Lorraine's Guestbook

Lorraine Mobley  You are very welcome! The road has some bumps but nothing you cannot overcome! I sometimes wear scarves but you know what?--when you earn a scar you should show it off! Stay positive, that is half the battle!

Lorraine Mobley  Every patient is different, the waking up for me was scary because I needed the breathing tube longer than most. Most people get it removed within hours. Everything since the first day has been fine. A lot of the things I read about pain with chest tubes,etc I did not experience. I mean of course there are fleeting occurrences of pain but nothing excrutiating. Now that I am home, I do get winded easily but my surgery was only 7 days ago. That being said, I got home yesterday and today was able to take a sit down shower bath, prepare my meals, watched a movie and even sat outside a couple times. I did not nap bc I want to sleep tonight. Your kids are much younger that mine so you will need help lifting them, distracting them and helping them understand when you need rest. I hope this is helpful. I wish you a smooth surgery and a quick recovery.

Susan Lynn  Kristin - I didn't have any issues waking up and actually felt relaxed. Recovery wasn't bad either, but even with my minimally invasive mini- thoracotomy entry, I had a lifting restriction of 5 lbs. for 3 months. As Lorraine said, you will feel tired, so you may need help with childcare. I think most of the recovery happens in the first two weeks. You'll do just fine! All the best!

Kristin Bell  Thank you both for your response. I am feeling better about it, just nervous. The bypass machine is scary and has my anxiety through the roof.

Thomas Brusstar  Oh, I wouldn't worry about the bypass. You'll sleep through it! I woke up with the breathing tube still in, which is just uncomfortable but doesn't really hurt. I just had to gesture and spell things with my fingers for my wife and the nurses for an hour or two until they removed it. Waking up I guess I just woke up and realized where I was. They restrain your arms with velcro straps because some people wake up all disoriented and start pulling at tubes and wires, so you'll be pretty "snug" when you first wake up. Once they see you are conscious and oriented without panic they can un-restrain your arms. I had surgery on a Tuesday morning, and by Tuesday evening I had gotten out of bed and sat in a chair for a bit. I was home for dinner Friday night. I could shower and dress myself as soon as I got home. Lifting restrictions are real. It will be hard with a 1-year-old. Snuggling is fine, but no lifting!

Lorraine Mobley  Thank you so much! Your note has really encouraged me. I am with my sister and we are laughing, watching videos and looking at scrapbooks....good medicine. I hope you continue to do well!

Lorraine Mobley  Thank you so much! Your note has really encouraged me. I am with my sister and we are laughing, watching videos and looking at scrapbooks....good medicine. I hope you continue to do well!

Sharon Cotter  Lorraine, I know you are in wonderful hands right now between the Great Physician and your appointed physician. Let us know how you are when you’re up to it!

Lorraine Mobley  Thank you so much Linda. I do tend to ruminate too much about what could go wrong. I am trying to stay positive but likely how it will be after surgery I have good days and bad. Your encouragement and caring words mean a lot to me!

Lorraine Mobley  Thank you! I feel very fortunate with the hospital and am already familiar with some of the staff, 2 are nurses who are personal friends of mine. Now keeping the stress under control is the hardest part!

Lorraine Mobley  Yes, I am actually in the countdown phase with 43 days before my Heart surgery and am visualizing a great outcome and a scar of courage. I even told my 27 year old daughter that once recovered I will get a heart tattoo and she said she would get a matching one.

  Hi Lorraine, I second what Artie wrote. The easiest part of the surgery, for me, was the surgery. I was well taken care of in the hospital. Constipation in the hospital was the worst, too, for me, They give you a pill and then, boom! Freedom. What was challenging for me was the first month. I slept in a lounge chair for 3 months. I needed help from family to prepare food for me, to dress, shower, etc. Don't be surprised if you cry more when you return home or feel helpless. It is part of the process and believe me when I say this, every new day, you get better. Have patience. Ask for help when you need it. Get all the help you can in the beginning. By the fourth month, which it is now for me, you will have more mobility and feel better.

Lorraine Mobley  Thank you both for your advice and comments. I wrote that post when I was still in semi-denial, wishing I knew nothing and could decide not to have the surgery...even in the few short weeks since I was informed I needed it, my attitude has changed. Now I am reading and researching every.single,thing! I guess I just wanted to be ignorantly bliss but I realize, like most of the people on here, the more you know, the better prepared you can be and the better chance of a successful outcome and quick and safe recovery!

Lorraine Mobley  Wow, you are an amazing and inspirational lady! Thank you for admitting your fear, I tried to deny it but alas, that didn't work too well! Now I know that I have fear, I look it in the eye and say "I can handle fear, I can handle set backs, I will survive this and I will inspire others as well!"

Adam Pick  Great post Muriel. Completely agree with you. The pre-op anxiety can really be a doozie on the brain and nerves. You are going to do great Lorraine! By the way, I was thrilled to hear your cath was painless and your arteries are clear!!! Congrats!

Lea Parker  Lorraine, I just wanted to let you know that I characterize the weeks leading up to my surgery as an "emotional rollercoaster". I will never forget the words from my cardiologist, "my dear, it's time for your surgery" -- it was as if those words just hung in the air -- if I didn't respond, would they go away? Even though I was not shocked, I was stunned -- I think I said, "oh crap, really?" I remember he smiled, went to get dark chocolate (a kind gesture, but I was still scared out of my mind). I would go from feeling so strong, "I got this" to "should I write my own eulogy" and then I would feel guilty for not having enough faith and all the while trying to tiptoe around the emotions of my family...I had to show a brave face, right? Two things really helped me with the anticipation -- one was walking - alone with y thoughts in nature. This allowed me to accept that the surgery was happening, and that there was a reason my valve disease was discovered - so it could be treated (and later so I could go onto help others). The second thing was getting a tour of the hospital. Fear of the unknown can wreak havoc on your mind and emotions -- so educating myself about what would happen after surgery and meeting the team that would take care of me made all the difference. Please feel free to ask any questions - I had open heart in 2016 - valve replacement and aortic aneurysm repair. Blessings to you -- Lea

Lorraine Mobley  Thank you Adam and Lea! Adam your book and this site has just been such a blessing to me I can't thank you enough. As you and Lea have said the "waiting room" is the worst part. The surgeon who did my cath said "you will fly through this surgery, you have beautiful arteries"-what an uplifting and hopeful statement that was. It is a rollercoaster and I have had 2 really bad days with self-pity parties but I try not to linger there. I can already see that my research has helped me in my job -being able to explain a fib and mitral valve prolapse and regurg with so much more knowledge and empathy. I also have thoughts of writing a letter to each of my 3 kids to tell them what they mean to me and how each one of them is a part of my (soon to be improved) heart, so that if I don't survive they will know it. I have decided that I plan to survive, will write those letters and will put them in their Christmas stockings this year. Those things need to be said either way! I have also been trying to do things that I may have said "NO" to in the past with a YOLO attitude! Even with the seemingly looming dark cloud of surgery ahead of me, I can see rays of sunshine through it--my labs are perfect, I am otherwise healthy and my arteries are not damaged at all. I am facing a one-time (hopefull) repair being done by the Head of Cardiac/Thoracic surgery at Shands hospital, one of the best institutions in this state and maybe in this country. I have a lot to be thankful for and I will have even more when it is in the rear view. Thank you both!

Lorraine Mobley  Nicki-thank you so much! Your english is fine! I am past the denial stage now and agree---full steam ahead! I have to trust my doctors,have faith and listen to my body. It is what it is and it is going to happen so I gotta strap on my seat belt and go!