Iona's Journal

Andrea Babcock  Happy First Valve Anniversary! So good to read that you are doing so well and wishing you many more healthy years with your Valve.

Ana Brusso  Great to hear from you Iona, it’s been a while. Congratulations on your first anniversary and Continued good health. God bless you 🙏❤️

Sharon Behl  Actually wondering how you were doing, and so very glad to hear you weathered the infection! Hopefully you will keep feeling better and better!

Iona Macintosh   Thanks ladies for you good wishes & support 🥰
I’m feeling amazing & so, so grateful I’ve got this 2nd chance of life 🥰🥰🥰🙌👌

Pamela Gregory  hooray! Glad you are feeling a bit better and being home will definitely help that. Take good care of you

Valerie Allen  Iona, I was ready to drop you a note to be sure you were improving. I am glad you are feeling more positive now.

Grace Mason   💐 cheers to being back at home again. It is hard to "do time" again in hospital, so soon after the surgery stay, I know! Hang on and enjoy every little high on your rollercoaster 🎢. You are strong and will be stronger soon.

Grace Mason   🙏🏼glad you are getting this attended to right away. 
It is discouraging to have a set back, especially after so many good days. Just focus on the next steps, then the next week, and remember that it is ok to step back until your recovery turns around and you are back on track❤️❤️.

Susan Lynn  Oh, Iona, I'm sorry you have to go through this. You'll handle it with the same fortitude as your surgery and be back on track to your recovery. Best of luck to you!

Rose Madura  Iona, I'm sorry you are going through this. Having setbacks can be overwhelming. I know, I've had my share of them.  Hopefully they will be able to take care of the issue tomorrow. Please keep us posted!

Ana Brusso  Keep your chin-up Iona, you are a heart warrior and you are strong. You are right, they will get you sort out and healed. God bless you 🙏❤️❤️‍🩹

Deena Z  Iona, the hardest part is over. Keep reminding yourself that. You made it through the surgery; the surgery was successful. They got this last "task".

Grace Mason   Glad to hear that you are doing well and moving forward in your recovery Iona 💓 
I am right there with you. Some days I have no pains and have lots of energy, some days I am really uncomfortable and tired. It is easy to forget that there's still a lot of healing going on inside that you cannot visually see. Wishing you continued healing and more good days then tough ones ❤️

Delise Becker  Glad to hear you got a good report from your surgeon and that you are managing your pain. It is sometimes challenging to navigate the ups and downs, but listen to your body and rest when you need to. As others have said, this is a normal part of recovery. Best wishes for your continued healing!

Rich Butela  I'm getting something similar.  I'm assuming it's the healing process but I'm going to ask about it Thursday when I see the surgeon.  

J Alexander Lassally  One of the seasoned nurses told me that at 30 days, new pain sensations do happen as the nerves rewire. She said it is to be expected and also temporary. 
Your fast healing is great

Grace Mason   At 6 weeks my chest still feels tight sometimes too, Iona. I try to straighten my posture and take deeper breaths(and sometimes also on the spirometer to see I'm getting a deeper breath) to help give it a stretch. 

When it was tight and I also had other symptoms: HR creeping up daily, harder time walking without SOB, slight wheezing by nighttime and new night sweats I knew it was something more going on. Stay aware of any changes.

Iona Macintosh   Thanks everyone!
I’m seeing my surgeon on Thursday so I’ll definitely ask him, I’m just frightened I’ve got an internal infection! I think I maybe overdid it yesterday as feeling so well! I’m going to restup today & up the pain killers ! 
Thanks for all the comments 🥰👌 xx

Iona Macintosh   Hi saw my surgeon & cardio nurse yesterday & they gave me a good thorough examination & is sure my bones are fine & wires too! I think because my main wound healed quickly & so well that I’ve overdone it 🤦‍♀️ so painkillers & will get an X-ray & ecg in 3 weeks! 
it can take so long for internal tissue & muscles, so resting more but keeping up my short walks but will increase distance as 🙏🤞🏻 pain subsides ! 
Thanks for all your support! 🥰

Grace Mason   Thanks for the update, Iona. You incision looks great and you look beautiful. It's a great season for recovery walking 🌞🍁🍂

Grace Mason   Congrats on being home, Iona 🏡 You look fabulous! Keep on moving forward with your well recovery💖
Richard, you are too funny 😆

Deena Z  Wow, you look great, particularly for having surgery so recently.  Don't know how you did it, but keep it going!

Susan Lynn  You look lovely, Iona! You might be tired for awhile. That seemed to be the part of recovery that really lingered for me. Resist the temptation to overdo it on your high energy days. You're doing great so far!

Susan Lynn  Iona - You look fabulous! A few less wires and a different background, you'd look like you were on a great vacation! It's such a relief when surgery is behind you and your million dollar smile and radiance show it!!! You go, Girl! Show all the folks in the waiting room that they can do it, too!

Klara Čičić  Iona you look fantastic! I love the make up and the earrings. I remember how these small things ment a lot when you feel broken quite literally :) 
Hope everything stays this well!

Grace Mason   You look amazing!! It IS such a great feeling to know you did this and wow I can't believe I feel this well. So happy for you Iona.💖💖

Melinda Donahue  Amazing.  Ever since I was told that mitral valve repair is inevitable  (not if but when) I have been consumed with anxiety, fear, etc.  This site, you and all of members help so much with every day (minute) that passes.  You look fabulous and may your rapid and total recovery continue.

