Barbara's Journal

Rose Madura  Barbara, you are a testament to everyone awaiting surgery. Look what you have been through at age 78!  I had a lot of inflammatory problems as well so I know what that is all about. Thank you for sharing your journey. You give great advice and you uplift others.  ❤️‍🩹👍

Suelynn Hanegraaf  So good to hear from you! 🙏🏻 Glad you feel that you’re (finally) on your way. You are one strong woman!  🥰

Valerie Allen  Hi Barbara! So great to hear from you! You’ve fought your way through this, heart warrior! Glad you are feeling better all the time. 💕

Kathy Ozio  One day at a time. Walk when you feel good, rest when your body tells you. It takes awhile to lose the tiredness, but you're on your way! 😀

Marie Myers  It is a huge surgery, and it is both an emotional and physical recovery process. Like Kathy Ozio said above, take one day at a time and hang in there!

Rose Madura  Barbara, thanks for the update.  Sounds like you are moving in the right direction.  Slow and steady.  You have been through a lot. Take care!  

Susan Dunne  Barbara, You are right.  It will
take a while but each day will bring more healing.  Sending healing vibes.  Take it slow.  One day at a time.  All will be well.

Tom Everson  You are ready. My Aortic Valve Replacement was also 3 days after I turned 78.  I did fine.Your job is to be positive and follow doctors advice.  The Heart Teams are fantastic. Good luck 

Sue Maize  Happy birthday and happy new lease on life! You’ve got the right mindset Barbara and you will do great! Blessings! 🙏🏻❤️‍🩹

Susan Lynn  Happy Birthday,  Barbara! Heart surgery is the best gift you can receive to allow many,  many future birthdays and celebrations!  🥳🎶🎂❤

Christine Maiorano  My recliner came last week! I think we’ll both be comfy! I’ll be happy when my surgery is over and I’m sitting in my chair! Sending you positive thoughts 😊

Sue Maize  Beautiful comfy recliners ladies! I love mine as well but I’m a side sleeper so I know I’m going to have to adapt. 

Valerie Allen  Sue maybe you should practice a bit? I’m a side sleeper too but have successfully used a recliner for other surgeries. After a while I started sleeping on my side in the recliner. Yes, that takes some talent 😂

Sue Maize  Honestly Valerie, between my stiff butt and general restlessness, it’s going to be a challenge. Good advice though—maybe I could prop some pillows around me somehow so I can figure out the sweet spot. 

Daneen Douglas  I’m right there behind you!  You will do great!  I’m getting a mani pedi too and hair cut.  Can you have clear nail polish?

Barbara deLoache  Yes. Clear polish should be fine. That’s what I have. Actually the pulse ox finger monitor can read through most nail polish colors but..we have to follow the rules! 
Have fun with the toe nail color though! Let’s get this done and start healing Deneen!💕

Sue Maize  I love this mani pedi haircut ritual pre-surgery! I might even throw in a facial! Thanks for the inspiration ladies! 😁

Valerie Allen  While you are at it, having a few massages concentrating on shoulders and neck have been very worthwhile.

Grace Mason   Barbara I hope you can get your post surgery support settled, so you are less stressed. 
I was actually pretty amazed at how much I was capable of, on my own, post surgery.
Once I was home from the hospital, my husband and son were back at work, and at school since I felt well enough to do most things on my own. Twisting lids on meds felt a little tricky, but I just left those lids loose, since I had no kiddies around.

Rose Madura  I think it's important to have someone with you 24/7 for a week or two. But everyone is different. You will know when it's ok for you. 

Patricia Miller  Barbara. Although I had a friend here to help the first wk I was home, (I came home on day 11 post op) I was able to shuffle around pretty independently. My husband continued his work remotely.  I was able to reach my arms up to the microwave about day 15 or so.  I had bought laundry detergent that dispenses from a spout when I was readying the house prior to surgery.  Lifting a jug would be impossible.  Kept it on top of dryer so easy to use.  You could also use a smaller bottle and have ready.  I pushed my basket across the floor w/ my feet.  Certain med bottles are too hard to open initially.  Same w/ juice bottles but you can mostly anticipate that and have them loose ahead of time.  Use smaller milk container as you know lifting a gallon of milk is not recommended.  Having some meals like soup frozen and ready to re heat is nice to have on hand.   I knew I needed to avoid high sodium soup, so a few friends made low/no sodium soup for me.  I enjoyed doing puzzles that I borrowed first few wks or so.  Good for a decreased attention span and allowed for gentle motion in upper body.  I hope you have a calming exchange w/ the OR staff being that is your career home.  I was alert when brought to the OR and had the opportunity to thank them for taking care of me.  They all introduced themselves as they were finishing their set up.  My first OHS was a robotic mitral valve repair a year and a half ago.  Different process and lightly sedated when brought to the OR.
You are going to do great!

Rebecca J  I’m 3 days behind you and on the countdown. Also more concerned about the recovery than the surgery. I’m glad you have good support in place-having your caring people around you and letting yourself lean on them for a time will make a huge difference.  I hope you take your doctor’s advice and get the 24/7. 

Sending prayers. 

