either ... Read more
Holly Pomeroy Hi Rach,
I never had any ocular migraines before I had surgery, and didn't know what they were either. I experienced my first ones in the hospital the day after surgery, it was like a bright light filled the center of my vision, then it turned into an outline kind of shaped like a star. One site describes it as a flickering/shimmering light that fills the center of your vision, or wavy, zig-zag lines that fill your blind spot. When I mentioned it to the nurse at the time, she just said it wasn't anything to worry about, and never explained what it was. Maybe she didn't know. I found out about them from reading others journals on this site. They are harmless, and don't cause any type of headache, just the visual disturbances!! They pop up at random times and have done so since my surgery. Not every day or every week, just once in a while!!! When is your surgery and what type of surgery are you having?
I am from: Enterprise, Kansas
