Guestbook of Kate Rooney

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Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

2308 days ago

Meredith Bray posted a note for Kate that says:

I hope you had cake for your anniversary!

Kate Rooney I did indeed!

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

3404 days ago

Wanda Mroz, Joanne Casserly, Paul Skidmore reacted to this

Jerry Vernhout posted a note for Kate that says:

Congratulations! Boy, time passes quickly. I will be four years at the end of May and everything is going great!

Kate Rooney Thank you!! And congratulations to you as well!!

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

3407 days ago

Chris Vereb reacted to this

Selma Kaplan posted a note for Kate that says:

Kate!! What a treat to hear from you. Yep, 4 years. It's amazing, isn't it? It's so strange -- yesterday I had an electrophysiology study (turns out everything ...Read more

Kate!! What a treat to hear from you. Yep, 4 years. It's amazing, isn't it? It's so strange -- yesterday I had an electrophysiology study (turns out everything is okay) and as I was being prepped, I felt myself being taken right back to that day at Mt. Sinai. What a treat it was to wake up and eat a turkey sandwich instead of a teaspoon full of ice chips (though I gotta admit, those ice chips were AMAZING!). So...here's to our hearts, long may they beat. xoxo Selma

Denise Campbell That's funny Selma. After my ohs to replace my mitral valve I remember telling the nurse. " these ... Read more

Denise Campbell That's funny Selma. After my ohs to replace my mitral valve I remember telling the nurse. " these are the best ice chips I've ever had".

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4500 days ago

Oh, sweetie, I know EXACTLY what you mean! Like many people, I sometimes compare my \'insides\' with other people\'s \'outsides.\' When I feel like I\'m falling ...Read more

Oh, sweetie, I know EXACTLY what you mean! Like many people, I sometimes compare my \'insides\' with other people\'s \'outsides.\' When I feel like I\'m falling short and not as strong as others, I remember 1) I quit smoking and 2) I had open heart surgery! You had a rough time of it and came out the other side. You\'re not only strong, your an inspiration!! Wishing you many years of good health. Love, Your fellow Mt. Sinai inmate, Selma

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4500 days ago

Hi Kate! Good to hear from you, and hard to believe a year has passed, isn\'t it? Like you, I\'m so glad it\'s behind us and that our bodies have been healing ...Read more

Hi Kate! Good to hear from you, and hard to believe a year has passed, isn\'t it? Like you, I\'m so glad it\'s behind us and that our bodies have been healing from such a major surgery. Did your incision heal up nicely? I still have several areas that are bumpy and tender, I\'ve been using Mederma on them. I do get occasional ocular migraines, otherwise I\'m doing great. I went through a time of \"cardiac depression\" but that has passed as well. Stay strong and know you\'re in my thoughts, hopefully your \"leak\" will stay minimal! Holly P

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4500 days ago

Kate, This is definitely an important milestone. So happy that a year out, there are some huge improvements you can see and feel daily! Sharon C.

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4680 days ago

Hi, Kate. I just thought I;d check in to see how you are doing. I hope you and your family are safe after the storm. It\'s been a crazy couple of weeks! ...Read more

Hi, Kate. I just thought I;d check in to see how you are doing. I hope you and your family are safe after the storm. It\'s been a crazy couple of weeks! I was wondering if you are still on aspirin once a day? I really wasn\'t told how long I should stay on it. I will be 5 months in a few more days. Have you been back to Mt. Sinai? I have only visited my local cardiologist. I hope you are doing well! Gina H

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4689 days ago

Hi, Kate -- I just read over on Paul\'s guestbook that your valve is leaking???!!!! I\'m sooo sorry. Did you find out during a regular doctor visit? Have ...Read more

Hi, Kate -- I just read over on Paul\'s guestbook that your valve is leaking???!!!! I\'m sooo sorry. Did you find out during a regular doctor visit? Have you been back to Adams? What do you think you\'ll be doing about it. I hope you\'re okay, that the storm didn\'t hit you. Please, be in touch. Selma

