Joseph's Guestbook

Joseph Ballett  Elaine I am doing fine and thank you for your note , you have brought a smile to my face . I hope all is well with you.

Joseph Ballett  Peter i picked the cow as the main reason was not wanting to be on the blood thinners, I at first picked mechanical then changed my mind, the Dr said 10-15 yrs and i have read they do last longer just depends i guess how lucky you are. The second reason is if you read the advancement in heart surgery a invasive surgery may not be needed by the time it needs replaced, what they can do now and what they will do in say 15 yrs i place my bet on technology. I am 48 and want to live a long time yet.

  And this evening was weird. I felt things in my chest almost shifting, or I really should say settling, in place. No pain, but for a few minutes, I was thinking, ok, this is interesting.

Joseph Ballett  The surgeon knew because i told her they where clicking, i can feel them move or rub when i stretch or laid on my side and then rolled back, or cough. That pain you said you had sounds like a bite of fluid not enough to drain but enough to be a bothersome , from what my surgeon said is that the pain because the lung has not fully attached to the rib and move in unison , so the ribs move then touches the lung and causes the pain, the fluid will dry up over time. Just remind your self slow down a bit , you have been doing alot lately .

Joseph Ballett  Never defend your self walk away and know in your mind that what we all have had done is what makes us alive today.Time will tell for all of us and we will deal with if it come's up again.

Joseph Ballett  Oh I forgot , if the ribs don't heal together , i think the surgeon was trying to say in a nice way she would have to open me back up and re- tie them.

  Thanks Joseph. It will be so nice when the healing is finished, won't it? Just keep picturing those ribs healing together, they will, the body is amazing. I had an excellent chiropractor solve my rib head moving several years before this surgery, and since it has come back, though not as severe as it used to be, I will have them "adjust" it back into place. My surgeon gave me clearance, I am just still a little chicken but in two weeks, I think I will be ready. Did you have a mini stern? Three inch incision? I have been doing a lot, you are right, but I seriously have no choice. I have to take care of everything and everyone around here. You are lucky you have a partner. I feel a lot better moving....and when I get tired, those days I just go lie down, and listen to my body. Denial helps me move forward as well as knowing I need the right mindset to get through a lot of this. Thank you for your support!!

Joseph Ballett  Christine you and so many more will always have my support, for the question about the cut no it is more like 5-6 inches. I also like to Thank you for your support, every one on here is awesome it has made this journey so much easier to deal with.

Joseph Ballett  Yes things went well with her , she told me i had a bit of fluid around the lung but not enough to worry about, she also asked if my chest was still shifting around , I said yes it was so she is keeping me on lite lifting still , also asked about sleeping on my side, again I said yes, and again i am band from doing that. The surgeon also said she would fill out my paper work so that i will not have to return to work till maybe the spring. Other than that she liked what she saw and said there would be a 100% recovery! So very good news I also told her about this site she seemed glad there was a place like this to come to for help and support.

Joan Napier  Relieved to hear your good report Joseph! And it's great you will take a bit more time off of work until you are fully recovered. One's health is priceless and it always comes first :)

  That's great news. And hooray for not having to return to work until Spring. Enjoy your family and that puppy and live every moment to its fullest. I'm glad to hear that the fluid wasn't worrisome.

Elaine Foster  Thanks for sharing, so glad all is going well. Enjoy the holidays with your family, and take advantage of this time off.

Joseph Ballett  It went well thank you the way she explained it was awesome made total sense. I will write a general post later to explain how it all went down, again thank you!

Tammy Pilcher  Joseph, I forgot to add that with the soreness in my chest it was hurting to breathe too. But, figuring out the right angle to sleep helped me. Hope it helps.