Annette's Journal

Laura Bickford  Hi Annette-  I have had a barium swallow.  I am also a nurse.  It is a piece of cake compared to heart surgery.  It is a series of x-rays taken after and while you are swallowing barium liquid  (shows up on x-ray).  It shows how the liquid progresses as you swallow.  You may also be placed on a table that tilts.  This will show if you have gastric reflux or something called Barrett's esophagus, where food can get caught as you swallow.  It's not bad at all. Good luck.

Greg Lewis  I see you were taking Amiodarone. I did read a report that said it can cause neuropathy.  My surgery gave my wife neuropathy.  I am now a pain in her ass.

Annette Sterzel  Richard have you had it awhile? What did neurologist suggest. The only thing mine said is to stay away from sugar. 

Annette Sterzel  Richard my neurologist said the same thing but I feel mine is getting worse. My podiatrist prescribed gabapentin but afraid to take it I hear lots of side effects and I’m on enough medication as it is.

Annette Sterzel  I had neuropathy a year before my surgery. When I was in physical therapy one of the therapist said she told her dr parents about me and they said it’s from being on statins for a long time. I’m on them over 20 years. All my neurologist told was the same thing stay away from sugar. I was also given gabapentin but mines sitting in the draw too. Afraid to take them. Mine is getting worse by the day. Frightened!

Delise Becker  I am scheduled to have a sternotomy Sept. 11, so I asked my surgeon if I should/could get COVID booster prior to surgery, or if I should wait until after. I also asked about the flu vaccine. He said that the vaccines would not interfere with my surgery so it would be up to me when I wanted to get them. I am going to wait until October, because my understanding is that a new version of the COVID booster (to address the most recent variant) won't be available until sometime this month.

Robert Miller  I had two open heart surgeries last year. I was never required to have covid immunization. In both cases it was a requirement that I get tested for covid before the surgery, though. If it were me, I would get the latest booster. The last thing you want is having to cough after open heart surgery. Recovering from open heart surgery is tough enough, you don't want to make it worse getting sick. Just my opinion. 

Roselyn Kubek   That’s a good question from your dr. As I understand it, steroids can affect heart rhythm, but I’d definitely ask the doc.

Marie Myers  I googled it, and I read a couple articles that discussed the association of high dose steroids and a fib/flutter. Best to speak to your cardiologist.

Grace Mason   I agree with the Roselyn and Marie about asking your doctor, but my ENT said a nasal inhaler has a very low dose of steroid. He also gave me a prescription for a steroid powder capsule formulation that I can add to a Neti pot to treat sinusitis. 

Richard Munson  Can’t say rainy weather hurts my chest but my knee aches. The good news is that we are more accurate than the weather folks on the tv and not making any money either. Whats wrong with that picture.

Robert Miller  Haven't heard of that but what kind of pain are you feeling? Where? I know people that seem to have issues/pain when bad weather is coming in. Not sure why. For instance, why would knees hurt when it's about to rain? Maybe lower temperature, more wind, ...? Maybe something like that can affect pain after heart surgery? 

Klara Čičić  Dear Anette, this sounds familiar. I think many on this group will relate. I am 7 months and finally feel like myself since a month ago...

Pamela Gregory  Hi Annette, I am 7 months post op and feel much better now but still have days where I am very tired and the whole front of my body is uncomfortable. Not sure if its cartilage, muscles, or what but every time I try to do more I seem to pay the price for a few days. I think it is pretty normal to have really good days and less perfect days (even in a normal life) while in the first year of recovery. At least that is what I was told to expect.

Roselyn Kubek   I agree with Pam.  It’s how healing worked for me as well.  More and more hours and days of energy and fewer naps and wiped out hours and days as time went on.  By around a year I realized I just felt “normal “

Susan Lynn  Totally normal! Been there! It's important not to overdo it on those high energy days or it will compound your exhaustion. That fatigue lingers for awhile, so enjoy a power nap when you can. All the best!

