Joanie, You\'ll be home very soon. It\'s good to hear that you have a positive attitude. I ended up staying at the hospital two days longer than what it initially ...Read more
Joanie, You\'ll be home very soon. It\'s good to hear that you have a positive attitude. I ended up staying at the hospital two days longer than what it initially appeared to be probable (discharged on Mon., six days after surgery the preceding Tues.). I also had low magnesium, and was given magnesium shots, which strangely really hurt (shots never bother me ... but this was different).
- Jim Smith
Joanie, hopefully you will go home today, glad you are doing so well, keep up those walks and keep taking those deep breaths, but pay attention to your body! ...Read more
Joanie, hopefully you will go home today, glad you are doing so well, keep up those walks and keep taking those deep breaths, but pay attention to your body! It is hard the first week, but you are strong and you can do it! Thinking of you
Holly P
Joanie, Yes it feels remarkably good to lose that breathing tube. I hope you\'re able to go home soon. Walk those hospital halls. Each day you\'ll feel better ...Read more
Joanie, Yes it feels remarkably good to lose that breathing tube. I hope you\'re able to go home soon. Walk those hospital halls. Each day you\'ll feel better and a bit stronger.
- Jim Smith
Thinking of you! I know you will do fine, stay strong and take it one hour at a time, before you know it you will be on the other side of the mountain! Praying ...Read more
Thinking of you! I know you will do fine, stay strong and take it one hour at a time, before you know it you will be on the other side of the mountain! Praying for you tonight and tomorrow and looking forward to reading your updates!
Holly P
Joanie, you definitely are not alone now. We HVJ \"valvers\" are here for you. You will be in my prayers tomorrow and I look forward to hearing you are fixed ...Read more
Joanie, you definitely are not alone now. We HVJ \"valvers\" are here for you. You will be in my prayers tomorrow and I look forward to hearing you are fixed and on the way to recovery. Keep us updated on your progress!
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12
Good luck to you for tomorrow. You sound like you\'re ready to \"get er done\" There\'s a whole bunch of us waiting to hear all about it when you get to the ...Read more
Good luck to you for tomorrow. You sound like you\'re ready to \"get er done\" There\'s a whole bunch of us waiting to hear all about it when you get to the other side.
Selma
Joanie,
Good luck! I will be praying for you. When my daughter was born, there were no groups here in my area also. I helped start two local groups for parents ...Read more
Joanie,
Good luck! I will be praying for you. When my daughter was born, there were no groups here in my area also. I helped start two local groups for parents of children with congenital heart disease. We had guest speakers and great support. In fact, I am still good friends with a woman I met in the group 23 years ago. Before this, I did feel all alone and helpless. When I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve problems, I was so very thankful that Adam started this site, and wrote his book. It was a tremendous source of knowledge and support. Again, the very best of luck to you. Prayers are being sent to you.
God Bless,
Theresa C.
NJ
I know how you feel, I scheduled my mitral valve repair in March for June 18th. Seemed like it would take forever to get here, and now... It is almost here. ...Read more
I know how you feel, I scheduled my mitral valve repair in March for June 18th. Seemed like it would take forever to get here, and now... It is almost here.
Good luck and will be praying for a good outcome.
Trent V
Joanie, this is a great place for support and questions, so many people going through the same things, and able to share them together. Friends and family ...Read more
Joanie, this is a great place for support and questions, so many people going through the same things, and able to share them together. Friends and family sometimes just don\'t \"get\" how we are feeling and our insecurities!! I\'ll keep you in my prayers as you go through this next week. You will do great!
Holly P
Hi joanie, I also had surgery when I was about one years old. I\'m 28 now and my doctor told me that one day I will need to have a pulmonary valve replacement. ...Read more
Hi joanie, I also had surgery when I was about one years old. I\'m 28 now and my doctor told me that one day I will need to have a pulmonary valve replacement.
Joanie Dorsey Hi Stephanie, I was born in the early ages of TOF. I was one of the first Babies to have the Blalock- ... Read more
Joanie Dorsey Hi Stephanie, I was born in the early ages of TOF. I was one of the first Babies to have the Blalock-Taussig shunt at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles way back in 1956. It was only a few years ago I learned how many people need new pulmonary valves. I had a wonderful surgeon in 1972 that rebuilt my pulmonary valve. I was 16. I don't think even the great Dr. Jerome Kay thought I would need a new one 40 years later. Now I know, but I am OK with it. Any questions, let me know.
Hi Joanie,
Welcome to HVJ. I had mitral valve repair on 3/2/10 , and am doing great. I was surprised to see you had TOF. I have not seen that on here, and my ...Read more
Hi Joanie,
Welcome to HVJ. I had mitral valve repair on 3/2/10 , and am doing great. I was surprised to see you had TOF. I have not seen that on here, and my daughter was born with it in 1986...corrected in 1988.We too thought it was cured but were just informed her pulmonary valve is leaking and must be repaired in the near future. What type of valve are you getting, and is your surgeon experienced in CHD? Any info you can share would be helpful, and if I can help you in anyway please ask.
Thank you,
Theresa C.
NJ
Joanie Dorsey Hi Theresa, Yes, my surgeon is an Adult Congenital specialist. My hospital does the most Adult Conge ... Read more
Joanie Dorsey Hi Theresa, Yes, my surgeon is an Adult Congenital specialist. My hospital does the most Adult Congenital Surgeries in California so I feel I am in good hands. I have learned this is quite common in Adults with TOF, needing a new PV. I am getting an Edwards Tissue Valve. We (the surgeon and I) had hoped for a Melody Valve but m pulmonary artery (where the valve should be) expanded too far for a good placement of a Melody valve, so I do need open heart surgery again. Please see more of my story at http://joanessasheartstrings.blogspot.com/ Anything I can do to help you, I will. Joanie
Joanie, I think you will do fine. I am 63 yrs young, lol and a widow. When I came home my daughter stayed the first night with me and then I was on my own! ...Read more
Joanie, I think you will do fine. I am 63 yrs young, lol and a widow. When I came home my daughter stayed the first night with me and then I was on my own! She brought me meals for a couple of weeks and I had cereal, bagels, fruit and the like for breakfast. I had most of the necessities within reach. I\'m sure you will do just as well.
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12
Hi Joanie, welcome to the HVJ site!
You will find lots of support and encouragement here. I quickly became addicted to the site last fall when I heard those ...Read more
Hi Joanie, welcome to the HVJ site!
You will find lots of support and encouragement here. I quickly became addicted to the site last fall when I heard those words \"it\'s time\". I had aortic valve replacement in March. I did very well with the surgery and I\'m sure you will as well. Take advantage of the site, if you have questions, put them out there. I think in some respects...open heart surgery is open heart surgery...regardless of which valve is being \"fixed\" or replaced. One thing for sure, we all have our moments of apprehension and down right fear...so we understand when others may not. So, my HVJ friend...welcome and keep us posted as you \"climb this mountain\"!
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12
Joanie Dorsey Thanks for the support Linda. It's not the surgery that causes me any worry. Last time I had OHS, I h ... Read more
Joanie Dorsey Thanks for the support Linda. It's not the surgery that causes me any worry. Last time I had OHS, I had my mom to take care of every need. That was 40 years ago. My kids are coming to help after I get out of the hospital, so I will have help and momma sitters until 3 weeks out. My hope is to be able to take care of myself while I send my hubby off to work! From what I read, and I have been reading a LOT, I should be OK. Thanks again.
I am from: Long Beach, California
