Rosemary's Guestbook

Rosemary Resler  Hi Jacqueline, This is Chuck, Rosemary's husband. Unfortunately, several days after Rosemary returned home and was doing well, she pass away from a massive heart attack. I'm sorry to have to tell you this.

Jacqueline Cook  Oh Chuck....I am so very sorry and so shocked.....sad...I don't even know what to write....please know that you and your family are in my prayers.

Rosemary Resler  Thank you Robin, today is one of the first days that I almost feel like normal, whatever that may be! I actually slept through most of the night in my own bed for the first time after surgery. And today is my birthday! Already had my shower now to get a cup of coffee, hoping the old taste buds cooperate!

Rosemary Resler  Thank you Pamla. I've read through your journal and see you had some difficulties post surgery. I'm actually expecting these problems and have tried to prepare for them. I'm happy you are doing much better and enjoying those cute little boys. I've already toured a skilled nursing facility close to home and hope to go there directly after release from the hospital. I have some very vivid memories of when my hubby was recovering from his OHS five years ago and don't want him to go through what I did back then. We were not prepared for the aftermath of recovery and had no help from Yale Hospital, I'm having my surgery at Hartford Hospital which so far is so very helpful and totally different experience. They've done so much in educating me on the pre and post surgery experience, I think I'm mentally prepared?? And I have to say that this site was a Godsend to me, just having the support of people who are going through the same thing means so much. Guess I'll see everyone on the other side after tonight.

Jeanette Davidson   Best of everything tomorrow! Expect NO complications and only healing and wellness! This is your experience and you are in great hands! Look forward to hearing from you when your heart is repaired! 💕

  You're very welcome, Rosemary.
I pray you get a good night's sleep, and are filled with His Peace before your surgery tomorrow. I wrote John 14:27 on an index card and meditated on it the morning of surgery. It comforted me, for sure.
It sounds like you are prepared.
I have been blessed, though frustrated by my setbacks, at times.
Yes...it is so good to be back with the grand babies....and we found out recently that they will have a little sister arrive near the middle of March. :-)
I agree....this site has been amazing....a lot of kindness, caring, support, and helpful sharing.
See you on the other side!
God Bless You.....

Rosemary Resler  Thank you Autumn, yup, I'm nervous! Feel like running away to the Caribbean! But instead I'm sitting watching TV, playing yahzee with friends, drinking lots of water and oranizing/packing in between. I'm wondering where all this energy is coming from, sure didn't have it these past few months.

Rosemary Resler  Autumn, I've been followed for my mitral valve since childhood due to rheumatic fever, I have a murmur and what they refer to as a loud systolic click (seems to fascinate the docs). I am having surgery on the pulmonary and aortic valves, both being replaced due to stenosis. They told me that stenosis has nothing to do with the rheumatic fever. If they are unsure if you've had rheumatic fever they usually do a blood titer, it should show up in the test, which it did in my titer tests. But just because you may have had it does not necessarily mean it will effect the valves too. The murmur may or may not be because of the rheumatic fever, but to be safe I've always had to use antibiotics for any dental work.

Autumn Griffin  I am concerned about the rheumatoid arthritis. Because it can affect your heart. So I just wondered if they mentioned that might be the cause of the aortic valve damage. I have had a murmur for long time but when I had my first echocardiogram in 1990 they said it was fine. So, my concern is my RA caused the heart damage, but I can talk to the cardiologist about it. Thanks for the information I didn't realize they could find out if you had rheumatic fever by bloodwork. :)

Rosemary Resler  I've had rheumatoid arthritis for years and don't think that's even related to the rheumatic fever. And neither of them are related to the stenosis. Rheumatic fever does effect the mitral valve in some people, but I believe it just puts you at risk for infections easier then people who never had it. Otherwise there really isn't a connection from what I've been told.

Rosemary Resler  Meredith, I think I'm finally getting used to the idea that I'm going to need help the first few weeks. I'm getting closer to surgery date of 9/8, getting all the pre-op stuff out of the way, just had oral surgery to remove a broken root (ouch) and now need to prepare the house for my return. I'm looking forward to going on a vacation after this is all over with, maybe Bermuda or somewhere to relax and kick back.

