Candi's Journal

Sophia Ridley  Wow! That's wonderful! Although I can imagine you've been through the mill with the postponements. Have to share the diet !

Cheryl Shute Walter  How awesome for you, Candi. I sure hope it works out that way! Merry Christmas to you and your family <3

Steven A Husted  my dear candi how are you doingi hope you are in better health i am having a hard time with therapy on my shoulder where i had roto cuff surgery 2 months ago but it is getting better slowly i still keep you in prayer

Sophia Ridley  Best to get UTI cleared through beforehand. I had a kidney infection days after surgery and the pain from that was worse than my OHS, really brought me down as limited my mobility and I had to up the meds to deal with it!!! Will be thinking of you.

Emily Rowley  Definitely get it all fixed and sorted before surgery so you will be in good health for your surgery and recovery. I hope everything goes well for you :) Take Care.

Ps. Do previous kidney problems/surgery affect OHS or Valve choice? If anybody knows..

Doran Herritt  I can't imagine, but better to b safe than sorry. As much as we want to make the surgery seem common, normal, routine....it is major and carries significant risk. It's best to have everything lined up perfectly. Hopefully 12/11 is the day and you can b back home and well on your way to healing by xmas. Take care. Prayers for peace heading your way. Drn

Billy G  Candi, as I recently posted in reply to someone else today, I feel like I know how you feel. I was supposed to have surgery yesterday but it got pushed back 9 days because insurance authorization had not yet come in (and it still hasn't). After receiving that news about the delay, I think I felt worse than I've felt about anything during this entire process, including even realizing I needed surgery! Like you said, I felt like I was mentally in a great place and anxious to get on with it, but things did not play out as I would have liked.

Keep up the good thoughts and refocus on preparing for the new date! And hopefully, both our new dates will stick so we don't need to refocus again.

This also reminds me of a funny (but not funny) story I read from another patient over the last few months. One person said he was admitted in the hospital the day of his surgery, in a gown, and had an IV in his arm when surgery was canceled! I think it was canceled another time for the same person the day before one of the other scheduled times. The point is that others seem to have worse accounts of needing to reschedule things, so at least we were not in the hospital with an IV in our arms ready to go when things got pushed back, right?

Doran Herritt  Hang in there guys. Everything happens for a reason. You'll b in there getting fixed up and on your way to full recovery in no time.
Drn

Candi Atkins  Billy G. Thanks for the encouragement and good thoughts. I think that my psoriasis flare up looks better but that may just be wishful thinking. But now my mind is on the 13th and how much better I will be feeling a month after that. You are right this is much better than being in OR when they postpone. Hang in there yourself Kiddo. Hugs

Steven A Husted  hope your surgery went well and your recovery is going well i am sending prayers for you recovery the lord will take care of you trust in him he will see you thru this ohs i know it was all the prayers and support from this website that saw me thru thank you one and all

Christine Oliva  Candi this was one of my concerns since I am pretty independent and hubby works long hours/far away. Its only been two weeks but it has worked out. I'm relying on hubby but have recruited a friend or two just in case. I hated to ask, but I did and they were more than help if necessary. Also, do you have a community bus service for the disabled? Ask around, your local AHA for references even your insurance company, Home Health Nurse. I know its hard to ask but you got to do it. 6 weeks is long
but this 6 weeks is important healing time.

FYI----think of healthy non-perishables including protein and don't forget you may be taking a blood thinner so check on that along with throws, pillows, small pillow for coughing,, easy off like zip front sweatshirts, elastic tank tops, yoga or sweat pants, fan--you may get night sweats which will subside over time, phone charger-keep cell phone close by AND Power Lift Chair. I cannot express how much easier this made it for me. It allowed me to get up with virtually no assistance for bathroom and getting nutrition, water. Also, sleeping is lot less painful in this chair than a hospital bed. I really think this made me more independent, able to do my walks, spiro, get my necessities. 100% reciommend power lift chair and they can be rented. you need to

W. Carter  A month or 2 from now you will be on a treadmill in rehab building your heart and leg muscles up. You will be surprised how good you will feel with a bypass and new valves! Stock up the fridge and freezer with easy to prepare foods like sandwich meat and microwave dinners. You won't be able to cook for about a month or longer. I remember I was trying to cook a few weeks after surgery, my left arm and chest started killing me so I had to quit and sit down till the pain left. I didn't try again until a month or so later.

LETICIA DE LA ROSA-CREASEY  Candi, I will have you in my thoughts and prayers. I'm also going with a bovine to replace my aortic bicuspid valve. Hoping that in 10-15 years there will be less invasive approach. Sending you wishes for a speedy recovery :)

Candi Atkins  I am so glad that I joined these blogs. The answers have been magnificent in helping me feel better about what is coming up. Freezer is stocked and neighbors are standing by, thank goodness. Christine is right it is tough to ask for help but the last month or two I have been getting better about asking. You have all been so encouraging and supportive. Bless you. I feel better and better about the decision to have it all done at one time. My surgeon is a doll, literally and figuratively. Life is good.

Ginger Marine  Candi, accept the help of your kind neighbors, so you will be well enough soon to help them.

I live out in the country, and my neighbors took care of my chickens,my cats, my garden, and my canning. I spent 5 days in the hospital, 12 days in a nursing home/rehab, 2 weeks at my daughters (I was alone during the day, but she lives closer to medical help), and then, the MINUTE the surgeon said I could drive (at 4 weeks and days) I burned up the road getting home. I eased into my chores over the first 5 days home. At 6 weeks I started cardio rehab, and I love it!

