Kate's Guestbook

Kate Watson  Thanks so much, PIerette. I appreciate the prayers and your message. I sometimes wonder if I have asthma. 
I should have said Kai doesn't pull unless he gets scared by a noise but I didn't want to take a chance walking him yet when my chest pain is still present. 
He is a strange dog in that he doesn't like going for walks though, unless it's hikes in the woods or is dead silent outside. See, we lived in a rural area of WA before we had to move to CA this year. He had a 1/2 acre to run zoomies and chase rabbits all day, and that is his favorite way to get exercise. He does do his running daily here in our yard now, but it's been an adjustment living in a residential neighborhood because he's extremely noise sensitive and is easily startled, much like myself. Haha. I'm sure we tried a gentle leader when we adopted him 5 years ago because we tried everything, but we'll revisit it :)  Sorry for the long story about Kai. Thank you again! 

Kate Watson  Haha Kai's ears are what sold us on him! But they are like radars and he's very sensitive to noises because everything must be extra loud to him :)

Kate Watson  Hi Ruth😊 How are you?

Hi Kimberly, I’m doing pretty good, finally feel like I’m moving forward. How are you doing as time is getting closer to your surgery date?

Kimberly Eisenhut  Kate, I just saw this post this morning, not sure when you replied. I am so happy to see you are getting better. Are there still things you are struggling with? I am really stressing and emotional about my upcoming surgery next week. I feel like I am drowning at times. How did/do you get through the emotions with all of this and keep yourself grounded and try to enjoy the good parts of the day? My mind has a hard time focusing on the small windows of "I feel o.k. right now" times instead of dwelling on the times I am out of breath, heart pounding for no reason, chest hurts and fatigue.
Any suggestions on how to relax before going to hospital or on the way to hospital so I do not have an actual panic attack on the way? Also, list of things you really are glad you had when you were in hospital. You are pretty much an expert at this point, so i will defer to your wisdom on this topic for sure. You are an inspiration and I am so very grateful for your response and the friendships I have here

Kate Watson  Hey Kimberly, I never see these notifications myself unless I log in daily which I don't, so I apologize for delays. I'm actually still struggling with pain (in my ribs and chest) still which is frustrating. I haven't had pain meds since week 2, but the more I do in life, the more pain I have. I just reached week 8 so I've been slowly lifting sternal restrictions in the last few weeks, as I was advised by my surgeon, but it's a balance, and then I need to scale back if I hurt too much. I am more likely to have more pain that others due to fibromyalgia though.  

To answer your question about the emotions, honestly it was very difficult for me especially with this latest surgery because it all happened so fast and I had to give up exercise (yoga and pilates) which normally helps ground me. I was really struggling at night especially when I felt short of breath every single night and it triggered anxiety and fear. I was terrified I'd die before the surgery. I really wanted to take xanax on a number of occasions, but my cardiologist didn't feel it was safe at that time due to my specific issue. You can always ask your dr if that's an option for the occasional use when you are having a really hard time handling it, particularly at night.                                                                            

This is hard stuff, so give yourself lots of grace and compassion, much like you would a friend here going through it. I would also focus on anything you can related to your recovery. What things would you like to have in place to help you recover at home? For me, I got a cozy recliner, a shower stool, some soft button down shirts, and comfy pants. These were nice gifts to have for myself for after surgery and provided a good distraction beforehand to go shopping. My husband also loaded up some games and apps on my Ipad for the hospital. I wrote down affirmations for myself which I read to myself many times a day. For me it was things like "you've done this before, you can do it again." "I am strong and resilient and I will get through this." I mean I didn't always believe them, but it still helped a lot. I also did some journaling about my feelings about it all. I distracted myself as much as possible and I worked with my therapist. Try to think about all of the people on this site who made it through these surgeries just fine. I had a huge surgery, and I'm still here, so remember there are people like me. 


I don't know if you have done so, or if would help or freak you out to, but for me I found comfort in writing down my wishes if something did go wrong, so I knew there'd be no ambiguity about what I wanted. And also so that my son and stepdaughter would be provided for. 

The night before surgery, I did more writing, and I also visualized my husband coming into my hospital room and telling me the surgery went great. I had some nice family visits beforehand which was also a good distraction. I had complete faith in my surgeon that he was the best choice for my condition so when it came down to the surgery day, I had to just let go and trust that whatever happens would be the best. I'm not a religious person, but there comes a point where you have to just give up control and trust your body, your surgeon and his team, God/Universe, whatever you want to call that force outside of yourself. Keep filling your brain with all of the things you want to do in life when you are recovered! 

Well sorry this is a novel.  But my final thought is regarding the hospital, mostly just a long chord for charging my phone, and the ipad for watching some dumb, funny shows. And I wore a cozy outfit for discharge day (well I was instructed to just wear on surgery day what I would wear home). I had a lot of swelling after so I had brought slip on sandals because I knew that was likely and that I wouldn't be able to fit into my sneakers. I brought some of my own toiletries, like face cream, chapstick, deodorant, hairbrush. They give you most things, but I just wanted some of my own to help me feel more human. Anyway I hope that helps and feel free to ask me other questions anytime. 

