Judith O'Driscoll posted a note for Teressa that says:
You've had a very tough year, Teressa. Sending warm thoughts and best wishes your way.
Hope it gets better soon.
Judith
Fidel Martínez Ruiz I share these feelings, wishing you the best Teresa, you deserve it.
Teressa Phillips Thank you both for the warm thoughts. It has been a difficult decade, but this year has certainly bee ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Thank you both for the warm thoughts. It has been a difficult decade, but this year has certainly been one of the worst. I'm so hopeful that this is the last big thing for me. I just want to feel better and live my life.
Teressa, I woke up this morning and found that my profile picture is replaced with your latest photo😂. It must be an error in the system or by someone. I ...Read more
Teressa, I woke up this morning and found that my profile picture is replaced with your latest photo😂. It must be an error in the system or by someone. I didn’t steal your photo.😀 By the way, you look great in this haircut! I just found out that we both from GA😀
Teressa Phillips Hi Anna, I see it is all sorted out now. Thank you for letting me know. Hopefully Adam's team will ge ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Hi Anna, I see it is all sorted out now. Thank you for letting me know. Hopefully Adam's team will get the issue sorted out soon. Also, thank you for the compliment.
Hi, I just discovered this site and your information about getting a mechanical valve is the path I'm about to take due to a bicuspid aorta that was discovered ...Read more
Hi, I just discovered this site and your information about getting a mechanical valve is the path I'm about to take due to a bicuspid aorta that was discovered 2 years ago. Unfortunately, I went from moderate progression to severe in that time and they are thinking things are compounded by my having late-onset Lupus as well. I just turned 50 and my surgeon told me that a tissue valve isn't an option due to my age and not being able to outlive a tissue valve in that I could only have it done twice in my lifetime. I am terrified of being on bloodthinners and see you felt the same. I'm a single mom to 3 teens and tweens and I just feel like I don't have options and worried if the surgeon I'm going to is the right one.
How did your surgery go? I pray you are doing well! Did you have open heart surgery? My surgery is in 3 days... Please let me know if ...Read more
How did your surgery go? I pray you are doing well! Did you have open heart surgery? My surgery is in 3 days... Please let me know if you have any advice for me during my recovery 🙏
Teressa Phillips Hi John, I just saw this. I do hope you are recovering well post surgery.
John Wendelken 8 weeks removed and doing great! Walked jogged a 14 minute mile today!
Hi Teressa , I was very poorly pre surgery and it was during covid times . I had emergency open heart surgery . My hair fell out for four ...Read more
Hi Teressa , I was very poorly pre surgery and it was during covid times . I had emergency open heart surgery . My hair fell out for four months ish post op . It might have been falling out pre surgery too but I can’t quite remember . I had resigned myself to thinking that I would ? loose most or even all of my hair , when the hair loss slowed down / stopped and then started growing again . It was a big relief . I hope that you are okay , yours should slow down soon . Make sure that you aren ‘t lacking and nutrition / vitamins . Take care x
Hi Teressa, i just read about your GI problems, and wondered if the docs had you take famotidine or any other acid reducers after your surgery? My doc had me ...Read more
Hi Teressa, i just read about your GI problems, and wondered if the docs had you take famotidine or any other acid reducers after your surgery? My doc had me take 2 months of famotidine (over the counter dose) to ward off gastritis after the stress of the surgery and taking a daily aspirin. I discontinued it after 2 months. Maybe you could try that while Waiting for your GI consult?
Teressa Phillips Hi Marie! Thank you for the information. I'll ask about it. The only thing they have given me is Zofr ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Hi Marie! Thank you for the information. I'll ask about it. The only thing they have given me is Zofran which does help with the nausea, but doesn't always stop the vomiting. I know I can't take anything like Pepto because it messes up with the absorption of my other medicines. I really thought it was my gallbladder and my GP though it was very plausible. Alas, my gallbladder looked perfect on the ultrasound. Maybe it is acid related. I see my GP again soon so I'll ask.
Grace Mason Similar to Marie, I was given Pantoprazole, an acid reducer, post surgery to use for a while because ... Read more
Grace Mason Similar to Marie, I was given Pantoprazole, an acid reducer, post surgery to use for a while because of all the pain meds and aspirin. Hope you and your doc can figure it out for you.
Hey Teressa! Just checking in to see how you’re doing? Please give us an update when you feel up to it! 🙏🏻💕
Teressa Phillips Thank you for checking in with me; sorry I haven't responded before now. I am recovering well. I went ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Thank you for checking in with me; sorry I haven't responded before now. I am recovering well. I went back to work this week and am glad to be back.
Teressa Phillips Thank you so much everyone. I'm nervous, but looking forward to being on the other side of this.
Pamela Gregory Sending my best thoughts and prayers your direction today Teressa
Abhishek Sharma God bless you dear.. be positive.. we all are with you..
Daneen Douglas Thinking about you today, Teresa! Sending prayers to you and your surgical team for a successful pro ... Read more
Daneen Douglas Thinking about you today, Teresa! Sending prayers to you and your surgical team for a successful procedure and you are feeling better after your recovery.❤️
Hi Teresa, I was diagnosed with Severe Stenosis of the Aorta valve in March, when I turned 60. I was not ready to have surgery for the replacement valve. I ...Read more
Hi Teresa, I was diagnosed with Severe Stenosis of the Aorta valve in March, when I turned 60. I was not ready to have surgery for the replacement valve. I had to educate myself more on this matter. I finally got braved enough and scheduled my surgery for January 9th but December 26th, after I went in to do my pre-op appointment which I was not feeling that great Christmas night too. I thought it was my allergies. I came home from my pre-op appointment and tested for Covid twice and sure enough came back positive. I have been home since. I am supposed to retest this week and do my labs again but If I am testing positive still by January 5th I will probably have to reschedule my surgery. Note, never got Covid ever in the past. I was going with to the biological value so I won't have to be on blood thinners but probably will have to replace in 7 to 15 years with the TAVR procedure. Do your research and make the best decision for you.
