Dorothea's Journal

Marie Myers  After seeing your post, I read that  low platelet count is apparently common after TAVR.  Learn something everyday, I guess! Glad your count is coming up!

Dorothea Jenkins  Yes, I got canceled with cardiac rehab at hospital as with low platelets if I fell it could kill me. That could happen anywhere. I got me a cheap exercise smart watch and was trying to download the app which said it was free and then got message from bank they charged me 34.... so I did not download it. It was made in China and only 17.00 so maybe that is why. 

Yumiko Ishida  I found cardiac rehab to be very helpful. It is hard at first, but you should see improvements soon. It is like a gym, but I felt better knowing that I was being monitored the whole time to make sure everything was okay. Or if I do have a strange sensation, there’s someone that could tell me it’s common/normal and that I don’t need to worry.

Grace Mason   Glad to hear you are going to cardiac rehab Dorothea. It's a great place to get your strength up, have support, and also peace of mind as you are closely monitored during exercise.
You are doing great!

Dorothea Jenkins  Thanks to all of you, I have low platelets at 34 and I think it makes me tired even though I have a new valve

Yumiko Ishida  Are you seeing a doctor for your low platelet count? I had low hemoglobin and severe iron deficiency after surgery and had to see a hematologist. Platelet, hemoglobin, etc, we need all of them in our blood to stay healthy. They take a long time to replenish on their own, so you may benefit from an infusion. Hope you feel stronger soon!

Dorothea Jenkins  Got a call from Cardiac REhab. Two weeks ago I was canceled because of low platelets and said they would call me in two weeks. I got a call this morning that said because the platelets are in the 30's they will discontinue having me to come because the platelets have to be 100 and after the valve replacement the time for medicare to pay will have expired. I said that is not fair but she said she knew but that is how it is. She said i could die from a fall. 

Robert Miller  Well, I think you can do pretty much anything that is affecting your heart. But if you had OHS, you will have to be careful with what you are doing as the bones need to mend. But it sounds you are doing great! Congrats!

Susan Lynn  Sounds like you're doing great! Glad you were treated well at the hospital. All the best, Dorothea!

Marie Myers  I would not assume that is normal. I would call my cardiologist and let them know. Are you able to check your Blood pressure and pulse at home? 

Susan Lynn  I agree with Marie. It's also important to remember that you're recovering and will be for awhile. Is your son still staying with you? If not, you might want to put the household chores on hold for awhile. You need your rest.

Ana Brusso  Dorothea, I agree with both Marie and my Angel 😇 Susan Lynn. You need rest and call your cardiologist. God bless you 🙏❤️

Rita Savelis  Always sit down when you feel like you might fall. You have good instincts. It's still very early for you after surgery and you definitely can feel tired and faint. Take care.

Dorothea Jenkins  Marie, I will see the cardiologist aprn Thurs. They said it will take awhile before body gets used to new valve. 

Dorothea Jenkins  I hope everything goes well Thursday, I do check blood pressure about twice a day and I am wearing a heart monitor.

Suzette Schear  You went from walking downstairs, then putting clothes into washer. Then walked back upstairs to shaking a shaver.  It sounds like you’re over doing it. It’s good to do things but rest in between.  If you start to feel off sit down.there’s enough time to do everything.  If you keep feeling off call dr the meds might need to be changed, for me it was my meds affecting my blood pressure. 

Kimberly Eisenhut  Dorothea, I am so very happy for your post today, Valentines Day, as it made me smile! Please keep us posted going forward and of course, "HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!" to you and your husband .

Sher Follett  I love hearing all the positive stories of exceptional care. Happy Valentine's Day to you and so happy you are doing good and had a great hospital experience!

Kimberly Eisenhut  Dorothea, Do you have some help for after surgery? You will be in my prayers and thoughts and sending you big hugs and wishes for a successful surgery and quick healing

Rose Madura  What a month for you Dorothea!  You sound ready for this. God bless you! Please keep us posted when you feel up to it.  ❤️‍🩹👍

Dorothea Jenkins  I have 2 more days to go. I was told to bring a red bracelet they gave me with my blood type on it or they will cancel. I have been trying to get my mind off of it and use drawing for the escape. I put this one on face book that I finished today. I hope I can after the  procedure go back to painting. Here is what I put on. 

Marie Myers  Yes, I remember those washing cloths and the clean sheets prior my surgery also. It is all part of the infection prevention protocol.

Grace Mason   Wow! You are so talented Dorothea! Beautiful detailed picture!
Sounds like a busy February for you with many things to look forward to. Wishing you all the best on Monday and sending prayers for a smooth recovery ❤️

Dorothea Jenkins  Thanks Grace, I started doing drawings when husband was sick and blind but found that drawing calms you down. I look at the kids on computer and draw them. One of these days if I survive the procedure I want to put them in a drawing. I post them on Facebook as some say they look forward to them. 

Kimberly Eisenhut  My mother has 7 great grandkids and 2 more coming soon. My twin nieces have 5 between them and onother one on the way along with my nephew. I only have 1 grandchild myself. I look forewrd to seeing more of your drawings Dorothea Who will be helping you after your surgery?

Dorothea Jenkins  Kimberly, if you are on Facebook I have lots on my webpage. I started using a grid when I started painting in 2003. I found it to be too time consuming so I started with freehand and I think it has paid off as you remember more of what you draw whether good or bad. 

