Julia's Guestbook

Julia, I am so happy to read your post - surgery journal entry, because it gives me hope, and the pre - surgery, because it confirms a lot of the things I've been wondering about as far as symptoms. Your entry made my day. Thank you!

Julia, I have finally decided I needed to come back and see how my favorites in the Heart Family are doing. I recall so much your gracious recommendation of Dr. Ryan (whose office I did talk to), and also the myriad of issues you went through post-op as you had not only a single valve replaced that the majority were experiencing, but from my perspective a huge operation and upset to your system to get used to and come back from. I am glad to see from your pre-Christmas post that you appeared to be doing quite well and had gotten past so many issues, I, too, had trouble with the metoprolol. Initially I was to take 12.5 mg twice a day. My blood pressure was extremely low and the vertigo from my head injury was triggered. Thankfully, a few weeks of documenting BP. HR, and weight daily made it evident a dosage change was called for. Ever since I have been taking 6.25 mg twice a day in the morning and at bedtime. Fortunately, I am pretty adept with my pill cutter. It is definitely sharp, which makes cutting a small tablet into four pieces easier. Hope to hear from you and please continue to take good care of your precious self. Thank you for the information, love, and encouragement you gave me during those Pre- and Post-op days. I am more grateful than I can say, Love and hugs, Ginger

Glad to hear things are going well at the 4 month mark. Was courious about the swimming part. Use to do alot of it before but the thought of swimming kind of scares me with all that upper body motion. If you have time tell me more about what the first experience was like and if there is anything I need to be careful of. Thanks Tony

Hi Julia, As we discussed yesterday, our programming team just implemented the Guestbook Response Notification system for logged in users. That said, I thought you might like to be the first user to test it. Simply respond to this email asap and I will let you know!

Happy Birthday Julia and many Happy Returns! I enjoyed reading your very informative account of recovery, I am starting 8 weeks post op aortic valve replacement, and can relate to your journal. In one of your earlier writing you mentioned when b.p. is high heart rate is low and if b.p. is low heart rate is high, years ago my husband's cardiologist said that is true or to that effect a fact, I notice it with my own record keeping I have not had leg swelling and realize you have varicose vein problem, however I was seriously considering an international trip involving 15 hrs. of travel to visit a dying relative but I now realize my legs may get swelling or other problems may result so will not take the trip at this time, I don't feel strong enough to handle the stress of international travel, thank you for writing about the swelling, I would not have thought of it until you mentioned it. Best Wishes

Happy Birthday Julia. Haven't seen you post in awhile and it is good to ready you are doing so well. Hope your Birthday was good for you and wish you many many more and continued good healing. Terrie from California!

You seem to be doing great Julia. Since we tend to "favor" parts of our body after the surgery, perhaps it takes a while to re-engage with them, like your shoulder. It is great that you can get back to your exercise routine, I miss yoga but at only one month post surgery, too soon for me to think about that just yet. For now I am walking and looking forward to cardiac rehab soon. Thank you for your posts, they help those of us coming in your foot steps. For now I am still on the recliner, but really do need to try my bed again, as I may have more success now than last time I tried. Best wishes to you as you continue to regain strength and health.

Hi Julia glad to hear you are recovering and driving, I also fear the lack of fitness effect my physical condition, I am 4 weeks post op, feel ok but tire easily, I must be patient and confident that recovery and healing take a while I will try going for a walk soon before the dreaded humidity strikes here in Virginia, actually we've been blessed with wonderful cool weather best wishes to you and thanks for the update

Julia, the only time my chest hurts is when I cough or sneeze and that's new. Didn't have it in the beginning.i think it may be from the exercising I do at re- hab. Can't wait to feel better than I did before surgery although to look at me you would never know I had surgery. People are amazed. Do you still restrict how much you lift? My scar is mostly red. Getting lighter at the top end. I started using bio oil to help yet he scar fade. Might try Mendez. It is crooked and I am not happy about that but if that's the worst of it so what. Take care!

