November 2024 Update - It has been a year since my life turned upside down. Last November I went to the hospital for a simple outpatient D&C. I ended up ...Read more
November 2024 Update - It has been a year since my life turned upside down. Last November I went to the hospital for a simple outpatient D&C. I ended up in the hospital for 3 days, leaving with O2 and a list of diagnoses, the most severe of which was Aortic Stenosis.
My surgery was January 4, 2024, so I'm at at 10.5 months out. It has been a wild journey. I've been a bit in my feels as I remember myself a year ago. It didn't help that I had another simple outpatient procedure on Halloween, so I was more than nervous about something going wrong. Fortunately, the upper endoscopy on Halloween went very well and my nurse anesthetist was AMAZING. She helped me calm down and whispered encouragements to me before and while she was putting me under. Her kindness is so different from some of my other medical experiences.
Here is the best news, I'm no longer nauseous all day every day. I've been dealing with nausea and vomiting constantly since my surgery in January. I am also unable to eat beef, chicken, or pork. My GI doctor walked into the OR and said, "After reviewing everything again, I think you are Celiac." Boom, there you have it. I went gluten free on Nov 1, and now I'm no longer sick all the time. I'm still waiting on the biopsy results, but I don't really care, if not eating gluten makes my life liveable, gluten free it is. Apparently Celiac Disease can be triggered by major stress and/or surgery if you have the underlying genetics for it.
I saw my GP last week for a 6 month check up. My bloodwork looked almost perfect. My liver and kidneys are working well. My A1C is in the normal range.
I
Kimberly Eisenhut So happy for your update today! You look GREAT! Glad you found out what the problem was, just sorry ... Read more
Kimberly Eisenhut So happy for your update today! You look GREAT! Glad you found out what the problem was, just sorry it took so long. Have an amazing Holiday Season Teressa
Teressa Phillips Here I am at 7 months post surgery! I feel like I have turned another corner in my recovery, I just h ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Here I am at 7 months post surgery! I feel like I have turned another corner in my recovery, I just hope I don't regress. Monday morning, after a very full weekend, I woke up with energy. I felt better than I've felt in some time. This continued all week. Thursday I had my second shingles vaccination, so Friday evening I didn't feel well and had a slight fever. However, I woke up before my alarm this morning with nothing more than a slightly sore and warm arm. I feel energetic.
My hair loss has gone back to a normal level, I'm sure I'll be back to peak hair in a few months. It has been nice to have it short this summer. I've been embracing my late 90s Meg Ryan hair.
My scar is looking about the same. I'm so fair skinned that it will take a long time for the redness to fade.
Pain wise I have my normal pains, especially where they disarticulated my rib. I don't think it seated properly or popped loose during the night of hell. I have an odd lump there and it is the source of most of my chest pain. Week before last I did have an episode that I went to the chest pain clinic over. Most of my pain is on my right side, but I had very sharp left side pain. Honestly, it felt like I was stabbed with an icepick just left of my sternum. It was different and intense, so I had someone check me out. Fortunately, it was a Precordial Catch, which is either a muscle spasm or nerve flare up in the space between the ribs and heart.
My GI issues are still about the same. I still throw up a few times a month, but experience daily nausea. I also have healed enough to identify the upper right abdominal pain is not related to my surgery. I missed a day of work recently because I was so nauseous I couldn't function. I don't have the bacteria that causes ulcers, and my celiac test was a weak positive, indicating that I do not have celiac disease. Next steps are a gallbladder/liver function scan (HIDA), which fortunately I've found out is a nuclear test, so no worries about my contrast dye allergy. I'm also scheduled for an upper endoscopy in a few months. Honestly, I hope we figure out what is wrong with the HIDA scan. While the ultrasound of my gallbladder didn't show any stones, etc, it doesn't check the function of the gallbladder. (Yes, I'm still convinced it is my gallbladder.)
I'm finally reaching the point where it feels like it was worth it. I can foresee that mythical time when "I feel better than I've felt in years."
Sue Maize Love the new “do” Teressa—so great for summer! 😊
Daneen Douglas It’s interesting how it’s not just heart surgery. So many other things can be affected or stimu ... Read more
Daneen Douglas It’s interesting how it’s not just heart surgery. So many other things can be affected or stimulated it seems from the surgery and the systems being reset. Glad you are turning that corner! I’m just at 3 months now!
Grace Mason Cute doo Teressa!! Glad to hear you are feeling better every day. Hope you, soon, get some answers ... Read more
Grace Mason Cute doo Teressa!! Glad to hear you are feeling better every day. Hope you, soon, get some answers for your continued nausea.
