Donald's Journal

Wow, it\'s been 10 months since my valve replacement, I can hardly believe it, things are going well, stil adjusting to the coumandin, but that hasn\'t been that difficult, I test myself weekly and adjust my meds based on the clinics recommendations. I lost a co-worker two weeks ago, he had a heart attack at home, I had worked with him for twenty years, and over the past year I was his immediate supervisor, it\'s been difficult for all of us at work. I found myself reflecting back a year ago when I became sick and had to be admitted in the hospital, things could have went in another direction, we just don\'t know, so we have to make sure we enjoy each day, regardless of the circumstances, we have our family and friends, so be thankful, for anyone facing valve replacement, I can honestly say the best is yet to come, the wait is the worst, the recovery is slow, but the results are fantastic.

Well HVJ family, it\'s been six months since my surgery and all is well, It\'s so hard to believe that on 6/11/12, I was having OHS, when I tell people they can\'t believe it, their response is you don\'t look like you had heart surgery, and I want to reply \"how should a heart patient look\" but I guess it is a way for them to compliment how well I\'ve recovered, so I say nothing and just smile. It has been a life changing experience, I often reflect on the way it could have been and find myself thanking God for the way it is. Life brings on changes and we must have faith in the Lord that he will see us through them. He never gives us more than we can handle and what he gives us is designed to stregthen us, not always in a physical sense but in a spirtual sense. I\'m so thankful for my physical well-being but I\'m also thankful for my spiritual well-being, becasue of my spirtual strength I was able to heal physically, my prayers go out to all of my HVJ family those that are having surgery and those who have had surgery,put God first and he\'ll stregthen your mind, and trust me the body will follow. To God be the glory, and take care...

Wow, I can\'t believe it, it\'s been 11 weeks since surgery (AV Replacement - Mechanical). I started back to work Monday, that was a big step, after 10 weeks away from the hustle of work, I didn\'t know what to expect, but the week went fairly smooth, I encountered a few issues that were put on hold until I returned,(thanks boss) but they weren\'t overwhelming, and I survived. I\'m so thankful to able to return to somewhat of a normal life. I was unsure what to expect back in March when I was told this surgery HAD to be done... It has been a life changing experience, I\'ve learned to be thankful for everyday, and to prioritize what is really important, the LORD first, family, and life...it\'s pretty simple when you think about it...God blessed me to have a new lease on life, I try to eat right, I\'ve started an exercise routine, and I stopped stressing about the things that I have no control over, the alcohol consumption is currently at zero, I may have a small drink down the road, but I stress small drink... and life in general is much better than before... If you\'re waiting to have surgery, be prepared for a better life on the other side, it’s definitely a blessing. Now everyone won\'t be able to run a marathon (I\'m surely not) but your perspective about living changes tremendously. I\'ll keep all of you in my prayers, those recovering take your time and listen to both your doctor and your body, those preparing for surgery; get ready for a new lease on life, and those that are back to the hustle, don\'t get caught up in it again, take the time to enjoy this miraculous thing called life... God Bless each and everyone of you... Until next time as a HVJ friends says in their journal... Keep Tickin... Donald H. Lee Survivor

Well week seven bought an unexpected set back, I went to see my cardiologist Friday morning, before returning to work on Monday,I walked in feeling very confident, I was walking 5 miles a day and feeling really better, so this was going to be a breeze. After my echocardiogram, my cardiologist came in to see me, he told me I had fluid around my heart, and it needed immediate attention, it was serious, well I admit I loss my normal cool and reserved self, WHY THE HELL WAS\'NT THIS CAUGHT BEFORE NOW. Well because this was my first echo since my surgery, so if you take nothing away from this but, make ure you get a echo as soon as possible, REQUEST IT... Well I spent last weekend in the hospital being monitored until Monday, the good news is I finally got my cool back and thanked everyone for catching this before it was too late, the surgery went well,and I was able to come home Tuesday afternoon, I\'ve grraduallyworked back up to my 5 mile a day walk and feeling even better than before, I must thank my surgeon, cardiologist, and P.N. they\'re a great team, that has been tremendously supportive during this period, I\'m truly blessed, I thank GOD for all that he has scene me through, without him I would not have made it. all praises go to GOD....Hope eveyone is well, and remember there is a rainbow at the end of this storm, and it\'s beautiful...

