Bonnie's Posts

My 9 hour surgery and 12 day hospitalization was May 15th and am now home recovering. I had a left ventricle myectomy..mitral valve replacement and aortal valve repair. I had a wonderful surgeon and specialized nursing care. My hospital does heart and lung transplants and that surgical floor was my first stop post surgery for several days. When I first awoke I was happy to know I was off the ventilator. I learned I had no feeling in my left leg or arm on that first time up to a chair and was wisked off to CT to check for a stroke. No stroke and after many tests I had a pinched nerve after such a long surgery and everything resolved after a few days of PT visits. After a few days of meds it was determined I would best benefit with a Pacemaker so back to surgery for me and that has now resolved the pace/pump sequencing. My normal weight is about 140lbs and checked in with fluid build up at 145. My fluid build up went to 171 lbs during and post surgery. Today I am at 143.5 and lasix is now as needed only. I have a small appetite returning and am diligent about consuming proteins and carbs for energy and healing. I am solidly walking on my own every few hours and using the spirometer to ensure my lungs regain their strength. As many of you have experienced sleep is elusive and brief. Here is a new thing I learned for those of you who are diagnosed with LV Hypertrophy or a mishaped mitral valve as mine was. I met with the Dr. in charge of Cardiac Genetics. About half of these conditions are hereditary and I have been swabbed to determine if I may be a carrier and passed this propensity to my children who in turn can be tested and have baseline cardiac care for monitoring as they age. Thank you all for your information and sharing concern as one more follower is now in recovery.