Have completed 3 months post surgery cardio rehab. Very grateful that everything is going well. I am no longer taking a blood thiner- just a daily small aspirin. ...Read more
Have completed 3 months post surgery cardio rehab. Very grateful that everything is going well. I am no longer taking a blood thiner- just a daily small aspirin. Greetings to all.
Naomi Gray Way to go, Gail! I'm 1 month pot-op, and about to start my rehab with the local PT (we don't have a c ... Read more
Naomi Gray Way to go, Gail! I'm 1 month pot-op, and about to start my rehab with the local PT (we don't have a cardio rehab nearby). But I'm looking forward to it.
Six weeks post surgery, and feeling very well. I continue my post op cardiac exercise, and use the elliptical 6 times a week for about an hour- lower level. ...Read more
Six weeks post surgery, and feeling very well. I continue my post op cardiac exercise, and use the elliptical 6 times a week for about an hour- lower level. My heart likes it. I will be off my platelet thiner in 4 weeks, so will just have my daily aspirin. I am very grateful to have this quality of life and thank God, my surgeons and my family.
I think it has been said often that struggles are all different, and that it is not an easy procedure. I agree, and also the fact that one has to gain confidence ...Read more
I think it has been said often that struggles are all different, and that it is not an easy procedure. I agree, and also the fact that one has to gain confidence in one’s heart again. After all the major discomfort has passed, the random pains give pause, but then ecah day brings more strength- and I am only 4 days post surgery!
Debbie Kelly I am glad you are getting stronger each day. My hardest night was the evening after surgery. I was ... Read more
Debbie Kelly I am glad you are getting stronger each day. My hardest night was the evening after surgery. I was hurting terribly in my left groin. Fortunately, it wasn’t anything major. The doctor instructed the nurse to put some presssure on the wound, followed by a Narco. That did the trick! Everything went smoothly until the doctor removed the temp pacemaker. I maybe a baby, but it hurt like heck. I had tears rolling down my eyes. I should have asked for a pain pill before the procedure.
I hope all goes well with you. Have safe trip home, and keep us updated!
Louanna Miller My recovery was a bit complicated and I learned we are all unique physically. Our bodies respond to t ... Read more
Louanna Miller My recovery was a bit complicated and I learned we are all unique physically. Our bodies respond to the surgery in a unique manner and healing is different for each of us. Be gentle with yourself and listen to your body as you proceed through the days, weeks and months ahead.
I’m now 6 months post OHS, and finally feel like I’ve come full circle to a new normal place for myself.
Dan Baltazor Welcome to recovery! You'll gain your confidence again (took me over 3 months) and your strength.
Debbie Moriarty Confidence is a big word that pops up during recovery!! I found myself saying many times I wasn’t c ... Read more
Debbie Moriarty Confidence is a big word that pops up during recovery!! I found myself saying many times I wasn’t confident I could do “fill in the blank”! I’m 3 1/2 months out and now I find myself walking 4 houses farther away and forgetting to if wonder about the confidence of doing it!! Interesting you mentioned this because of how often it pops up!
March 5 surgery went well. I have been discharged from hospital and feel I am reentering the real world again. I was intubated, they used the 2 femoral arteries, ...Read more
March 5 surgery went well. I have been discharged from hospital and feel I am reentering the real world again. I was intubated, they used the 2 femoral arteries, 2 wrist arteies, and a TEE- trans esophageal ECHO in my esophagus stomach area, to better “see” to place the valve. They used a Sentinel embolism catcher in the arteries above the heart. They say in 99% of cases, they do colect either embolisms, calcium debris from the valve, or other debris. All. Ery interesting to me. The femorals are healing nicely, I am walking many times a day, and resting. My husband and I remain in the NYC area as I will fly back to SC in a week. They tell me the valve is not leeking, and all is going well. I need to remain hydrated and will take Plavix and an aspirin daily for 6 months. In 5 weeks I will return to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital for another ECHO and review. In the meanwhile, I will start cardio rehab in Beaufort. My body had discomfort from all the activity during the procedure, but that has lessened, and have no discernible problems now. I am so thankful for all the support from my heart valve friends, and my adult children and super husband. A lot of thanks for the strength God has given me during this story of my heart! Ore later.