Teressa Phillips Here's what 51 looks like at almost 13 weeks post surgery! I'm doing better than I was. I've only thr ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Here's what 51 looks like at almost 13 weeks post surgery! I'm doing better than I was. I've only thrown up 2 times since going on the acid reducer. I went 12 days without throwing up. That's almost double my longest stretch before. I find I am okay with the normal, though slightly reduced level of life. I'm working full time at my big girl job, working an occasional Saturday in the photography gallery, and managing my 2 hour daily commute without any issues. Things beyond the normal are still very difficult and wear me out. Last Thursday I had a flat tire. By the time I tried to put the Slime in it, called a tow truck, got the car to a tire shop, had my husband pick me up, and got home, I was done.
Daneen Douglas Wow! You look like you are recovering well! It’s a process for sure. Glad you are able to make i ... Read more
Daneen Douglas Wow! You look like you are recovering well! It’s a process for sure. Glad you are able to make it through the normal! That’s a lot anyway. With time the stamina to do more should come soon. You got this Teresa!
I'm at 11.5 weeks and 5 weeks back at work. I'm still recovering, but I'm feeling better than I did after my problems began.
I saw my GP and my Pulmonologist last week. Both appointments went well and I got good news.
The GP is pleased with everything except for my BP and my vomiting. My BP was great right after surgery then went to 200/100 at about 4 weeks. It has stayed that high despite going back on BP meds. She made an adjustment and added back the BP pill with the diuretic. There isn't anything wrong with my gallbladder, as a matter of fact, it looks beautiful. She made a referral to a GI doctor. Finally! In the meantime, she started me on an acid reducer. Many of you mentioned having or needing acid reducers post surgery. I have to say my nausea seems to be better, but my aversion to meat is still here. Hopefully that is all that was needed. Of course, why didn't we do this sooner?
My pulmonologist compared my previous CT with the recent one. She has ruled out Interstitial lung disease, which is fantastic news. She thinks the majority if not all of my lung issues were caused by the Aortic Stenosis and I just need time to heal completely. I'm scheduled to see her in a year unless I have an issue.
Yumiko Ishida They gave me antacid, along with stool softener, multivitamin, and other supplements not directly rel ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida They gave me antacid, along with stool softener, multivitamin, and other supplements not directly related to the heart. I didn’t have any acid issues, not sure because they nipped it in the bud or it just wasn’t how I generally react to stress? I’m glad they are finally giving you care that is helping!
c w Glad you are doing better in several fronts. You’re looking great!
Rose Madura Glad you got a decent report and got the referral you wanted. Stay strong. You look great!
Marie Myers Yes, i was put on an acid reducer in the hospital and sent home on one. The stress of the whole surgi ... Read more
Marie Myers Yes, i was put on an acid reducer in the hospital and sent home on one. The stress of the whole surgical experience can cause GI issues and ulcers , even in people who don’t usually experience these issues. I was able to stop the acid reducers after about 6 weeks, but everyone is different. For some people starting on the baby aspirin can cause gastritis and acid reducers may help. Glad you got a good report!
Nancy Bukowski Nice pic, Teressa. What are the doctors going to do with your BP?
Teressa Phillips Hi Nancy, I'm back on a BP medicine that includes a diuretic. My systolic seems to be responding, but ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Hi Nancy, I'm back on a BP medicine that includes a diuretic. My systolic seems to be responding, but my diastolic is still running in the 100 range. Prior to surgery that is what my BP was doing too. The thought was that the surgery would resolve that, but I guess not. I see my new cardiologist next month, so hopefully he will have some insight.
Teressa Phillips Thank you everyone. I'm feeling so much better. The acid reducer is helping. I went 12 whole days wit ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Thank you everyone. I'm feeling so much better. The acid reducer is helping. I went 12 whole days without throwing up! I'm still having some nausea, but not as much. Zofran is keeping that under control. My appetite is back, but I'm still not interested in meat at all.
Teressa Phillips Post surgery week 6.5. This was my first day back to work! I felt good and ready to tackle the 2025 B ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Post surgery week 6.5. This was my first day back to work! I felt good and ready to tackle the 2025 Budget Entry!
Teressa Phillips Post surgery week 9.5, Monday, March 11. I'm a little tired and rundown because my father had carotid ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Post surgery week 9.5, Monday, March 11. I'm a little tired and rundown because my father had carotid artery surgery the Thursday before. I had to take care of him, but I made it through. A few more months and my scar will not be noticeable. I'm a little disappointed, because it certainly doesn't represent what I've been through. I've been proudly wearing my v-neck and scoop neck shirts. Who knew I would be disappointed about not having a noticeable scar? My surgeon looked at me oddly when I told him.
Teressa Phillips That's my photo journey so far. Sorry for spamming everyone's news feed, but I wanted to document it ... Read more
Teressa Phillips That's my photo journey so far. Sorry for spamming everyone's news feed, but I wanted to document it for myself and others. I'm caught up to this week, so no more spam from me!
Ana Brusso Continued good health and God bless you and your dad. 🙏❤️❤️🩹
Teressa Phillips Post Surgery Week 4. I still felt off. Even though I was recovering every day, I still didn't feel li ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Post Surgery Week 4. I still felt off. Even though I was recovering every day, I still didn't feel like myself.
