I have been absent for quit awhile and I'm coming up to my 3 year anniversary, so I thought I would say hello tomy new "zipper" family members. It took awhile to get where I'm today (walking 5 miles a day), but I won the war. My first year was an eye opener but very thankful to my surgeons who coached me thru it, and here I am today. My AVR was pretty much a success until I went to recovery when they noticed I was bleeding out and rushed me back in to surgery to find the wires had clipped and artery. Well according to my wife 1 hour later they put me back together and kept me knocked out for 24 hours so my body could rest. 3 years later here I am with my beautiful and faithful dog enjoying the "snow bird" season down in Arizona. Life is precious and laugh is good today.
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 ... Read more
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, ... Read more
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.
Bonnie Stone-Hope Great success story, but WOW, clipping an artery.....your family must have been SO worried!
19 months PO
Journal posted on February 19, 2016
I have noticed recently that my chest has shrunk in a tad bit and I can feel the gap which I don't like. I talked with my chiropractor and he has given me exercises and stretching that might help. Has anyone else had the same gap? I also still have pain in my sternum after doing heavy work.
Well its been awhile since I checked in as we have been busy catching up on chores I couldn't do a year ago or so. Day by day I feel better and take care of this new life that was given to me. we still do our walks pretty much daily, but we do miss a day or two. Right now we're in the process of rebuilding our massive deck (1600 sq. ft.) and the only thing I find is this beat up body gets pretty sore but my stamina is outstanding. I still notice the pain in my sternum if I lift to much but its nothing that a heating pad won't fix in the evenings.
For those of you that are just starting this journey of recovery, I wish you the best and also once you get home or you are home post 5 days, the days will get better. For me there were good days and bad........I think the worst was the constipation. But my smart surgeon took care of that quickly with some type of liquid (I can't remember the name).
I must say I feel great at 64 years old. I think the new valve took 10 years of my looks as when I ask for senior rates I get carded. HAVE A GREAT DAY MY FELLOW ZIPPER FRIENDS.
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 ... Read more
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 ... Read more
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 ... Read more
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."
Update posted on...
April 2, 2015
Good After noon all........I'm PO 1 year the 16th of this month and doing OK. But last night I guess I might have had a panic attack....whew it was weird. Blood pressure was good and pulse was also good but the sensation that went through my body was like a minor electrocution, as it started up my legs and all they way up to my head. I feel OK now but that was the weirdest feeling I have had since before my surgery. Has anyone else had these feelings?
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.
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.
10 months PO
Journal posted on January 21, 2015
Well we're working on 10 months post op and feeling good. Doing my 3 to 5 miles daily with no problems at all. Still having problems with post op dizziness while driving and have been seeing a slew of doctors to figure out what is going on. They all feel it's related to the valve replacement but they can't put a finger on it yet. Going into physical demands slowly as I still have pain in my sternum area. Missing playing golf and I tried to lift some weights at the gym (very light) but still had pain. My doc advised me that the pain can last for at least a year or more.....oh boy. Otherwise its day by day
Bob M I pray that your doctors will solve your final recovery challenges
Jim Kelly-Evans Hope you can resolve your recovery difficulties. Best wishes.
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 ... Read more
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 ... Read more
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.
Looks like we'll be joining the snow bird list. Up here in the Pac NW it was a great summer but now the rains have taken over. Walking on a tread mill is so boring at the gym even with music. Its hard to get my 5 miles in as I do outside. Still having problems with the dizzy spells and chest pain when using my upper body to lift anything even at post 6 months. My cardiologist wants to put a monitor on me to check things out but my BP has been outstanding since the valve replacement.
Well its been six months since my surgery and at this time 6 months ago I was sound asleep in ICU with my sweet wife next to me. I remember waking up once and seeing her and my nurse and the pain meds kicked in real quickly. I had the privilege of being opened up twice as when wiring me up they nicked and artery and didn't know it right away so while in recovery my very alert nurse seen that I was bleeding out and called the team back in to fix the problem...oh boy cracked twice in a day....It was pretty crazy my wife said and scarred the poo out of her. So six months ago today it happened....day 2 tomorrow.
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. ... Read more
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 ... Read more
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.
6 mos and counting
Journal posted on October 13, 2014
Just recovering from the stomach flu and boy does that zap the energy right out of you. Only got a couple of miles today as I was just plain pooped out. Three days shy of 6 months post surgery and going well but now that the cold wet weather has invaded us, my body is sore. Still having issue's with the scar tissue in my sternum area but getting a little better. Still hold my chest when I have to sneeze as if not is does give me some pain.
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 ... Read more
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.
Daryl McCallum Yes everyday before my walk.....doc said it could take up to a year to clear up
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, ... Read more
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 ... Read more
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.
Doing OK except for
Journal posted on October 1, 2014
Working on 6 months post surgery and doing well except for the driving which is a bummer for me. I can drive without any issue's slow (35 mph) but when I speed up I get dizzy. Setting up appointments with MD and cardiologists to figure if it meds or something else.
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 ... Read more
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 ... Read more
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 ... Read more
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 ... Read more
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.
Update posted on...
September 12, 2014
The last couple of days seemed to be very tiring. I sometimes do more than I should around the house as I have some problems with scar tissue in my sternum area. At the end of the day the pain can range from a 5 to a 7 and I need to take ibuprofen. Doc says it can take up to a year for this to dissipate....(Grrr) heat seems to help as needed also. Just tired and wore out the last couple of days, I guest that is natural. I only walked 2 miles the last 3 days when I have been doing 5. Anyone else having the same problem??
Working on month 5 as of the 15th of this month. Feeling great and I sometimes have to remind myself its only been 5 months as I sometimes forget when it comes to chores around the farm here.
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