Rebecca's Guestbook

Hello Rebecca. I was out for my walk and thinking of you as I watched some girls bicycle by with their Mom. How are things going with your recovery? I am out of surgery almost 6 weeks now and very impatient as my strength is not moving fast enough to suit me at times. I hear that is typical! How are things across the Pond? Are you home with the girls or back to work? Hope you are still taking it slow and steady. You take care and know many here at the "site" still thinking of you. Terrie

Hi Rebecca, I'm just checking on you to see how your recovery is progressing now. I know you were wanting to reduce the pain meds. Also, there was some concern about something that felt like a wire poking you in the chest area. I was wondering how you are doing with both issues. As well as the noticeable clicking of the valve. I hope things are getting better and falling into place now and I hope you're not hearing the valve quite so much. Continue to take good care of yourself. Be kind to yourself and celebrate that you are no longer planning that surgery, it is done. Take care and be well. You're still in my prayers. Karen

Hi Rebecca - finally sorted out how to add to guestbook. hope you are mending well but take it slowly as with a young family all too easy to overdo things. am sure your daughter will lend a hand knowing mum is poorly. i have good days when i overdo things which means the following day i pay for it taking paracetemal in the mornings and last thing at night and find this heads the pain off at the pass. not really pain but those niggly prickly sensation around the scar. now dealing with infected theortica dissolvable sutures which arent. Dont forget your had a pretty major surgery and will take time but am sure you are now headed for a long and healthy future. love m in corwall

Hi Rebecca, Just checking in to see how you're doing. Is the valve still sounding loud to you or are you getting used to it? I'm sure your girls are happy that you are done with the surgery though. When I saw that you were in the hospital longer than expected due to the blood thinners and the pacemaker, I was worried about your oldest daughter. I know how anxious she was already. How did she end up handling it? Well Rebecca, keep on healing, take good care of yourself and enjoy every minute with your family. Karen Pineda

hi rebecca - thank you for posting to my guestbook. yes now sweating about small stuff like the ticking heart and itchy scar. silly really when you think of the humungous process you especially have been through. it is a slow process this recovery but life can only get better from now on. take care and loads of cornish luck flying north.

Hi Rebecca, I had a mechanical arortic value put in about 2 1/2 years ago. At first, I thought it was loud and annoying. But it didn't take too long before I started not to notice it as much. And when I did I thought of it as a reminder of how far I had come since surgery. I'm on warfrain too. I've had good luck that after the first month my numbers were steady and they kept lengthing the time between checks. I at 6 weeks between INR draws now. I hope it all goes well for you too. Best wishes for a full and quick recovery. Dan P. Wisconsin - USA

Hi Rebecca - I joined the group while you were busy in the hospital :-) but I read all your old posts and then the new ones once you were home and they really helped me a lot - especially since you have younger kids too. My son is 13 and, although he doesn't say much, I know he's super anxious about my surgery. Some of that I know he's picking up from me - although I try to just stay in the moment and not stress, I'm not always so successful! How are your girls now that you're back home and recovering? How were they right before you left to get the surgery - and did they visit you in the hospital? (They're adorable, by the way!) I have a hole (VSD) that needs to be repaired, a sub-aortic stenosis (membrane) that causes a lot of problems with velocity. I also have moderate aortic stenosis and at my last visit, they said that they may or may not replace the valve once they're in there. Surgery maybe in November. thanks for being out there, Rebecca!

Hello Rebecca! Thanks for the offer of mailing yourself over to give me some of that British Spirit! My "ol U.S. spirits are doing pretty darn well so far but it certainly will be advantage to have spirit flowing from anywhere it is so graciously offered, Right?!!!!!! I am so glad that you made it home and are doing so well. I bet the girls are so happy to have their MUM back! After gowing through so much young lady, I am so very proud of the way you and your Family pulled together in strength to have you come so far! I felt really bad when we hadn't heard from you and would flip back and forth to your beautiful Girls that you were so ready to get home to and Yes! There you are! Continued progress with your recovery and I hope to have my husband(Gary) posting before too long that I am joining you on the "Recovery Road"! Take care. Love, Terrie

Wow Rebecca, that's quite a ride you had. You are such a strong lady to have dealt with all of that. I knew a man once that I used to work with who actually went to a therapist because of the clicking sound his mechanical valve was making. It was giving him anxiety and panic attacks. I'm a bit of an obsessive person so I can totally understand how the sound of the valve could be an issue. Most people do say they get used to it in time and that they really don't notice it after a while. I hope that is the way it goes for you. So good to have you back here. Thank you for sharing your story.

Rebecca, I'm 10 months out from the same operation you had, and mine was also a redo. (There's another Tim writing too whose surgery was more recent and I wish all the best). The noise is still driving me crazy a bit so expect this to be a long process of adjustment. A mechanical valve inside an aortic graft seems to create the greatest turbulence. Noise makers - an electric fan near the bed- help me and my wife with sleeping. I slept better after 3 months, then maybe a little better more recently. From other patients, I think the response to this is variable so let's hope you're one of the patients that adjusts quickly. Thanks again for all of your posts.