It\'s my 5th week since surgery and I feel better each day, of course there are some rough days but they are getting further apart, I went for my cardiac rehab orientation yesterday, that was really interesting, they concentrate on more than just your physical rehabilitation, we have nutrition courses, and psychological courses, I wasn\'t expecting that but I\'m really pleased, looking forward to my sessions starting next week, well I\'m back to work July30th, looking forward to getting back, I may just do half days for the first two weeks, we\'ll see how it goes. Well got to go everyone take care

I had my check up with my surgeon yesterday, all went well, the surgery went well, the doctor was really pleased with my progress, I got my privelage to drive back and I\'m headed back to work in two weeks, I start cardiac rehab next week, pretty excited about that. Good luck to all that are having surgey this week, I wish everyone a speedy recovery.

It\'s week 4 and things are progressing each day, Ihave my follow up appointment with my surgeon tomorrow and should start cardio rehab next Tuesday, I\'m still getting my walks in when possible, last week was extremely hotso I walked butnot as much as normal, I was able to walk this morning since the temperatures had dropped tremendously, and plan to walk again this afternoon, I dread walking but once I get started it feels great, I\'m still taking it one day at a time, but I\'ll continue to say this, I\'m so happy I had this surgery done, I\'m starting to see an improvemnt already, and it\'s just week 4. If you\'re awaiting surgery keep this in your mind, the recovery is tough but the outcome is great. The wait is truly worse than the surgery. DO THE RESEARH AND FIND A SURGEON THAT YOU\'RE CONFIDENT IN. Until next week everyone take care...and thanks for all the support...

Well, it\'s been three weeks today that I underwent OHS, unbelievable, I must say each day is better than the day before, I can walk 2.0 miles twice a day, and my wounds are healing well, I just can\'t believe it I HAD OHS three weeks ago......Now there are some catches to this, my memory is clouded at times, very little appetite, and the fact that I get cold very quickly now. Some of this will wear off. My wife is enjoying he fact that I get colder then her she says it;s payback for all the years I teased her, I\'m so greatful to all my HVJ family for all of their advice, encoragement, and sincere concerns, you\'re all great. To all recovering keep up the great job and remind yourself it was OHS not your appendix, to all awaiting surgery, take my word it gets better each day, and it is well worth having done, you can put that fear behind you and get on with a productive life.....Everyone take care I\'ll keep reading and posting....

It\'s my second week post op and I\'m feeling stronger each day, I\'m walking 1.5 miles each morning and afternoon, my breathing is much better, my stamina is getting better, I\'m adjusting to the comadin all my vitals are good, I do have an appetite issue, but I try to eat three meals a day on a schedule, I loss about ten lbs.during the surgery so I have to make sure I keep my nutrition intake, I had an Aortic Valve Replacement via Anterior Thoracotomy,a small incision on my right side, it\'s healing very well. I highly recommend St. Mary\'s Hospital, my surgeon was Dr. Katz, he\'s an excellent surgeon, I would highly recommend him to anyone in the Richmond Virginia Tri-Cites area, him and his staff are great. My prayers go out to all recoverying from surgery and to all that\'s preparing for surgery..........

I\'m only droppin a couple of lines because the laptop and I are not working well today, thanks to everyone for their encoraging words, it\'s been a great week of recovery, the wait is worst than the surgery, so those who are waitng for surgery, be encouraged it does get better, just keep your faith and trust, God and the suregeon will take care of the rest, talk to you later, once I\'ve adapted to this laptop :).

