Candy's Journal

Today marks one month post surgery, can't believe it has been that long already!  Thanks again to everyone who has helped and encouraged along the way!  I start cardiac rehab near our home on April 2.  Looking forward to that a lot!  My energy is improving day by day and the problem with the fluid around my lung seems to have stopped.  Keep going everyone, our future is bright!

Hi yall, well we had a little detour the last few days. I developed a fever and came to ER to get it checked out. It was discovered that I had a considerable amount of fluid around my right lung. Today it was drained via thoracentesis. 800 milliliters was drained off the area. They are analyzing the fluid and Wednesday I find out if I can go home. I wasn't prepared for this, but my cardiologist seems confident this procedure has taken care of it. Hang in there yall, we have all got what it takes!

Hi everyone, well, I had my mitral valve repair last Thursday, came home Sunday. Here's what Dr. Robert Smith did during surgery:...closed the left atrial appendage ...closed the PFO ...repaired mitral valve using a ring...used prosthetic cords(mine had all ruptured at some point)...did an ablation because I had had some a fib events over the past 4 years...took out my internal loop recorder which had been there for 3 years
I was put on Coumadin for 3 months due to the prosthetics, and my understanding is the plan is to switch back to Eliquis eventually. My cardiologist will guide me on this. Now I get to go get my INR checked at Labcorp! I guess my cardiologist will let me know if I need to adjust my Coumadin dosage?
On a more positive note, I am so thrilled to be on this side of things. Yall were SO right, the anticipation was WAY worse than the surgery itself. I recommend doing it when it's time for you to do it. You can get through it and you will be fine. Do it!Right now I am working on getting Coumadin levels right, resting (yall were absolutely right about feeling like a mack truck hit me) and just being patient with myself and trusting the process.Heart Hospital of Plano is AMAZING and I can't thank them enough for all their good care! I highly recommend them!!!And speaking of thanks, our heart sister Kathy Blank in this group who was my cheerleader EVERY step of the way(and still is!) was an angel that guided me every step of the way! An incredibly special lady!!!Now, if yall ever have questions or need anything, I hope I can help others as much as yall have helped me and continue to everyday!Thank yall!! 🙏❤😀👍👐🎵🎶😍🥰

I had my surgery yesterday and it was a rough day. I am feeling much better today. Especially when my heart valve sister Kathy Blank came to see me! A true encourager and awesome lady!

It's one week from today for me, yall!!!! So ready to be on the other side. Thanks to everyone for all your support! I also read that Sunday, February 22 is National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, so let's continue to help everyone in our worlds be more aware and knowledgeable about this area. Plus on a more personal note, my husband Pete is celebrating year #70 on February 23!

I received questionnaires via my patient portal today to fill out prior to my February 26 surgery.  The procedure listed on one of my questionnaires was minimally invasive mitral valve valvuloplasty with prosthetic.  This is the first time I have seen what my surgery is actually going to be.  Has anyone in the group had this surgery?  Any feedback from your experiences would be really appreciated.  I assume this means a valve replacement, not a repair?  And if so, I will need to decide tissue or mechanical? Thanks you guys!

I had the privilege of meeting a new Heart Sister from this group yesterday.  It was such an encouragement to hear her story and learn what to expect after my surgery. I'm about a month away(February 26). Thank you, Kathy!❤

I walked in the Dallas area American Heart Association Walk today and thought by the time for next year's walk I will have had my mitral valve surgery and hopefully be feeling a ton better! It was such a positive event and I left feeling hopeful.