Jeri Cowen - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Jeri Cowenposted a journal

3830 days ago

Mary K, Emily Rowley, Gerald Schaffer and 2 others reacted to this

I am approaching my one year anniversary on January 9th. Cannot believe it! Thanks to a magnificent optometrist at Midwestern University, my double vision ...Read more

I am approaching my one year anniversary on January 9th. Cannot believe it! Thanks to a magnificent optometrist at Midwestern University, my double vision us no more! Prisms helped to resolve this issue. I am feeling very well, playing golf, looking fine. Wil and I are so grateful. Dr. Robert Riley was a godsend! To all who need to undergo this surgery, fear not. You can do this!

Emily Rowley You give us all with upcoming surgery hope.

Lynee Casper Thanks Jeri for sharing your progress on your near first anniversary. Many of us wonder how we will g ... Read more

Lynee Casper Thanks Jeri for sharing your progress on your near first anniversary. Many of us wonder how we will get back to normal after such a big surgery, (I am scheduled for MV repair March 3rd, 2015), so it is good to hear that one can get "back to feeling well," and yes, playing golf, it can be accomplished!

Jeri Cowen Good luck, Lynee. You too will feel well again!

Jeri Cowen Emily...yes, there is hope. Keep a positive attitude. You can do this!

Emily Rowley Thank you Jeri. I try to remain positive and prayer for a successful surgery with no complications (c ... Read more

Emily Rowley Thank you Jeri. I try to remain positive and prayer for a successful surgery with no complications (come out healthier) for not just myself but all going through this. I still get scared though 😩

Jeri Cowenposted an update

4148 days ago

I am home after spending 9 nights in the hospital. Unfortunately, i suffered a small stroke during my surgery and as a result have double vision. This is ...Read more

I am home after spending 9 nights in the hospital. Unfortunately, i suffered a small stroke during my surgery and as a result have double vision. This is a real pain, but we are looking for specialists who will be able to help resolve this hiccup in the road. Other than that, I am doing well...walking and trying to regain some strength little by little. I hope all of my Heart Friends are doing well. If anyone has experienced double vision, please let me know how you were able to resolve it. Thanks. Onward and upward!

Edith Dim I am so sorry for the complications of a stroke. Glad that you are finally home, and I hope that eac ... Read more

Edith Dim I am so sorry for the complications of a stroke. Glad that you are finally home, and I hope that each day will be better, that your vision clears.

Jim Kelly-Evans Sorry to read about the bump, Jeri...hope you can get it resolved.

Cheryl Batzing Jeri, will pray you find the right dr. to help you with the double vision. Sorry you had that "bump" ... Read more

Cheryl Batzing Jeri, will pray you find the right dr. to help you with the double vision. Sorry you had that "bump" in your recovery. I had one as well, just different than yours. We'll heal together heart sister! I'm 5 weeks post op today!

Jeri Cowenposted an update

4160 days ago

I am very fearful about the breathing tube when I wake up from surgery. Anybody got any insights for me?

Michelle Maring Jeri I was afraid as well but they took it out in the icu and it was not as bad as I thought it would ... Read more

Michelle Maring Jeri I was afraid as well but they took it out in the icu and it was not as bad as I thought it would be. You got this

Janet R Hi Jeri, I have not had my surgery yet, but I think that it was Elaine? maybe that said to just think ... Read more

Janet R Hi Jeri, I have not had my surgery yet, but I think that it was Elaine? maybe that said to just think of it as breathing through a straw, just relax and accept it. Her wisdom was comforting to me and then I also kind of thought of it as like snorkeling.

Tammy Pilcher Jeri, I was very worried too about the vent. When I was waking, it was almost like a dream state. ... Read more

Tammy Pilcher Jeri, I was very worried too about the vent. When I was waking, it was almost like a dream state. I could feel the vent, but I was so out of it still that it all seemed to happen very fast. As soon as I felt it, I heard a man say, "Let's get that out". He told me to cough and took it out. I fell right back to sleep. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I wrote about my surgery experience in my journal. You are welcome to read it. Best wishes!

Patricia Garcia No worries Jeri it is not that bad. You will get through this and be home before you know it. Prayi ... Read more

Patricia Garcia No worries Jeri it is not that bad. You will get through this and be home before you know it. Praying and best wishes.

Jeri Cowen Thanks for the quick responses, everyone. I helps to be reassured. :)

Adam Pick Jeri, The best thing about the vent tube is... You know about it. Fyi, no one told me I would wake up ... Read more

Adam Pick Jeri, The best thing about the vent tube is... You know about it. Fyi, no one told me I would wake up with a tube in my throat. Needless to say, that was pretty dislocating. There is some great advice here as how to manage the experience -- relax, accept it, and... know that the tube will be removed as soon as possible. The medical teams know how uncomfortable this is for patients.

