Janice's Journal

12 weeks post op and I found out today my daughter is having a baby girl my first grand baby I am so happy and excited thank you Jesus!!!

Ok I'm doing better I had a lil set back I thought I pull a muscle in my chest area but now it's fine after the muscle relaxer it's gone back to the regular hurt I call it because my chest still pretty sore.. Let me tell you all this I drove over 300 plus miles one way and drove 300 plus miles back to go visit my mom and help her celebrate her 69 Birthday 9/11 for the weekend I enjoyed the drive and my family that I haven't seen since the surgery.. Well I miss cardiac rehab because I don't know if driving that distance strand my chest on one side or lifting my nephew or working out.. I will go tomorrow to Cardiac rehab though I need it still and I came a long ways and thankful for that also.. Well 10 weeks recovered with some issues still,but I thank God for getting me this far and continue to work on me also. Bless y'all.. Heart sisters and heart brothers
Janice

Cardiac Rehab went fine today it was a piece of cake but sure that was really orientation lol.. Tomorrow is day 2 and see if I would have bragging rights then like I have now lol.. #TeamJanice lets do this..

He is a awesome God Amen!!!

Ok I went to see my surgeon today and he released me back to my regular doctors and say I can go back to work also ok I can say God Is Good!!! I still have to be careful but a lot of restrictions are lifted and I can get my travel on too lol,but I will build that up first with short trips then stretch it a bit.. I start my Cardiac Rehab September the first I look forward to that because I need to start building this body back up so I could be able to handle working and trips.. First of all I got to find another job because I know for a fact the work I was doing I wil not be able to do any more because it requires heavy lifting and I'm not ready for that or I don't think I will ever be.. Oh well wish me luck like I wish others also continue to heal Heart Sister's and Brothers💕

I dedicate this to everyone on here and not on here bless you all Amen!!!

Yes I can't wait to have a smile like this again on my face.. Yes I was relaxing in Jamaica having a time of my life,but next time I have to cut back on the fruity special drinks though lmbo lol..

Oh I forgot to report 6 weeks and still going strong I'm feeling better people.. My baby wants to wrestle I told him to give mommy a lil more time then it's on he was like "ok he can't wait to show me he stronger" (in his dreams) lol.. He is 12 years old he is something else and right now I know my strength,but I don't want to get carried away because Lord knows I don't want to injure myself for a few minutes of proving who's who lol lmbo so he is on for a rain check lol..

Hello I wanted to know is there a roll call on here?? I will like to know where everyone is from and how they are doing.. Well to start it off I'm Janice Powell 42 years of age and I live in Huntsville Alabama I'm a Mitral valve repair survivor 5 weeks 4 days post op and I'm doing pretty good.. Anybody else is welcome to share whatever on their mines bless you..

Ok I can't sleep and I have a question is there anyone out there has had a mitral valve replaced with the mechanical valve and within a year they have to go back in to restart it so to bring your heart rate down?? My aunt will be having this done in a couple weeks and will it be like before they got to take your heart out and stop it to do that or another way if anyone could shed some light let me know.. I wanted to ask her but she stays to sick and I don't want to put that on her to worry her even more.. Do anybody know anyone that had this problem this soon or in general and what to expect thank you..

Well everybody I had a visit with my regular cardiologist today and she is referring me to cardio Rehab because it's time to start building my strength back up now she said I was ready now and I'm ready because my dogs are looking really depress when I don't feel like coming outside down the stairs where they are.. It be a struggle sometime and seem like my wind is short for walking a distance or taking stairs and it shouldn't be like that so hopefully I can get some more needed help now.. 5 weeks today post op thank you sweet Jesus continue to heal heart sisters and brothers in Jesus name Amen!!!

Ok this is a question for my heart sisters if any can relate or have anyone hear anything about missing your monthly after heart surgery?? It's been 42 days no sign of it.. I'm not worried too much ,but I'm not use to not having one unless I'm with child which I doubt that because my baby is 12 years old and my tubes are tied,but not burnt though that is another situation altogether.. I do go to see my regular cardiologist on Tuesday and I will ask them also,but if anyone have any answer to this question let me know so I can sleep a lil better lol thanks your heart sister Janice

Today mark a month since that blessed day of surgery and I'm feeling good I'm still dealing with a lil issues but I'm not going to sweat it because they are small my biggest concern has been corrected and I give thanks to The Lord Amen!!! Well I'm cleared to drive and it feels so good to have control over my travels even it is to the doctor and back it feels so good.. I'm doing so good now I just wish I was a 1 so I can travel out state possibly out of the country to a remote island possibly lol one day I will.. I wish all my heart sister's and brother's good wishes on any and everything that's going on with them more healing to come for us all in Jesus name I claim it Amen!!!