Brady Busch  Hello Annette,Is your new mitral valve,a mechanical one?
I had a tissue aortic valve replacement and mitral repair done in 11/2021.I was taking Warfarin,then was switched to Eliquis,about a six months ago,because of AF,which happens seldom,if at all now,according to me.
From reading,Eliquis isn't recommended for people with mechanical valves.
Did they close off the left atrial appendage(Watchman)?They didn't with mine.Kind of disappointed,but overall happy to get the other things resolved.

Annette Sterzel  Brady I got a tissue mitral valve but had afib before surgery and after. I had a cardioversion and 2 medications which stopped it for now. I am happy also the surgery went well too but disappointed that I need to stay on Warfrin

Greg Lewis  Annette, I was on Warfarin, while I had Afib. Then awhile after my cardioversion, they took me off of it. I would ask why you have to be on it once they are satisfied the afib is gone. Maybe another opinion too.

Patsy Stewart  You might ask your cardiologist if there is another blood thinner option for you. I didn't have a mechanical valve, but I was told that I would be on blood thinners for life. I had afib, and occasionally still do. He put me on Eliquis. I had to quit taking that because I kept bleeding internally. He replaced it with Plavix, but it isn't a blood thinner. I'm allergic to aspirin. My cardiologist is trying to come up with a plan. Hopefully, you can get off of the Warfarin and have it replaced with something else. 

Annette Sterzel  Thanks. I really so far don’t have any problems on Warfrin but I can’t eat any of the foods I love

Brady Busch  Annette,
When on Warfarin,I could eat things like broccoli and leafy greens,but it needed to be consistent each day.Not a whole bunch one day and then none the next.

Susan Lynn  I didn't have a sternum cut for my procedure, but I did turn off the passenger air bag for the ride home. I probably should have been in the back seat, just to be safer.

STEPHEN MORRIS  I think I was about 8 weeks after. I am in Canada and was put into rehab upon discharge. I walked as much as I could in the hospital after my surgery. Everytime my family came, I would say..lets walk.

Susan Lynn  Annette - My local cardiac rehab classes were completely filled after my surgery, so I didn't attend for a couple of months.  However, I loved - it was well worth the wait!  I stayed in the advanced class (twice a week) for two years until the pandemic closed it.  I'm a life-long couch potato, so that's a pretty big endorsement!  Hope you enjoy it, too!

Klara Čičić  I started 2 months after the surgery, it wasn't too late, on the contrary, I was just starting to get some strength. Rehab helped tremendously and I recommend it.

Miriam St.Clair  I think getting off these drugs will depend on how your heart rhythm is doing. I didn't have the maze procedure but developed a fib after my surgery. Similar to you, I had a mitral tissue valve replacement, aortic valve tissue replacement, tricuspid repair, and repair of my aorta. I was on warfarin but was able to get switched to Eliquis. I took metropolol for about 4 months post-op, had a cardioversion for afib and was taken off metropolol and put on amiodarone. I'm now 6 months post-op, still on amiodarone, and just finished a 7 day heart monitor. I hope you're able to get off these medications soon!

Rose Madura  I hope you can get off Amiodarone sooner.  I was on it for about 2-1/2 months. It messed with my eyesight.  But everyone is different.  I'm still on 25 mg of Metoprolol after 5+ years.  I am on baby aspirin every other day.  No other blood thinners.  I had a different surgery than you but pretty sure Metoprolol and Amiodarone are the go to drugs after OHS.  

Patricia Miller  Annette- Glad you are feeling better from your surgery.  I had a Mitral Valve repair last year.  Robotic assisted.  I thought I could do my rehab on my own since I had a stationary bike at home, could walk on own and swim.  My strength was not improving and ended up w/ pericarditis diagnosis 2 months from surgery.   Got on the wait list for cardiac rehab and started a couple weeks later.  I would certainly recommend it.  They put you on a monitor so someone is watching your HR and EKG tracings in a controlled exercise environment.  My sister in PA is completing her cardiac rehab program due to a stent/blockage issue.  Her program is more involved than mine was.  They include diet/sodium education and have more equipment available.  I did not have that, but still feel it was beneficial.  I'm not positive, but believe most programs are 32-34 sessions.  I went 2x/wk due to work, but most folks went 3x/wk.   Hanag in there.  Your body has been through a lot.