Hi Julia, it's been a while.hope you are doing well. All is well here. I am sleeping well with the help of melatonin. All my tests came back well except vitamin D. Very deficient in that. My muscles get sore easily and I read on the internet that could be the reason. Have to see my GP for that. Another thing., people report that they feel so much better after their surgery. I had no symptoms, but now it really is a struggle going up stairs. Hoping that goes away soon. Re-hab is going well. Lots of work. Be well!,

Hello Julia. I was out today buying something to take my things to the hospital in and came back with this pretty purple carrying bag that should do the trick. I was just thinking of one of your posts where you had said that you wondered when you would be able to do the "butterfly"again! I am wondering if you are any closer but it I would think it is a ways off but still in your sights! I never got into the butterfly but swam the breast-stroke competitively from the ages of 12 until out of high school! Always was in awe of the butterfliers. The closest I came to butterflies were the butterfly kisses I used to give my two nieces, chuckle! Have to have a lot of power! So how are you doing? Sleeping well yet? How are the veins in your legs doing. I have some and they ache when I walk a lot now and then. People have told me I am nuts not to go have them taken care of and it might just check into that one day but it isn't a priority right now. Surgery post op for me is the 15th and I am hoping to just get to the surgery with no hang-ups. It will be on the 20th and I am looking forward to posting here and getting your and others advice on working at a good recovery! By the way...Where is Plano Texas? When I was younger I lived in Channing,Dalhart and Amarillo Texas before moving back to California. I liked Texas-Are you experiencing the dry hot weather we here in California have been getting? Hate the drought. Wanting to get out and red0 the front lawn with awesome boulders and natural shrubs, a couple of trees for shade and various little pathways of crushed granite in the front yard after I have recovered! Quite a project but I see no sense in having a large front lawn that guzzles up water where we have drought conditions. Well, Have to run but wanted to touch base with you and see what you are up to. Take care and hope to hear more from you when you have the time. Take care!

I take metoprolol also and two baby aspriin. I had a bovine valve replacement, root replacement, aortic and arch replacement. So there was a lot of cutting of nerves. I go to Cleveland to see my surgeon Aug. 18 we'll see how I feel then. I feel so certain that when the loss of sleep acculuminates it affects how everything feels. And then there is the echo I am having Friday.

Julia do you have take anything for that fast heart rate? Maybe I have pain because I had so much done. I'm scheduled for a mammogram and wondering if the pulling will affect the incision.

Hi Julia just checking in. Sounds like your progressing well. I feel just the opposite. I am so tired a lot of the time. I switched to melatonin and I'm really dragging when I get up. My body seems to ache a lot too. My spirits aren't as positive either. Still get pain when I sneeze or cough. I was talking super vitamins and iron after my surgery maybe I need to go back to that. I hade to wear a 24 hour monitor last week and now my NJ doctor ordered an echo this week. Not sure why maybe a rapid heart rate. I think I feel now the way folks felt before their surgery. I'm off to re-hab.now. I can't say I like it very much but at least it keeps me moving.

Julia, I'm a bit late, but so glad you have those first two months behind you. Little by little you appear to become more patient with your body, and that will most likely help you as you spend less energy on what is wrong and try to focus on what is going well. Thanks again for the information on the sternum, and your last post had more information that was also helpful. It is well past midnight so I am just starting my DAY 19 in my Count Up to 42 and home. I look forward to being out several months as you are and continue to keep you in my prayers and pray each day is a little easier, a little more progress to real health. Sending love and hugs,

Hey Julia, that was a great journal entry! These detailed journals really help me to integrate and internalize how I should manage and the challenges that lie ahead. Of course, I will not set a firm course of how and what I will do because one must "roll with the punches" and it all depends on the symptoms, medications and treatment plan. After all, I have never done anything like this before but at least with information like yours I can get a semblance of what to expect. I liked your comments about sleep patterns. It seems to be a universal problem and I see it could really test your patience? I am having sleep issues now and for the past 4 or 5 years with waking up at 0300 hrs and not going back to sleep until 0500 hrs. Not being able to get to sleep until past midnight and then having to get up at 0530 hrs. You speak of heart rates and blood pressure, and I don't have a good handle on that and what it means however, I will learn about it over time as I educate myself and read posts like yours. I talked to Olga yesterday about how your body is affected by stenosis. We don't know and can only surmise the changes to brain chemistry, oxygen levels, cognitive function and the list goes on. So I am looking forward to the surgery to restore my health. Thanks again, talk to you soon.