I had my pre-op today, completed a battery of test, met with my surgeon, ekg, blood work, x-ray, etc...you know the procedures, discussed the surgery in more detail, discussed the risk, discussed the benefits, discussed recovery, pretty detailed and informative. A big shot out to the staff at St. Mary\'s Hospital located in Richmond, Va.. what a great staff of professionals, they really made me feel special today. I had my rock (wife) with me for support, so I\'m pretty eager to move forward, I trust that GOD will see me through, the surgeon will perform an excellent job, and my family will be there for support... So as they say in boxing \"Let\'s get ready to rumble\" Talk to everyone at least one more time before surgery, thanks for all the support I have received from my HVJ family... Love all of you...I\'ll keep you all in my prayers...

I can\'t believe it, I\'m one week out from having my surgery, this time next Monday Dr. Katz will be replacing my Aortic Valve, Reality is starting to sink in and road has gotten a little easier, I\'m focusing on the recovery more than the surgery now. I\'ve compared this to a roller coaster, and that it has been, but just like a roller coaster, the fear is there, but once you\'re on it you love the highs, lows, curves, twist, and loops. Seems like I may have a hospital full of family for support, I\'m glad to hear that, they\'ll help keep my wife occupied, that\'s a relief. Well I\'ve better get busy, talk to everyone before the surgery.

Well I\'ve gotten my appointment set, I\'m scheduled for surgery on June 11th, I\'m happy to have a date set but the emotions are really eratic now, trying to stay positive and keep myself busy so I don\'t dwell on it. It\'s really good to have this outlet to express my emotions and thoughts, especially to an audience that understands, Hope everyone has a good weekend, I\'ll keep my HVJ family in my prayers, talk to you next week.

Well I finaly completed all of my dental work this morning, had a tough time getting numb this morning, but three shots later I couldn\'t feel a thing. Looking forward to meeting with my surgeon Tuesday, I\'m hoping we can set the date. Still having dificulty deciding tissue or mechanical, I guess it\'s actually a great thing to be able to choose. Well hope eveyone has a great Memorial Day weekend. I\'ll keep you all in my prayers, probably won\'t post again until after my appointment Tuesday.

That\'s right more dental work, I went from a cleaning to one repair to another repair, when will it end(just kidding) I have a great dentist, I only had two minor repairs, but I had one I was going to pull, but he convinced me that he could save it, and low and behold he did, I was very impressed, so one more appointment Thursday and on to my surgeon. The waiting is extremely nerve wrecking, I feel sort of in limbo, at least when I meet the doctor I feel as if I\'m accomplishing something, anyone has any suggestions other than just staying busy, I\'m blessed to have a wonderful wife she is really being supportive, I know it\'s a nerve wrecking experience for her too. Well that\'s all I have for today, I\'m enjoying having this site to help eleveate some of my stresses, does anyone have a recommended bok for the spouses, or a site they can go to. Just a thought...

Well Monday I hope to have all my dental work completed, a few minor cavities and a repair to a broken tooth, once completed i hope to schedule an appointment with my surgeon and get a date set in stone, I\'m starting to feel as if I\'m on an emotional roller coaster, so I would like to get this surgery completed so I can start rehabing. Still have a thousnd questions concerning thinners, anyone reading this please send me some reponses. Have a great weekend...

Well completed my very first cat scan, that was painless, nurses at St. Francis Hospital are great. I should hear my results by Monday, then I\'ll know if I\'m a candidate for the less invasive procedure, I still have some concerns about it though, but I\'ll keeping asking God for his guidiance and keep doing research. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Scheduled for my CAT scan tomorrow, my surgeon was discussing a less evasive procedure, instead of a incision in the center of my chest, he said there was a possibility that he could do a smaller incision on the right side, break one rib and get to my AV from there, one of the risk involved is once he begins, if there\'s not enough room they will still have to do the center incision,and surgery would last longer, has anyone out there had the less evasive procedure, and how was it?

I was born with a BAV, recently I was informed that the valve needed replacing, I\'m 46 years old and have some concerns choosing a mechanical or biological valve, I would appreciate all the information I could receive from all.