About Me (In My Own Words)
I was diagnosed with Rheumatic Fever as a 5 year old. I can still remember being very sick & weak back in 1956. I would not find out until years later that my aortic valve was damaged due to sepsis during my illness. I have been told by cardiologist that I was a 'poster child' for a kid of the 50's who had Rheumatic Fever damage to valves. I was told I'd need valve replacement most likely in my 50's. I made it to 64. I developed AF 5 yrs. prior to the need for surgery. I had AVR & MVR & Maize procedure for correction of AF. The 2 months leading up to surgery, I prepared as much as I could through reading, asking questions and praying. I had done what I could for years to be as heart healthy as I could (daily exercise, no smoking, no drinking and eating a heart healthy diet). I have always kept a journal & wrote out my deepest fears prior to surgery. I tried my best to live life fully up to the day of surgery. The week leading up to surgery, I wrote cards to my daughters & husband. I gave them those cards the morning of my surgery & asked them to read while I was in surgery. I wanted them to know I loved them so much and was grateful for them. I wanted them to have my last sentiments in case I died during surgery. I prepared spiritually for surgery those 2 months & put several biblical passages on index cards to keep with me. Jan. 12, 2016 came & I was scared but calm. We all prayed together before I went 'back.' The experience of being in the holding area where central line is placed etc. was hard because I was separated from my loves & totally being required to surrender all control. I was so grateful that my chaplain friend held my hand until she had to leave. I was even more grateful that the Dr putting in my central line & would oversee the heart lung machine was the husband of a coworker. I was grateful for this blessing. I was out of surgery about an hour when my surgeon determined I had to go back in because of a sternal hemorrhage. I credit him for salving my life. I was on the vent about13 hrs & was severely nauseated & vominting. I was aware of the 2 chest tubes & the catheter & the wires coming out of my chest that would be manipulated to help with my heart beats. I remember my heart beating erratically and at time normally. I had horrible muscle spasms between my shoulder blades & most often my family would gently rub my back to quiet them. If my family wasn't there, the staff wouldn't rub but brought me warm towel to lay against the area. I remember being made to get up to walk the first time about 2 days post op. I couldn't believe how hard it was to walk- something I had done so second nature without effort. I was harnessed, given a walker & catheter bag, oxygen tank, IV pole & chest tube canisters were all secured on that walker. My feet felt like they were going to explode. That was one of the worst feelings because my body came out of surgery 20 lbs. heavier. I had difficulty doing the deep breaths but still tried. A friend who was a RT came to help me as did my wonderful sister. Both were excellent coaches. Despite my best efforts, I still required a thorencentisis and 1 liter of fluid was pulled off my right lung. I was d/c 12 days after surgery & 3 days later had a GI bleed. I was re- admitted to critical care unit in hypovolemic shock. I was blessed that the GI Doctor on call was one of the best & he saved my life. I was taken to xray & through use of fluoroscopy, the bleeding ulcerated areas in the duodenum were addressed. I had to have another thorencentis toward the end of that admission also. I was admitting an intensive in-pt rehab for 2wks. To start my recovery. I still did my breathing daily & went to PT 2/day. I would walk around the halls often. I wanted to come home. I started cardiac rehab Feb 26 & graduated May 19. I signed up for the maintenance program because I didn't feel ready to go back to the gym ( without being 'watched'). I just passed my 6 month anniversary since surgery. I've had to be patient because the GI bleed left me anemic & the greatest challenge has been fatigue. Although I'm inPT & cardiac maintenance & working those chest muscles, I still experience a burning at my incision site and the surrounding pectoral muscles hurt. I'll have a few days with less discomfort but it does retu. I'm grateful I'm able to sleep now. I had awful sleep problems the first 3.5 months ( sleeping 2 hrs/ awake 2 hrs) pattern. I had no appetite & it seemed my taste buds were effected by all. I suspected that when the endotrach tube is placed something gets disturbed? One of the frustrating aspects of recovery has been that many things I've experienced are not well understood by Doctors. I felt I was given little information on other issues that could develop. For example, I developed corneal swirling from Amiodarone & no medical personnel told me to watch for this. I went to my eye dr when I starting having flashes of specs of bright light flash across my vision field. The Amiodarone was d/c. I'm now dealing with BPPV & the PT who will do my Vestibular PT txmt said this can occur after such a major surgery but again Dr say ' never heard of such.' The heaviness in my legs still occurs first walk of the day but it is not from fluid retention. I've read on this blog many experience by Dr never hear of this. I have wished that there was more understanding of the sequale of things that can occur post op but it seems Drs only know about the typical things in the box. Outside that box , you are on your own. I know I've been given 'an extension ' of my life for reasons unknown to me & for that I'm grateful. I know my heart will continue to face challenges in the days ahead but I'm try my best to live one day at a time and embrace love & gratitude every day.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Knoxville
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My surgery date is:
January 12, 2016
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Mitral Regurgitation
Mitral Stenosis
Atrial Fibrillation
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Mitral Valve Replacement
Maze Procedure
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Lacy Harville