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4698 days ago

Hi Kate, just wondering how you are doing? We haven\'t heard from you in a while. How is your pulse and blood pressure? Did your incision heal up okay? ...Read more

Hi Kate, just wondering how you are doing? We haven\'t heard from you in a while. How is your pulse and blood pressure? Did your incision heal up okay? It\'s been a while since I\'ve updated too, and should do that soon. Many days I forget that I had surgery, I recently re-certified for CPR, and as I was pumping the mannequins chest, I remembered how hard that was for me to do before surgery, and how out of breath I would become. Now it hardly bothers me!!! Hope you are doing okay!!! Thinking of you. Holly P

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4768 days ago

Hi Kate- Glad to hear you are back to good for the most part. I am not running marathons either. I am planning on continuing cardiac rehab for 2 days/wk as ...Read more

Hi Kate- Glad to hear you are back to good for the most part. I am not running marathons either. I am planning on continuing cardiac rehab for 2 days/wk as long as I am able and fitting in another 3 days at home. We just got back yesterday from a week at the beach. I planned to walk/jog 5 times in the 6 days. I didn\'t make the 5, but did 4. While everyone else slept in I was out and about before 7 am. My scar looks pretty good, especially the top, but the bottom is thicker and redder. I did get knocked down by a rogue wave and I think I wasnt scared about the scar tearing, but breaking my sternum, but all is well. Keep up the good work and keep us posted. Karen Campo

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4771 days ago

Oh, YUCK!!!!! I hope that alleged porn-watching perfusionist was off duty when we had our surgeries. Ick ick ick. There\'s not enough betadyne in the world ...Read more

Oh, YUCK!!!!! I hope that alleged porn-watching perfusionist was off duty when we had our surgeries. Ick ick ick. There\'s not enough betadyne in the world to scrub that image off my eyes!!!!

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4772 days ago

Hi Kate, Glad to hear you\'re doing well. Strange about your incision turning more red. I met a woman in rehab who had a lasting issue with the top of her ...Read more

Hi Kate, Glad to hear you\'re doing well. Strange about your incision turning more red. I met a woman in rehab who had a lasting issue with the top of her scar. She said she was told her body was rejecting the sternum wires. She was having surgery to remove the wire. She finished rehab so I wasn\'t able to ask her how the surgery went. Whatever they did, it was not major and only involved day surgery. Hope yours doesn\'t come to that though. Itching there\'s still a lot of healing going on under the surface that we\'re not aware of which keeps the incision sites from completely resolving. I had a thoracotomy which included a small incision between my breasts to insert an instrument. That incision is still quite red and sometimes painful. I keep expecting it to open or have a stitch pop out. Take care, Nancy B

Kate Rooney Hi Nancy,
Thanks for your thoughts. I am glad you are doing well - good for you! Hopefully my inci ... Read more

Kate Rooney Hi Nancy,
Thanks for your thoughts. I am glad you are doing well - good for you! Hopefully my incision does not need to be surgically fixed.... I am in NO mood for that! I will keep everyone posted....best wishes, Kate

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4772 days ago

Hey, Kate -- I was so happy to read your check-in. Happy Anniversary. We made it to the 3 month mark. Back on 7 at Mt. Sinai I couldn\'t imagine being here ...Read more

Hey, Kate -- I was so happy to read your check-in. Happy Anniversary. We made it to the 3 month mark. Back on 7 at Mt. Sinai I couldn\'t imagine being here today. I\'m sweating along with you at the cardiac rehab and I hear you on the pulse -- mine is a lot faster than it was before surgery, though I\'m told that\'s nothing to worry about. My incision is also quite tender to the touch as well, but it looks fine. Still itchy. I guess our bodies have their own time tables for healing and we can\'t compare ourselves to the folks running marathons at 5 weeks or the ones who got out of the hospital on Day 3. I have a feeling there are more of us than there are of them! You must have a 3 month checkup with your cardiologist coming up. Mine is next week, I think. Hopefully, we\'ll both get good news. Take care -- Selma

