jonette's Guestbook

jonette kruk  Hi Klara! So sweet of you to check in on me! I am doing pretty good. I have had a few bumps in the road but nothing to complain about. A bit of a cough for a few weeks and dealing with some A.Fib, but my doctor has me on Amiodarone and Eliquis and we are tapering them down due to no episodes lately. I am not liking the Amiodarone, but I don't want a stroke so I am willing to take it, the side effects are no fun. How are you doing? How is your residency going? You are amazing and I admire your devotion to the medical field so much! I asked my doctor the other day at my check up when I can go back to work and he said in about 1 to 2 months. I am so excited to get back to nursing. I miss it so much! Nursing makes my heart and soul feel so good inside and I miss that feeling. I know exactly what you mean when you were so glad to get back to work. How are you feeling? I love reading your posts, your outlook is so uplifting! Keep me posted please and sorry I have kinda been absent from the forum lately. 

Klara Čičić  I am so glad you are doing good and accepting those bumps on the road, cause they are definitely part of the process! AFib in the first three months after surgery is very common and with time it should go away and not repeat itself. I really hope that will be the case for you. I am doing great, really happy for working, just like you said, exactly like that. One more year and then I have this big exam which I am very exited about and have to study every day... Please take it easy, it is still early, give yourself time. I was on sick leave for 5 months. I went back after the cardiac rehab. Take your time... It is huge operation. Your heart is healing still... But I can totally understand the "can't wait" part :)))

jonette kruk  Dear Pamela, 

Thank you so much for your post! I greatly appreciate your kind words and words of experience. 

I do have a recliner and go back and forth between the recliner and the bed. It is a relief to hear that you had trouble sleeping as well. Two hours max is all I can do at a time. It makes me a little nervous because I know how important it is to keep the circadian rhythm (internal clock) on track to help with production of melatonin as well as heal the heart. My doctor has suggested taking my anxiety med (Klonopin)  before I go to bed, which I have tried and still no luck. He has also suggested prescribing a sleep aid. Did you use a sleep aid by chance? And then I think, oh no not another med. I am still on Oxycodone, Gabapentin and Robaxin for pain and my doctor wants me to start weaning myself off of these. 

My emotions seem to be the worst when I am in a lot a pain and chasing my pain. Right now I am taking Tylenol Extra Strength 500 mg (2 tabs) and using the Oxycodone for breakthrough pain vs the opposite, as I was doing before.  I started taking Oxycodone in the hospital as a routine medication every 4 hrs, total of 6 per day. Right now I am taking 2 per day and Tylenol in between. 

I had mitral valve repair via robotic which was very painful, lots of nerves through the ribs vs the sternum. I had a paravertebral block for the pain above my right scapula where continuous medication was given as well as a PCEA pump that I could give myself an extra 2 mg of medication if needed. The block has finally worn off and now the pain at times is worse since I can feel everything now. Pain is more internally than from the incisions themselves. 

I totally agree with you regarding the emotions (every word). One minute I am doing great, especially around visitors and family and then before I know it, I am crying uncontrollably due to pain, scared, why me, thankful, wanting normalcy again. I have to work on patience, this is one of my weakest areas. I will definitely remind myself of your words that each week/month will get better. 

I don't know if it is me or my significant other. He has been great, but at times I just don't think he realizes how serious this entire journey has been. He is not used to seeing me like this, as I am always on the go, and I think he just wants me back to my old self. At times I think he is clueless, even if I am crying; I feel so alone. 

Did you participate in cardiac rehab and if so, when did you start and how was your experience? I keep reading how much it helps and just to be around individuals like me. 

Thanks again, sorry for the long post.

Richard Munson  Jonette, sorry to hear that you are still suffering severe pain. Hopefully you will get off oxy sooner rather than later. Eventually those nerves will heal. I had pain but not like you are describing. Hang in there.

Pamela Gregory  I don't think you need to stress out about how much sleep you are able to get at one time. I did take a sleep aid and would highly recommend it because for me when I am tired my emotions are worse. I couldn't take oxi-anything because it made me nauseous and have weird dreams. They gave me something called Tramodol. I always kept ahead of my pain which seemed to help but definitely started to wean off after a couple weeks. It seems like from what I hear on this site that going through the ribs is more painful than a sternotomy. Everyone is different and you need to do what works for you to keep you comfortable because your body heals better when you are (at least that's what they told me). I'm sure your husband just doesn't know what to do. My husband was the same way. No one really "gets it" except for the heart warriors on this web site!. That's why it is so nice to be able to ask questions, share how you are feeling, and vent here!!! Cardiac Rehab was wonderful for me! I can't say enough about the group of people that were there to help me. I finished last Friday but took shamrock cookies as a "Thank You" to them today and to say goodbye. I started at 6 weeks and they gave me the confidence to push myself (very slowly though, so not scary) and get stronger and stronger. I also had a couple of emotional meltdowns while I was there and they took the time to talk to me and really helped me emotionally too. They do this all the time so I can't believe I am the only one. It is actually 5 months today that I had my 7 hour surgery at CC and I will be forever grateful to all the people that have helped me. In some ways is seems so long ago now but in others it seems like yesterday. I can tell you that I feel pretty good now. Went on a cruise in the beginning of Feb. and heading to Arizona next Friday for fun too. I highly recommend planning something fun that you like to do so that you have something to look forward to no matter what it is. For me getting away was great because it got my mind off of everything a little bit and I have been much better ever since. You will get through this. Just take one day at a time and don't be afraid to reach out to your Dr.s for help and of coarse the people on this site

