Daryl's Journal

Rose Madura  I DID NOT have Covid. But I did get the Pfizer vaccine and had no complications. Maybe your PCP can advise you on your specific situation. Everybody is different and everyone has a different viewpoint on the vaccine.

Marie Myers  I also did not have Covid (that I know about), and I got the 2 Moderna vaccines. I have had an aortic valve replacement, an aortic root replacement, and ascending aortic aneurysm resection, and no problems from the 2 vaccines.

Patsy Stewart  I have not had covid, and I took the Pfizer vaccine. I didn’t have any trouble with either shot other than I had a sore arm. My doctors all recommended that I take the vaccine. There was a doctor on site the day I took the first dose who came out and talked with me. He said that with all of my health problems that the vaccine probably wouldn’t protect me. He warned me to keep wearing my mask, social distance and stay home if at all possible. The only places that I have been since my first heart related surgery in November of ‘19 is to my doctor’s appointments, the hospital, rehab and to ride in the car. This is beginning to take a toll on my life. I miss my mom, my family, my church and I actually miss shopping. Covid is raging in our community. We have had several deaths. I have lost several friends and a pastor. There is only 17% of our county who have been vaccinated.
Rose gave you some great advice about talking with your PCP.
There are several articles on this website that might help you. Here are a few of them.
https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/coronavirus-covid-19.php
https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/learning/covid-19-vaccine/
https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2021/01/03/covid-19-vaccine-safety/

  Patsy, I always keep you in my prayers. I cried reading you can’t see your mommie, that hit me hard. I’m so sorry you have so many health issues that keep so isolated. I keep myself isolated as well but I don’t have family other than my daughter and she is with me. My one brother and his family are in Florida so no meeting for a while. Please don’t go out there if you don’t have to. I’m grateful you have your son and husband. Stay strong as this too shall pass. God bless you 🙏❤️

  Daryl, I had the same surgery as Marie. Haven’t had COVID and got both Moderna vaccines and had no complications from it other than a little soreness on my arm. I agree with Rose, you should check with your Primary. Hope you find the right answers. Be well and God bless you

Rita Savelis  I have 2 mechanical valves that were placed 6 years ago. I got the Pfizer vaccine in March/April. No side effects of any kind. Doctors definitely recommended it. I was having treatment for 2 different cancers at the time. The vaccine should really be the least of your heart worries. Any heart meds or other meds you are taking have more side effects, especially longterm. Alas.

Lisa Coombe  I have a mechanical valve and got my first shot in April, surgery was end of May and my second shot was end of June, no problems at all

Patsy Stewart  Thank you, Ana. You truly touched my heart. I’m thankful that you have your daughter with you. Prayers for you as well! My mom has dementia and it has been horribly hard for both of us. We went everywhere and did everything together. She had moved in with me right as covid hit, and we were planning on staying safe until it was over. My husband was working and my son was doing a great job of working from home and taking care of us until I was admitted back into the hospital. My oldest brother came and moved her back home. He and my middle brother now take turns spending the nights with her, but she’s mainly home alone during the day. We all call her several times throughout the day, and my brother lives within walking distance. Mom loves to work in her yard, burn leaves and brush piles and climb stairs and all of the things she’s not supposed to be doing. She will be 89 in September. She took the vaccine. She didn’t have any side effects, and I’m very thankful. In the past couple of weeks I have had 3 nieces, 2 nephews, 2 great nieces, a great nephew and a sister in law all come down with covid. There were several nieces and nephews that had it in weeks past. One of my brothers had it. I have a huge family and only a handful that have been vaccinated. I thank God that they have all survived it! I have a sister in law who had a reaction to her first shot and was advised not to take the second one. Sorry if this was too much of a covid report. Thank you for your prayers.

  Patsy, at least you have a great family and you seem to help and support each other. I’m also glad that all your family got over the virus. One of my brothers and his wife and brother in law all came down with COVID too but also survived it. Praise God! Be well Patsy and tell your son and husband I love them for being so good and supportive with you. God bless you all, be well dear heart warrior ❤️🙏🤗

Civita Fahey  Hi Daryl, I had Covid in late January 5 day after my first Moderna shot. I got both shots and have no issues at all., though the second shot packed a whollop. I was out for about 36 hours. just felt like I had a bad flu. My cardiologist actually encouraged me to get the vaccine.

Marie Myers  I have not changed my dog walking habits, and I am still going on my daily 15 min walk and bike ride sessions. I think you are safe being out in the sun, as along as you are not encountering close contacting crowds on your walk. My gym has suspended operation for at least 2 weeks, so I do yoga at home.