STEPHEN MORRIS  I wish I looked that good after my surgery...because I wasn't expecting to go to the hospital (emergency). I didnt even have clothes...wow memories.

Grace Mason   Yea Iona!! Looking good and wow, you are moving right along with tubes out and showered too. Woohoo

Grace Mason   Sending many well wishes and prayers your way. Glad to hear you are feeling calm, that is a good thing

Cathleen Weed  Prayers for your surgery I see you're from Scotland!! I lived there for 3 NFL Europe football seasons when I was in my 20's. First in Edinburgh and then in Glasgow. So incredibly beautiful with such kind people . I'll be thinking of you this week and sending positive vibes from Southern California! xo

Iona Macintosh   Just at 🏥 waiting to go to ward! Still feeling calm.. ohs still scheduled for tomorrow 🙏🤞🏻🙏 so need it now as getting so tired! 

Thank you all so much for all your kind wishes xx

Robert Miller  Maybe I am too tired but today is Thursday 9/21/23. So the 22nd would be Friday and not Thursday. Anyways, good luck with your surgery. All you will do is sleep for a few hours while the surgeons do their magic...

Robert Miller  In Scotland, Thursday should still be 9/21/23... Anyways, technicality, or time-icality or whatever. As long as Iona showed up on the right day and time all is good... And no earthquakes during surgery (just had a small one 2 miles away a couple minutes ago...)

Cathleen Weed  Depends on the time she posted...I have no idea about that. I lived in Scotland for a few NFL Europe seasons. My husband is from the SF area (Walnut Creek). Down here in Los Angeles, I always think about an earthquake during surgery too lol.

Robert DeVita  Not sure if it helps but I don't even remember the tube as they took it out before I regained full coherence. My son told me I was answering him with thumbs up type of responses but I don't even remember them taking it out!

Sharon Behl  Same here, I don't remember the tube going in or coming out. Yes, my throat was sore and voice scratchy, but after some honey and a few days  of healing, all better. Recovery is no picnic, but if you're fit going into the surgery, then you'll find healing so much easier!

Alice Williams  You'll be unconscious when they intubate you. I have the vaguest memory of it coming out. I was anxious about a couple of other things before surgery, but they were no big deal either.  I only took pain pills for the first 4 days.  I did have issues with nausea and anemia and my heart rate is still high after 5 months.  Even with all that, I was able to say that every day is better than the day before.

GARY STANKO  My main concern was the tube also.  I just concentrated on my breathing when I woke up.  They had it out very quick and it was a non event.

Ana Brusso  Iona, you are fit and you will do well. I will be praying for your successful surgery and recovery. God bless you. I, like most of these heart warriors, don’t remember the tube at all. 🙏❤️

Robert DeVita  Iona.., not sure if you read the post by Deb Michalowski but it will leave you at ease. I had Aortic Valve replacement earlier this year and I found her very detailed description to be very accurate! Good luck!

Valerie Allen  Iona, I was just reading a couple articles about the AMA thinking that focusing so much on BMI has been detrimental, rather than overall health. Of course, your doctor would be able to answer your questions best. I also have extra weight and will be questioning mine as well.

Allen Carkner  I hate to speak on someone's behalf but my uncle who had his second aortic valve replacement 5 days after my first has recovered pretty smoothly. He had a bicuspid aortic valve, did a tissue for 8 years, then needed another and did a mechanical valve. He is a pretty big guy and has done well. It was strange to need our surgeries so close together but was nice to have the shared experience. 

Susan Lynn  Iona - I'm hoping one of our folks who have had aortic valve replacement will reply. I'm a mitral valve repair heart warrior, but I think the issue is two fold with someone of your young age. Surgeons like to put in a large valve if you're getting a bio material because these valves - even the new and improved ones - have a limited lifespan. The second procedure when another valve is needed, the trancatheter 'valve-in-valve' procedure is often the choice to avoid a more invasive entry. The first valve has to be big enough in diameter to accommodate the second valve, however. Younger patients here in the US can initially get the TAVR - it was previously only offered to high risk patients who couldn't undergo surgery - but in the UK, they may not have adopted that approach for a 58 years young woman. Most of these valves will easily last 6 years, but they will require a replacement within your lifetime. Best of luck to you.

DeLois Tweedy  I had a TAVR procedure in June 2020 to replace aortic valve. I am high risk and could not tolerate OHS. I had just turned 65 about 2 months prior. I have been told and always have heard that tissue valves last 10 to 20 years and tissue vs mechanical valve is used more for older patients. Everyone is different and it is always best to discuss things with your doctor. This is a great site for education and discussion/encouragement with others on this "heart journey". Feel free to ask questions. Best wishes as you make these decisions with your doctors.

Civita Fahey  I didnt have a TAVR as I was too young also. I've had my bovine valve now for 6 years.  Doing well. They did say they last  anywhere from 10-15 possible 20 years.  So, I guess its the chance we take. 6 years sounds very low. I know there are people on this site that have had their bovines for more than 6 years.  I'm banking on a long time and a TAVR when it needs to be replaced. I was almost 56 when I had my OHS. 

Patsy Stewart  I had a TAVR in December of 2020 after an unsuccessful OHS in November 2020. I was and am very thankful that the TAVR was a success. 

Iona Macintosh   Many thanks for these comments ❤️ I’m meeting with Tavi Team on Monday 🤞🏻🙏🤞🏻 I hope they will do this procedure on me soon ! I’ll keep you all posted!

Thanks 🥰