could you describe in shoth your recovery: 1 str. week, 2 week, 3 week,4 week, etc May be it would not be very short How long did you walk,... Read more
Hey,Louanna,
could you describe in shoth your recovery: 1 str. week, 2 week, 3 week,4 week, etc May be it would not be very short How long did you walk, have got dizzy spells, etc.
I have Mitral valve repair before 23 days, but not so much energey, dizzy spells somethimes, short of breath, etc.
I just want to thank you for your posts, which are a source of wisdom and guidance to those of us coming behind. You encouraged me to listen to my own body ...Read more
I just want to thank you for your posts, which are a source of wisdom and guidance to those of us coming behind. You encouraged me to listen to my own body and be kind to myself, & follow my own path to healing. I would never want to cause someone to be fearful of OHS, because everyone has a different experience, so it is hard to write about the struggles. But you have put things beautifully in your own way. Thank you for this. God bless you in your full recovery!
Louanna Miller Glad I could offer words of support and encouragement. Thank you, Maya.
Hi Louanna!
Hope you're doing well and making great strides in your recovery.
I just wanted to personally thank you for the inspiration I have gleaned from ...Read more
Hi Louanna!
Hope you're doing well and making great strides in your recovery.
I just wanted to personally thank you for the inspiration I have gleaned from many of your posts, even prior to my surgery last November.
I read in many of your posts where you mentioned that recovery for each of us is different, and that we need to be gentle with ourselves, and that is so true.
It wasn't until after my surgery though that I began to live that fact, as my recovery began with some bumps in the road. Along the way I felt discouraged and disappointed because I was not coming along as quickly or as smoothly as I would have liked to.
Then I remembered what you said and I had to come to terms with the fact that I needed to just go through the process of my own experience, whatever that entails.
Having that mindset has taken the pressure off of me to try and push myself through recovery faster than my body can handle and just let the recovery take place at the pace that is right for me.
I'm doing well at eight weeks post op.
Each day I see improvement in my recovery.
OHS is a big, big, big surgery and very traumatic to the body and there are times when my body reminds me of this. If I get ahead of myself, it's like my body will tell me, "hey buddy, we had OHS so take it easy there will ya?!"
I trust God that in time I will be 100% but the reality is that I am not there yet and I will get there at the pace He has set for me.
Thank you Louanna for helping me to grasp this. Sometimes we may not realize we are making a difference but your posts have helped to make a difference in my recovery process, and I just wanted you to know that.
Peace and blessings to you! ❤️
Louanna Miller Jeremiah, thank you for taking the time to send me your note. I’m so thankful my posts have been he ... Read more
Louanna Miller Jeremiah, thank you for taking the time to send me your note. I’m so thankful my posts have been helpful to you. I had a very different OHS experience than what I was prepared for by MDs, surgeons and posts I had read. In ICU I quickly realized this was not what I had in mind, so I adjusted my thinking and responses to what was right ahead of me to get through. Literally, I lived through one moment of severe pain at a time. Once that was under better control, I experienced low heart rate upon standing and the external pacemaker took over. I never planned to be a super hero or wonder women at OHS. I just listened to my body and followed the instructions given by my nurses, etc. I don’t want to mislead anyone to think this is a walk in the park. For some patients it may be predictable, but for those who find themselves on a different course, I want to make sure they know I can relate and it will get better. Again, I’m grateful my posts have helped you. Take care of you and keep being gentle with yourself. Only you know what you are ready to do each day. Blessings.
Louana, thank you so very much for your lovely note of encouragement! It means all the world that all of you out there take the time to offer words of support. ...Read more
Louana, thank you so very much for your lovely note of encouragement! It means all the world that all of you out there take the time to offer words of support. Be well, and Merry Christmas to you and all those you love. ❤️
Louanna Miller Thank you, Barbara. Will keep you in my prayers. Merry Christmas!!
Louanna Miller Well, I was in the hospital for 10 days. It was great to get discharged, but I needed every day ther ... Read more
Louanna Miller Well, I was in the hospital for 10 days. It was great to get discharged, but I needed every day there to get everything in sync and working together. Issues with severe pain, dropping BP, respiration’s and need for the external pacemaker to help, and low oxygen. Each issue had to be addressed and in time all was worked out.
Louanna Miller Thank you both. Had a successful surgery. Difficulty getting off respirator due to extreme pain, ma ... Read more
Louanna Miller Thank you both. Had a successful surgery. Difficulty getting off respirator due to extreme pain, maintaining breathing and not being too sedated on pain meds. They added a pain medication that did not sedate me or lower my heart rate/respiration’s/BP. Able to remove respirator about 8 hours after surgery.
Louanna Miller Mine was a successful mitral valve repair by Dr. McCarthy.
Louanna Miller Well, I was in the hospital for 10 days. It was great to get discharged, but I needed every day there ... Read more
Louanna Miller Well, I was in the hospital for 10 days. It was great to get discharged, but I needed every day there to get everything in sync and working together. Issues with severe pain, dropping BP, respiration’s and need for the external pacemaker to help, and low oxygen. Each issue had to be addressed and in time all was worked out.
Best wishes Louanna on yout trip up here and surgery Monday. You will be in good hands with Dr. McCarthy and Northwestern. Put your fate in their hands and ...Read more
Best wishes Louanna on yout trip up here and surgery Monday. You will be in good hands with Dr. McCarthy and Northwestern. Put your fate in their hands and let them take care of you. l am following you by a few weeks with the same agenda so I will be cheering you on. Keep us posted when you can.
