Delise's Journal

Hello, everyone. It's been a while since I last posted, so I hope all of you are doing well. I am now four months post-op and have been feeling great. Once I got over my A-fib/A-flutter, things improved immensely. My scar seems to be healing nicely, and I completed cardiac rehab last week and returned to my Jazzercise classes. Got the okay to go five days a week. I've been to just two classes, but so far, so good!

I am wondering whether any of you who had a sternotomy and are at least four months or more out from your surgery, have experienced some little pains inside your chest. My surgeon used rigid sternal fixation, and I've noticed just recently that if I move a certain way, I feel a tiny twinge or pinch. This occurs sometimes if I've "hunched over" to reach something, but it also occurs randomly, when I've moved a certain way. I'm curious whether this is common, or if it warrants a question to the surgeon or cardiologist. Thanks for sharing any insight you may have.

My surgery date was changed again. My initial date was Sept. 11, but my surgeon had a death in his family and had to cancel. I was rescheduled for Oct. 12. But, yesterday I got a call from my surgeon's nurse because of a cancellation. She wanted to know if I would like to have my surgery next week, Sept. 26. YES, please! So . . . barring any other changes, one week from today, I will undergo a sternotomy to replace my mitral valve and repair my tricuspid valve. I'm so glad I don't have to wait until mid-October!

My surgery date has been rescheduled to Oct. 12, so I am still wondering whether any of you sternotomy patients had the erector spinae block, or any other kind of nerve block, prior to your procedure. I asked both my surgeon and the anesthesiologist about it, and neither of them use it. However, I've read here that some surgeons routinely give this type of nerve block to help alleviate pain and the need for opioids after surgery. If you received this type of nerve block, what was your experience? Thanks!

Just got a call from my surgeon letting me know that my surgery is canceled tomorrow. He had a death in his family, and has been called out of town. I don't know when it will be rescheduled. HIs office will call me this week. I am bummed, as I was psyched and ready. But, things happen, so now I wait.

Going for my pre-surgery testing tomorrow. If all is well, sternotomy to replace my mitral valve and repair my tricuspid valve will take place bright and early Monday morning, September 11. This group and website have been a tremendous resource. Thank you!

I'm wondering whether others have had their mitral and tricuspid valves replaced and/or repaired during the same surgery, and if so, what approach did your surgeon use? And also, if your mitral valve was replaced, did you choose a tissue or mechanical valve? I am 64 and active, so I would prefer not to be on blood thinners for the rest of my life. Thoughts?