Jeri Cowen Thanks, Adam. I can do this! :)

Cheryl Batzing Jeri, I agree with Adam's words that knowledge is helpful. I think it was one of my biggest fears as ... Read more

Cheryl Batzing Jeri, I agree with Adam's words that knowledge is helpful. I think it was one of my biggest fears as well. I did wake up on the vent, and was on it for about 4 hours because I was not breathing well on my own. I tried to remember advice here to just relax, not fight it, and find ways to communicate with my nurse with hand signals. All of that happened, and they do get it out as soon as you are safe to have it out. In retrospect, it was over quick and the healing began. You'll be fine.

kathy lesnau 2 yrs post op for a BAV replacement. I told my husband when I wake up I don't want to be intubated. ... Read more

kathy lesnau 2 yrs post op for a BAV replacement. I told my husband when I wake up I don't want to be intubated. I was adamant about it but guess what? I woke being intubated still, I remember giving my husband the evil eye trying to communicate to him my displeasure, lol. But it really wasn't that bad. I didn't have a feeling of choking or gagging and I have a very sensitive gag reflex. I just knew it was there but I was in and out and then suddenly it wasn't there anymore. It really wasn't a big deal like I thought it would be. So don't worry too much about it. Good luck to you.

Joseph Ballett I never even knew it was in by the time i woke and knew what was going on it was out

Bill Hendrickson My wife who is an RN told me most people do ok with it and not to worry. If I have presence of mind I ... Read more

Bill Hendrickson My wife who is an RN told me most people do ok with it and not to worry. If I have presence of mind I thought of the tube like breathing through a scuba tank regulator which is very easy underwater. Hope all goes fast with a good outcome.

Joseph Ballett Well wishes for tomorrow , looking forward to your updates!

Bill Hendrickson Jeri, Looks like we are in the special club of double valves not doing what they were designed to do ... Read more

Bill Hendrickson Jeri, Looks like we are in the special club of double valves not doing what they were designed to do "last 100 yr's ". My thoughts will be with you tomorrow for a safe journey. I am still on hold untill Jan 29. Regards Bill

Linda Crawford Jeri, I'll be keeping you close in my thoughts tomorrow. That tube is not nearly as awful as it soun ... Read more

Linda Crawford Jeri, I'll be keeping you close in my thoughts tomorrow. That tube is not nearly as awful as it sounds -- not the most fun you'll ever have but certainly nowhere near the worst thing. You can do this 😊

Jeri Cowen I appreciate all of the support from this community. I will update you on my progress ASAP. I can't ... Read more

Jeri Cowen I appreciate all of the support from this community. I will update you on my progress ASAP. I can't believe the day is almost here. Wil and I will get through this and back to our wonderful retirement! It's a bump in the road. It's great that we can rectify these heart issues as a result of today's advanced medical miracles!

Bob M I pray that your surgery and recovery will be peaceful. Tomorrow will be a new day with your fixed he ... Read more

Bob M I pray that your surgery and recovery will be peaceful. Tomorrow will be a new day with your fixed heart. God bless and rise up! Many on this board referenced the breathing tube after surgery. I told my wife about it, so she was prepared. My recollection is that when they reduced my sedation, they also reduced the lighting in my ICU room (that is what they told me). I saw my wife talking with the nurses, and I noticed the breathing tube. It was working correctly with no problems. I was calm. In a moment, the nurses removed the tube, I turned my head and vomited a little amount of water. No problem.

John Noriega Jeri have no fear about the breathing tube. When I awoke the ICU nurse gave me ice chips to help me o ... Read more

John Noriega Jeri have no fear about the breathing tube. When I awoke the ICU nurse gave me ice chips to help me out. I was still under the effect of the anesthesia and didn't even notice the tube! Early the following morning they took the tube out and all was well! I'll pray that your time be peaceful and that you'll be in great spirits post surgery. Onward & Upward!

Julio LaSalle My wife was intubated about 6 times. I spoke with one of the doctors on the team asking him to be mor ... Read more

Julio LaSalle My wife was intubated about 6 times. I spoke with one of the doctors on the team asking him to be more careful, and if possible, use a smaller mouth piece. Needless to say, her voice box has sustain some damage. I have a voice teacher working with her to restore her voice box.
I pray that your procedure runs smoothly, and that you do not face any complications. If you believe, God promised that He will satisfy you with long life, and that your future will be better than your past. Amen

Duane Beeman I feel better after reading all these posts about that tube. The thought of it scares me too (and I ... Read more

Duane Beeman I feel better after reading all these posts about that tube. The thought of it scares me too (and I'm a guy that used to think that getting hit in the head for a hobby was fun !) But the part about snorkeling and scuba diving helps. I have no trouble with either of those. Maybe I'll bring a diving mask and and a life jacket too. Can't hurt.