Kate, I can tell you are smart and strong. Three years since my surgery and life will never be the same. My journey has been a hard one and I cannot find the ...Read more
Kate, I can tell you are smart and strong. Three years since my surgery and life will never be the same. My journey has been a hard one and I cannot find the person I use to be. Knowing that my hear issues have been resolved is comforting and I am grateful for that. But other parts of my life seem to have a continuous shadow that
does not lift. So I am also trying to embrace the new normal
PEACE
Kate Watson Hi Meg, I'm sorry I didn't see this until now because I'm not on here much. But thank you so much fo ... Read more
Kate Watson Hi Meg, I'm sorry I didn't see this until now because I'm not on here much. But thank you so much for your comments. I hear you and completely understand where you're coming from. For me, it ebbs and flows and sometimes, more often now, I feel like myself again. I hope the shadows lift for you more and more to let the light shine through. Wishing you much peace and happiness!
Hi Kate, welcome back! I experienced many of the same emotions and feelings u battled with following my OHS for mitral valve regurgitation and afib. Had 2nd ...Read more
Hi Kate, welcome back! I experienced many of the same emotions and feelings u battled with following my OHS for mitral valve regurgitation and afib. Had 2nd surgery for septum separation 6 months later. Thanks so much for sharing your story which has helped so many more deal with the postoperative emotional depression and mental trauma that the medical folks do not tell you about. I had thought I was alone until my husband and I were told by my primary care provider that this is often a side effect to the OHS. Took me two years to get back to the me I know even though I will never be the same person I was (which is ok). I am a retired RN and have decided to help our local rural community mental health needs by joining our hospital’s “patient and family advisory committee” . This has helped me too along with some antidepressants, ha. My docs know that I am always available to spend time with someone who is pre or post OHS. Also, I have tried to enlighten my own docs regarding need to listen to their patients postop healing complaints as it took me many months and a scan to convince them that there was something wrong with my “septum” healing and they just chalked it up to usual postop complaints. Finally took 2nd visit to my cardiologist that he finally ordered a scan that showed my septum had never fused back together and wires had completely penetrated the bone. Help me remind docs and patients who have had past radiation therapy to breasts or chest , or history of osteoporosis that plates and bands may need to be used instead of wires to reconnect the sternum halves during open heart surgery. Will close this long note and wish you continued positive experiences and healing with a bright future. Thanks, Jeany Clarke of North Dakota.
Diane Esposito Thanks so much Jenny for the helpful information .
Kate Watson Thank you for sharing this, Jeany! I appreciate you reading my story and sharing yours. I love that ... Read more
Kate Watson Thank you for sharing this, Jeany! I appreciate you reading my story and sharing yours. I love that you're giving back to the community in that way. I'd like to spend time with OHS patients too, it's something I've thought about for a while. Wishing you well too! Thanks again and sorry for the super long delay in response, not on here much these days :)
Edward Kokkelenberg posted a note for Kate that says:
You sound great and life is going well for you. Everyone's journey through this heart maze is indeed different. As we survive and have years added to our lives, ...Read more
You sound great and life is going well for you. Everyone's journey through this heart maze is indeed different. As we survive and have years added to our lives, I remember those who did not live in the era of high tech heart surgeries and treatments. We probably will have those who follow us say the same. But is it not great?
Hi Kate: I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I, too have had two OHS...Mitral & Aortic Valve Replacements (1994). I've been on Coumadin since 1976 - INR ...Read more
Hi Kate: I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I, too have had two OHS...Mitral & Aortic Valve Replacements (1994). I've been on Coumadin since 1976 - INR checked at the Coumadin Clinic once a month; for peace of mind, I purchased a machine and monitor my INR weekly at home. Please read my Journal -- it's always good to connect to others traveling the same Journey.
Be blessed, continue to do well and 'keep moving to keep moving.' Enjoy life to the fullest, even while tickin.
Hi Kate, good to see you are doing better. I myself had biscuspid aortic valve replacement June 24, 2016. Was doing well until last fall Oct 2018. My heart ...Read more
Hi Kate, good to see you are doing better. I myself had biscuspid aortic valve replacement June 24, 2016. Was doing well until last fall Oct 2018. My heart was fluttering and we don't know why. Been to ER a few times. They just sent me home with a heart monitor for a month. And my cardiologist didn't say much. Said it was ok. Then 4 months past...it flutters again and more frequently. So tomorrow I'm going to the Cleveland clinic. Hope we get to the root of it. It's been making me anxious. I know I need to calm down. Everyone tells me so. So I guess it's a journey that we all have to go thur. So wish me luck.
