Troy Ainsworth  A small percentage of us it will be toxic to our lungs. It gave me essentially pneumonia like symptoms and can linger for quite some time hampering lung capacity. ... Read more

Troy Ainsworth  A small percentage of us it will be toxic to our lungs. It gave me essentially pneumonia like symptoms and can linger for quite some time hampering lung capacity. I’m having a hard time getting rid of it, along with some other factors. Make sure they’re monitoring that, many docs don’t seem that educated on it

Barbara Wood  I was on amiodorone for 5 months after surgery & was very glad to be taken off it! Mara, you should have a pulmonary function test before starting it & should ... Read more

Barbara Wood  I was on amiodorone for 5 months after surgery & was very glad to be taken off it! Mara, you should have a pulmonary function test before starting it & should be monitored the entire time you're on it - it can be toxic to nearly every organ in your body. Troy, so sorry for what you're going through...best wishes.

Kevin Bradley  Hey Claire, how are you my friend? I’m doing lol. Pain comes and goes. I was going pretty good but today my chest feels more stiff than prior days. I just ... Read more

Kevin Bradley  Hey Claire, how are you my friend? I’m doing lol. Pain comes and goes. I was going pretty good but today my chest feels more stiff than prior days. I just take Advil and it helps somewhat. Lol. Still haven’t gotten into a good sleep pattern yet and it’s driving me crazy because I get tired throughout the day. I don’t want to sound like I am complaining because I’ve been pretty fortunate with my recovery. How are you doing?

Claire Kreger-Boaz  I’m doing ok. Feeling good today but yesterday was rough. I guess that’s how it goes? I rested on my left side for a few minutes this morning but I’m ... Read more

Claire Kreger-Boaz  I’m doing ok. Feeling good today but yesterday was rough. I guess that’s how it goes? I rested on my left side for a few minutes this morning but I’m definitely not ready for side sleeping! You seem like you’re doing great!! I have that dang clot in my jugular vein & still have fluid retention but hoping all of that resolved soon. 💪🏼❤️🐄

Kevin Bradley  I can’t believe it’s been 17 days already!!!! I’m not sure if I should be doing this but I am able to get somewhat comfortable on my left side at night ... Read more

Kevin Bradley  I can’t believe it’s been 17 days already!!!! I’m not sure if I should be doing this but I am able to get somewhat comfortable on my left side at night but still not sleeping through the night. It doesn’t hurt when I lay on my left side but I do get stiff when I get out of bed lol.

Susan Lynn  Claire- you may have nerves regenerating. My surgeon froze several of mine during surgery and there was some discomfort and sometimes numbness. Hopefully, ... Read more

Susan Lynn  Claire- you may have nerves regenerating. My surgeon froze several of mine during surgery and there was some discomfort and sometimes numbness. Hopefully, some over the counter meds will take the edge off. You're getting closer to full recovery every day. Keep the faith! ❤

Gina Fiorentino  Yes, that sounds familiar. My sternum still is very sensitive 1 year later... but nothing compared to the first month or so. I remember I traveled as a passenger ... Read more

Gina Fiorentino  Yes, that sounds familiar. My sternum still is very sensitive 1 year later... but nothing compared to the first month or so. I remember I traveled as a passenger with my husband driving (with the pillow between me and the cross body seatbelt) 2-3 weeks after surgery. He tapped the brakes suddenly to avoid another car, and I immediately felt a stretching/crackling sensation up my sternum followed by a strong pain. It scared the crap out of me, but the aftercare cardiac nurse told me I probably just strained my muscles. I had trouble putting any pressure- especially if I layed on my chest (for many months after)... and my incision gets "angry" when rubbed or touched near where the wires are. I understand this is all normal.

T.C. Sayles  Claire, I can't say I had that exactly, but even now 10 weeks post, there is still tenderness. The worst for me was the neck and shoulder pain on the top right ... Read more

T.C. Sayles  Claire, I can't say I had that exactly, but even now 10 weeks post, there is still tenderness. The worst for me was the neck and shoulder pain on the top right sides. That still gets stiff when I walk and I have to swing my arm in circles or stop walking so it can rest and now move and stop hurting.

T.C. Sayles  Claire, I feel good..but my incision opened up and now I have a hole in my chest! Been dealing with daily wound care for 3+ weeks. Hoping for only another 2 ... Read more

T.C. Sayles  Claire, I feel good..but my incision opened up and now I have a hole in my chest! Been dealing with daily wound care for 3+ weeks. Hoping for only another 2 until it closes. No fun. At 46 I was hoping for smooth sailing and almost back to normal-ish by now. Ugg! My scar is still a bit tender and I am still numb in area of the femoral artery. How about you?

Claire Kreger-Boaz  TC, omg that sounds traumatic! I’m also 46 & thought age would be on my side but I am still having so much pain in my sternum! I’m going to look up the ... Read more

Claire Kreger-Boaz  TC, omg that sounds traumatic! I’m also 46 & thought age would be on my side but I am still having so much pain in my sternum! I’m going to look up the femoral artery to see if that’s where my pain is. I had three good days in a row & today I can barely move from pain! How did your incision open up?! I hope you’re not in too much pain! I really think having boobs slows healing!!