Anna Ma  I agree with Rose, please try to get someone 24/7. I’m in my second week now, I can’t function without my husband helping me. I’m exhausted and constantly in pain, can’t imagine just by myself 

Nancy Bukowski  Hi Barbara, you got this!  I will check in with you after my surgery.  Having your son will help😀.

DeWayne Adamson  After a week at home you should be able to do most anything. Some discomfort and lots of rest but you'll be ok.

Christine Maiorano  Love all of your pictures! Luna looks like such a sweetheart. I’m sure she’ll be great company during your recovery.  ❤️

Valerie Allen  You are fortunate to have such thoughtful and supportive friends. I’ll be a week or so behind you on surgery. Ready to get it done as well!

Marie Myers  I was a few pounds below my normal weight at that point. I guess it depends on the Fit of the dress in question. 

J Alexander Lassally  Fun question, I lost a lot of weight from week 1 to week 5 (10 pounds), then started to gain again!   Gained 19 pounds of water in hospital, so hope the wedding is not on day 1 !! (just kidding)...

Barbara deLoache  wow Alexander.. 19  pounds of water weight??!! How does a person do that?  Were you in a high salt diet?LOL

Grace Mason   I gained 16lbs immediately post surgery, which is normal because they pump you with fluid during surgery. Diuretics took most back off within a week or so. 
Like J Alexander, I then lost weight for several weeks, about 12 lbs. I attribute it to my very sore throat and also your body is using a lot of fuel healing. After several weeks I began to gain some weight back.
Like Marie, I think the dress style will determine fit.

J Alexander Lassally  Hi Barbara - Nope super healthy diet - they will pump you up with fluids like a Thanksgiving turkey. Expect it ! 

Daneen Douglas  I do expect this but hoping fluid retention decreases to less than pre surgery amounts and then just dealing with actual body weight.  Is that a correct take?

Daneen Douglas  I fluctuate anywhere from 5-10 pounds with fluid retention from day to day so I’m just hoping weight will normalize after the effects of surgery wear off. 

Marie Myers  @Daneen- yes, my weight went down below my normal overall after i lost the fluid weight. There were at least 3 days where i ate very little to nothing, so i did loose a few pounds. It definitely is a time to jump start any weight loss goals you may have. But you should maintain a good intake of protein to help with healing. I was advised to start taking a whey protein shake prior to and after surgery. 

Ana Brusso  I did buy a couple. Only wear them if I go out. Took me about three months to start wearing them again. 

Rose Madura  The hospital gave me a surgical bra that I wore only if I was going out or if someone was coming to see me. Otherwise, I went bra-less at home. This was for as long as I felt necessary. I think it was about six to eight weeks.

Yumiko Ishida  I am at 7 weeks and still bra less, even for cardiac rehab. I just wear a loose shirt. Anything with a front closure (zipper, buttons) seems to irritate the skin near my scar, so I cover it with gauze when I go out. At home I wear a t-shirt or leave the top front open. Because of the skin sensitivity I am experiencing, I don’t think I would find front closure bra comfortable. My most comfortable bra pre surgery was a very stretchy pullover bra, so I think I am going to start there.

Grace Mason   I wore them post surgery all day, all night and only removed for showers. I disliked going without, even before surgery, though. I am large chested and definitely didn't want that extra weight pulling on my incision. I would definitely recommend front close. I tried putting on a back close post surgery early on and could feel that was something I should probably not do. One sternal precaution I read was not reaching behind yourself. The hospital provided several for me and I also purchased different styles myself. 

Christine Maiorano  I’m having surgery for MVR on 4-10 and purchased a pack of 3 front zip sports bras on Amazon! The zipper is enclosed and very comfortable.

Teressa Phillips  I had minimally invasive surgery, but the drain was under my right breast in the crease. That wound took a long time to close up. I'm very large breasted, even with my weight loss. I resorted to a ballet trick (we used tights) and cut the crotch out of some old leggings to use. It worked perfectly, I was able to position the waistband below my breasts, so no rubbing or irritation on my open wound. I could cut the crotch to accommodate the larger incision just above my right breast, and it gave me enough tension to not flop around causing pain.
Here's an example of what I'm talking about:
https://guides.brit.co/guides/reuse-an-old-pair-of-tights-into-a-long-sleeve-top

Grace Mason   The bras I found most comfortable post surgery were the brand Anita, style Lynn which I found at the Bare Necessities website. It has zip front, with one hook to secure before zipping and zip has a cover on it. The other one the hospital provided several and they worked well. It is brand Masthead, style Elizabeth pink and it is all Velcro closure and adjustments.
If you purchase something before surgery buy a band size larger than you need for comfort and to accommodate swelling.

Teressa Phillips  Grace, I hope you find it useful. My surgeon's NP said she was going to start sharing it with other patients.