Meredith Bray  I would say to go ahead and plan a trip for 3-4 months after surgery. That way you can have a goal to work toward. I did that with a family reunion in the mountains, it was glorious to play with the kids and do all the activities I couldn't have done a year earlier!

Rosemary Resler  Great idea Meredith, a vacation goal is just what I need. I'll talk to hubby about that, he's always up for a vacation. I'm nine days away now from surgery date, getting nervous but anxious to get this over with. And I'm so tired of being so tired! I keep falling asleep in the sofa for hours at a time. Last night I sat in front of the TV and slept for eight hours, that is so unlike me, I just don't have any energy any more.

Rosemary Resler  Thank you Jacqueline! Just came back from the oral surgeon, had to have a root pulled, ouch! Can't find any Tylenol in the house and don't want to go out to get any until this swelling goes down. I've always taken Advil for pain but can't take that because it's caused problems with bleeding, had a huge problem when I went in for the cardiac cath when they took the sheath out, they had to press on my groin for hours to stop the bleeding. I didn't know that Advil caused bleeding like that, I've always taken it for my arthritis. Tylenol never worked for me, guess that's my only option right now.

Rosemary Resler  Autumn, love that name... that is a symptom that most people don't report, according to my doc. We just don't associate it with heart issues. I tend to eat irregularly and really don't have a great diet, so I just figured my stomach shrunk and it just couldn't handle medium to large portions. But I found that even eating half a sandwich was too much, so I starting drinking Assure instead. The one thing I didn't pass on was my coffee and I found that just drinking that made me feel very full. I didn't get dizzy, just couldn't breath and walk at the same time after eating or drinking anything and never once thought it was associated with my heart.

Tammy Pilcher  Hi Rosemary and Autumn, I just read this and also couldn't believe someone else noticed symptoms after eating. I, too, noticed shortness of breath after eating before my surgery. I thought it must have been coincidental, because I never heard anyone else mention that before. My surgery was almost 10 months ago and I haven't had that happen since, so now I think it had to be related. This is why this website is so great! I wish you both all the best with your surgeries and can tell you life is alot better now. Prayers for you both, Tammy

Mary K  I too had symptoms after eating before my surgery. Since surgery, nada. I am certain that there was a relationship. Something else to look forward to after surgery!

Susan Wozniak  I also had the shortness of breath after eating. I thought it was GERD and went through testing for that before they figured out it was my MV.

Autumn Griffin  Well, thank you everyone for sharing your symptoms. I was starting to think I was a little hypochondriac or something. I have GERD to so I thought about that too but I didn't really think that was it. I don't really want to have surgery and don't know if I will even have to but I am starting to think that I will feel so much better in the long run that I may actually, dare I say want it? I have to eat to take my medication for rheumatoid arthritis. Then I eat and I feel like crap. Anyway thank you everyone.

Rosemary Resler  I have GERD too, but I sure know it when that is acting up, it's a lot different than this full feeling. I take my prilosec religiously, if I miss a pill I sure do know about it very quickly, otherwise it doesn't act up too much. But this full feeling is something totally different, I've been experiencing this for about 6 months now. Happy to hear that others have seen this disappear after surgery.

Autumn Griffin  I know. I would be glad to get rid of it. My GERD can get pretty bad but mostly when I am sleeping it will wake me up with coughing and burning in my chest that I can hardly get rid of, I usually drink Maalox out of the bottle in desperation and chew a bunch of Tums. My GI doctor changed me from omeprazole twice a day to Nexium 40 mg twice a day and I also take Zantac 300mg at bedtime. That really has seemed to help. Of course, the Nexium cost about 10 time more but if it works that is what matters.

Rosemary Resler  I'm still taking the Prilosec 40 mg, but if I happen to forget to take it I have to take two tabs otherwise it takes too long to kick in. And OMG I just saw my name on that countdown thingy on the side of the screen, yikes!

Autumn Griffin  Aww. I guess that would freak you out a little. But you will be so much better once you recover. I almost envy you, this waiting around just to see the cardiologist is making me crazy. If I have to have surgery I would kind of like to do it and get it over with, but you have already been there done that so I know you know what I mean. I am so glad I found this website, it is so nice to talk to you and everyone else.