Catrina's Journal

I am 10 weeks post op from my 2nd aortic valve replacement surgery and just over the past few days from my chest down my right arm all the way to my fingers and some in my left hand just aches. Best way I can describe it. It hurts and bothers me so bad that I am having trouble sleeping. It seems to be the worst at night. I have taken Tylenol and muscle relaxers and used a heating pad to try and get relief and not much seems to help. Has anyone had this happen especially just starting almost 3 months post op? My thought is its my nerve endings "healing" from the surgery it just surprises me to just now be feeling this.

The headaches finally stopped. They lasted about 2 weeks off and on. So grateful those appear to be over. They were AWFUL. Ive been in cardiac rehab now going on my 3rd week. It has been ok. Right now they have me doing the treadmill, stationary bike and another stationary called Nustep where you push back and forth with your feet instead of circular like the bike. They arent going to start anything upper body for 2 more weeks. They want to make sure the bone is healed enough. All the while hooked up to a portable heart monitor. I was having pretty intense palpitations when I came home from the hospital. They lasted off and on for a few weeks. Part of the healing process is what they said. Always with the disclaimer if they were constant I needed to go to the ER. They have tapered off. I have pains here and there and still hurt especially when I get up in the mornings. Still sleep holding a pillow to help. I am at the point of weekly blood checks now. When I 1st came home it was every other day. So we are making great progress with keeping my levels where they want them. I was a little under last week 1.9 (they want me 2-2.5) but we are holding the warfarin dosage where it is and I go back Tues to have it checked.

Thanks guys for the responses. Having others to ask that know what it's like and what you are going through is such a huge help. My doc thinks the headaches are tension related from the surgery, with all the trauma our bodies go through with this surgery. I was prescribed Tylenol with codeine and muscle relaxers to help. Surgeon also wants me to do cardiac rehab this time. I didn't have to do that after my 1st surgery so not sure what to expect. Just waiting on ins to approve it so I can start. Hoping it will help with headache relief as well. Anyone else had to do rehab? What kind of stuff did u have to do?

Surgery went really well. Seemed to go easier this time than last. I have been home 1 week now. I have been having trouble with getting headaches since I have been home. Has anyone else experienced that post op? With having a mechanical valve now and being on blood thinners my options for headache relief are alot more limited. I have always taken advil and now I cant. I am meeting with my primary care tomorrow about it. Just curious if anyone else has had this issue post op and what u were able to take to help.

Having surgery again for another aortic valve replacement. This time with a mechanical valve. Both cardiologist and surgeon believe there is scar tissue on my pig valve causing it to not function properly so going in for a complete do over.