Denise's Journal

Suzanne Hunter  All the best for your surgery you will be fine just keep thinking the positive thoughts and think about your wee grand babies and how you will be around to give them heaps of love and hugs.each day will just go by and you will heal and become well. There may be some small hiccups with your healing but just keep looking towards the future and praising life and being thankful for living in today's world with all the technology that keeps us here. Please keep us posted with your progress.

Denise Cockayne  Thank you to all for your encouragement yes Duane looks like we are will be thinking of you at 7.am in Australia. God is good to provide us with such splendid doctors

Suzanne Hunter  Hi Denise I think I posted on your guest book page not sure. I am from New Zealand and am nearly one year post aortic valve replacement mechanical. I can hear it ticking away but I only have one so not sure how two mechanicals will sound. I firmly believe in luck and think that if I have to hear some ticking to keep me alive then that's wonderful. However some people can become quite upset at the 'noise'. I guess it's wait and see.the surgery and time in ICU plus much of hospital stay is a bit of a blur. They do keep you comfortable with meds and the ventilator must have been taken out before I was aware of much so that wasn't an issue. I didn't find this site until after my surgery but it is full of knowledgeable and helpful people with lots of common sense practical advice. Take care soon you too will be advising others with all you own knowledge:):)

Denise Cockayne  thanks Suzanne for your care and advice,, you did write and I did write back but maybe got lost on site as i am new hear. Thanks for being so positive about all this and your idea about the ticking keeping you alive as positive and wonderful is a good one but i still feel a bit weird about it. I am hoping icu is not too rugged past experiences not so good but just taking things day at a time. Denise

Jeanette Davidson   I am in a very similar place along my healing journey to, Denise. I have a lot of the same questions and understand. I think it's all really normal ! I'm just trying to take it one step at a time and that seems to help don't get too far ahead of yourself ! Hang in there 💕

Tammy Pilcher  Hi Denise, I'm not sure about how long it takes to get 2or3 valves replaced, but I had my bicuspid aortic valve replaced with a bovine valve and an aortic root enlargement and it took 4 hours. Waking up in ICU really wasn't bad, because I was heavily medicated and was kind of in and out for awhile. I wrote about my surgery experience in my journal if you want to read more details. Prayers and best wishes!

Denise Cockayne  Hi Jeanette and Tammy thank you so much for your positive messages, I am feeling ok some days and others a bit weepy. People keep asking me why I am having surgery as I look so well. Feel like no one really understand except some of my family, you are both such a blessing to me for being there and saying hi and will read more on here too. God Bless you Both

Elaine Foster  You have come to the best site on the internet! Adam Pick has provided this wonderful place to ask questions and get support. We all have been where you are and we "get it" Do your research and then take a step away and know that we live in an amazing time where this is a "routine" procedure. At least its routine for our Drs. Ask any questions and feel free to vent. God Bless you

Ericka Carlson  Denise, I cried for two weeks after hearing that I needed surgery, that is totally normal. My brain felt broken too. This site is great, you won't feel so alone, everyone here has experienced exactly what you are gong through, they are your heart brothers and sisters.

Denise Cockayne  Thank you Elaine and Ericka, so wonderful to hear from people who have been there and do understand. I feel like people say nothing when I tell them, I guess they do not know what to say, I have a few weepy moments but did most of my crying when I first heard about surgery last year.
At least I am on my way, but do feel like I cannot talk to many people, what with my cancer and all I get the feeling they think I am a drama queen so lying low and trying to get my head around it all. I have no idea what to take to hospital or how to prepare, the booking receptions told me loose clothing and a bra? Any good ideas would really help thank you so much for being there and my love and blessings that you are now in good health.

Elaine Foster  I just wore loose clothing to the hospital, and I bought a bra that fastened in front. You don't need slippers or robe, they provide them. With all the lines in have in, it is impossible to get anything on over your arms. Earplugs are good. Chapstick. Some take I-pods, or I-pads, but I didn't. Really, the first few days you are in a fog kind of. I couldn't concentrate to read for awhile. I took my own toothbrush and paste, and deodorant Hope this helps. Ask any other questions you want.