Jennifer Fuller Oh, gosh. I had COVID about a month before my surgery. I told the team at my pre-surgery appointment ... Read more
Jennifer Fuller Oh, gosh. I had COVID about a month before my surgery. I told the team at my pre-surgery appointment and they didn’t seem to be concerned, but my surgeon wasn’t thrilled. I also went with a bio valve anticipating TAVR in the future. I’m a bit worried, though, that my valve size, a 21, might be too small for it.
Ana Brusso Lifting you up in prayer for your successful surgery and recovery. God bless you and keep us posted. ... Read more
Ana Brusso Lifting you up in prayer for your successful surgery and recovery. God bless you and keep us posted.
Teressa Phillips I am so sorry to hear about your illness. I've been sick with COVID twice, but fortunately this time, ... Read more
Teressa Phillips I am so sorry to hear about your illness. I've been sick with COVID twice, but fortunately this time, never got sick. The second time I had it was no worse than a minor cold for 2 days. I hope all is well with you and surgery was successful.
Hello Teressa, I hope all is going well with you. I have been reading about aortic stenosis because I also was also recently diagnosed. I'm curious about the ...Read more
Hello Teressa, I hope all is going well with you. I have been reading about aortic stenosis because I also was also recently diagnosed. I'm curious about the choice you've made and also the decision making process. Have you decided which type valve works best for you? I would appreciate any wisdom you might contribute in this area. Thank you and best wishes going forward!
Teressa Phillips Hi Paul, sorry I didn't respond previously. By the end of the year I was very sick and then I had my ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Hi Paul, sorry I didn't respond previously. By the end of the year I was very sick and then I had my surgery. Honestly, I wasn't given much of a choice. I'm sure if I had expressed a preference that my surgeon would have had more discussion with me. Everything happened so quickly. I was barely out of the hospital when I met with the surgeon who told me, normally with younger (who knew 50 was younger?) patients they like to do mechanical valves because of the life span of the valve. The trade off is of course warfarin for the rest of my life. I did research quite a bit, but other than dashing my hopes of becoming an elder roller derby champion, the mechanical seemed like a good idea. I can hear it when in a quite room and I can feel the vibration in the back of my throat (it feels like a pop-rock.) I've been surprised about how little it has bothered me. I've already told all of my doctors that my new goal in life is to wear out this mechanical valve and make them replace it when I'm in my 70s.
Best of Luck with surgery. I felt the same way about warfarin, and while I’m only almost 6 months on it I haven’t noticed much difference other than watching ...Read more
Best of Luck with surgery. I felt the same way about warfarin, and while I’m only almost 6 months on it I haven’t noticed much difference other than watching what you eat. The doctors/pharmacists will adjust your dosage to you , not the other way around.
Teressa Phillips Hi Dave! Sorry I haven't responded before now. My INR levels have been pretty stable. After a little... Read more
Teressa Phillips Hi Dave! Sorry I haven't responded before now. My INR levels have been pretty stable. After a little adjustment in my first few days, I've been on the same dose. They told me once I was stable for 3 months I could get a home machine and start monitoring myself. So far I've only had 1 mystery bruise on my shin and some impressive bruising from an ultrasound. Finger pricks for my blood sugar checks stop bleeding just fine. I haven't had any cuts, but we'll see how that goes when it inevitably happens.
It has dashed my dreams of becoming an elder roller derby star.
Dave Walters Glad to hear your doing well, I’ll be 8 months out and still in 6mg warfarin same as when I left th ... Read more
Dave Walters Glad to hear your doing well, I’ll be 8 months out and still in 6mg warfarin same as when I left the hospital. Ugh Roller Derby star would have been awesome , I’m sure you can still interact with the team in some way!
Hi Teressa, prayers for you tomorrow and then the healing and recovery begins. We are all here for you.
Valerie Allen Teressa, best wishes! Will being thinking of you and saying a prayer 🙏
Teressa Phillips Hi Karen and Valerie. Unfortunately, my surgery was postponed after my pre-op appointment for a posit ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Hi Karen and Valerie. Unfortunately, my surgery was postponed after my pre-op appointment for a positive COVID test. I am asymptomatic and have since tested negative, but we couldn't take any chances. Now I have a few more weeks of worry and obsession.
Valerie Allen Ahhh, that can be very upsetting at first. Just hang in there, take deep breaths. It won’t be long. ... Read more
Valerie Allen Ahhh, that can be very upsetting at first. Just hang in there, take deep breaths. It won’t be long.
Hello Teressa! I had my surgery when I was 42 - almost 10 years ago. I'm glad you found this site-it's so very helpful and friendly. Please ask any questions ...Read more
Hello Teressa! I had my surgery when I was 42 - almost 10 years ago. I'm glad you found this site-it's so very helpful and friendly. Please ask any questions you have!
I have the same diagnosis. I am just having a second echocardiogram because I am still having shortness of breath. I think my symptoms will improve ...Read more
I have the same diagnosis. I am just having a second echocardiogram because I am still having shortness of breath. I think my symptoms will improve if I have the Tavr. What do you think and how is it going for you?
Hope it gets better soon.
Judith