Well tomorrow will be my first appointment since I left the hospital beside the one had today was only for referred to see a stomach doctor.. This one will check my overall and see how I'm progressing I can't wait because I got a lot of questions and this will make some of my concerns go away also.. I will keep you all posted heart sister's and brother's

Ok three weeks PO and doing better each day thank you Jesus amen!!!

Ok what to do with your feet that feels as though they are freezing and not getting enough blood.. The circulation is not good and I tried everything..They are hurting like they are frost bitten my toes be a lil numb with a awful feeling to them I have did everything from massage to soak in warm water.. Have anyone had this problem before and what they do to get some relief or solve the problem??

What is the name of the scarring jel to put on this scar since it is finally healing up I was worry it will not heal up.. I'm so sad because my chest will be scarred for life and it look as it will be bad scar smh I can't cry now.. Plus I have the bump thing that hasn't gone down I go to my doctor/surgeon next week to get a checkup maybe he can give me some advice in the minimize the size my God went from having a pretty chest to badly scarred 😢

Thank you Jesus you been so good to me today mark 2 weeks out from heart surgery and I'm doing pretty good every day get a lil bit better and I owe it all to my savior for making things alright and giving me another chance at life.. To all my heart sisters and brothers facing or already went through the surgery may God be with you always amen..

Ok once high blood pressure has turn into a lol blood pressure and it's kind of scary checking it all day every 15 minutes.. What should I do?? I called the Nurse practitioner and she has told me to stop taking my blood pressure medicines and that she will called tomorrow I'm scared to go to sleep or lay down my feet cold and I gets chills sometimes anybody help I don't want to make trip to the ER don't feel like the busy ways but don't want to pass either

First day home and out of the hospital 10 days since the surgery thank you Jesus!!!

Hello everyone well sorry so late reason for that I been having a time.. I was really worried about writing this because for one I don't want to scare anyone or discourage really.. First of all things I give thanks to Jesus for seeing me through and through the difficult times I had I hope that is in the past behind me I certainly feel better though.. Ok I'm not going to sugar coat anything.. This surgery has strengthen me is so many ways.. You can't get go wrong once you just stop and put everything in the good Lord hands.. Ok first off the first day of surgery I had me and my hubby,daughter,parents and siblings up here bright and early.. When chatted and reassured me things was going to be alright ok when it time for me to go back to stage one getting comfortable I should say because that part went quick but before that my hubby as always was so concern was trying to talk me out of it and was telling his feelings I know he meant well but you don't need none of that talk on your brain. Well I didn't hear much because when they gave me something to relax I guess I relaxed on off.. Well next things I know was they was through with the surgery and they said I tried to get up before time try to sit up I remember just a lil I was too sleepy and groggy to really know.. I could hear my family voice and squeezes of hands but my eyes was still closed.. Anyways once I did wake up not long they say from that my mind was playing trick on me too because with the busy going on in the Icu with the beeping noise and I was looking around and getting tired of them sticking my fingers,so I set up and stand up and demand them to get my family here because I thought they was stealing my heart and blood and giving to this older man next to me they was so shock and didn't want me to harm myself they called my family up to the hospital and finally got me calm down and I made them move me to a regular room before time too smh.. I am so sorry but my mind had me convinced that was what happened I feel ashamed and it was other things such as when my temp went up I swear they was giving me a infection which wasn't the point.. I was calm when I was been pampered in the ICU.. Well long story broken down I'm tired of writing.. I been doing ok the doctor had manage to save my valve so I have a mitral repair.. Well things have been crazy with my mind I'm not use to all this medicine and I guess somewhere I develop pancreatitis it had me so sick people everything has gone good beside that.. I did a MRI to confirmed the problem I have a lot of fluid around my pancreas to giving me acute pancreatitis.. I'm on a special diet and only today out of all the rest I feel good enough to eat and yes it had getting so bad I had stop eating.. If I could smell a perfume or deodorant I get sick on my stomach and that meaning gagging and vomiting.. I had to suffer the pain just to save myself the nausea that shot they was giving wasn't working sometimes.. My nurse came up with a system that since I can tolerate her she would be the only one coming in here.. I thank the Lord because it has worked itself out I'm back eating and tolerating things more.. Y'all I'm sorry to have to tell my story but this is just some I remembered and to let you know it's the medicine that will have your mine out of whack and they said I also apologize but I want to have a clear mind and send in flowers and a card with a recorded note to let them know how very sorry I am and to thank them for doing a good job.. If I remember anything else lie I will write again I'm so tired.. I'm still in the hospital and they said I might be able to go home tomorrow or the next day.. Oh almost forgot the incision was a full sternum and my God those chest tubes was not very comfortable.. I got all of them out 3 days. Ago and I got my wires out yesterday.. I hope to God I don't have to do this again no way I'm blessed because you have to very strong to have a surgery like this and plus like my complications very strong.. I will update later love your heart sister Janice

Well everyone it has gotten serious tomorrow is my day of surgery!!! I just left my pre op and everything checks out good,so I'm ready to get this surgery over with so I can start healing.. I like to say thank you and I will try to update you all or one of my daughters would.. I'm sending them up I'm sending them up thank you Jesus!!!