Good afternoon Julia. Great journal entry and good to see your progress. I had been wondering about you and hoping you were getting some much yearned for sleep! The "fireworks" in the chest can't be much fun but your overall progress seems wonderful to me. Do you have any tips on the healing of your incision site as I am curious about this. I would imagine it to itch like crazy but at the same time I kind of feel it is a badge of honor. SURVIVOR! Still is amazing what work these surgeons are able to do, isn't it?! I am surprised you are able to walk so far already and hoping when I am done with surgery to be able to walk also as my knees aren't the greatest so I will be happy just to walk until I can get back to biking and swimming. That will be something. Getting back in the water. My favorite stroke is the breast stroke and I can't imagine doing that yet after surgery. Wonder if anyone out there having had their surgery can fill us in on that one! Anyway Julia. I am so glad to read that things are going better and you are so active. Take care and keep up the good work. You give us all "hope" in the fact there is life after surgery much closer to the one we had before the heart symptoms took over our lives! Love and Prayers and gentle hugs!

thank you Julia for your well written concise recovery report. My surgery is scheduled for Monday 7/21 so I am anxious to have it yet frightened with the unknown complications. I delayed having the surgery for four years waiting for the TAVR but legally it is only for "high risk" patients. I am learning so much from my heart brothers and sisters and it has given me courage and patience. p.s. my favorite trip was last year to Breckenridge mountain area of Colorado "God's Country", can't wait to return

Julia- Good advice you gave to Tim Kanoa- Glad to also read that you seem to be doing so much better. I am happy your recovery seems to be going well. Haven't read any of recent posts from you and was wondering how things were going. You take care-

Hi Julia I chanced upon your journal and was intrigued that you mention b.p. vs heart rate, probably 14 yrs ago when my husband was alive he had various mini strokes, arrhythmia, mitral valve prolapse, anyway I recall the Cardiologist saying the b.p. is high the heart rate is low and if the b.p. is low the heart rate is high, somehow that stuck in my memory and thought perhaps your analysis was similar I will be having aortic valve stenosis valve replacement in 11 days, doctor never mentioned the Ross procedure, good luck and keep on working, it will get better I'm sure p.s. last summer I was up in Breckenridge,CO in high elevation 11, ft. don't think I cld do it now, but after the surgery I hope and pray I will be up there in beautiful CO mountains

Julia, So glad you got some real answers! So glad you were listened to and a further evaluation identified what went wrong. As for vein stripping (which is the terminology I have heard) being simple, it is certainly simple compared to the Ross Procedure. I don't know how soon after you have the heart valve surgery that vein stripping can be done, but your valve surgeon should be able to tell you. To learn more about vein stripping or removing varicose veins, Google a combination of these. I know several surgeons who do these procedures. They say the veins removed are never missed. There is plenty of other vasculature in your system that can pick up the load. As always, praying for you to get parst this and into some serious healing. Hugs,

Julia, saw your post about sleep patterns and was compelled to write about my trials and tribulations. I know about benadryl and ambien etc and they work for me but have side effects like dryness and irritibility plus the groggy feeling all morning. I am better off staying away from these chemicals. I am on to a great herbal combination called "Valericalm" in tincture. It is working great with no side effects. Comprised of valerian, passion flower, hops, motherwort, chamomile and california poppy. Manufactured by St. Francis Herb Farms in Ontario Canada. I have never ever had a reaction or conflict with herbals and main stream products. Lastly, with all of the meds we must take up to and post heart surgery, our natural flora in our gut takes a beating. Do you supplement with probiotics? Take care.

Hang in there, Julia! Tony said he lost 10 pounds before he even left the hospital! I think you are right, your body is still working things out. Sending you gentle hugs and prayers and love,

Hello Julia, Just finished reading your latest post. I am glad you are sleeping better but surprised you had lost 8 lbs. so quickly. wondering what your Dr. has to say about this. I haven't read much about the fluid retention that comes with the people either pre-op or post-op so I will start paying attention to that. I hope everything balances out for you soon so you can continue in your recovery process. Thinking of you and sending love and prayers your way.