Hi Randa-
I have really enjoyed your journal. This is new to me, i just found out on Thursday I will have surgery on Nov. 19th. I am 39 and have 2 children. ...Read more
Hi Randa-
I have really enjoyed your journal. This is new to me, i just found out on Thursday I will have surgery on Nov. 19th. I am 39 and have 2 children. I still feel as if I\'m talking about someone else when I think about my surgery. I\'m choosing a tissue valve and feel at peace with my decision. Any helpful information you could share would be fabulous. I did order the book so I know this will help. Thanks again!
Randa Gaalswijk Hi - So glad you enjoyed my journal. It was quite a year but I feel great now. The biggest thing I ... Read more
Randa Gaalswijk Hi - So glad you enjoyed my journal. It was quite a year but I feel great now. The biggest thing I can tell you is that it will ok be ok. If you exercise at all, I would strengthen your stomach muscles as much as possible, that will be a big help. But.. allow others to help you when you get home. Feel free to reach out. Where is your sugery? What state?
Randa
It was wonderful not only to meet you face to face, but to hear your story, and know we share a similar past. Thank you for inviting me to see your ...Read more
Randa
It was wonderful not only to meet you face to face, but to hear your story, and know we share a similar past. Thank you for inviting me to see your jounal. It is awesome and uplighting to read your thoughts before and after surgery, all placed within the normal things in life that we often take for granted. Thank you for sharing your story!Terri H.
Hi Randa. Thanks for checking in with us. Sounds like you\'ve had a good year. I was reading your journal going in to my surgery last April 26 and I can\'t ...Read more
Hi Randa. Thanks for checking in with us. Sounds like you\'ve had a good year. I was reading your journal going in to my surgery last April 26 and I can\'t tell you how much it helped me get ready for my own \"adventure\". You\'re the best! -- DVB
Thanks so much for your update....I had my surgery 3 months ago and it is encouraging to see how well you are doing! I totally understand about still being ...Read more
Thanks so much for your update....I had my surgery 3 months ago and it is encouraging to see how well you are doing! I totally understand about still being scared now and then!! I am doing rehab now to feel better and trust my heart reliability more. Best wishes and continued GOOD health. Jamie Todor
Randa, I just read now your journal for the first time and was moved by your story. You went through it so well, with your two beautiful boys at your side. ...Read more
Randa, I just read now your journal for the first time and was moved by your story. You went through it so well, with your two beautiful boys at your side. What a challenge it was for you! I feel a bit the same, as a mother in my late 40\'s of 2 nice children of 10 and 12, who will have a mitral repair in 3 weeks. It scares me as it scared you, I feel so responsible for them and so afraid about not having the possibility to control the outcome... I just wish to go through it like you did, I will then be very grateful, as you are right now. I wish you a wonderful and Happy New year Randa, you deserve it 1000 times! Christine
Randa Gaalswijk Thank you Christine. I will be thinking of you. There is no denying how scared I was - but once it ... Read more
Randa Gaalswijk Thank you Christine. I will be thinking of you. There is no denying how scared I was - but once it was over, nothing else mattered. Stay strong! Happy New Year and let me know if I can answer any questions for you. Randa
Thanks so much for your reply, I get echo\'s every year but I had not asked them questions about the echo, my cardio doc would tell me things looked the same ...Read more
Thanks so much for your reply, I get echo\'s every year but I had not asked them questions about the echo, my cardio doc would tell me things looked the same and that is pretty much where the conversation would end. I changed doctors back in 2007 because my doc. was retiring and the new guy is much more agressive. I have been having chest tightness and shortness of breath but they have also diagnosed me with Asthma, I did tell my doctor that I have noticed that working out even for 10 minutes makes my chest hurt so I am scheduled for a Stress Test in February. My vavle is 1cm on Echo with a mean gradient of 45mm. That is interesting about the coughing and yawning I do that all the time. Thank you again for talking to me I have never ran into anyone else with this heart problem, crazy.....
Thanks for signing my guestbook Randa. I knew from the 1st journal entry of yours that I read (Aug 4th) your positive attitude would be a benefit to me! It\'s ...Read more
Thanks for signing my guestbook Randa. I knew from the 1st journal entry of yours that I read (Aug 4th) your positive attitude would be a benefit to me! It\'s interesting to see another younger person like me (although I think I\'m probably quite a bit older than you) choosing an animal valve. That makes me feel a little more secure in my initial choice. But whether I\'ll be mooing or oinkng is still anyone\'s guess. Although living in Kentucky perhaps the horse valve would be the best option. So many decsions and here I have a difficult time picking whch sandwich to order when I go out to lunch. Ack!
Your experience is qute encouraging to me. Especially the fact that you\'re doing so well. What struck me was that you had the same feelings as me, that you wouldn\'t make it. Maybe, just maybe, I\'m not the first person to feel like this. ;-)
Again, thanks!
Terri G
Randa,
Glad that your surgery is over and you are doing great. I was wondering did you know you had aortic stenosis for those years they had been monitoring ...Read more
Randa,
Glad that your surgery is over and you are doing great. I was wondering did you know you had aortic stenosis for those years they had been monitoring you? I was born w/a bicuspid aortic valve, I had a coartation at age 7 and have been going to my yearly appt. without asking any questions. This past November I decided to do a marathon and my doctor told me I had moderate stenosis. I am just wondering what kind of time frame I am looking at. My whole life they have pretty much said all is well. Thanks for any feedback you can give. Again glad all is well for you now.....Cindy
Randa Gaalswijk Hi Cindy - I did not know I was born with a bicuspid valve until I was in my 30's. I was told I had ... Read more
Randa Gaalswijk Hi Cindy - I did not know I was born with a bicuspid valve until I was in my 30's. I was told I had a murmur - and always knew that - but no one seemed really concerned. It was not until about 10 years ago that my doc said "your murmur has changed" and sent me for more tests. After that they diagnosed it and I went for yearly exams with a cardiologist. I had no real symptons right up until I was told I needed surgery. That is what was so hard. But, when the surgeon looked at my valve he said it was really bad - so I was lucky. My valve measured .4 so the opening was really small. I feel great now, and while I did not really have symptons before people have made comments that my color looks better and I do not yawn or cough like before. Little things that I did not realize were symptons. Have you had an echo or a CT scan with contrast to look at the heart - not just the valve - but the whole thing to see what is going on. That is where I would start. it is really a fine line... wait as long as you can, but....catch it in time! Good luck and let me know if I can answer anything else for you. Randa
I am from: Hartford, Connecticut
