Kate's Guestbook

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

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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

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

Kate, I haven't been on this site for a long while. In the beginning & for many months after my surgery, I had desperately check the site everyday as my life line. It was a huge support thanks to the wonderful people! Life catches up & gets busy. I am so glad I took the time today (my 1 yr. surgery anniversary day) to once again check Adams site). I just read your recent journals. Happy (belated) 1 yr anniversary & congratulations on your hike. I am sorry you had such a rough time this past year, but so glad you are finally feeling better. You are a brave & strong person. I will keep you in my prayers that you continue to get better each & every day! I pray you have only smooth days & leave the rough bumpy ones behind you. God Bless! ps. Great pictures & love the shirt :)

Hi Kate , I am so glad to see your beautiful pictures and read your post after such a long time . I always used to wonder why am I not seeing your post ( and secretly I used to pray and wish everything is alright ) . I so so glad to know that you are doing good after a tough time . My prayers are with you and with all the other buddies here who are or in the process of surgery . May the force be with all .

Hi Kate. I haven't seen anything that you have written recently. I hope you are doing well. As a fellow Washingtonian, you have been any inspiration for me. Dealing with the issues that ineviteably come up with a good attitude and a sense that you will win. I am planning on being as optomistic as you when my time comes.

Hey Kate, I wasn't sure if you had recieved my last couple of emails. I understand it is a very busy time of the year esp having children. 😃 If you could please send your home address to me via email that would be great, if not I understand. 🎄 Take care sweetie, lots of love, blessings and Christmas joy 🤶🏼🤶🏼🎅🏼 Em xx

Hi Kate! I'm responding here because I just saw your response on my page and I wanted to make sure you saw my response to your response! To answer your question, I have had a ton of anxiety about my heart rate being so high! It has been exacerbated by the nurses in cardiac rehab. I tried to go into work a half a dozen times within the past couple weeks just to check in because I'm not back yet and having Cardiac Rehab after those times my heart rate was extremely elevated. Mind you, my work environment is a loud, fast pace, very busy, highly stimulating gym environment. I work in high-pressure sales and just being around that environment was really stressful for me the few times I went in. The nurses at rehab were really concerned about that and not even wanting to work with me on those days because my heart rate was starting to high. That gave me even more anxiety because I need to get back to work! My doctor prescribed me some anxiety medication which helps with my anxiety… Not sure about my heart rate yet but at least I'm not full of anxiety like I was. The upper management at my job knows my concerns now so they are working on something for me but I won't know yet until later this week. I'm hoping for a less stressful position possibly… Crossing my fingers. They have been so supportive through all this and I've been there a long time so I'm hoping and praying on this issue! I am on my two month mark now with recovery and still can't believe I went through that let alone made it through that! I think all of us are heroes for being able to go through that trauma and survive it and deal with everything afterwards we are dealing with! I am trying to up my exercise and just got cleared by my cardiologist for a higher heart rate during exercise so that's actually making me feel better and more human again. I also got cleared to start lifting weights again as long as I listen to my body I can lift more than the 2 pounds they are keeping me at at Cardiac Rehab LOL! For me that's a big part of my life that's been missing for eight weeks so I know once I get back into my weight training it will make a big difference in how I feel mentally and physically. Although right now I'm having a lot of shoulder issues on the right side. How did you handle any shoulder discomfort? Did you have any? Everything for me is on my right side. Thank you so much for checking in on me and keep me posted. I can't wait till I'm at the five month mark!

Kate, I'm looking at surgery with Dr. Barnhart for AVR. If you had a second chance, would you go somewhere else like the Cleveland Clinic? I like you, live close to Seattle so it would be so easy to go to Swedish Hospital. But I also can make the effort to go elsewhere. What are your thoughts now a few weeks after surgery. Thanks for any thoughts on this. Bob

Hi Kate! Thanks for all your sweet posts on my threads. How are you feeling? In response to your question about the beta blocker...they told me it was to help my heart rate go down and that I'd probably be on it up to 6 months. My Cardiologist wants me off it ASAP because he thinks it's causing all of the dizziness and blackouts and keeping my blood pressure too low. I'm not exactly sure why I was put on one when I have such low blood pressure already. When I was in the hospital they kept me in ICU longer because my blood pressure was so low we couldn't get it out of the 50s. Now I am in the low 80's over low 60's. I'm hoping I feel better off the beta blocker. My PCP had also mentioned it's probably causing some negative issues. I've started weaning to half dosage and noticed right away my BP go back up. Who knew?!?

Hey Kate!! It is nice, as nice as can be, under the circumstances to find another double valve patient in our demographic. I am nearly 3 years since my second surgery. After awhile, you should get used to the clicking sound. I don't even notice it anymore. Warmly, Ryan

Hi Kate, How are you feeling these days? I hope better! I started cardiac rehab this past week & so far so good... I counted all my incisions 'large & small' (including the wire & tube access points) & there were 18 in all ...I feel I have definitely turned in a positive direction in my healing process. My energy level has been really good, days of exhaustion are getting less. I hope you are finally able to walk you dog! My dog will get her stitches out on Monday! (They are driving her crazy - poor thing) .... God Bless & keeping you my prayers :)

Remarkable progress, Kate. You make our day when we hear such good news. Only 8 weeks, and you are leading a more than normal life with both work and play. Our love and prayers continue ...

Hope you are doing better. I had to have my mitral valve replaced in 1991 because of silent rheumatic fever that we determined happened in 1975. I have a St. Jude mechanical valve and I have been on coumadin all of these years. The blood testing is the worse part and watching how much green food you consume. I think you are going to start feeling better and better. It really takes six months to a year to start feeling like you are really recovered from the valve replacement, but you will feel better. I will try to check back on you and see how you are. You are in my prayers.