Kate Watson Hi Denise, sorry I'm just seeing this two months later, I'm not on here much these days :) I hate tho ... Read more
Kate Watson Hi Denise, sorry I'm just seeing this two months later, I'm not on here much these days :) I hate those flutters. I get into cycles of them, but in my case they tell me they are harmless , except I do have post surgical afib too but that feels different. Did you ever get to the root of the issue?! Hope you are well.
Tim from Australia posted a note for Kate that says:
G'day Kate, I am preparing for my 4th ohs in the coming months to replace my st jude medical heart valve which has a severe leak. I have the CT , TEE & angiogram ...Read more
G'day Kate, I am preparing for my 4th ohs in the coming months to replace my st jude medical heart valve which has a severe leak. I have the CT , TEE & angiogram all in the next few weeks. It has been 12 years since my last aortic valve replacement. Researching what valve I should consider I stumbled upon this site and have gained huge insight in reading people's experiences. I just read your journey & found it very honest and raw & have great respect for your strength and resilience. All the best for a long and healthy life ahead.
Kate Watson Thanks for your message, Tim and sorry I'm just now seeing it two months later! I'm not on here much ... Read more
Kate Watson Thanks for your message, Tim and sorry I'm just now seeing it two months later! I'm not on here much these days. Thank you so much for reading my journey and for your comments. I try to keep things real :) Wow 4th OHS- my word you are a warrior! Have you had your surgery yet? I hope you are doing well!
Hi Kate,
I hope you had a lovely Christmas, taking it easy 😊 How have you been going? I'm thinking of you 💕 Thank you for your lovely comment on my recent ...Read more
Hi Kate,
I hope you had a lovely Christmas, taking it easy 😊 How have you been going? I'm thinking of you 💕 Thank you for your lovely comment on my recent post xx
Kate Watson Hi Emily, things have been going pretty good. I'm trying to stay busy with my career. Physically a ... Read more
Kate Watson Hi Emily, things have been going pretty good. I'm trying to stay busy with my career. Physically a little hard to exercise because of the multiple pain issues. I've been in physical therapy for a very long time, so I'm looking forward to being done with that soon as I build up my strength and hopefully get back to some real exercise! I'm so glad to hear how you active you've been. Always so nice to hear from you!
Hi Kate, how are you feeling these days? I hope you are doing and feeling better. Happy Thanksgiving!
Kate Watson Hi Petey, I'm sorry I don't log in here very often and just saw this post now from 75 days ago! I do ... Read more
Kate Watson Hi Petey, I'm sorry I don't log in here very often and just saw this post now from 75 days ago! I don't know if you'll see this but thank you for the message. I'm doing pretty well now. It felt like mine was the world's longest recovery, it took about 15-16 months to feel like myself again. I'm pretty adjusted to my new "hardware" and life on coumadin. How are you feeling? I hope you are doing great!
Petey Bello Hi Kate, glad to hear you are finally feeling yourself! You had a lot of work done to your heart. It' ... Read more
Petey Bello Hi Kate, glad to hear you are finally feeling yourself! You had a lot of work done to your heart. It's amazing what these surgeons can do for us today. I have found that even though our doctors tell us by the first year we should feel fully recovered, it doesn't always work out that way. I was fortunate to have my mitral valve repaired, but since I had gotten so sick after the surgery it did take time for me to feel myself again. I recently have gotten really bad muscle spasms in the front and back right quadrant where my incisions and scars from all the tubes, surgery and wires were. I'm thinking its from scar tissue or the healing process. My scar did keloid pretty badly, so I still get pain jabs in the incision area. I am doing very well and feel so fortunate! Thank you for asking ...I do need hip surgery next, I was hit by a car as a child & it's caught up to me. I'm not in a rush to go under the knife again. I'm taking my time getting several opinions. I worry about blood clotting since we have the blood clotting gene in my family :(
Always good to hear from you and I hope you have continued success in your recovery process!
Kate Watson Yes, they don't exactly prepare you for how long it may actually take. And seems especially with mini ... Read more
Kate Watson Yes, they don't exactly prepare you for how long it may actually take. And seems especially with minimally invasive procedures, they make it out like it's an easy procedure and recovery! I know that was not the case for you or others on here. Sorry to hear you need hip surgery too. I hope you can put it off a while longer and find the best surgeon. So, I was having terrible stabbing pains and itching in my scar, which was also keloided, and I went to a dermatologist who injected it with cortisone. I can't lie, it hurt like heck to get the injections, but within a few days it started feeling so much better! The stabbing pain and burning has nearly gone away, and the scar has softened a lot. Anyway, just wanted to tell you in case you want to look into it. Always nice to hear from you too!
Hey Kate , hope you are doing fine . Haven't read your post since a few months . Just wanted to make sure you are doing alright . My prayers are with you always ...Read more
Hey Kate , hope you are doing fine . Haven't read your post since a few months . Just wanted to make sure you are doing alright . My prayers are with you always . Cheers