I am amazed at how much better I feel. I did not realize how badly I had felt (or, from comments made, how badly I looked) until after the surgery. It will give you something to look forward to!

Christine Oliva  Hi Candi, glad to see you are prepared and reached out to others. You have done yourself a huge favor. One more suggestion maybe the person bringing you home can get you a bit to eat. I was so sick in the hospital, but woke up from my nap after getting home and wanted to eat everything in sight. Luckily my hubby had my favorite steak sandwich waiting for me. (Just be aware of the blood thinner you may be taking and diet). It helped me. Night one and two at home were tough because of pain but, it really started getting better and yes much better 50% than the hospital. I actually slept when I got home. Remember hold on relief is around the corner.

It is now 16 days out and I can load/unload dishwasher, same for washing machine, very lite sweep, take out small bags of trash, go up stairs when necessary, fold clothes, make my own meals (simple) and now walk twice a day for 20 minutes and move more freely without a lot of pain. Just remember it is very individualized process, everyone is different and heals to your body so if you heal faster Awesome, if its slower just give yourself the time you need.
Also, remember the spirometer (blowing apparatus) yes it will help get rid of all those pains and don't forget to get a multi-vitamin without K, some Tylenol and a thermometer. I forgot to the thermometer and hubby had to rush out and get one at 1am when I had a fever. It disappeared, but you will need to monitor it if you do.

Sorry for long post, but I just want us independent ladies to stay safe.

Serena Sorensen  I'm having 2 valves (mitral & aortic) replaced on 10/23/15 because they can't be repaired, so I sympathize. There doesn't seem to be a lot of information on multi-valve surgeries. Best wishes & positive thoughts.

Candi Atkins  Thanks Serena, I hope it is all going well today. Prayers and thoughts are with you. Mine is next Friday. Bunches of gentle hugs.

Virginia (Ginger) French  Candi, Lots of women with large breasts have undergone this surgery and can tell you about the best support to wear post-op and other things that come with having this surgery. I will contact one who I know can help you. All the best, Ginger

Jeanette Davidson   Oh sister I hear you !! Quite frankly I think it makes it a little more challenging. My surgery was three months ago and I'm just starting to feel not as sore , numb and tender. However they did use my mammory glands and that could've made it worse. I find wearing some sort of bra at all times is helpful. I came out of surgery with a bra on that they gave me which look like a nursing bra. I wore it often. The good part is most of my scar is in my cleavage and you only see about 3 inches of the nine . I asked for a breast reduction but they wouldn't indulge me! He he!!
Any questions please contact me ❤️

Terrie Syvertsen  Hello Candi- I am 66 and also large breasted and will be honest about my experience in that for the hospital stay I opted not to wear a bra but used the hospital gowns until I left the hospital and then opted for cotton tank tops that were easy for me to gently get on and off. The hospital put a bra like thing that was put on after surgery to hold me gently in place and we
took it off the second day and relied on the "gown" as the nurses were able to draw blood, cleanse, check on me without the hassle of my breasts
getting put in one place above the sternum. I had a full sternotomy and no one cared if I had a bra on. To me it gave better air flow to begin my healing and gave a good ability for cleaning. If you have some loose tank tops if you want to wear a blouse it is much softer under a blouse and depending on the weather you just don't want to worry about anything that straps behind you or is tight near the sternum incision. I had no problem with no bra until I got home(4 days) and no one even noticed
I had no bra on with the gowns which are very loose and large. Your comfort is the most important thing on their minds and I would have been
fine just wearing the "thing" they placed on me after surgery as it was
closer to a lightweight ace bandage wrapped carefully on me and I am sure you could ask for if they haven't already offered it to you at the time
of your surgery. I don't know if this helped but if you want email me at
(tsyvertsen1@sbcglobal.net) with any other more questions you might have.

Clare Auten  I am almost 2 years post op. I am a DD. Woke up in ICU with a bra like contraption on. Unlike Terrie, I was most comfortable with it on so wore it 24/7 at the hospital. The nurse in ICU was kind enough to bring a second when she hand washed the first. Once I got home I wore my own bra but did still like it on 24/7. I do think I am a little perkier than before...or maybe I am dreaming.

Ginger Marine  I wish I had had one of those bra-like devices. I have several very soft stretchy bras and they provided enough support that I did not feel pain nor did I end up with a black eye! Haha! I suspect for larger breasted women it is harder, but we are kind of used to the challenges, aren't we? I had a full cut, and the only tender spot was at the top of the incision. You will do great!

Terrie Syvertsen  Hello Candi-It is me again and I want to mention something I left out on purpose. I was one of the people who received 14 metal staples down the front
of my full sternotomy and I knew from the start a "bra" would be a delicate matter so I am sure you will be able to take advice from those above and use your own judgment of what will make you comfortable. I, like others wore the bra-like device at first but opted to change due to the fact the staples could have an opportunity to rub whereby the devices were excellent and no problem.
It was awhile at home with the staples and until they were removed I chose to just use a cotton oversized T-shirt(tie-dyed shirts In pretty different colors)that
were open enough in front to allow me to slip them over my head carefully until the staples could be removed(Amen)!Ginger is right too that the stretchy bras
have been much easier. You will be fine and I wish you the best!

Meredith Bray  I woke up with a surgical bra already on. And I wore it for the better part of two weeks after I came home. It was a hook closure in the front, a hook closure in the back, and velcro-adjustable shoulder straps. Just be aware of how your bra is fitting you - mine bound up under my right armpit area and started to dig in to the skin. I didn't notice because of all the other discomfort in the same general area.