Anthony's Journal

Marie Myers  There are some great relaxation videos on UTube..
They really helped me during those anxious times..

  I also had a heavily calcified valve. It seemed like it took a month or so after a TAVR procedure with a bovine valve for my heart to calm down. I think it is normal. It is like it has a new engine.

Catie B  Anthony, I didn't have high BP, but for several months it felt like my heart was beating so hard, it was unreal. There really is a new normal!

Judy Shaw  I haven't had surgery yet but I know that feeling and I can imagine it would cause anxiety right after having surgery. Sometimes I feel it pounding in my whole body. My Ophthalmologist says he can see it in my eyes. I pray it gets better for you soon.

Peggy Whitecotton  my surgeon told me that my heart would go through a remodeling process as it had to learn how to work with a new valve. My valve was so tight down to only a pin size opening.. He said sternum bone would heal in a few weeks but my heart would take a year or longer to heal. it took me well over a year and a half.

Kelly Stoll  I was told "young hearts" run higher and have their own adjustments to make. Speaking with my surgery team and doctors really helped take some of the anxiety away. Hang in there and remember to give your body a chance to catch up to all the new changes. :)

Marianne Charters  I am 13 days out from mitral valve repair. 60 years old and otherwise great shape. But the first 7 days I had a lot of pvcs for about an hour each episode

Helen Daw  4 months post op and my heart is still pounding. I never had high blood pressure, mine was actually too low that I was dizzy all the time. My Dr told me that it could take up to a year to get back to normal.

Randy Hart  Yes, I also went through an adjustment stage the first few months especially. Afibs, and my heart trying to find it's new normal. Priorbto surgery, my left venteical was very overdeveloped due to valve restriction. Much better now.

Rita Savelis  Post OHS is an anxious time. The heart is definitely overwhelmed by what has happened to it. The awareness of your heart and its pounding takes time to get used to. It will settle. I used to keep a pillow over my chest a lot to muffle the noise and because I felt so fragile. Sometimes ones heart races for no real reason, and it is hard.
We expect to bounce right back. We can't see our hearts, like we could a broken leg, so we are more impatient.
Wishing you some peace, Anthony.

Peggy Whitecotton  Rita,,,, so true the heart is definitely overwhelmed, i remember about 6 months after my surgery I thought most of all the so call weird heart events were over, when all of a sudden my heart began to pound like it was going to come out of my chest for no apparent reason.. Really scared me, I was setting in my recliner watching a movie. this lasted several minutes and was over. A couple of weeks later I was in the mall when all of a sudden a feeling of weakness came over me and had to steady my balance holding onto a sheft. It just lasted a few seconds but this time I called my surgeon's office. They were not concerned as all part of the heart's healing process, inc medications and even blood pressure changes. Well now it has been almost 3 years no pounding heart or issues. However, I have noticing changes I never had before such as the hot summers bother me more and I used to love winters with the snow but not any more and very sensitive to the cold. The high elevation of the mountains make me a little winded. Then strangely I've lost the taste for coffee as the caffeine seems to make my heart race... But hey, thats okay I feel good, feel heathy. I think our bodies warn us what we can or not do.. All in all, my cardiologist is please ( saw him last week) my echos are good, bovine valve functioning well, no leaks.....
As my cardiologist told me that I needed to understand my bovine valve is not my God-given valve, I will notice changes and I will always be heart patient. However my new valve is doing its job and hopefully could last me 20 Years. If not there is always TAVR and even in another 10 years think how much more advance that will be. God is good.....

Susan Lynn  Such great news, Tony! Once the lines are all removed, you'll feel so much better when you can move around. As soon as you're feeling up to it, take a little walk. It makes a huge difference!
Thanks for the update!

Kelly Stoll  Congrats Tony! I had a rough time with nausea too but after dat 2, I felt a lot better. Hang in there and heal well.

Anthony Fumo  Thank you for the encouraging comments.
Lines are gone, cath has been removed and I just have 2 chest tube drain bulbs left.
I took a short walk around the ICU unit.
I’ll be in ICU one more day. Very sore but taking it day by day.

Tony

Anna Jones  Hi Anthony, I am having surgery on June 11, also. It is a pleasure to meet a surgery buddy. Sending best wishes for an easy surgery and gentle recovery.

John Lant  Best of luck and good wishes on your up coming surgery. I also live in South New Jersey, but I opted for Mount Sinai in NYC with Dr. Adam's because I also need my Mitral Valve repaired, Aortic Valve Replaced & a double bypass. All this will happen on June 25th and I am feeling good about it.