Teressa Phillips Week 5 with a heart monitor. I was still having quite a few PVCs, so that needed to be checked out. I ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Week 5 with a heart monitor. I was still having quite a few PVCs, so that needed to be checked out. I was waiting on a prescription, so I treated myself to a matcha latte at a local coffee house. My large incision site had a little bit of a scab at this point. my neck was still swollen on the right side.
Teressa Phillips Week 6 during my walk. This is the point when I started feeling like myself again. Prior to this ever ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Week 6 during my walk. This is the point when I started feeling like myself again. Prior to this everything felt weird and foreign. My brain and my body.
Teressa Phillips Post surgery day 19. I was waiting for my first full Cardiac Rehab session, but was feeling like I wa ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Post surgery day 19. I was waiting for my first full Cardiac Rehab session, but was feeling like I was going to vomit any minute. I'll admit, I only did two full sessions, then quit rehab. It wasn't the exercise, it was the environment. The music was too loud, the people were too loud, the other patients were too loud. My anxiety just could not take it. I started working myself up to a 20 minute walk at home and increased the intensity of that walk. I could do that with an audiobook or the birds chirping.
Teressa Phillips Here's post surgery day 22. I think I had just come in from my walk a few minutes before.
Teressa Phillips Post Surgery Day 14. Recovery is a steady process.
Teressa Phillips My incision is starting to look gross, but all of the glue is off of it. I've still got multiple woun ... Read more
Teressa Phillips My incision is starting to look gross, but all of the glue is off of it. I've still got multiple wounds on my neck, some of which formed scars.
Deena Z Looks about right. Give it some months. Should not scar. Be kind to yourself:) And stay out of th ... Read more
Deena Z Looks about right. Give it some months. Should not scar. Be kind to yourself:) And stay out of the sun!
Teressa Phillips Post Surgery Day 4. I finally brushed my hair and pulled it up into another tight bun on top of my he ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Post Surgery Day 4. I finally brushed my hair and pulled it up into another tight bun on top of my head. Here's a close up of my bigger incision.
Dan Fouratt Love the series, with did you get the tube out of your juggler? It looks uncomfortable
Teressa Phillips Hi Dan, they took it out on the afternoon of post surgery Day 5 just before they sent me home, so the ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Hi Dan, they took it out on the afternoon of post surgery Day 5 just before they sent me home, so the 6th day in the hospital. Fortunately, I was already under when they put it in. I'll try to post a few more tomorrow. Maybe seeing my progression will help someone else along the way.
Jennifer Fuller For anyone else going through this…I was awake when they inserted the tube into my neck in pre-op. ... Read more
Jennifer Fuller For anyone else going through this…I was awake when they inserted the tube into my neck in pre-op. It didn’t really hurt, but my 20 yo son almost passed out watching. 😂
Rose Madura You look pretty good! I remember my pictures (never posted).
Daneen Douglas You are looking better with each photo! If you don’t mind me asking, why did you get the tube in y ... Read more
Daneen Douglas You are looking better with each photo! If you don’t mind me asking, why did you get the tube in your neck?🫣😬😉
Nancy Bukowski Looking good is right! Continued speedy recovery, Teressa!
Teressa Phillips Hi Daneen, The central line goes directly into the carotid artery, so they can measure BP directly an ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Hi Daneen, The central line goes directly into the carotid artery, so they can measure BP directly and continually. They can use it for blood draws, and for high volume fluid (including blood) input. They can also administer push medications through it.
Teressa Phillips Thank you everyone. I'll try to load a few more later today. I don't want to spam everyone too badly. ... Read more
Teressa Phillips Thank you everyone. I'll try to load a few more later today. I don't want to spam everyone too badly.
My surgery was January 4, 2024, so I'm at at 10.5 months out. It has been a wild journey. I've been a bit in my feels as I remember myself a year ago. It didn't help that I had another simple outpatient procedure on Halloween, so I was more than nervous about something going wrong. Fortunately, the upper endoscopy on Halloween went very well and my nurse anesthetist was AMAZING. She helped me calm down and whispered encouragements to me before and while she was putting me under. Her kindness is so different from some of my other medical experiences.
Here is the best news, I'm no longer nauseous all day every day.
I've been dealing with nausea and vomiting constantly since my surgery in January. I am also unable to eat beef, chicken, or pork. My GI doctor walked into the OR and said, "After reviewing everything again, I think you are Celiac." Boom, there you have it. I went gluten free on Nov 1, and now I'm no longer sick all the time. I'm still waiting on the biopsy results, but I don't really care, if not eating gluten makes my life liveable, gluten free it is. Apparently Celiac Disease can be triggered by major stress and/or surgery if you have the underlying genetics for it.
I saw my GP last week for a 6 month check up. My bloodwork looked almost perfect. My liver and kidneys are working well. My A1C is in the normal range.
I