Susan Lynn Fantastic news! Speedy recovery, Gail! ❤
Dan Vechiola Keep Marching Gail! One day at a time.
Debbie Kelly That’s awesome, Gail. I had all the same done to me the following day, but you explained it all so ... Read more
Debbie Kelly That’s awesome, Gail. I had all the same done to me the following day, but you explained it all so much better than I did. I had a lot of pain in one groin the night of surgery, but that subsided after pressure was put to the site and taking pain meds. TAVR is awesome! Have a safe trip home, and keep us updated. Take care.
Louanna Miller This is great to read. Take recovery one day at a time. God speed.
mariel bouscayrol How long will your cardiac rehab take? Will it be inpatient rehabilitation?
I was very interested in the responses to my question about the breathing tube. Are there folks who have has the TAVR who can tell me if they had a breathing ...Read more
I was very interested in the responses to my question about the breathing tube. Are there folks who have has the TAVR who can tell me if they had a breathing tube or just drugs. I did not ask doc yet about this.
Don Tatzin I had a TAVR for severe aortic stenosis on Dec. 14. No breathing tube and only partial sedation. I wa ... Read more
Don Tatzin I had a TAVR for severe aortic stenosis on Dec. 14. No breathing tube and only partial sedation. I was a low risk candidate for surgery. I was discharged on Dec. 15 and encouraged to be active. All restrictions on my activities were dropped on Dec. 28. I immediately began to feel better and started walking 6 hours after surgery. MinimAl pain that subsided after less than 24 hours. Good luck.
Helen Daw I had the tube and did not feel it. It was out before I woke up
Debbie Kelly I am having TAVR on March 5th and was told that it will be up to me whether I am put to sleep (with a ... Read more
Debbie Kelly I am having TAVR on March 5th and was told that it will be up to me whether I am put to sleep (with a breathing tube) or partially sedated (with oxygen). I am leaning towards partial sedation.
Karen Warren I had conscious sedation and no breathing tube. Do not remember anything. Good luck.
I will have TAVR for a bicupid leaking aortic that has given me severe aortic stenosis on March 5, 2019 at Columbia- Presbyterian in NYC. Dr Martin Leon and ...Read more
I will have TAVR for a bicupid leaking aortic that has given me severe aortic stenosis on March 5, 2019 at Columbia- Presbyterian in NYC. Dr Martin Leon and Dr Tammin Navif will lead the team.
Debbie Kelly That's great! I have a tentative date for TAVR on 3/6. Are you considered low risk? TAVR for the low ... Read more
Debbie Kelly That's great! I have a tentative date for TAVR on 3/6. Are you considered low risk? TAVR for the low risk is fairly new in Houston. Do you know what kind of valve you will be receiving? I read that I will have the option of having the breathing tube or for me to receive "happy, calming" drugs and be awake. Not sure which route I will go.
I wish you the best!
Rich Hahn Great news. I was all set for TAVR until they found arterial blockage during cardiac cath. Now I'm in ... Read more
Rich Hahn Great news. I was all set for TAVR until they found arterial blockage during cardiac cath. Now I'm in a wait and see situation. You should be in and out and recovered in no time.
gail himmelsbach I am getting an Edwards Life Sciences replacement valve. I am considered low risk, and my coronary ar ... Read more
gail himmelsbach I am getting an Edwards Life Sciences replacement valve. I am considered low risk, and my coronary arteries were found to be all clear during my catheterizations.
gail himmelsbach I am pleased that they now have this procedure for low risk patients. good luck to all.
Debbie Kelly Yes, good luck to us all! Please keep me posted, Gail, on your surgery, and I will do the same!
R ... Read more
Debbie Kelly Yes, good luck to us all! Please keep me posted, Gail, on your surgery, and I will do the same!
Rich, I wish the best for you. Just think, we will all be recovered in no time, some longer than others, but we will feel so much better than we do now!