Suzette Schear  That’s tough Dorothea.  I volunteer for an app called be my eyes.  He would have to ring the app and use his phone for as a viewing lense while the person on the other end would guide him using the phone.  It will help with simple things but not the other stuff.  Maybe through his insurance there’s some kind of disability program that can help with nursing caring.  

Marie Myers  Even if you have TAVR, you probably should line up some help. You may only be in the hospital a short time, but you should have help at home when you return.  Keep us posted!

Rose Madura  I agree with Marie.  You should start to line up some people to help you both. Please keep us updated.

Susan Lynn  Dorothea, you are a wonderful wife and caregiver. As Marie and Rose recommended, you'll need some help. Hope you find someone who is a good for for you both.

Dorothea Jenkins  I will have one son at hospital with me and one at home with my husband. I will see when I get home if they will have to be with me or not. 

Rose Madura  I'm glad your son's will be there for you. You may need them for a few days.  Please continue to keep us posted. God bless you Dorothea! 👍🙏

Dorothea Jenkins  My son from Minn. will stay with me at hospital and a few days when I go home to when I can do for myself while another son who works very near by will be in and out checking on my husband and spending the night with him while I am in hospital. 

Suzette Schear  Glad you’re setting help up.  You’ll need to focus on your own healing and that takes time best to you 

Kimberly Eisenhut  I agree with Richard, it never takes that long to get results. If you have an online portal for your Dr you should be able to see the results from the tech that read your echo yourself. Call your hospital or cardiologists office, these tests are read quickly. Let us know what they say

Rose Madura  We have MyChart and you can see the results right away.  Definitely call the cardiologist or doctor who ordered the test. On the bright side, if there was an emergent issue, they would have called immediately.  Please let us know how it goes.  

Kimberly Eisenhut  I have MyChart also, it really helps with getting messages to Dr offices and I get responses quickly.

James Roberts  MyChart has blood sample results after a few hours however I've found that echos can take a few days sometimes to get on there

Dorothea Jenkins  I did go on mychart and it took about 2 weeks and now I have a TEE scheduled. I got moderate-severe on the echocardiogram with doppler. I am very tired that I'm not bothering with Christmas decorations

Susan Lynn  Dorothea - I'm so sorry you're feeling weak. Whatever the reason, your doctor needs to get to the root cause and address it. There are a number of possible conditions - we folks with heart issues forget that we are susceptible to many health concerns that aren't related to our valve diseases. If your doctor isn't giving you any satisfaction and treatment to address your low hemoglobin and feelings of extreme weakness, it's time to find a new one. You don't need to live your life and care for your dear husband with these symptoms. I'm sure it must be frightening. Prayers to you. Please keep us posted.

Dorothea Jenkins  Thanks Susan, It works like this, he says talk to your primary which I have a primary APRN. I see her next Wednesday. I have gotten to know this doctor and he sometimes makes me laugh. He told me I was 90% more intelligent than his other patients. I laughed and thought my whole life I was dumb and told him I did poor in school and he said it was not because I wasn't smart it was because you had no interest. He commented on me as I told him my EKG said I possibly had a myacardia infaction old. He said you read everything. I said when it is my heart, that I'm interested in a lot. I want to get back to my art and hopefully I can by reading. I had my son get me some raisin bread at bakery for the iron in the raisins. I mean I have eaten the whole loaf and still tired. I read that plant food iron like peanuts had a lot of Amega 6 which cancels out Amega 3 as it is not proportion. I never went to college but after my husbands  and my health problems I think I'm getting close to a degree that is not on paper. Ha Ha of course joking!!. 

Dorothea Jenkins  Haven't written for awhile. I checked my medical record and it had no to things that should have been yes. I have started coughing when laying down. I walk and have to sit a lot. Today I walked about 6 ft and grabbed the door as I felt I was going to fall. I have a video visit Thurs. I don't know how bad you get before replacement. 

Grace Mason   Hi Dorothea,
I just learned post surgery I also have a PFO. Most people that have them don't need surgery to repair it. They did not repair mine.
My cardiologist confirmed to me that it was not normally repaired. I would question your cardiologist about whether it could be causing any symptoms.

Ana Brusso  I had a PFO closure in 2009 which at the time they thought could have cause my TIA. Who knows. It was done through my groin. 

Dorothea Jenkins  I read it was no big deal if the blood flowed left to right but mine flows right to left where unoxygenated blood mixes with the oxygen blood going through the body. My blood test shows low on a lot and also low platelets.

Grace Mason   Dorothea, I'm so glad to hear you were able to get the TEE and get a closer look at your valve. Keep being your own best advocate. I hope you can find some answers and start feeling better

Rose Madura  Hi Dorothea, I'm sorry you are having all this at once.  There is a surgeon finder on this site and I came up with six. I can't vouch for them since I'm from Ohio but at least it will help in your research. Please keep us posted.  I couldn't post the results here but look for the surgeon finder. On my phone, it's in the upper right corner.

Dorothea Jenkins  I also have low platelets so Sat I am having a blood test which I never had this kind of blood test. Tuesday I will have a TESS test and Dr. Pagni which I got off this site said right after the TESS test to make an appointment. I figure it will be soon. I am a little scared of having something put down my throat and could cause bleeding. 

Marie Myers  The risk is pretty low for bleeding with the tube-in - throat test. Your doctor will advise you on that, and hopefully you can get that done so you can plan your next steps. I had sedation for that test and it was very easy on me. Keep us posted!