Maryann's Guestbook

Maryann Gomez  I am taking 40 mg of lasix daily along with potassium. They don’t want to give me more then that and tax my kidneys. Today the swelling was down some and I could walk further. That made me happy. But I feel like recouperating is slow going. I have a bad knee and need a knee replacement which will be done in February but it is very painful to walk right now. Today I did 1/2 mile but I had to stop twice and rest. The surgeon is aware and tells me to go slow. So that’s where I’m st. It gets d pressing. I feel broken some days.

Tammy Hoffert  Hi Maryann, My husband is postop day 11 and up until yesterday we it felt as if we were going backwards in the recovery process. We had to do baby steps also. It is hard to keep a positive attitude but it helped to cheer those very small achievements every day. Keep moving forward!

Maryann Gomez  Oh Tammy. Thank you! It’s hard. I’m so tired but I do go out and walk twice daily just for a few minutes. I close my eyes and I picture ‘our hotel’ in Paris where we can lie on the bed and watch the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower! So beautiful. So special. We still have so much more to see! I’ll get there. I know it. But right now I’m hurting. It wouldn’t be nearly so bad if I didn’t cough!!! The cough hurts like hell. I am velcroed to my pillow lol.

Maryann Gomez  Greece! Italy! France! Spain! Been all over Europe. Love it. We are ready to do Asia. But I have to walk! And so, I’m motivated even though it hurts.

Maryann Gomez  I’m scared now cause yesterday was a bad day for me. I was a little down. I was in pain and I only walked once. My brother called and said ‘ oh great, now you probrably have pneumonia cause you didn’t move around enough! He scare me half to death.

Maryann Gomez  I think it was the first day out of 2 weeks that I was ‘down’. I was sad for some reason. I guess I never expected this to happen to me!

Maryann Gomez  Fay, thank you! Paris is waiting. My favorite city. We went to Greece last year and loved it. Little did I know how big a risk I took by going!! We travel a lot and that’s my goal..,, to get back to seeing the world. The surgeon told me to shoot for May. By then I should be ready to go. So I keep my eye on the prize! It will happen, I just have to be patient.

Vivien Appleby   Hi Maryann, We have all been there, the unknown. You will have support from all over the world. I’m in Dunedin Now Zealand. Email me if you wish. vivienappleby@gmail.com

Jennifer McInerney  Maryann, your story is very similar to mine. I have been in the watch and wait stage for years and in the space of a few months it changed to you need AVR now. I’m 3 days away from surgery. I’m an emotional hot mess but glad to finally get this done so I have some energy again. I’m hoping that once my husband gets me to the hospital I will be in a serene, calm state. Highly unlikely but I’m hoping. Glad you are now on the recovery side and doing fairly well. That just sounds like a lot of fluid!

Maryann Gomez  Thank you Fay. Not half as bad as I thought it would be. I’m only taking Tylenol and lasix. Awesome. But I am very tired. One day at a time

Maryann Gomez  I started to write a book 3 years ago. I put it down last year but I am now ready to write again. Hopefully this will keep my mind occupied!

Maryann Gomez  Thank you so much Valerie. I am glad that I have people to talk with on here. I am terrified. I am so upset. I cry and cry and cry. Today the surgeon called me and said ‘you cannot wait much longer. Maybe a week at most’. So it looks like my time to find some courGe is NOW. I hope that you have the time to work through your fears too. Have you had more then one opinion? Where are you going to have the surgery? I will send light and healing energy to you and I hope that we can stay in touch. This sucks!!

Valerie Altman  It does suck but dying is worse!! I have been waiting for a surgery date since I found out I had aortic stenosis in June. I need my surgeon next Friday the 28th and by then you'll already be telling me how much better I'll be feeling and you'll be cheering me on! I haven't gotten a second opinion I've had a little trouble getting the first opinion because I have no insurance... I will be having my surgery at St Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis probably soon... Will be okay there's not another option is there? 🤗

Maryann Gomez  Okay Valerie, we are going to help each other thru this! My surgery is in 3 days. I go in on Monday at 10:30 am. I had all of my pre op testing today. I’m still terrified and I cry at the drop of a hat. Everyone keeps saying “you’ll be fine!” And I’m praying that I will be. My husband has been wonderful. He knows what I’m like and he is really supportive. Do you have someone to help you after the surgery?
I’m hoping to get to Tuesday and by Thursday I hope to post on here. Someone gave me a tip that sounds stupid but it has really helped me. Find something that you can hold in your hand. Something special that means a lot to you. Keep it in your pocket and when you are anxious hold it and rub it and think of what it means to you. I have a little leather change purse that belonged to my mom. I remember her always having it in her pocket from the time I was a little girl. The ice cream man would come down the street and she would give us that little change purse so that we could buy ice cream. It’s an old and wonderful memory. It sounds silly but it has helped me. Thanks for reaching out to me. Hang in. Somehow someway we will make it through.

Valerie Altman  My prayers are with you and today I hope that u are enjoying the day and sure sunshine! I went camping with the family last night and am just trying to forget this is all happening right now. Lol I know it's necessary and it will all be a memory soon and we will have earned our warrior badges!

Maryann Gomez  Valerie, you’ve got this. Believe me, you can do it!! I’m tired. That’s it! You will make it thru as long as you just do what they tell you to do. You will be fine Valerie. Just fine.

Maryann Gomez  The reason that I am tired is because of the fluids my body is holding on to. They got 30 pounds of fluid off me with lasix but 25 more to go. That is why I’m tired! I’ll get there! Keep praying for me.

Valerie Altman  U have been in my thoughts for sure 💓 buddy! I hope that every day you are getting stronger! I scheduled my surgery for Oct 16...

Maryann Gomez  Still tired. I’m sweating out a lot of fluid. But sitting up all day and today I am going for a short walk in the park.

Valerie Altman  Nice day for that!!! I keep teasing I'll be the princess in the tower since we have about 30 steps up to our apartment lol
Glad you're feeling so good and just keep sweatin!!!