Shine Oh Lord Shine!!!

Count down 6 more days wow Lord you are my leader and guidance and you will not leave me to go through this alone.. I have faith because you live and I confess tomorrow Amen!!! God Is Good!!!

Thank you all for your support in this!!! I'm thankful because I'm not alone in this thank you heart sister's and brother's

7 more days count down to a fix heart thank you Jesus!!!

Today mark a week until I get my surgery done on my mitral valve.. Lord Father which are in heaven give me strength and don't leave my side because I need you more then anything.. I'm asking you to have favor in me Lord and spare my life and restore it to function accordingly to your will.. I give you my all have mercy on me and forgive me for my sins dear God thank you in advance amen!!!

I'm believing this with all my heart Amen..

Hello everyone heart sister's and brother's my surgery date has changed.. I gotten a call from my surgeon scheduler this morning for me to change the date of my surgery and the reason for that is since I'm having two surgeons one have a prior surgery that same day and it will cause a conflict ,so in order for both to be there and free we had to reschedule it for the time both can be there and focus on me is a blessing.. Ok I also found out they want to try to do a reconstruction on my mitral valve instead of replacing it.. So I am happy that I got the best surgeons and not one but two that will perform the surgery on me.. I can wait a lil while longer and plus this free me up for having a good time with the family for the 4th of July well I can say it a million time over and over Ain't God Good!!!
Your heart sister Janice🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾

Hello everyone I like to tell you all I had taking my final trip away this past weekend,but I left on Thursday I drove to south Alabama (I live north Alabama) and pick up I laws and I drove to St.Louis Missouri to attend a graduation and we went to the Zoo and the outings on the city was a nice time we had so I driven by myself with no help but the good Lord a total of 2000 miles plus and I enjoyed every bit of it I'm tired but I'm good still thank you Jesus and the count down still ticking I got 10 days left for my surgery

Ok heart brothers and sisters help me decide.. I'm 42 years old and I'm still not sure what valve to take tissue or mechanical heart valve... I don't want to go through this surgery any more in life if I can't help it.. I'm chronic anemia which I'm scared to take blood thinners for the rest of my life with no blood as it is.. I'm afraid I might get a blood clot and bleed out that's really scary compared to have to go through another surgery in away,but that's scary also if I'm strong enough to take another one.. This is so hard and I don't want to really go through another one of the surgeries really either that's too much and I will be older and I have other health issues also.. Wow what you all think?? What should I do if he can't fix my own mitral valve?? Help help God bless you

Exactly 3 weeks!!! Lord be with me!!!

Amen he is!!!

Well it's done everyone my surgery is scheduled!!! Wish me good health luck !!! Thanks for the before blessing thank you all so much!!! And I will update you all or get one of my daughters to do it for me if I don't write any more,but I will before I go under take care!!!
06/11/2015 that is the date God Bless You And Me!!!

Well it's been awhile a week I think and I wanted to update you yall.. God is good I got my tooth taking out last Friday and it's healing good.. Boy I do tell yall it was so difficult getting it out.. For one it was hard to dead it he had to keep shooting it up and once he got that taking care of he wrestle it out and made sure nothing else was left behind yes I had stitches I believe they are dissolved now I don't see them any more and the dentist gave me the ok and now after I called my surgeon he wanted me to talk to His senior Surgeon before we actually schedule my surgery that will be on May 20th by that time after I would have a date unless they are doing more testing.. Wish me luck like I'm wishing all the rest luck be blessed..

Amen!!! I Believe Every Word!!!

Oh well I went to my dentist appointment only to be delayed to Friday morning they giving me 12 antibiotics and a time to be back Friday and that is 8 am to hopefully get my tooth pull and my other teeth clean.. Then I'm going to lay back and enjoy my ride home 5 hours away for Mother's Day!!! I know I might be in pain,but I got to go see my mom before I have this surgery.. She has had some health issues and we all was very concern and all I can say is God Is A Good God!!! She is got a clean slate and we can't figure out how,but it aren't nobody but Jesus!!! I will up date you on Friday Heart Sister Janice

Question?? Will it be better to sleep in your bed or a recliner after surgery?? My bed is not that high and plus it's not the comfortable either,so any advice on what I need to be comfortable?? I will purchase another bed if I have too I was going to do that already,so what should I shop for?? Ok do size matter also such as height I'm 6'1?? This is for the Heart Sister's what do I need for breast support or better yet what I need for comfort up top what to wear?? How long do it take really to start doing things on your own?? Oh well I don't know if I will ever be able to do the work I was doing before because it was heavy lifting involved smh..