Denise Cockayne  Well just got a first grandbaby this week so lots to look forward to after June surgery. Would like to hear from anyone who had 2 or 3 valves done OHS and any good ideas Elaine and Ericka thankyou for thinking of me, feel a bit lonely hear in Australia, no great sites like this one. I am being books for an angiogram before my surgery. My Dr is saying mechanical valves for me, no choice due to age and cancer. Also says I will be in hospital for 2 weeks. Thanks to God for giving me a baby grand daughter to look forward to.

Denise Cockayne  Elaine what sort of tops, can I use like loose t shirts or do I need open front stuff sounds a bit confusing. I agree have never read much but do like my music in hospital. I just hope the fog part is not too grim in ICU had a previous experience a bit like pink elephants dancing. lol. not. Think it was morphine. Will talk to them again before it all. Thanks so much for your caring xxx

Elaine Foster  Denise, you need button up tops. It is very painful raising you arms over your head for a couple of weeks. In fact, they don't want you to at all for a while. I had to have help washing my hair and showering for awhile.

Denise Cockayne  Thank you so much I really need wonderful people like you and others on this site so that I can be positive and calm. Every little idea helps xx

Tammy Pilcher  Denise, I was having symptoms but thought they were asthma related. I didn't know I had a bicuspid aortic valve that was in the critical stage of stenosis at a measurement of 0.39cm. I read a lot of posts though where people were not having symptoms. So it probably depends on how severe your numbers. Best wishes!

Bob M  I did not have any noticeable symptoms. My echo showed physical evidence that my heart was enlarging. And when my cardiologist showed the video from my angiogram with my leaky aortic valve, I was finally convinced that my heart needed to be fixed.

Clay Rowe  Not from the valve...that I know of. I went in for occasional Afib provoked by challenging workouts. Found out my enlarged aortic root required surgery and the valve regurgitation will also become an issue if left untreated.

Cheryl Batzing  Denise, I had no symptoms for 22 years! Then was told it was time to get my valve fixed, even though I felt great. So we're all a bit different I guess. I had OHS on Dec. 16 and recovering well. Best to you!

Linda Crawford  Didn't have any symptoms even after my aortic stenosis was diagnosed as severe. Then one day they started showing up in an undeniable way.

Daniel Spurgeon  My suggestion is to choose a hobby that will help you focus on enjoyable activities and distract you from medical topics.

Lenore Mitchell  Denise - indecision is always tough, but I agree with the suggestion to try and keep busy as much as possible. I knitted all kinds of Christmas presents this year, many more than usual, and that made me think about something other than my upcoming surgery. It's impossible to do away completely with the anxiety, but you might also try writing a journal and just pouring out your thoughts - leave them on the page, so to speak.
Let us know how you're doing, and best of luck. Remember too, that all we really have is the present moment, the present day, so even though its not easy, all we can do is try and make the best of the time we're given.

Denise Cockayne  Thank you wonderful people so good to find you all. I am waiting to hear if I have to get 2 new valves or 3. Definately Miteral and Aeortic and maybe the pulmonary. Next see surgeon on 27th January he is based in Melbourne Aust and works linked to the cancer centre that I go to as they think my heart is not up to having chemotherapy as I have had carcinoid neuro endocrine cancer for nearly 8 years. I do not really have heart symptoms other than tired a lot and get out of breath when walking fast or uphill. He says it is far better for me to have surgery soon as I am sixty nearly 61 and he prefers to operate while patients are well and then I will be able to have the chemotherapy when and if I need it. I lived in a quiet rural town and my team of doctors of 8 years say that watchful waiting is ok and I do not need surgery in a hurry ie maybe by the end ofnext year. I do not know who else to ask. They do not do this by non invasive methods so it is open heart is that mostly what you all have and I am wondering how long the recovery might take. He said I would spend 3 days prior to the surgery having angiograms etc and getting my cancer as stable as possible with medication then after the surgery a few days in icu which scares me as with this disease it is really the hardest part to keep us stable after and during the surgery due to high levals of hormones in our system and we need to be on a drip of sandostatin medication to try and stop flucuating blood pressure etc. Sorry to sound so complicated but if anyone has this issue or can advise me in any way I would be so glad.

Denise Cockayne  Thanks for your ideas about keeping busy I so understand that but not so good at doing it although have a daughters wedding in 10 days and another daughter having a baby in May, I would love to be well by then.
Thank you so much for any ideas and help you are all wonderful indeed