Heather's Journal

90 days post op and feeling great! So much more energy and stamina for sure! I am so grateful for this site and the people in which to share stories and experiences with. It has helped me so much as I know it does others also. Ready to celebrate my grandson's 3rd birthday and just moved back to the sunshine ... feeling good and grateful always. God Bless all.

So Friday marked 9 weeks post op. I can finally say, I am well on the way to recovery and feeling better. I find some days that I forgot to take my mid day rest and realized I didn't really need it. I still have a little bit of dizziness but am noticing it is when my vision changes so perhaps its not my valve at all. My doctors are completely happy with my progress. I am walking 25-30 minutes at a time and enjoy that immensely. I am still feeling my body tell me when I have done enough, but I have no trouble listening anymore. I did have a minor issue in that my thoracotomy incision opened up a bit due to some underlying stitches. It took a few weeks longer to get it all healed but today I can say no band aids nor steri strips. I pray for all who come across this in their life to realize it can be fixed. My surgeon told me that most heart issues can be fixed 95% of the time if people just listen to their bodies and take care of the issue early on. I am so grateful to my Primary doctor who originally found this and my surgeon who carried me through to process. God has been so good to me.

Hello all - today marks `12 days post op and let me tell you I am feeling soooo much better. I still have a little deep breath soreness but that is because of fx rib but other than that I am great. Back to my bed sleeping which I love, walking on my own although I see my hubby peak out to check on me at times, which I appreciate. Bruising and Thoracotomy healing well. Keeping track of my vitals and they seem very good. Follow up appointment on 4/22. So grateful to our heavenly Father above.

So sorry I have not posted progress yet. Surgery was a little different than we had originally planned. Right before I went into surgery I talked to my surgeon and our desire was to get a minimally invasive procedure done on me instead of opening my sternum. Additionally, my Aortic Root was smaller than first thought so the chosen valve put in was a different valve than we had first discussed. We did discuss both the Edwards Inspiris and the Corcym Perceval, so I was completely prepared for either bovine tissue valve and am thrilled with results. Check out is 4-7 days and I am out on day 4~ I have no pain truthfully and feel quite good. I will say I do get winded and have to rest occasionally. I have my instructions and I am planning to follow the guide to the letter. I appreciate so much all my well wishes and the prayers from each one. I will continue to post my progress and look forward to everyone elses.