Home > Community > Patient News Feed > Barbara Blackwell

Barbara's Posts

Diagnosis: Mitral Regurgitation, Tricuspid Regurgitation

Member Since: June 29, 2018

Send Barbara a Guestbook

My Posts

Barbara Blackwell posted an update

7 years ago (December 23, 2018)

Hi all! Question: Did any of you have any issues with swelling of your legs after surgery? I don't remember this from 18 years ago and my thighs and legs look like they belong to somebody else! 🙁 Thank you for any tips / info you can share. xxx

Bonnie Stone-Hope

All my toes looked like sausages. Fingers too. Very attractive! I was so pleased to see this. Once you start moving again, things settle ✅

Steve Farthing

Yes, standard procedure. You probably gained 15lbs of fluid added during valve surgery and may be on a diuretic now to work it off. They told me once the valve leakage is fixed, the heart gets 'floppy' and needs extra fluid to compensate for the fluid 'loss' of no leakage... Read more.

Dan Baltazor

Yes, a lot in fact. But it was resolved a few days after being home. Elevated my feet.

Tracy Fallu

Yes I did. I gained about 15 pounds of water weight. After about 10 days of lasik weight and swelling of body gone.

Jill McDonald

I gained 10 lbs after surgery. Quite a shock as you prepare for the surgery to get in best shape. How did it work out? Repair or replacement for on or two valves?

Barbara Blackwell

A very belated Thank You to those of you who responded to my question about leg/thigh swelling!! It has all settled now and is completely gone. It was 4 weeks ago today (Dec 20) that I had my surgery. Both the Mitral Valve and the Tricuspid Valve were "repaired"....... This... Read more.

Bonnie Stone-Hope

Glad to hear you are doing well. I am told I need another heart surgery so will starting posting soon.

Barbara Blackwell posted an update

7 years ago (December 23, 2018)

Hello everyone. Well I made it through and I am on Day 3. Surgery was on Thursday. Surgeon was able to re-repair the Mitral Valve and he also repaired the Tricuspid Valve. A little bit of AF going on so we're trying to sort that out. Will be back to... Read more.

👍 Shannon Gray, Lisa Ferguson and reacted to this

Judy S

Wonderful news Barbara! Very normal to have Afib post surgery. I had a couple of bouts while I was in the hospital but they went as quickly as they came. Hope it's the same for you!

Bonnie Stone-Hope

So happy to hear from you. Thank you for the update.

Susan Lynn

Great news! Welcome to recovery, Barbara!

John Isham

Fantastic! Recovery here we are!

Tracy Fallu

Great news

Dan Baltazor

Great news Barbara! Welcome to the recovery side. Just take it one day at a time.

Barbara Blackwell

Thank you all! So many good wishes come at you from all directions. Thank you, thank you. xxxx

Jill McDonald

So great to here a repair. Wow! I used biofreeze on my shoulders and shoulder blade. I also had a lavender oil to help relax. Hope you are home by now. Healing well.

Barbara Blackwell posted an update

7 years ago (December 16, 2018)

Good morning everyone. Well, this is the BIG week! So many of you have been there and are on Recovery Road right now, and many of us are still waiting for the big day. Thursday is it for me....feeling good, and anxious to get in, get it done, and start... Read more.

👍 Barbara Wood, Donghua Cai and reacted to this

Tracy Fallu

You are going to do great. Make sure to spend the days leading up to surgery doing something you enjoy and makes you happy. Once home, I wore jammies with buttons so that I didn't have to raise my arms. Recovery is when I discovered "dry" shampoo.

Marie Myers

I found that a shower seat was really helpful for me. I was exhausted for about 2 weeks, and the shower seat made showering much easier. Also recommend renting an electric recliner. I had one for a month, and it made it easy to get up and down myself without... Read more.

Lisa Guinan

Go shopping and get yourself some new PJs and lounging clothes. Good luck!

Diane Maher

Like Marie, I too was extremely exhausted and weak for the first month ....used a shower chair and slept in my rental electric recliner for a month....an absolute life saver for me. Unlike many, I had no problem with being able to sleep during my recovery. My problem was staying... Read more.

Lilly Black

I know how you feel....the anxiety is overwhelming. Barbara, I wish you a great outcome! you will feel so much better when it's over.

Bonnie Stone-Hope

Hi Barbara, Your surgery date is the same as mine last year😀 My tips are as follows: 1) Take a colourful pashmina to drape around your shoulders while connected to all those tubes. Looks pretty, keeps you warm and easy to remove when getting out of bed. 1) Facial wipes... Read more.

Gina Fiorentino

I found that having an extra long charger cord allowed me to stay charged up those first few days in that reclining hospital bed.

Cris Dykeman

Ditto to all above! Also, find a sports bra that hooks in the front! So helpful for when you go somewhere that you cant be braless. I used the spray on icy hot on my back (because I could put it on myself). I just posted about the heart hugger.... Read more.

Louanna Miller

The one thing I wish I had taken to the hospital was my own pillow. The hospital pillows are so stiff and covered in plastic. I was very warm while in the hospital, even though no one else was. Ha...I kept the AC on 67. Both the bed mattress and... Read more.

Sara Moyce

Hi Barbara! I was so happy that I brought several pairs of pajama bottoms with me, which I wore with the lovely gown....as well as my lightweight bathrobe. Vaseline for the dry lips, and, a sleeping mask as it was sooooo hard to sleep at night in the hospital with... Read more.

New Patient Posts

Eva says, "Hi, I am 84 & am at that precarious point ..."

Ana says, "Hello Richard Munson, hope you and the family are well. ..."

Mark says, "Hello, everyone I just wanted to Post an update. It's ..."

Surgeon Spotlight