Jeff Oswald - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Update posted on...

September 3, 2016

Wow what a difference a few years makes we have gone to the Allentown fair ( a large local fair in our area ) these last three years and two years ago we went with a friend from my work and I felt so bad I couldn't barely get around I was out of breath and couldn't walk far I had to stop and rest so much and missed most of it we couldn't stay very long because of me. Jump to last year it was just the two of us and I was using our scooter to get around again due to my poor health issues now 2016 I walked all the way around today and even Roseann had asked me to " slow down" a bit she was having a bad knee day but I thought to myself it's a big change from years past it's a good feeling when your able to turn your life around...... I consider myself a work in progress it's never to late to start !!!

Like | Eddie Patton, Meredith Bray, Craig Gay and 3 others like this

Catie B It is good to read how well things are going, Jeff. Congratulations on how much your health and stamina have improved!

Here's my newest picture!

May 6, 2016 Like | Cathleen DeWitt likes this

My scar is doing pretty good at three months out still have sternum pain but I guess that takes a while to go away

Christine Oliva It's looking good. The redness will go away too. I'm six months out and it is no longer red and it looks pretty healed. I have pain in the incision from time ... Read more

Christine Oliva It's looking good. The redness will go away too. I'm six months out and it is no longer red and it looks pretty healed. I have pain in the incision from time to time, especially near the top and bottom but not bad and I notice it only if I'm tired. I was told this is natural and probably would occur up to a year. Its definitely a world away from my month two or three. Keep on the good work Jeff and keep healing.

Follow up tomorrow

Journal posted on May 5, 2016

Tomorrow I have a follow up echo cardio gram hopefully everything will be ok it's my first since surgery

Like | Alina FH, Cathleen DeWitt likes this

Franklin Wyrick Good luck with your echo. I hope all is well.

Petey Bello Good luck Jeff!

Jeff Oswald Sorry I haven commented but yes the echo went very well they tell me it looks great I still have Tachycardia yet but it's controlled they upped my dose of ... Read more

Jeff Oswald Sorry I haven commented but yes the echo went very well they tell me it looks great I still have Tachycardia yet but it's controlled they upped my dose of Coreg to 25mg twice a day and so far so good I'm 7 months out this month and doing ok

Here's my newest picture!

April 27, 2016 Like | Adam Pick, Kate Watson, Wanda Mroz and 2 others like this

Taken early April 2016 a few months after surgery I'm doing ok and 230+ pounds lighter too

Ruth Valenzuela You look wonderful! How did you get the weight off. I lost 20 lbs after surgery and I've gained it back. So many people have said Metoprolol causes weight ... Read more

Ruth Valenzuela You look wonderful! How did you get the weight off. I lost 20 lbs after surgery and I've gained it back. So many people have said Metoprolol causes weight gain so I looked it up and I read that it causes "rapid weight gain." I'm going to get my cardiologist to get me off this med and fast....

David Alejandro Great for you Jeff and Ruth, I'm actually trying to gain weight 6 weeks after surgery. My appetite is much better than pre-operation: I'm eating like "everything" thank God also doing great!

Ruth Valenzuela You might have read my post wrong since I said those 20 lbs I lost after surgery have found me and have attached theirselves to me again. I've always been ... Read more

Ruth Valenzuela You might have read my post wrong since I said those 20 lbs I lost after surgery have found me and have attached theirselves to me again. I've always been a bit heavy so losing those 20 lbs after surgery made me feel like a movie star. Now I feel like the Hulk... lol I'm going to get them off sooner or later, preferable sooner. David, I hope your pounds find you again since you are attempting to get them back. All I have to do is look at a sunflower seed and I gain a pound or two.

Kate Watson Congrats on your weight loss! That's amazing!

Nicola Laker Does everyone lose weight after surgery? I've put on a stone and a half since my last holiday and I haven't been in the 'right llace' to diet whilst the OHS ... Read more

Nicola Laker Does everyone lose weight after surgery? I've put on a stone and a half since my last holiday and I haven't been in the 'right llace' to diet whilst the OHS is hanging over me. But If I lose even some of it afterwards I would be very happy!

Sophia Ridley Although I've not lost much probably 10lbs, my diet changed drastically post op as it jolted me into eating greens and less sugar... Caffeine sets me off so ... Read more

Sophia Ridley Although I've not lost much probably 10lbs, my diet changed drastically post op as it jolted me into eating greens and less sugar... Caffeine sets me off so no tea/coffee and severely reduced chocolate. Also, cakes etc gave me a blinding headache post op so avoided them! Walking more and Cardiac Rehab has also helped, now signed up with a personal trainer! It's just harder to keep this up now back in work :(

Congrats, Jeff! What a great accomplishment!

Jeff Oswald Thanks for the great comments to be totally fair I had weight loss surgery it's called Duodenal Switch I lost the weight over a 2 1/2 year span

Update posted on...

March 28, 2016

Well I got to view the claim m for my surgery the grand total was 247,000 rounded up and 28,600 was the valve alone I saw that my jaw dropped to the floor thank god for insurance and Medicare !!

Like | Barbara Laurie, Nicola Laker likes this

Meredith Bray Personally, I think that's one heck of a deal!

Denise Campbell Wow. I had my mitral valve replaced. Mine is the on-x valve. I guess my surgery is somewhere in that neighborhood.

Kate Watson Wow that is nuts. Yes thank god for insurance indeed!

