Leona 's Guestbook

Leona Resch  Hi David! 
So happy to hear from you!! How are you doing? Hope you are feeling more yourself and stronger everyday!

I Just passed three months out- can’t believe how fast this has gone since surgery! Been keeping busy with family and friends and another grandbaby any day. Trying to catch up on life !😘 Feeling good for the most part although I still get tired if I overdo it. I have to learn to pace myself a bit better🤔 But walking a few miles everyday! Have a cold which made me a bit nervous but seems to be no worse than normal. Chest incision sometimes feels tight and muscles still hurt sometimes especially if I lift anything too heavy. My follow up with girardi got cancelled as he was not going to be in the office and I’m rescheduled for July if needed. They were happy with my progress went I went back to PA so probably not needed. Especially with good cardiac follow up. Although Girardi cleared me I’m guessing I can’t just jump back into doing what I used to do, just have to work up to things more slowly! My body usually tells me that anyway!😘 I’ve been a bit anxious at times kind of realizing all that has happened and trying to absorb it. As I start to do things the first time again and see I’m ok that feeling is slowly disappearing - little by little . I’m finding as life gets busy again I’m not thinking about it as much. Finally starting to decrease my beta blockers as my cardiologist wanted me on them a full three months if I could handle the side effects . So far so good!! 

Keep me posted on how you are doing! 

Leona Resch  Hi David! 
So happy to hear from you!! How are you doing? Hope you are feeling more yourself and stronger everyday!

I Just passed three months out- can’t believe how fast this has gone since surgery! Been keeping busy with family and friends and another grandbaby any day. Trying to catch up on life !😘 Feeling good for the most part although I still get tired if I overdo it. I have to learn to pace myself a bit better🤔 But walking a few miles everyday! Have a cold which made me a bit nervous but seems to be no worse than normal. Chest incision sometimes feels tight and muscles still hurt sometimes especially if I lift anything too heavy. My follow up with girardi got cancelled as he was not going to be in the office and I’m rescheduled for July if needed. They were happy with my progress went I went back to PA so probably not needed. Especially with good cardiac follow up. Although Girardi cleared me I’m guessing I can’t just jump back into doing what I used to do, just have to work up to things more slowly! My body usually tells me that anyway!😘 I’ve been a bit anxious at times kind of realizing all that has happened and trying to absorb it. As I start to do things the first time again and see I’m ok that feeling is slowly disappearing - little by little . I’m finding as life gets busy again I’m not thinking about it as much. Finally starting to decrease my beta blockers as my cardiologist wanted me on them a full three months if I could handle the side effects . So far so good!! 

Keep me posted on how you are doing! 

Leona Resch  Hi David! I know you must be just waiting right now- by tonight you’ll be in icu and on the  road to recovery !! I am doing well!! Walking everyday 2-3 miles and feeling good! You will be there soon too!! Looking forward to your note after surgery!! You ve got this! You are in the hands of a superb surgeon!! 

Leona Resch  Hi Amy!! Soon you will be on the recovery side of this!!! 👏👏👏
No, I have not heard from Allan Fiore. Wonder if anyone else has?

Leona Resch  Hi Carla! Yes we are surgical buds!! Lol 
Feeling stronger - still can’t sleep great on my back and sometimes feeling g my heart beat stronger keeps me up! But walked a mile yesterday and felt good -then fell asleep in a chair’😘 But if I compare to a week ago definitely have more energy and able to move around better. Hoping to wean off beta blockers eventually/ they keep my heart rate pretty low and I think I’m tired from these drugs too. So glad to be 4 weeks out!! 
How are you doing??!

Leona Resch  Hi Amy! Slept 6 hours in my bed last night and it felt so good!! Before that I preferred the recliner especially because I was coughing too- all normal . Recovery I've learned is day by day- some days are better than others and it's better to just know that and not get discouraged. That goes with everything- pain, fatigue etc. I had more pain in my ribs and right shoulder/back area but that is getting better. If you know these things can be a normal part of recovery then you just go with it. Even my appetite was coming back and then for a day or two days wasn't hungry much and then it comes back again. The one constant , even if I'm tired, is that each day I do feel a bit stronger er and steadier! Saw my cardiologist today and all is well so far! My first outing!! Then my husband drove me to see my 95 yo mom who lives nearby! So great to be out!!! By then I came home, showered and was ready to rest! 😘 soon you will be past all this and recovering! Two - three weeks post surgery definitely makes a big difference!!! Hang in there!!!