Kate Rooney Hi Selma,
Thanks for your thoughts. I saw my MD earlier in the month, and will again see her in mid ... Read more

Kate Rooney Hi Selma,
Thanks for your thoughts. I saw my MD earlier in the month, and will again see her in mid Sept. Did you see Mt. Sinai's cardiac OR department in the news this week? Yikes! Not good! FYI... I mailed my letter, too... No reply as yet.
Hope you are hanging in there... Stay well, Kate

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4772 days ago

Hi Kate, I had my mitral and tricuspid valves repaired last October, and I am still having very whacky heart beats. Mine will race, skip beats, throw extra ...Read more

Hi Kate, I had my mitral and tricuspid valves repaired last October, and I am still having very whacky heart beats. Mine will race, skip beats, throw extra beats, and the worst of all, beat super slow ( 35 to 40 beats a minute) at times. I have good days and sometimes good weeks, and bad days. It\'s very frustrating! My blood pressure also gets really low (about 85-90/45-50) when my rate rate gets slow. If this sounds like you, I would very much like to keep in touch to see if we can learn anything from one another. I hope you continue to improve......God Bless and take care, Deb Ziegler

Kate Rooney Hi Deb,
Thanks for your note. I am sorry that you, too, have a b/p in the basement like mine. It m ... Read more

Kate Rooney Hi Deb,
Thanks for your note. I am sorry that you, too, have a b/p in the basement like mine. It makes me very lethargic... Hard to get through the day at times. Please keep in touch , Kate R

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4772 days ago

Oops!

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4772 days ago

Love you! Stace

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4781 days ago

Hi, Kate -- Just checking in to see how you are. It\'s been a while since you posted. I started cardiac rehab today. Can\'t imagine doing it at 6 weeks like ...Read more

Hi, Kate -- Just checking in to see how you are. It\'s been a while since you posted. I started cardiac rehab today. Can\'t imagine doing it at 6 weeks like some people did. Just the stretches alone would have bothered my incision. Hope you\'re staying cool. Selma

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4790 days ago

Hi Kate- I haven\'t been on HVJ in a couple/few weeks so I was checking in on the gang, both newbies and us oldies. Hope you are doing well and have enjoyed ...Read more

Hi Kate- I haven\'t been on HVJ in a couple/few weeks so I was checking in on the gang, both newbies and us oldies. Hope you are doing well and have enjoyed your Summer as best as able. Karen Campo

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4808 days ago

Hi Kate. I hope you are doing well! I just read your journal post regarding that feeling in your sternum when getting up from a laying position. I have the ...Read more

Hi Kate. I hope you are doing well! I just read your journal post regarding that feeling in your sternum when getting up from a laying position. I have the same thing! It feels like everything is shifting somewhere. It does go away after a few minutes, but it is a strange feeling that I only feel when I get up. Has yours gone away yet? I am now three weeks after. I have my follow up next week at Mt. Sinai. Have you been given clearance to lift and drive? The hardest thing for me has been not picking up my twins! They are always asking \"up?\" I feel so bad. Hopefully, after next week I will be okay to pick them up. I hope you are feeling well! Gina

Kate Rooney Hi Gina,
Well, I am 8 weeks post and Unfortunately I still feel pain when I sit up. Just getting us ... Read more

Kate Rooney Hi Gina,
Well, I am 8 weeks post and Unfortunately I still feel pain when I sit up. Just getting used to it at this point. I can drive now - phew! - what a relief. I started rehab this week, and one of my goals is to increase upper body strength - I 'm still reluctant to lift, pull things. Because I'm "thin up top" my incision / repair is so close to the surface.. It continues to be sensitive.
I am glad you are ok; it is a hard road, but we'll get there! Keep in touch, Kate