Hello everyone good news I go Wednesday for my X-rays on my tooth and the scheduler call me this morning and said once I get everything taking of on my tooth part call her to schedule one more appointment and then I will be scheduling the actual surgery then.. They are pushing to get this over with I guess the more I wait the less it will be to just repair my own and plus to stop my heart from becoming more enlarged then it already is.. Thanks for the well wishes once again and I send out a prayer for everyone that is connected to all my heart sisters and brothers thank care..

Lord I need you more then anything!!! I welcome you come into my life and correct the things I couldn't do on my own.. I give it all to you make me strong again Amen..

Well today seems like the worst day first of my worst news is my dog died.. I thought I was doing a good deed when this stray dog show up on my door steps.. I walked it through my neighborhood trying to find a owner which I luck out,so I had to call the Humane Society so it will not get kill.. Which lead my dog to break out and go searching I believe he just drop dead I am so sad that was my other dog pup he was 3 years old and such a good spirit dog he love to gives hugs and I'm going to miss him.. I had to leave and go shopping a bit,so he could get buried and I didn't want to see him like that.. I guess that dog that come there was his angel to take him home.. I'm ok now but when I look out there and don't see him looking at and through the glass door to get in it will bother me something terrible.. Anyways that happen when I was at the Surgeon office.. Like I was saying in my other post is we suppose to discuss when and what kind right?? Well we discuss what kind and he is first going to try to fix my on and if that doesn't happen we are going with a bovine valve,but we are on hold on when because I got to have a infected tooth pull before they could be able to do any surgery and have the rest of my teeth clean to make sure I don't have any germs lingering too much especially after the infected tooth will be cut out smh.. He want to do it quickly and he is in urgency also.. So pray for me and I hope I didn't depress anyone it does help me to talk about all this because I can't keep it bother up.. I will let you all know what happens in the meantime have a wonderful and bless one!!! Like always excuse the typos lol

Well it wasn't so bad everything check out today and I was really surprised when my blood pressure was low on schedule and when you use to it been on the high side you basically don't know how to act when it's normal.. Wow did I say normal?? Yes I did and it got to be the mess they have me on and trust me I'm just now getting use to them really.. I'm not feeling so strange now.. Well Thursday I go for PFT center for the lungs to check my lungs out to make sure I don't have any problem with them before my surgery.. Then I go and get my arteries in my neck check out also Carotid bilateral is what they call it and I hope all turn out great because I had a slight problem with my groan when they did that cat on me they had to go in both groans because one they couldn't find a vein it happen 2 weeks and it is still tender.. Friday I go into and see my surgeon to get blood work done and he is going to discuss the diffent procedures and select my valve he also going to show me some videos to help me along with my choice also.. I will write back then good luck to all the ones that is going through this and have been through this your Heart Sister Janice P.

It is 2:51 am where I'm at I awaken with deep thoughts and cant go back to sleep because phase one has begun.. I have a doctors appointment at 10:40 am and it is 1 of 3 this week.. I see my cardiology today and I wonder what she will have to say today about my health.. I feel so guilty about a couple things.. I am on a cardiac diet and I have cheated a lil.. I had gotten some crab legs steam and I didn't stop until I eating all of them and I had 2 slice of red velvet cake not at one time but that day I did.. Anyways I wish I could just go in and take a test and it reveal that I was missed diagnosed and all my problems was over with.. Well thanks for wishful thinking.. I will now go back in my room and try to lay down.. Later I will write about my appointment.. God bless you all

I don't know where to start at,but I'm just going to just write what I feel ok.. This is so new to me and I try not to worry,but I can't help to wonder why this has to happen to me I'm only 42 and Who am I because age is just a number to this disease because looking on here and other readings its babies going through this and they are mostly alright.. I'm going to be strong and make a stand that I need to get pass all of my insecurities and prepare my body and mind for when it is my time to go in for surgery because in reality I want to be here for my kids and family and plus my dogs they love me too (😊).. Right now I'm in preparation with all the test and I haven't gotten a date yet of when I will have surgery.. I will like to know from anybody what can I do to prepare for this surgery.. I will be having Mitral Value replacement and next Friday I would be going in for consultation in selecting which one that will suit me tissue replacement or mechanical replacement.. I will like for anyone to give me some advice on the two and what you think will be better or how's it working for you in general.. What type of food and what to do and not to do and how long is the recovery?? Any and all information is welcome thank you..