Corey's Posts

I had my first follow up Echo on Tuesday. Everything looks good with the Repair and he released me to return to work! My Cardiologist says I was very lucky to get a repair this time around. I still am recovering. I definitely can say I am better that I was before surgery at this point. I still have chest, rib, back discomfort much more so that the first time and my walking, while improved, isn't up to where I want it to be. I start Cardiac Rehab next week, so I hope with time all these will improve. But I am glad to be here. I felt all the prayers offered on my behalf, it was almost tangible. And the recovery, overall, has been relatively uneventful and blessed really. Thanks everyone, I will check in from time to time.

Today is 3 weeks out from my surgery. Overall doing pretty good. No major complications. Liver is slowly returning to normal. I have to follow up with my PCP next week to check again. I don't walk a lot yet in terms of distance and time (maybe 1/4 -1/2 mile at once), but moving around the house is getting easier and my step count keeps going up (around 5k daily now). So progress is slow yet continuing. I have a good bit of sternum pain. Especially towards the end of the day, but it's endurable. I guess I am mostly where I should be, I am still fearful about the long term and recovery however. Until I have improved past my pre-surgery state that will continue, I remind myself recovery is marathon not a sprint and take each day by itself.

Finally got to leave the hospital yesterday! Sooo great being home now. Learned so many meds affect the liver. I thought mine was pretty well to do as far as livers go (don't drink alcohol, smoke, etc -pretty clean living). Even learned that certain Citrus (especially grapefruit) can increase the toxicity of certain meds like good ol' Tylenol. I learned to again always Double check each drug on drugs.com. Nurses and staff know a lot, but they don't walk around with an internet full of information, and don't always have time to look it up properly. Made me regret my choice of oranges. So my pain reliever at home is ibuprofin. And a sparing 200mg dose as needed because of interactions with metoprolol and aspirin. Ibuprofin also increases your bodies "fluid retention". It's enough to throw your arms up and just shake your head. So not much options for me and pain meds during recovery.Following up with PCP on Liver enzyme levels going forward till they reach normal. Wow at a week out, I think overall feel pretty well, and ahead of where I was at 7 years ago with my mini-sternotomy( vs. full sternotomy this time) Wonky liver hasn't manifest itself in a bad way physically. TLDR part ;-) I am so thankful for all the prayers and well wishes, both hear on this site and in my personal life. This experience has drawn me in spiritually and strengthened my relationship with my Savior. I don't pretend understand always Gods plan vs/with Free Agency. But I have learned through these experiences that Faith is more than just believing in things unseen, but also believing in God's will for us and others. My possible death didn't bring great anxiety, as mortal beings we have to accept the fact that our lives could end truly at any moment regardless of religious or personal beliefs. it's a fact that life will go on without us at some point. However, thinking of my family without me here, to watch over them, protect them, & help them, especially growing up, scared the heck out of me. I learned to increase my Faith, and accept Gods will, that they would be alright in the end regardless as long as they stayed close to the Lord. I so grateful to have the Surgeon I had. I think many wouldn't have tried to save and repair the valve. I was shocked to learn it was a re-repair and not a replacement upon waking in the ICU. Still I have heart disease, and it remains to be seen how effective the repair was, initial post repair echo's still show some Stenosis. But it improved from echo to echo, so the hope is the valve and heart will heal and eventually perform at the no Stenosis levels seen by Dr McCurry during and after the testing of the re-repair. So it remains to be seen if this ends up being a good call or not. But I remain hopeful! I am glad to be off work until the new year. It always is frustrating dealing with bureaucracy both at the medical administration part and government part. Still working through, getting some doc to fill out disability paperwork for work. It's amazing how each deflects to the other > PCP > Surgeon > Cardiologist. I am just a guy, who just had heart surgery and just need some forms filled out! It shouldn't be that hard, I am not trying to take advantage of anything!!! I hope I have this nailed down tomorrow. Expending much healing energy on phone calls and debating sucks. Sending a shout out to Robert D'aurora for stopping by my room on the worst day of my recovery, you lifted my spirits for sure! Thanks again to Adam for this great site!