Sara's Guestbook

Sara Moyce  Hi Jeremiah! So nice to hear from you. I am doing great, thanks so much! Sometimes a bit challenging going uphill on walks, and now and then stairs (which was the norm before surgery so no real change). Other than that no complaints, feel incredibly blessed and sometimes the nightmare seems unreal!! How are YOU? Would love to hear about your journey. Thank you so much for your blessings. I wish the same for you and your family ❤️😁.

  Glad to hear you are doing well Sara!
Me, I'm coming along.
Recovery started slow but I'm progressing at a good pace now and I'm thankful to God for that.
I did post a 24-week update on my journal the other day.
Feel free to take a look at it.
Peace and blessings to you and your family Sara! ❤️

Sara Moyce  Hi Jeremiah! Thank you so much for reaching out. I am doing very well, thank you! I seemed to have pulled a muscle on the right side of my chest (most likely getting in/out of bed incorrectly and/ or reaching/twisting etc - very painful but using heating pad every day. Drove to the local cafe today for an espresso- haven’t done since pre- surgery 😁. Started back to work (remotely from home) on Friday - feels great to be in the land of the living. Still can’t believe it will be 7 weeks on Wednesday!! How are YOU? Don’t you just love the folks on this site? God bless you and all the peeps!!❤️

  Hi Sara!
Glad you're doing well.
Sorry about the pulled muscle though.
I've had some of those aches and pains along the way in my recovery journey as well. This too shall pass, right?
Glad to know you're driving again. That's good. I know it feels like freedom when you can drive and be out and about, not confined to the house. Good for you.
Early congrats on 7 weeks post op for you!
As for me, just marked my eight week post op milestone today. I posted on my journal regarding how I'm doing at this point.
Feel free to check it out.
Yes, I do love my Heart Warrior family!
We are a very special group of people. OHS survivors, by the grace of God.
Peace and blessings to you and your family! ❤️

Debbie Moriarty  Wow, Sara!! Almost 7 weeks for you!! And 8 for you Jeremiah!
I am 7 weeks today and most of my misery comes from not being as far along as I think I should be....or as most of you other heart warriors. I’m trying to take my doctor’s advice that I am doing well and everyone’s journey is different.
I think I am just now grasping the hugeness of OHS!! And the stress it puts on one’s body!! And I am feeling blessed to have a new bounce in my step very soon! And to drive again!!

Jill McDonald   Hi all! I am 6 weeks this Friday. We are all within a couple weeks of each other. I am too anxious to drive Debbie, but feeling a little apprehension with the flexibility in my neck isn't what it was. I am now doing rehab--treadmill and stationary bike. It is good for the soul. I never realized what I would feel like at 6 weeks but I think I am realizing this is a huge surgery and it takes time just as Debbie says. One day at a time and everyone is different. Starting to get out more during the day.

Sara Moyce  Greetings Jeremiah, Debbie and Jill - apologies, but I am just now reading your posts!! I usually read and respond via my cell phone, and for some reason your messages didn't "register" that they were even there. I am now on my laptop....let there be light! Anyway, yes we are all stairsteps with eachother. I am so glad you mentioned the neck flexibility, Jill (I thought it was just me!) I seriously thought maybe I had been sleeping on the wrong pillows etc but yes it is a bit of a challenge to turn my head in both directions as pre-surgery. Yes, Debbie OHS is HUGE and (and I'm continually baffled by people who don't get it - who don't seem to understand the toll it takes on our bodies and emotions. Yes Jeremiah the Heart Warriors here are so wonderful and helpful. Blessings to you guys :-)

Sara Moyce  Greetings Jeremiah, Debbie and Jill - apologies, but I am just now reading your posts!! I usually read and respond via my cell phone, and for some reason your messages didn't "register" that they were even there. I am now on my laptop....let there be light! Anyway, yes we are all stairsteps with eachother. I am so glad you mentioned the neck flexibility, Jill (I thought it was just me!) I seriously thought maybe I had been sleeping on the wrong pillows etc but yes it is a bit of a challenge to turn my head in both directions as pre-surgery. Yes, Debbie OHS is HUGE and (and I'm continually baffled by people who don't get it - who don't seem to understand the toll it takes on our bodies and emotions. Yes Jeremiah the Heart Warriors here are so wonderful and helpful. Blessings to you guys :-)

Sara Moyce  Hi Louanna,

Aren’t you sweet to check in! I am doing very well, thank you. Been home a week, and it was slow-go mainly due to back pain. I had a visit to the ER for some chest pains that really scared me but turned out fine. Have had issues with taking iron supplements so I have stopped. Each day I feel a bit better!! Are you on Warfarin? I was not prepared - I didn’t think I would need if I had a repair. That drug really scares me!! How are YOU? ❤️

Louanna Miller  Sara, yes I am on Warfarin. My understanding is that it’s pretty standard treatment post OHS even for valve repair, but for short term, not forever. It keeps the blood thin and prevents clots. I was started on it after surgery and my surgeon sent me home on it for 4 months post op. So next month, my cardiologist will likely take me off of it.

I have not had any problems with it. I had weekly INR checks then every 2 weeks, then monthly. I’ve just been careful to not cut myself etc.

I’m glad you’re doing better. I remember noticing some improvement every third day or so. It wasn’t daily, but slowly you feel better. It is a huge surgery!!! I don’t think we really comprehend the full magnitude of it until we are through it and can reflect a bit.

I started cardiac rehabilitation at week 8 and have seen great benefit.

Take things one day at a time.
We all heal at our own pace. ❤️❤️

Sara Moyce  Thank you Patricia! So you are not sleeping in a recliner, correct? I will have to try lumbar pillows!! Thank you so much ❤️

Sara Moyce  Thank you Jeremiah. I understand the surgery involved a complicated repair and they did it record time!!🙏😁

  Your welcome my fellow Heart Warrior!
Glad you are doing well.
Best wishes for a complete and total recovery!

Jennifer McInerney  I kinda freaked out when I first saw my scar. It looked pretty ugly. Eight weeks later it is completely flattened out and is a very thin line.

Sara Moyce  Thank you so much Lisa!! I have been following your updates and they have been so encouraging (especially the lunch out with friends so soon after you were home!!)

Lisa Guinan  Got permission to drive short distances today. Freedom! I live in the country so I don’t face traffic to go for my blood work, rehab and grocery shopping.

Dan Baltazor  Sending prayers today for Peace and for safe swift surgery tomorrow. We'll be looking for your post op post.

  Sara, I have you locked in on the radar for prayer for your surgery tomorrow! 😊
You're gonna be just fine!
Peace and blessings to you and your family! ❤️

Louanna Miller  Sara, I’m praying for a successful surgery, little to no pain and a complete restoration of health. Take it one day at a time. The first few days following surgery can be tough. Just do what you ate instructed to do and make sure you don’t push too hard. Listen to your body. Blessings and peace to you.

Jill McDonald   You got this Sara! You will be part of the in crowd! We all want yo be part of the post op crowd! Belssings for a successful surgery!

Sara Moyce  Thank you so much Linda! The peace you felt warms my heart - literally- and gives me courage. Unfortunately I am in for the big sternotomy but I have to trust my surgical team. ❤️

Lisa Guinan  Sara, don’t sweat the full sternotomy. My surgeon said it’s actuallt less painful than going through your side. I’m also amazed at how well my incision looks. I don’t think I’ll have a very noticeable scar at all.