  Heard that dog walking should be avoided as they can be carriers and not show symptoms. As far as walking, it should be safe if you are not around other people or dogs.

Marie Myers  dog coronavirus is way different than this new strain. The CDC states there is no evidence of the novel Covid19 virus in companion animals.

William True  Hi Daryl,
I spoke with my cardiologist about this exact fear. He told me that a post-surgical heart is just as safe as anyone else out there. Take all the normal precautions, and do your best to be a hard target. Beyond that, live life and try keep things as normal as you can! Good luck to all of us!

Adam Collins  My cardiologist told me he's not too worried about me getting infected, saying he doesn't view me as a "compromised host." Of course, he also recommended isolating, washing hands, etc., all the stuff that everyone is supposed to be doing anyway.

When I spoke with my surgical team, they seemed less confident about my ability to handle it. They weren't trying to scare me or anything, they just wanted me to stay alert and be extra vigilant about staying away from people, washing hands, etc.

So I'm not sure where I stand. Regardless, I'm social distancing my heart out for now, just in case.

Joe Tarango  My CC cardiologist said to stay inside and avoid people. He said walking for exercise is great as long as it's away from people. At some point, I'll need to go to the grocery store though.

Judy Shaw  Thank you Daryl for the encouraging words. I'm sure my fears will get worse the closer my surgery date gets.

Lilly Black  Daryl, congratulations! I will be at 4 yrs in December! Unreal how time flies. What’s up with the irritation? Is it external or is it deep in the sternum? If you read my journal I describe infrared heat lamp treatment. My pain was deep in the tissue. I have no more pain but it took 2 years to go away! Hope it gets better for you...take care! ✌️😊

Rita Savelis  I completely trusted the surgeons. They are type A personalities and great at what they do. Then they move on to the next surgery....Too bad the surgeons can't stay around to cheer one on through recovery and its various side effects and complications....xo

Debbie Chatzky  For sure surgeon was great but only saw him once after. His PAs came around and listens to my complications. Too many chefs in the kitchen.

Sue Sanchez Grela  Oh i love this Daryl ❤. Thank you for sharing with us beginning this journey! My AVR is March 1 so please pray for me and my family!

  Hi Daryl , Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Glad your well sir. Pretty Terrifying about the wires severing an Artery man...WOW!!! Glad they patched you up in time. Just curious as to how your sternum knitted back together as I noticed you were not pleased with the gap you could feel. How did that turn out for you and did it resolve on its own with time or what?? Thanks Daryl, Good Luck and God Bless!

Daryl McCallum  Did quite well Keith....I was very careful the first year but since, I can do anything. I play golf allot and that doesn't bother me at all, but I won't lie, as there are certain things that will irritate it, but I just use the heating pad in the evening and all is well. I always have my cardiologist check it every 6 months for broken wires.

Terrie Syvertsen  Daryl- Great updated post and congrats on your anniversary too. I just had my 1 yr. anniversary in Aug. Feels good, doesn't it?! I also still feel pain in my sternum if lifting too much but won't complain when I know I am to fault for working it too much! You look younger than 64 in your photo, I am 66 and after chasing our new puppy "Rylee" around all day feel every year of it! Ha.......My husband and I also have been playing catch up with chores for the same reasons.....It feels so good to accomplish anything and everything that just couldn't get done while recovering, doesn't it! Happy for you both and continued healing and enjoying life. Take care!

Jean Raber  I want to thank everybody on here who has mentioned constipation, one of the absolute worst parts of major surgery. After my C-section, I was ready to resort to blasting caps, and I have always mentioned to doctors that I really never want to be in that type of situation again, even if they have to break out the colonoscopy prep meds.

Terrie Syvertsen  Know what you mean Jean. After my Hysterectomy in 1989 I was told I couldn't leave the hospital until I had a BM. For one solid day while sharing a room with two other people I proceeded to pass loud, obnoxious gas and felt that success was nearing. All in the room including visitors were praying for my success. I in fact got up and left for the bathroom and from there took the emergency button in hand and buzzed the nurses station saying "WE HAVE LIFT OFF!" They checked me out happily that afternoon. I know there are dozens of you out there saying" Thank you for sharing". Have a good night.

Jean Raber  Terrie, all part of life. If you can't laugh about it, you're done for. Hope everyone has a great Labor Day with much "regularity."