Louanna Miller Thank you, Dan. I will keep you posted. If I can answer questions afterwards, I’ll be more than ha ... Read more
Louanna Miller Thank you, Dan. I will keep you posted. If I can answer questions afterwards, I’ll be more than happy to.
Thomas Brusstar Good luck, Louanna. I’ll be at 5 weeks post mitral valve repair on Tuesday. I see Dr. Thomas Wedn ... Read more
Thomas Brusstar Good luck, Louanna. I’ll be at 5 weeks post mitral valve repair on Tuesday. I see Dr. Thomas Wednesday for my first post-surgery checkup. You’re in good hands with McCarthy. McCarthy stopped by to talk every day while I was inpatient (3 nights). My sternum is feeling a lot better in the last week, and my energy and exercise are great. Even the scar is starting to look less pink. All good.
Louanna Miller Thank you so much, Thomas. I have been following you and your progress. So good to hear.
Louanna Miller Well, I was in the hospital for 10 days. It was great to get discharged, but I needed every day there ... Read more
Louanna Miller Well, I was in the hospital for 10 days. It was great to get discharged, but I needed every day there to get everything in sync and working together. Issues with severe pain, dropping BP, respiration’s and need for the external pacemaker to help, and low oxygen. Each issue had to be addressed and in time all was worked out.
Louanna Miller Now it’s time to rest, and walk I’m exhausted. I think the longest I slept at one time while in ... Read more
Louanna Miller Now it’s time to rest, and walk I’m exhausted. I think the longest I slept at one time while in the hospital was 2 hours. Many interruptions for tests, exams and providing care. Glad thatvis behind me.
Louanna Miller Now it’s time to rest, and walk I’m exhausted. I think the longest I slept at one time while in ... Read more
Louanna Miller Now it’s time to rest, and walk I’m exhausted. I think the longest I slept at one time while in the hospital was 2 hours. Many interruptions for tests, exams and providing care. Glad that is behind me.
Thomas Brusstar Whew, glad you worked everything out inpatient, and I’ll bet it feels nice to be home. When you wa ... Read more
Thomas Brusstar Whew, glad you worked everything out inpatient, and I’ll bet it feels nice to be home. When you want a nap, nobody will come to wake you up with a needle! And walking is a good discipline, because it’s a real challenge at first and then you’ll see rapid progress. I actually think just getting red blood cells back to normal post-op also explains why everything starts to get easier after a few weeks. You’ve been through a lot, great job.
Louanna Miller Thank you so much, Thomas. I really anticipated being discharged Friday or Saturday after surgery. ... Read more
Louanna Miller Thank you so much, Thomas. I really anticipated being discharged Friday or Saturday after surgery. I had to be there those extra days. And, yes, it’s great to be home where I can take a 2 1/2 hour nap. I only slept 2 hours in a stretch this lastt Monday and Tuesday while inpatient.
I’ll take your advice and start walking more and more.
Glad you are doing so well. I hope to get there in time.
Louanna, sending you best wishes for a successful surgery and a smooth and uncomplicated recovery. Will be thinking of you and cheering for you. Will be waiting ...Read more
Louanna, sending you best wishes for a successful surgery and a smooth and uncomplicated recovery. Will be thinking of you and cheering for you. Will be waiting to hear from you on the other side of recovery. Best of luck to you!
Louanna Miller Thank you so much Sue. I appreciate it. I’m ready to head to Chicago tomorrow for surgery on Mond ... Read more
Louanna Miller Thank you so much Sue. I appreciate it. I’m ready to head to Chicago tomorrow for surgery on Monday. I’ll keep everyone posted once I’m able to.
As we approach the starting gate together, I want to send you many best wishes for an excellent surgery free of any complications! Chat again on the other ...Read more
As we approach the starting gate together, I want to send you many best wishes for an excellent surgery free of any complications! Chat again on the other side of the recovery finish line, recovery buddy.
Louanna,
I just read your journal(after sending the previous message) and sounds like you have a plan. Good for you! I would love to send you some notes I ...Read more
Louanna,
I just read your journal(after sending the previous message) and sounds like you have a plan. Good for you! I would love to send you some notes I wrote down about how I prepared and what was helpful to me if you'd like them. I had great outcomes and continue to heal.
Send me your email address if you are interested.
Thanks,
Tammy
Hi Louanna
This is so weird for me as I have never meet anyone with the same name as me and spelt the same too! Have you ever meet anyone with the same name, ...Read more
Hi Louanna
This is so weird for me as I have never meet anyone with the same name as me and spelt the same too! Have you ever meet anyone with the same name, do you know where it originated from?
I also have a heart condition. I had a bicuspid valve which has now been replaced with a bovine one. I’m from New Zealand but have lived in the UK for 16 years. I waited 6 months to see a surgeon and then was told he had a 5 month waiting list. He told me that it is the sort of operation which shouldn’t have a waiting list. Long story short we paid to have the operation done. Good luck with the operation!
From Louanna Hart
Louanna Miller Hi Louanna!!! Ours is a very uncommon name, but I love it. In 54 years I have only met one other ... Read more
Louanna Miller Hi Louanna!!! Ours is a very uncommon name, but I love it. In 54 years I have only met one other person with the name and same spelling. I often get people mispronouncing it as Louann. I like the “a” on the end. Not sure where it originated.
Good to hear your surgery is behind you. I hope to be scheduled soon.
I love the UK. One of my most favorite places to visit.
could you describe in shoth your recovery: 1 str. week, 2 week, 3 week,4 week, etc
May be it would not be very short