Amy Berger  Thank you thank you - we have so much in common. I'm a bit older than you, I'm 66. My mom is also 95 - she will be 96 in March. I grew up in lower CT and it sounds like we both have great husbands :) We also have adult children and grandkids. Before the surgery did you have symptoms? I don't have any except, like you, I think I may be a bit more tired than usual at night. Do you think you will notice feeling better than before surgery eventually? Do you work? I work remotely so my hope is to be able to do some computer time each day as soon as I am able - I actually like what I do. So glad you slept for 6 hours in bed - every night now when I go to bed I remember to be thankful at how comfortable I am as my count down is on. Also glad cardiologist visit went well - it's going to be great to not have to think about the valve once we are healed! Would you ever consider exchanging phone numbers to be able to stay in touch or maybe sometime having a chat? if not, totally understand. Thanks again!

Leona Resch  Hi Amy! Yes like you- kids and grandkids! Three married children and fifth grandchild in April! And a 95 yo mom who still lives in her own but we look after her. So, I need to stay active and healthy!!
Like you I kept saying to my husband- geez I’m ready to go to bed by 8 pm. I chalked it up to age but thinking now that was a subtle sign. Also I noticed my hand and fingers are now thinner. I was probably retaining a little bit of fluid that was so subtle I didn’t notice. And a tiny shortness of breath - again I attributed to not being in shape cause they told me not to exercise much with this. All very subtle. 
Even though I’m tired now I feel stronger already. I really do believe that when I’m fully healed I will have much more energy than before. I’m only 2 1/2 weeks out and I’m already able to stay awake longer at night! 

id be happy to exchange numbers- it’s people that I could talk to that went through it that got me through it! Are you on fb where I could send a private message? Or any other idea?💕

Amy Berger  Hi - yes I have FB and would love to connect through there to exchange #s etc. Here is my FB name if you'd like to do a search to friend request me. Again - thanks for your thoughts - so helpful!!!

Amy Berger  Hi Allan - Leona has been great about putting out posts of what to expect, etc. My surgery is scheduled for January 24th - same procedure. If you scroll through the newsfeeds, you'll come across her positive, uplifting tips and comments to others.

Leona Resch  Hi Ruth! Thank you so much! I’m learning baby steps is the way to go. Lots of ups and downs but so happy to be in recovery mode’💕

Leona Resch  Mitch! It feels like the few days before are just the worst with this anxiety. I can’t wait to be home again and healing! I truly appreciate your encouragement and support !

Leona Resch  Ty fir sharing this Sharon and reaching out! So great to hear from others that have gone through this! I’m a little over two weeks out and first  cardiology appointment went great!!👏👏👏such relief!

Leona Resch  You are so right Ruth ! Thank you for taking g the time to post! Sounds like you have been through this too.

Richard Munson  Leona, fear of upcoming heart surgery is a fact of life. Normal. I was petrified until i went to sleep just prior to. Will i wake up, will it get fixed, i’ve lived 78 years and this is how it ends ? yada, yada. As i got closer to the day, it got worse for me. My wife had to practically toss me out of the car on d day. When they called my name in the waiting room i thought about not answering. You have to have faith in your team and the hospital and things will be fine. As one scaredy cat to another, we will all be there for you after surgery. Stay strong.

Leona Resch  Thank you Richard. I can relate tomy husband having to toss me in the car- I can see that happening’ plus the feeling of wanting to run away . I have three children and four grandchildren- so far- and my husband is finally retired end if this month. I just wantTo be here for them all - I was a nurse - perhaps that’s not so good with this. Trying to deep breath and calm down and have faith in the medical team . Boy it’s hard and yes- as it gets closer its worse. 
Thank you for taking the time to write - I’m hanging onto every word from this wonderful community of people!

Richard Munson  Keep posting. I did not consult this site till after my surgery. I know i would have received some sage advice but in reality, i’m not sure if it would have eased my anxiety. I say that because we are all different and handle stress in different ways. What is good for ana ( my godmother lol) might not be good for me. What i did miss was all the prayers and good wishes from many folks that frequent adams wonderful site. Keep asking ana for prayers as she has a direct line. Yes, on running away but of course you need heart surgery so you would not get very far. Ha. Even with a great hospital, great cardiologist and surgeon and staff , anyone can have a bad day so i hoped that they all were on their game. It was also a monday so they should have been rested. I figured friday being the worst, thinking about cocktails after work. I also have 3 kids, 5 grandkids and my wife just retired so we have that in common. Good luck with everything ( the odds are way in your favor) and hopefully with your husband retired and home that your stress level stays low because i am thankful my wife was working when i went in as she is driving me nuts now. She won’t read this. 

Leona Resch  Thank you Ruth- all the support truly helps. I don’t think I’ve ever been this frightened. Seeing success stories is invaluable!