Ruth Valenzuela I had my surgery September 29, 2015 and have yet to receive my bill. Maybe they forgot about it...

Here's my newest picture!

March 23, 2016

Surgery patients can relate to this one

Ruth Valenzuela Love it. So true too!

Here's my newest picture!

March 23, 2016

So true

Here's my newest picture!

March 23, 2016

The ring I received from On-x makes a great wedding band

Here's my newest picture!

March 23, 2016 Like | Nicola Laker, Adam Pick likes this

Meredith Bray I have one, also! I like to click it on metal railings along with my ticker. Drives people crazy. LOL!

Jeff Oswald LOL

Here's my newest picture!

March 23, 2016 Like | Adam Pick likes this

Update posted on...

March 23, 2016

How is everyone doing I have had issues with my heart rate but it's finally leveled out pretty well and had two emergency room visits one resulting in a 6 day stay back in the hospital. But it's finally getting better

Like | Wanda Mroz, Ruth Valenzuela likes this

Here's my newest picture!

February 10, 2016

My temporary valve card

Denise Campbell Did the hospital give you this card?

Here's my newest picture!

February 10, 2016 Like | Whitney Nelson, Jim Kelly-Evans, Wanda Mroz and 2 others like this

My scar after 6 days it's doing very well

Whitney Nelson Looks good!

Looks good!

Here's my newest picture!

February 10, 2016 Like |

Here's my newest picture!

February 6, 2016

They gave me a heart hugger to help in getting up

Here's my newest picture!

February 6, 2016 Like | Whitney Nelson, Jim Kelly-Evans, Meredith Bray and 4 others like this

Post surgery

Congrats!

Debra Gann How are you feeling?

Jeff Oswald Not bad it's been hectic but I'm home now I had issues with my inr being to high but it seems ok now

Here's my newest picture!

February 6, 2016 Like | Whitney Nelson, Jim Kelly-Evans and 1 other likes this

Now a member of the zipper club

Update posted on...

February 1, 2016

Tomorrow is the day for me it went by quick I have to be at the hospital at 9:15 for surgery around noon

Like | Kenny Knox and 1 other likes this

susan kotansky I wish you the very best surgery, recovery, and good health!!!! See you on the other side in a blink.

Debbie Bentley I hope all goes well . Praying for you

Whitney Nelson Good luck!!

Best wishes! Keep us posted!

Jeff Oswald Thank you everyone I will update

Gary Stripling Best wishes and prayers for you, Jeff!

Update posted on...

January 4, 2016

Went for my pre-admission CT chest scan today then I meet with Dr Singer next Friday then about 2 weeks till my surgery date time is going by quickly

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Update posted on...

January 2, 2016

Happy 2016 everyone I hope everyone has a good year and good health

Like | Wanda Mroz likes this

W. Carter Happy New Year, may it be a good one for all!

pino correale We are so lucky.......that some of us have at least made it this far. Let's hope that the future will be brighter and sunnier for all of us. Congratz to all.....

Brenda Miller Jeff---you are not alone...I am in the very same boat as you are except I seem to be getting caught in the remote demographics of where I live as well as the ... Read more

Brenda Miller Jeff---you are not alone...I am in the very same boat as you are except I seem to be getting caught in the remote demographics of where I live as well as the surgical world checkng out for the holidays.. Super anxious to at least get a surgical consult.. As I am feeling pretty low ...I am praying for all people with heart disease...

Update posted on...

December 29, 2015

Starting with more coughing and dizzy spells I hope I can make it till February a month seems so far off but it's not really

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Pat Bijas What's causing that?

Terrie Syvertsen Jeff- Make sure your physician is aware of any changes in your symptoms so you are in the best of shape for that "date" for surgery. I agree with Pat Bijas ... Read more

Terrie Syvertsen Jeff- Make sure your physician is aware of any changes in your symptoms so you are in the best of shape for that "date" for surgery. I agree with Pat Bijas in that you want to know the cause and how to help yourself stay as healthy as you can! You take care and drop us a post, eh?! Take care Heart Brother.

Wanda Mroz Agree here. Always tell your doc of changes.

Jeff Oswald Thanks everyone I got sidetracked with New Years I am going for a CT scan on Monday 1/4/16 I will pop in to their office and let them know

Update posted on...

December 19, 2015

46 days till my surgery date it's creeping slowly closer it will be a ground hog day I will never forget

Like | Emily Rowley likes this

Emily Rowley 30 days to my Surgery, that's if everything goes according to plan. Wishing you all the best for your Surgery 😊 Try staying calm.

Eliza Hadjisotiriou Wilson All will go well to both of you

Best wishes to you both! All will be well.

Steven A Husted YOU WILL DO JUST FINE I KNOW I WAS SCARED TO DEATH OF OHS BUT NOW AFTER HAVING OHS I DONT KNOW WHAT I WAS SO SCARED ABOUT IT WAS NOT ALL THAT BAD IT IS VERY ... Read more

Steven A Husted YOU WILL DO JUST FINE I KNOW I WAS SCARED TO DEATH OF OHS BUT NOW AFTER HAVING OHS I DONT KNOW WHAT I WAS SO SCARED ABOUT IT WAS NOT ALL THAT BAD IT IS VERY DOABLE DEAR LORD GIVE MY HEART BROTHER A SMOOTH SURGERY AND RECOVERY IN JESUS NAME AMEN

Emily Rowley Thank you Eliza & Laura.