Kimberly Eisenhut  Thank you for the reply, I am sorry it took so long for me to see it. I will take your advice and hope you are getting belter day by day

Kate Watson  Thank you Nancy! "Luckily" I have experience with my 2 other OHS so I know this is all going to be in the rear view window someday, though it can still be painful to go through. I appreciate the note and prayers! I'm glad you are doing well. 

Kate Watson  Thank you for your message. I just read your story -wow you have been through so much yourself! And I can't believe your valve failed so soon. I was upset that my mechanical ones only lasted 9, so I guess it can always be worse. I can't even imagine having these heart problems plus all the cancer treatments. It's hard to imagine having the strength to get through all of what you have, but I guess we do what we have to in order to survive. I'm glad that you have a positive spin on the pacemaker. I was feeling a little down on it because it's just "one more thing" to make me a more difficult case for my other health issues. For example, my electrophysiologist mentioned doing a cardioversion for afib, but I know with a pacemaker And mechanical valves, it's higher risk than others. And I was reading that I can't use a Tens unit anymore, which I use for pain relief at times. So anyway it's an adjustment mentally. But I'm grateful for the technology that has kept us alive. I am not fully dependent on mine because my heart is still doing some work there and I am happy for that too. I'm so very glad to hear how much it is has helped you and that you are overall doing well. Thanks for your encouragement and positive words. Your story is very inspirational!

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Trygve and Kate, you are both authentic and  beautiful heart warriors!!! Best wishes and flying hugs!

Melinda Donahue  Trygve Harris you make ashamed of myself. Thank you I needed to read your story as well as Kate’s. I should count my blessings. I am in awe of both of you ❤️

Kate Watson  Melinda, your fears are all so valid and your suffering is yours which can’t be compared to others. Problems with the heart are always scary. Hopefully it just helps comfort you to see people like us who have gone through multiple open heart surgeries and came out on the other side. I am still happy for people if they can avoid OHS and have a repair instead, which it sounds like you are.  💕

Trygve Harris  Oh Melinda! Don't be ashamed of yourself! And you can't compare. Any heart problems are super scary.  Things happen and we deal as best we can. I spent plenty of time in very dark places. This is now the past, (at least I hope so) and so it's easier to talk about and also easier to be nonchalant, and even humorous about it.  And I do still go full on drama queen if I stub my toe......

Kate Watson  Oh that is so sweet of you to say 🥰  I’m glad you are doing well. Thank you so much for your message. 

Karen Hutchins   Thank you Kate for your posts!  I wish you the very best with your continued healing. Your story is one of the first I have read of double valve replacement  I had my aortic and mitral valves replaced in 2023.   Also had a history of a benign heart murmur and then afib and anemia post surgery which was challenging…that fatigue!  But eventually recovered and although I don’t have the vitality of many of my peers, I am able to walk comfortably for about a mile and am happy with that.  (I’m older).  Again thanks for sharing and best wishes for your healing journey!!  

Kate Watson  Hi Karen, thank you for your well wishes!  It is true we are a rare breed with our double valves. And it sounds like we had a lot of similarities in our recoveries. I am glad that you are overall doing well. I’ve never had the same vitality 
as people my own age. Maybe this time I will 😃
I am curious if you got mechanical or tissue valves? 

Kate Watson  Thanks so much, Bee. Yes this journey sure does take a lot of patience and acceptance. I truly am grateful for my family and friends. I think the progression is never as fast as we want but these surgeries take a lot out of us. My best to you too.  

Kate Watson  Hi Kimberly, thanks for asking. I am hanging in ok. I’m really struggling with pleural effusions right now. Each week I get better in some ways and worse in others😃 A bumpy road! Thanks again! 

Kate Watson  Hi Diren, because I had 2 valves it wasn’t a help to me with warfarin because I had a higher INR range anyway. My surgeon felt that I was given undersized On-X valves with my last surgery which led to pannus, and then stenosis. So he felt I’d do better with larger St Jude valves. I can only hope he was right! 

Diren P  Ah, I understand. Thank you very much for your answer. My aortic valve will be replaced soon, and I'm trying to figure out which mechanic valve is the best. I hope you continue to have a long and healthy life with your new valve without any problems.

Kate Watson  HI Diren, no problem. It's one of the hardest questions to answer for each person.  I guess it depends on your age and current health etc. I chose mechanical when I was 40 because I thought they were going to last my whole life and get me to old age. Best wishes in figuring out which is best for you.

Kate Watson  Thank you Lloyd! I hope Tavr will be available to you. The open heart procedures are tough no matter what, but have to take it one day at a time. Wishing you all the best with your third! Keep me posted.  

Kate Watson  Hi Ruth, my hemoglobin has been coming up nicely and I’m doing ok with the iron pills! I never heard of the iron spray but will check on that. Thanks.

Kate Watson  Thank you so much, Pierette. 🙏I wouldn’t wish multiple surgeries on anyone but we do what we have to to get through. I will take all the prayers I can because I know this recovery will continue to be bumpy and
and may take a while. Truly glad to be on the other side of it though. 

Patrick Marrone  Hey Kate hang in there I'm on my 3rd valve (not counting my native valve) since 2008.  My last open heart was 2021(#3).  I just came back in from stand up paddle boarding so don't let all this heart stuff stop you. 

 I prefer tissue despite the premature wear.  This valve is designed to be TAVR'ed next time so we will see how that goes.  Anyway good luck and stay positive in your recovery.