DeLois Tweedy  Annette, glad you are through surgery and well into recovery. I had aortic valve replacement by TAVR in June 2020. My cardiologist ordered Cardiac Rehab after. I was very deconditioned secondary to a liver injury, heart attack and ongoing problems with A fib/A flutter just prior to my valve replacement. I waited for a few months before going to Cardiac Rehab (good or bad for me to wait, I don't know).

Rehab was great, beginning with just the socialization I had with fellow heart warriors. I liked that we wore heart monitors and nurses were present to monitor us every step of the way. My ins paid for 36 visits (which was what my doctor referral stated). I went 3x/week. We also were educated on various heart/lung related topics, and diet was addressed as well. Personally, it helped me tremendously. I had the option of continuing at same Cardiopulmonary Clinic 2x/week, more on our own, though BP, HR and O2 sat was taken before and after exercise by the nurses. There was a small monthly fee for this.

I would say it would help you, in a lot of ways. If still unsure, ask your doctor to give you guidance on when to start Rehab program.

Klara Čičić  I started cardiac rehab 2 months post-op, I highly recommend it. I took a long car ride just after surgery, but I think I could've handled a plane ride, too. Good luck! 

jonette kruk  Hi Annette! I am so happy you are feeling a little better, day by day. It seems like aches are all over the upper body, lately my back and shoulders. I am 19 days post op mitral valve repair via robotic and feeling better slowly day by day, but honestly I can't wait to start cardiac rehab. I know it will be a couple weeks before I can start, but I want to get my heart strong again and am anxious to do this. Best of luck! 

Roselyn Kubek   Hi Annette- Ask your doctor what is a good and safe lotion. Otherwise, just keep it out of the sun for a year and it should heal to a faint line.  Hardly can see mine after 2 years.

Roselyn Kubek   I started in home PT within a short time.  I didn’t go to out patient rehab (wish I had) but I think it was at 6-8 weeks maybe

Pamela Gregory  My surgeon said nothing on the scar but no sun for a year and it will fade to a small white line like Roselyn said. I started Cardiac Rehab at 6 weeks.

Susan Lynn  Annette - Glad you've put five weeks behind you. Great job!!!

I didn't put anything on my scar (I had a side entry incision) and it was barely visible in a couple of months. You may be able to try OTC scar treatments, like Mederma, as they've worked well on other scars I have. You've already been given the best advice - keep it away from the sun.

With regard to your cardiac rehab question, I didn't go for three months after my surgery - they were booked solid! But, I'm so glad that I attended - I loved it!
Hope you enjoy it, too!

Marie Myers  I went to rehab at 3 weeks post op for 36 sessions. 
I also did not put anything on my scar, and it is a thin white line now at 5 years. 

Brady Busch  At a followup,a doctor told me I could use vitamin E on the wound,so a tube of Palmer's cream was used,until deciding it wasn't doing very much.Some people can also be allergic to it.
I had surgery in mid November and started rehab in February.One of the aids there,said some start earlier,like 2-3 weeks after leaving the hospital.

STEPHEN MORRIS  I also didn't put anything on the scar and was told the first year the scar would burn if unprotected.

Deena Elani  Ditto. Scar has faded nicely on it's own.  Went to rehab three months after surgery, due to COVID delays. Was told you go with weeks to months.  Your call.  

Rose Madura  I used Vitamin E for a while but I started breaking out so I stopped. Five years la to er, I have a tiny white scar.  I did not do rehab because of all the complications I had but did a lot of walking, still do.

Klara Čičić  Hi, I went to rehab 2 months after the surgery. I put provitamin B5 greasy non-expensive baby cream on my scar and it worked fine. 

Leona Resch  My surgeon said after 8 weeks it was on to apply something. I tried mederma and didn’t like it/ smelly and irritating for  me. They said to try BioOil which I just ordered so hopefully that will be helpful!