November 9, 2015
Lynn Loudermilk
Aortic Stenosis
March 9, 2021
Kenneth Ellis
Aortic Stenosis
March 10, 2021
Riaan Venter
Mitral Regurgitation
March 11, 2021
This book has helped over 47,000 patients and caregivers from diagnosis to recovery.
Dr. Castro has performed over 5,000 cardiac procedures and more than 3,000 operations involved heart valve therapies.
I never had the cardiac blues to journal about during my journey - I remember some in my circle going through it, perhaps taking an awesome trip somewhere beautiful to get through it - and that is a great idea. I am one year and 3 months post op now. I thought it passed right by me. I was informed most likely they would hit a couple months or a bit more post op - and hit hard. I never had one day during recovery where I felt the ton of bricks of the reality of what happened. Maybe it was having to take care of my girls, on my own, that kept me focused and unable to feel and spend time with myself. Or being focused on trying to breathe better....whatever the reason, that was how my journey was meant to be.
So, I am letting you know they have hit :) - and have hit with an unexpected force. No medication needed. I am letting myself go through every hard day - some days are pretty good - but most days are hard. Crying for me. Not like I cannot go on type of feelings, more like.....emotional pain that is connected to my past. Sounds crazy, right? Well that is the gift that cardiac blues has brought me - perhaps yours will be different. I choose now to look at the pain and see what I can learn from it - and I will share for me, what an eye opener it has been. Why so long? Well, if you knew the deeper me, you would know why, so this all makes sense for me, and perhaps there might be a few others with a delayed response to what happened?
So...to the awesome caregivers who never signed up for this journey either.....when you see us like this...we are not going crazy, we will be ok once it passes - but we need to go through it. Do what you need to do to back off, not be worried, and learn to handle it in the best way possible so your patient can get to the other side. Do not be hard on him/her. It is the last thing we need.
To the patient - my advice is give yourself permission to go through it. It is not easy to - not for me. if you pay attention there is deeper meaning in it than you could ever have imagined - yes, of course we are grateful we are alive, but perhaps there is even more to be learned from it. Talk about with others if you have to. That helps too.
Love to all.
Christine
You were never boastful about your experience and you know healing is not linear and of course, everyone heals differently. ... Read more
You were never boastful about your experience and you know healing is not linear and of course, everyone heals differently. I am in the process of doing a journal entry and find that my emotions still have range from "not suffering fools gladly" to abject tears. I tell people that it's my opinion and I'm right, so there!
Keep rockin. It's all good. Prayers aloft to you and your family.
With the exception of an occasional glass of wine or apple ale, I also gave up alcohol the day I woke up from surgery. That alone, has been a life style change that has contributed to a re-discovered clarity. My old party buddies have been very supportive and remain my best friends. They have made it clear that they like being with me no matter what the circumstances.
I've learned a lot through this ordeal. I've learned that life really is fleeting. I've learned that I don't have time to lament my condition, primarily because my "condition' is "alive"...... a really good place to be. You will get through this. You clearly understand what is going on and you are in control of it. Roll with the punch. Good luck to you, from someone who "gets it".
Grateful for all of you.