Thank you for your posts!! I have read all of them even though I haven't posted on your journal much . I'm so glad you post so much! It's always good to hear in depth stories ... Keep them coming please :) I felt the same way about coming home . I was in hospital 11 days and felt so safe . I was in no hurry to get home :) but it does end up being fine :) I was worried about your Warafin levels too because 2 1/2 months mine never leveled out ... Mine kept going off the chart... 7-9 ! Luckily I have a tissue valve :) so dr. Just took me off of it . Take it slow and easy ! We're all listening :)

Hi Rebecca I am so glad to be able to read your posts. Even though you have had complications with your operation you have shown how more important it is to be here on this earth no matter what the circumstances. I am about six weeks away from my aorta valve replacement and I have gained a lot of strength and knowledge from reading your posts!!! Keep up with the recovery, I look forward to hearing of your progress.

Hi Rebecca So glad that you are home and recovering. You are giving me much strength as I am about 6 weeks away from my valve replacement - Even though you have some complications in your surgery, you have demonstrated shown how important it is to remain on this earth no matter what circumstances are! I am so grateful to be able to read your posts as they provide me strength and knowledge that everything will be all ok!!!! Keep up the recovery and I look forward to hearing your progression!!!!

Well Hello Rebecca, Anthony and very beautiful(like their Mum) daughters! Boy oh boy, am I ever happy to have sat down to check in on you again. I had written to you (like the others!) and left off on Aug. 2nd. Really kept wanting to see you had made it home to your Girls and kept looking back at your photos of them and praying they were doing well as it had to have been so very difficult for them not having you home. So it is just great to read your posts(and by the way Anthony did a great job posting, thanks) I especially was touched at how you described the weight of waiting "on your shoulders for years as I think we all relate! I love the fact you are going to hand us your experience "chunked up into chapters!" as it is better to take your time and really give yourself time to look inside and pull everything out to share so we can put ourselves in your shoes so to speak and really get the messages you are offering those of us who have yet to have our surgeries. I know it is a sacrifice of your healing time to do this and you have my thanks. I have already felt calmer since just reading your journals this morning(I have been busy with last minute appts. and not online the last two days much as pre-op for me is Friday(15) and last minute surprises had to be dealt with. Anyway Rebecca, it is a kick for me in the U.S. to read your journals as I can hear your "accent" between your words and I love It! My favorite word lately is from "M" in Cornwall- "Wobbly" I just love the sound of it and have been telling my husband that I am a bit "wobbly" when I have been a little off balance or dizzy. I think it is fabulous that you don't remember going into surgery at all! I wonder if you can Federal Express your anesthesiologist over to the U.S for my special day on the 20th?Ha Ha. Well the other thing I am going to find useful is the fact that when I leave my husband to roll away into surgery I will try to "Hunker down in my "Brave Zone!" Thank you for the great posts and keep it up as I am expecting my husband Gary to read them to me while I am in hospital next week to keep me on top of our community! It did our hearts "good" to know you are safely home recovering with your Family. Prayers continue that your progress continues to be "off of your shoulders" and smooth!

such a relief to hear from you and that you are now on your way to the recovery phase of your adventure. I'm glad you were in Never Never Land leading up to the operating room-you didn't miss a thing LOL ! Yeah the "breathing tube" stories are very overrated in my opinion. Now, for recovery, my recommendation is merely 2 WORDS- "BE PATIENT". Keep your expectations under control and don't be in a hurry to "get back to normal" If it takes longer than you thought it would, then just relax. We all heal differently-some fast/some slow. Do NOT be timid with pain management. If you hurt-ASK for pain meds. There are several things they can give you. Remember , nurses want to work with patients who are NOT in pain so by all means ask ask ask. Remember the side effects opioids have on the plumbing system though (constipation). They have drugs to help you with that too....ask ask ask Kindest regards-

Rebecca - So glad you are now on the re overy side! You make great0 point for those still debating or fearful of getting surgery. Sometimes all the tests in the world cannot reveal the exact conditin of our tissues. Only by direct inspectoon by an experienced surgeon can the true conditin be discerned and corrected. While it is scary looking back, I am very thankful your surgical team was prepared to do all the repair you needed. Best wishes as you recover.

Rebecca, I really enjoyed reading your journal. could you tell me at what point you knew you were ready for this operation .I am right now waiting my tells me I am getting there but not quite yet. I am so nervous thinking about it. I do appreciate any info you can give me. so glad you are recovering .as I read your journal I feel I know you. maybe because of our common illness. you are so brave I hope I can be that brave. I will keep in touch with you . pray you stay well. I am from New Hampshire USA. I have 3 sons . take care . Joan

Welcome home Rebecca!! I have been reading your post and want to wish you all the best in your recovery. Take things slow and only do what you can. Rest, Rest and more Rest is the best thing for you. It does get better. I had heart surgery in March and I'm in Cardio Rehab now. All the best to your and your family.

glad to hear all is well...im fixing to go thoough aortic valve replacement , i also have aortic stenosis... surgery is tomorrow at noon. hope u continue to do well rebecca!

So very glad you're back home and onto your recovery now! Glad you're going to share more because I'm firmly convinced that too helps our recovery!!! Take it slow and welcome to the other side of surgery!!!