Meredith Bray  I went for a massage at about 10 weeks! I told the therapist about my surgery and she helped me maneuver when I needed it. I was not uncomfortable laying face ... Read more

Meredith Bray  I went for a massage at about 10 weeks! I told the therapist about my surgery and she helped me maneuver when I needed it. I was not uncomfortable laying face down on the table, not one bit. I couldn't roll over by myself (I still have issues with that 5 years later!)

That massage felt SO DAMN GOOD though!

Meredith
Holiday, FL

Gina Fiorentino  Yes, all of the above. Difficult to lay on stomach for many months, but did lay on top of a soft blanket
doubled up under my chest for a gentle massage at ... Read more

Gina Fiorentino  Yes, all of the above. Difficult to lay on stomach for many months, but did lay on top of a soft blanket
doubled up under my chest for a gentle massage at about 5 months. Still was uncomfortable, but also relieving.

Diane Esposito  T.C. I am a licensed massage therapist and you can also have the therapist work on you in a side lying position with pillow under your neck/ head, between ... Read more

Diane Esposito  T.C. I am a licensed massage therapist and you can also have the therapist work on you in a side lying position with pillow under your neck/ head, between your knees etc to take pressure off sensitive body parts, assuming you are comfortable on your side. I would of course avoid deep pressure over the chest/ upper belly and if you are lying prone, no deep pressure on the back which would push you into the table. Gentle Swedish massage can be very helpful.

Diane Esposito  Thanks, Susan Lynn! I’ve definitely transitioned from dread to let’s get this show on the road. All of you have helped so much and your posts are always ... Read more

Diane Esposito  Thanks, Susan Lynn! I’ve definitely transitioned from dread to let’s get this show on the road. All of you have helped so much and your posts are always so uplifting! I’m glad it’s Easter weekend so I’ll be busy with my family and not sitting home worrying.

Julie M  Bless you, Susan! Your words of encouragement are so helpful. I must say, my experience at the hospital with the cardiac cath and the preop testing left me ... Read more

Julie M  Bless you, Susan! Your words of encouragement are so helpful. I must say, my experience at the hospital with the cardiac cath and the preop testing left me really impressed with the wonderful people who choose to spend their career life in places I prefer to completely avoid! They really help to put me at ease and I do tell them how thankful I am for what they do.

And I also know how fortunate we are to have conditions that can be fixed to make us better. Not long ago, I stumbled on a news story about small children in other countries who need heart surgeries their families can't afford and the medical teams who donate their time and skill to help them. Angels among us. Knowing how fortunate I am to be able to receive this help (and not knowing why or how I deserve it) also really helps minimize my fear.

Thank you so much for caring and taking the time for your note to me. I'm so glad you did so well. And I'll be sure to report the good news I hope & pray for, and do expect. God has provided for all my needs leading up to this surgery and for the recovery time afterward, in almost miraculous ways, and I'm trusting, in the words of Julian of Norwich long ago, "All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well."

Diane Esposito  Hey Julie, You are so right about how fortunate we are that we have conditions that can be fixed; that’s one of the first thoughts I had when I was diagnosed ... Read more

Diane Esposito  Hey Julie, You are so right about how fortunate we are that we have conditions that can be fixed; that’s one of the first thoughts I had when I was diagnosed this past December. Thank God! I’m sure you and I are having similar thoughts and feelings as we are only a few days away from our surgeries. Susan Lynn is right about having an entire group of heart warriors rooting for us...I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers the next couple of days as you prepare for your big day. Soon we’ll both be on the recovery side!

Susan Lynn  Congratulations, Peter! Completion of pre-op day is a major milestone and you did it! Sorry you had to endure the needle sticks, but you got through it ... Read more

Susan Lynn  Congratulations, Peter! Completion of pre-op day is a major milestone and you did it! Sorry you had to endure the needle sticks, but you got through it as you will with everything else that's ahead. Surgery will be behind you before you know it and we'll be here to welcome you to recovery. You've got this! ❤

Peter Eglinton  Ah, but a little deceptive. Recovering from 2 attempts at blood draws and 3 attempts (2 arms) at IV. Not the most wonderful experience for a needle phobe. That ... Read more

Peter Eglinton  Ah, but a little deceptive. Recovering from 2 attempts at blood draws and 3 attempts (2 arms) at IV. Not the most wonderful experience for a needle phobe. That said, the rest of day went smoothly - and it's done. Onward!

Civita Fahey  HI Peter.. I saw Dr. Sundt for a second opinion on my OHS. I liked him a lot. he was really great with answering questions. I ended up having my surgery at ... Read more

Civita Fahey  HI Peter.. I saw Dr. Sundt for a second opinion on my OHS. I liked him a lot. he was really great with answering questions. I ended up having my surgery at the Brigham ( insurance reasons) but I thought Dr. Sundt would definitely be a great choice. Best of luck.

Rita Savelis  When my mitral and aortic valves were replaced with mechanical valves 4 yrs ago, the surgeon also repaired my tricuspid valve. This hadn't been mentioned before ... Read more

Rita Savelis  When my mitral and aortic valves were replaced with mechanical valves 4 yrs ago, the surgeon also repaired my tricuspid valve. This hadn't been mentioned before surgery, but he said that he now took a look at tricuspid valves when he was doing mitral surgery. So sorry that you have to have more surgery and triple as well. Wishing you a smooth ride.