Greg Lewis  Great posts! Great advice Pamela! If i may, I would like to also agree, that taking a good sleep aid can really help you through this. I know that if I don't sleep, my emotions are a mess too.  I took Ativan, for sleep and anxiety as needed. Zopiclone for sleep as needed. And I used Codeine for pain. I only take a Zopiclone once in a while now. None of the others, though.  
Recovery is tough for a lot of people. These are serious surgeries that take time to heal. Not everyone feels good after.  Do what you have to. You are doing great, Jonette!  Don't feel like it's a race. Your body will straighten out, and you will move on. But take your time.  

jonette kruk  Thank you so much everyone! Your words mean so much to me, more than you will know. I treasure your comments and advice and take them to heart. I am going to call my doctor on Monday and request a sleep aid. God Bless! And thank you again! 

Richard Munson  As for a sleep aid, which may not be an option for you but my beloved cassie slithered into bed with me and i slept like a baby. I had to sleep on my back and she would lay her gigantic head on my lap. 

jonette kruk  Thank you Felix. I appreciate your post. I seem to be more emotional lately. Sometimes I think I am doing too much, other times I think I am not doing enough. I have terrible insomnia at night, waking every 2 hrs. and my emotions seem to be on a roll coaster. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. 

Jay Heagerty  Jonette, hope all went well with your surgery. Those first few days of recovery are very difficult. However, it does get a little better each day. Best of luck with your recovery.

jonette kruk  Thank you so much Jay! Yes, for sure the first few days were almost unbearable, but I did survive and have had excellent care here at Cedar Senai and I am on my road to recovery. Hopefully, I will be going home tomorrow :) 

jonette kruk  Richard, OMG I wish I was lol...yesterday was the first day I was able to really move about, not a run but definitely a faster walk. After those chest tubes come out, life is so much different. It was difficult but I have survived. Thank you so much for thinking about me. I have been texting several times with Gary up to yesterday and have not heard back from him, I am a bit worried about him. Please keep him in your prayers! Thanks again. 

Richard Munson  Great to hear from you and that things are moving ahead. Never mentioned chest tubes. Why talk negatives. Yes, they can be a pain for sure. 

jonette kruk  Hi Roy! Thank you so much for your kind words and prayers! They are so much appreciated. Surgery went perfect and recovery is going well for today. Definitely a day by day journey! 
God was and is my savior and never or ever has left my side. I don't know what I would have done without my faith! 

Roy Yoder  Jonette
I am so happy that things are improving for you each day.  The pain is tough, but you are tougher.  The Lord is gracious. You have such a positive mental attitude, and that is one of the most powerful gifts God supplies to those who claim Him.

jonette kruk  Greg, 
Thank you so much! You do not know how much you helped me the day of surgery. They moved my surgery up and I had to leave my house at 3 am and this was the first post I read and it made my cry and put so much love and care into my heart and gave me strength! Thank you again, you will never know how much you helped me! God Bless! Jonette

Greg Lewis  I believe God wanted me to remind you that He is with you. He brought both of us closer to him, that way!  
How are you doing?

jonette kruk  I believe you are right! I’m doing a lot better. I had some rough days but pushed through with a great care team, esp the nurses! 

jonette kruk  Thank you so much Grace! I am more excited today than anxious, but once I wake up in the morning, I am sure it will be a different story, I know my emotions will be like a rollercoaster until I get some Versed to relax me. When I wake up from surgery, I know I am going to tell myself "why were you so excited about this?" LOL I have been busy cleaning and running errands today, I feel like I did when I was pregnant years ago, waiting for the baby to come ....."nesting."  So weird! 

Pamela Gregory  Wishing you all the best tomorrow Jonette!!! I also did a whole nesting thing before surgery? My house has never been that clean (under beds, base-boards, etc). Have a good rest tonight and we will all be praying for you to have a successful surgery 🙏💗

Ana Brusso  Oh Jonette, I’m lifting you up in prayer for your surgery tomorrow to go well and we will be here to welcome you into recovery. God bless you 🙏❤️

jonette kruk  Thank you so much Greg! You are right on with every word ....God and this site has been my strength! As crazy as this sounds, I am excited for tomorrow. I just want to start my journey to recovery. In six months, I will look back and say "ease pease"....and most of all, I will be feeling so, so much better and healthier. :) I look forward to posting on here with my update. BTW...my entire family knows your famous quote "Show up, take a nap, they perform a miracle, you wake up, you dangle, you recover a bit, and then you go home....ease pease."

jonette kruk  Thank you so much Susan, I am definitely ready! I look forward to posting as soon as I am able to, hopefully when I am out of ICU and able to walk :)