Colette's Journal

3 weeks post surgery this coming Monday. Have done 2 cardiac rehab sessions and they are pushing me hard due to my fitness prior to the op. I think I will end up fitter than before the op at this rate! I'm happy ,being a 6 day a week gym gal, I was seriously worried how I would cope mentally not being able to do my workouts. Pleasantly surprised that I can do lots of exercises including some for the upper body. Taking a nap in the afternoons as I feel quite tired by then. On opposing days I'm doing some walks with friends and catching up with others. My breath is getting better, my resting heart rate is slowly dropping, but I'm still experiencing upper back and shoulder pain, had a light massage sitting up and have been using the wheat pack as recommended by a member in a previous post. Both have helped. Time is flying and my sternum will hopefully be repaired in just 3 more weeks. Have an appointment with the surgeon on October 8th when I hope to get the all clear. Thank you to all the members of this community and to Adam Pick. This is a wonderful website that has so helped my journey. I hope to visit the beautiful national parks of the USA sometime in 2025. There are so many awesome places to see. All the best to everyone in this community.

Well it’s been 11 days post aortic valve replacement surgery. Sorry there has been no update since my admission.
Everything went smoothly. All done under 3 hrs and the Dr said the beautiful new valve slotted in just perfectly . Full sternotomy.
Woke up in ICU , no knowledge of ventilator being removed, didn’t feel much as drugged up with lots of painkillers no doubt. Suddenly was sick, bile, that feeling was not pleasant thinking my chest might just pop open.
Next day I was up and slowly walking around and in the afternoon down to the ward. Each day having bits and pieces removed from my body was a big relief. By day 6 everything was gone. I could have a shower from arrival to the ward, but with everything gone it was just bliss. Some good days and some not so good. No painkillers from day 7 and the worse pain was in my shoulders and back. My blood pressure is back to normal , they had me on pills to take stress off the heart prior to surgery. So in the bin they go.
My only problem is that my heart rate is a little high at 95 bpm resting, steady, 80bpm sleeping. Drs said it will return to normal in coming weeks. Due to inflammation and trauma. Would appreciate any feedback regarding this.
I will start cardiac rehab program on Monday for 6 weeks ,3x per week 2 hrs per day.
One piece of advice I’d like to give. Be as fit as you possibly can going in to any operation. Your recovery will be fast. When I arrived to the rehab and the Dr came to my room on Day 8 he said” where’s the patient” , he thought I was a visitor.
Thanks to all members here for the kind words of encouragement and information provided. I wish you all well with future surgeries and recoveries.
And many thanks to Adam for making and updating this website and all the hard work he does. It is absolutely brilliant

5 days post aortic valve replacement surgery. 2 days ICU. Minimal pain due to drugs during and post surgery. Dr said the beautiful valve fitted perfectly. The team were happy, heart started naturally. Everything going well except resting heart rate. Sitting at 100. Dr said due to inflammation and trauma of surgery.
I feel like my body is swaying . Has anyone else experienced this? Feels like a mini earth quake tremor. Worst pain was day 4 , 2am , I didn’t take anything for pain that day as I didn’t really have any. I won’t let this happen again . It was agonising.

Well, only 6 days now until my aortic valve replacement. Lots of delays, the first Dr is sick and my case has been transferred to a wonderful Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Emily Granger at St Vincent’s hospital , Sydney Australia.Dr Granger is also part of the transplant team and her qualifications are impeccable and best of all she is so down to earth and totally Aussie. Her secretary even calls her Emily. Last week I had a cardio angiogram as my CTAC scan of the arteries was a little unclear and the nurses who took care of me in the heart ward sang Dr Granger’s praises saying what a lovely lady she is. Speaks volumes when the staff love you!
Great news is that my arteries are ok, and I will have a hemi sternotomy, maybe also known as a mini sternotomy. Cow valve is being used.
So I’m calm and happy that I will finally begin this long journey. My wonderful friend who is a top hypnotherapist has prepared a recording for me that will prepare my body for every step of the surgery and another for my recovery.
So all systems go here. 😁