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4822 days ago

Hi Kate. Thank you so much for your well wishes! I came home from Mt Sinai on Saturday evening. I have to say that the surgery was so much more than I could ...Read more

Hi Kate. Thank you so much for your well wishes! I came home from Mt Sinai on Saturday evening. I have to say that the surgery was so much more than I could have ever imagined. I don\'t think that there is anyone who could prepare you for it. I did decide to do the mini sternotomy, as it seemed to be the safest and best access to the mitral valve and also give the best repair. Dr Adams and his team are absolutely wonderful! I can\'t thank him enough for fixing me and for also being such an understanding and compassionate surgeon. Since I have been home, I had a visiting nurse come on Monday and it turns out I was very dehydrated which made me feel not too well. So, I stopped the lasix and also stopped taking Percocets(they put me in a fog) and drank Gatorade for the rest of the day and now I feel so much better! My incision is only sore when I cough thankfully. It is amazing how true it is that each day you feel a little better. How have you been? How are you feeling? If you\'d like you can email me at ginamn3@comcast.net. Hope you are feeling well! Gina

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4824 days ago

Hi Kate- I can\'t say I experience that sensation. However; there is definetly a noticable difference in getting from lying down to sitting up and/or getting ...Read more

Hi Kate- I can\'t say I experience that sensation. However; there is definetly a noticable difference in getting from lying down to sitting up and/or getting up out of chairs. No real pain, just discomfort. I have tried to wean myself off the pain meds which I have only been on at night, but when I dont take (like last night) I have a restless night. How is cardiac rehab going? I go for my 2nd visit this afternoon. Are you back to work if you work? Karen

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4824 days ago

Hi Kate, No, I can\'t say I get the feeling you\'re describing. I do feel some shortness of breath and slight pain/soreness when I first get up in the morning. ...Read more

Hi Kate, No, I can\'t say I get the feeling you\'re describing. I do feel some shortness of breath and slight pain/soreness when I first get up in the morning. I think I breath shallowly when I sleep and have to re-expand my lungs when I start to move around. After a few deep breaths it feels better. Nancy B

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4824 days ago

Hi Kate. I have experienced similar things in the past, but did not find it that painful. It felt like stuff was re-arranging itself a bit. I am at 3 weeks ...Read more

Hi Kate. I have experienced similar things in the past, but did not find it that painful. It felt like stuff was re-arranging itself a bit. I am at 3 weeks post surgery and don\'t feel it as much now. Jerry Vernhout

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4833 days ago

Kate, You\'re making progress, even if it\'s not always obvious to you. Increase the walking a little bit each time, and you\'ll be amazed how that will pay ...Read more

Kate, You\'re making progress, even if it\'s not always obvious to you. Increase the walking a little bit each time, and you\'ll be amazed how that will pay off. And I expect that taking walks with your dogs will also be good for you, spiritually. I\'m curious - did you return to Mt Sinai for the stress test, and see Dr Adams again? - Jim Smith

Kate Rooney Hi Jim,
Thanks for the note. No, my stress test was with my local cardiologist; my appt. with Dr. A ... Read more

Kate Rooney Hi Jim,
Thanks for the note. No, my stress test was with my local cardiologist; my appt. with Dr. Adams' Clinic is at the end of this month. Since I have had a few setbacks I believe the stress test was in order to see how I'd do with exercise beyond the casual walk... thanks for the encouragement! Kate

Kate Rooneygot a new guestbook post

4833 days ago

Wow, a stress test at one month out! You are adventurous. I\'ll bet you see huge improvement on the next one. Just keep pushing yourself bit by little bit. ...Read more

Wow, a stress test at one month out! You are adventurous. I\'ll bet you see huge improvement on the next one. Just keep pushing yourself bit by little bit. -- DVB