Rose Madura  Wonderful attitude! It will serve you well. Glad you are happy with your surgeon and hospital. It's very important. I had mine done locally as well at the heart hospital wing.  God bless you on your journey. 💪❤️‍🩹

Ana Brusso  Glad your appointment went so well with your cardiologist and surgeon. It’s always a good thing to feel comfortable and trust your surgery team and cardiologist for after care. Congratulations and keep us posted as to when your surgery will be scheduled. You will do well and we will be here for you. God bless you 🙏❤️👍

Rose Madura  Glad your cardiologist and surgeon answered all your questions. Please keep us posted on your journey.  We are here for you. 👍

Dan Fouratt  Congrats! It is great to have a date, I was relieved when I got mine.  I will beat you by two weeks as my surgery is actually 28 days from today.

Barbara deLoache  Thanks Jill. After reading your history it is clear that you understand how scary and uncomfortable these symptoms can be. 💗

Sue Maize  Beautiful photo! What a wonderful career taking care of others! Now it’s your turn—you got this Barbara! 🙏🏻💕

Barbara deLoache  I need to have a CT before appointment with the surgeon. I will find out Monday when the CT will be , then see my cardiologist. Lots of steps to this process as you know well. This heart stuff sure can take a lot out of you… just reading, watching videos and trying to stay calm!!😵‍💫

Suelynn Hanegraaf  Praying for inner peace. You got this, Barbara!  I am in the process too of scheduling cardiac surgeon consultations for a re-replacement of my bovine aortic valve (it’s “time” - severe aortic stenosis).  Couldn’t agree more about how fantastic this heart valve community is!  (Thanks, Adam!)

Valerie Allen  I hate to say this, but my cardiologist also told me I could be a candidate for TAVR so I made a TAVR evaluation appt at Cleveland Clinic last May. They almost immediately said they would do me a disservice since by moving the BAV aside to place the new valve, a tight seal could not be guaranteed and would possibly result in OHS anyway. I have an aneurysm which also presents a problem with TAVR as they have to go through the aortic artery to place the TAVR. You may have different factors than I and I don’t know if age makes any difference in the recommendation. I’d wait to see what the surgeon says and get a second opinion as well. Very glad your Cath went well!

Valerie Allen  Barbara, I definitely have fatigue and like you it can be day-to- day. I attribute it to the stenotic valve primarily, as it is worsening and therefore not as efficient. I don’t plan full days anymore. I’m expecting and hoping for it to turnaround with the valve replacement. Maybe someone else can reassure us.

Barbara deLoache  My anemia has resolved and that helped a bit with the fatigue but I have days when I feel like My arms & legs are a bit heavy. 

Jennifer Fuller  I also had a great deal of fatigue before surgery. My valve was extremely stenotic. I’m about 10 weeks post surgery and feeling a little better all the time. I’m confident that with time and cardiac rehab, I’ll feel better then I did before surgery.

Rita Savelis  I'm sorry that you have to go through this. I was a bit short of breath before surgery and exhausted for months after surgery. Discomfort and exhaustion  (and not pain) are how I'd describe it. So I didn't do that much and allowed myself to sit on the sofa more than normal. And eventually energy comes back. This is all normal.

Barbara deLoache  Oh, to finally answer Sue’s question.. I am on a calcium channel blocker. I have fatigue but  sometimes it feels rather dramatic. 

Sue Maize  Well just to follow up, I too have been feeling some extreme fatigue since sending you that message….my cardiologist said I could cut my beta blocker in half, but I’m still super pooped a lot of the time. Almost had to rest while washing a sink full of dishes last night! 😔

Sue Maize  It’s amazing how much I dismissed symptoms before as anything other than my heart condition…menopause, aging, lack of fitness, but not that my stenosis was worsening. I’m so grateful to connect with you all to discover what’s “normal” about having this. I’m so looking forward to being on the other side of this surgery, just have to be patient and trust God’s timing. 

Barbara deLoache  I see you have a surgery date in April. I wish I could afford to go to the Cleveland Clinic & your surgeon but I don’t have anyone to go with me & the expense of paying for the flights & hotel etc is just too much. Where  in SC do you live?? 

Valerie Allen  I lived in Knoxville and my parents in Hendersonville so I am very familiar with Asheville. Love it! We retired closer to Hilton Head and Savannah. I do feel fortunate being able to travel. I have a good friend who lives in Cleveland.

Tom Everson  Hi I was 78 when I had my aortic valve replaced by a Edwards Inspiris Resilia valve during Covid 3 years ago.  My experience was uneventful.  Keep a positive attitude and follow doctors orders 

Barbara deLoache  Thanks Tom! It’s good to know that you & Valerie are pretty much in my age group! So glad your surgery & beyond was uneventful!!  I am in the gathering information stage. Yes, a positive attitude is half the battle!

Patricia Higgins  Barbara,
One of the first questions my cardiologist asks me is if I’m having any dizziness. I think it is a symptom. Be sure and tell your doctor. 
Take care.
Patricia

Valerie Allen  Hi Barbara, sounds like you are in about the same place as I am. I haven’t gotten that dizziness, knock on wood. Let us know what cardiologist says!

Pamela Gregory  This group is amazing! Most of us were freaked out too. Support from people who have literally been where you are every step of the way is amazing and comforting. Good luck

Valerie Allen  Welcome Barbara, you will learn a lot here and realize how many people go/have gone through this. That helped me. But yes I still freak out sometimes too.