Rodrigo Ponce  I dare say, and state the obvious, that you're alive, ergo, you have emotions, in this case happiness which as you know is cause for excitement.

I'm 3 weeks post-op today, and I do feel my hear beat stronger than ever, which to me is perfectly normal since it is getting better.

But we have the responsibility to ourselves to be wary about our hearts and overall health.

Joseph Ballett  If you don't mind , what is the pain like in your sternum, does it like pop on you. I have a physical job and i wonder about this .

Adam Pick  Fyi, I'm 9 years out from surgery and still get some incision irritation every once in a while. For me, I've found that exercise and stretching really helps my chest feel better. Do you stretch much?

Daryl McCallum  Joe, its a dull pain when I do anything that I need to put strength into it. Its getting better but very irritating at times. I use a heating pad to reduce the pain..Try to stay away from meds if possible because I take to many already. Like Adam states, try some good stretching does help.

Daryl McCallum  Day 2 post 6 months wasn't much different except I was moved to my room. I was pretty alert as I told the nurse that I wanted to sit and stay in my recliner. After they settled me in it was pretty much lay there with your wires attached and sucking on ice cubes. I was pretty much inand out thru the day. Had visits from the surgery team and the family, but I couldn't speak to well as my throat was sore from the tube they inserted during surgery. My nurse team was awesome and very caring. They told me to me prepared to take a walk the following morning.....thinking to myself not a problem.....ha ha

Daryl McCallum  Well I lost a couple of days but day 3 was not unusal, wire pulled (went into AFIB for a couple of minutes), tubes pulled and still sitting and sleeping in recliner. I couldn't lay down as my hear would start racing. Went for a walk and listened to the rehab staff talk how I will get out if I walk and do some stairs. Had some great nurses that kept the pain level down to a 4 or 5. Enjoyed visiting with my family as I went out and in sleeping.

Adam Pick  Hi Daryl, Congrats on getting to 6 months! Like you my sternum was a little sore. Are you doing any form of stretching to open up your chest? As strange as that sounds, it really helps me. Just a thought.

Adam Pick  So you know, I'm almost 9 years out from surgery and my incision still gets irritated sometimes. I've thought about getting the wires out. But, at this point, I stretch every day to minimize the discomfort.

Daryl McCallum  Yes I know what you mean and its been only six moths today for me. Besides the scar tissue issue I'm suffering from dizziness so I can't drive and that means no work. Back to the cardiologist next week to see if he can shine some light on this dizziness.

Virginia (Ginger) French  Dary, as a person who has had vertigo from a traumatic brain injury as well as from post-valve-surgery medications, I know how frustrating the dizziness you are dealing with can be. This may sound strange, but I have the same problems in the grocery store. A small store that does not have glaring lights and shelves that are not packed is usually okay. But when I get into a super store with bright lights and all kinds of brightly colored items packed in on the shelves, once in a while my vertigo triggers. My peripheral vision is picking up all of the items dressed up in fine advertising colors screaming at me. It is just too much sensory input. Often, as long as I do not try to whip through the store to get to the items I know I need and try to get out quickly, I am okay.

My first question to you would be: Are you still on medications that can lower your blood pressure. My vertigo greatly increased from the dose of metoprolol I was on. My blood pressure was too low to adequately oxygenate my brain. A visit to my family physician with a log of my daily blood pressures and heart rates allowed her to see that, indeed, my blood pressure was too low. Dose was cut in half and within four days I had major improvement.

Until you get in to see your docs, I suggest you start logging daily blood pressures taken at the same time every day. You may be having the dizziness triggered as you start to drive faster because you also are picking up more rapid changes in the scenery with your peripheral vision. It may be worth a try. Good luck, Ginger

  Hi Dary! Let us know what your dr says. I'm also 6 months out and have similar dizziness issues but not on any meds and b/p not low and dr says all looks good so just keep an eye on it. I would be very interested if your dr comes up with a solution . It's very frustrating I know!! Best to you, Lynn

Daryl McCallum  I will pass on anything that I can gather. At this point in time this problem has stopped me from going back to work as my travels take me on the interstates to get to my jobs and or the airport (couldn't imagine flying now) and with all of those crazy drivers I don't want to add to the mix. Very frustrating to say the least.

Daryl McCallum  Ok went to the doc and she cut my blood pressure meds back......BP remains good but the dizziness is still hanging around. Next appt is with cardiologist and neurologist. If this doesn;t shine some light it looks like early retirement.....really not ready for that quite yet.