Jerome's Journal

Rose Madura  Great news! So glad it was not an infection. In my journey, I learned that inflammation was a very real deal.

Steven Methot  Phew! Double phew! Good on you for listening to your body. Even better that it wasn't something horrible.

Ana Brusso  Great news Jerome. Glad you are home and had no infection. God and science came through for you. Happy Thanksgiving. Blessings

Susan Lynn  Sorry to read your news, Jerome! You'll get through this and be back on the road to recovery. Take care - please keep us posted! ❤

Ana Brusso  The road to recovery can throw some unexpected curves, so glad you didn’t wait and went to the ER. This too shall pass and you will recover. Prayers that everything will be resolved and you can go home soon. God bless you

Brandon Hammer  Good job listening to your body and going to the ER. I had my mitral valve repair surgery on 10/22/20 as a result of endocarditis in 2019. I’m experiencing the similar type of back pain like you mentioned. Feels like more in the left kidney area and shoulder blade. Ill follow your recovery and hope to hear good news on your next posting. God Bless.

Yvonne Wolters  So glad you listened to your body Jerome! Hoping they get things under control soon, so you can continue to heal and move forward.

Lenore Mitchell  Hi Jerome - Your question sounds like something to ask your surgeon, but they do suture you up quite well, generally with wire (I can still feel mine just under the skin) so it seems unlikely the bumping you decided was injurious. Those heart pillows that we all earn (!) act as good shock absorbers too. But check with your doc, and good luck.

Marie Myers  I think that those sutures are pretty darn tight, and it would take more to do damage. Never hurts to call in and ask, though, like Lenore said.

Susan Lynn  Jerome - Great update - you're making tremendous progress. Be sure you don't overdue it, though. Too much exertion will set you back. Remember, your heart doesn't know if you're walking in a circle - might want to stick with the level terrain and stay away from a 200 ft. Incline for a few weeks. Be active and safe. Moderation is your friend. ❤

Jeff Tisza  I agree. Take your time, Take the long view. Your procedure bought you time going forward. Take advantage of it by enjoying your downtime.

john roland  I had that cough for 6 weeks. It would start at lunch time and end around 11pm. I took their "swirl pills" and mucinex. Every day the cough times got shorter. If I didn't have that coughI would have had no side effects beyond 2 weeks post surgery. Keep walking

Adam Pick  Hey Jerome, Thanks for letting me know about this. We are looking into this issue right now. Stay tuned!

Adam Pick  Jerome (and everybody), We just reached our search quota. Amazing. This has never happened before. We're currently requesting more search queries through Google. Hopeful to have this fixed soon. Sorry about this!

Jerome Hill  Thanks for looking into it. Btw, I have 25 years of web application engineering and management and if you need help with anything, please reach out.

Adam Pick  Hey Jerome, Good news. I believe we have fixed this. It was an issue with a limitation on our search quota. Thanks for the offer to help. I'll definitely remember that should we need support. Take care and take it easy!!!!

Susan Lynn  Jerome - Glad you're out of the hospital! You'll be surprised how much better you'll feel over the next few weeks. Walk and rest - you'll see progress. All the best!

Steven Methot  Recovery in the Sierra foothills? Sounds like you're on a vacation! Glad to hear you're doing well.

Mark Yost  Congrats Jerry (if you go by that)...Sounds like you are moving well along. I hope you continue to thrive!

Steve Kremer  Good to hear Jerome. Sierra Foothills? I'm in Tahoe. Great place to recover and the hills help with recover. I'm 3.5 months out from surgery and I feel like I did in college. As Susan said, Walk and Rest is the schedule. It will get better everyday. Walk on Brother.

Jared Takeshita  I had a mild fever as well when I was in the hospital. The nurses continued to monitor me and gave me tylenol. Getting the drain tube out definitely helped out with the pain. Keep working the breathing exercises. You've got this.

Rose Madura  Hi Jerome. From the time I found out I needed surgery until today, I have called it my journey. Ups and downs immediately after surgery are normal. In fact, I had tons of complications. You can read my journal of you want. But you will get through it and soon you'll go home. Each day will be different but you'll soon start feeling much better as you continue on your own personal journey. God bless you. Great job keeping us posted.

Marie Myers  I am sure the staff will keep a watch on your fever. That can happen as part of the normal healing process, or sometimes dehydration. Be sure and increase your fluids As that can make you feel a bit better.

Susan Lynn  Jerome - You're doing great!!!! Glad to read that everything is going so well.

Sleep can be difficult in the beginning - especially in the hospital. Just be sure to give yourself some options at home - recliner (if you have one), a foam wedge or a bunch of pillows, or even the couch can be more comfortable early into recovery. I was like Goldilock's and my preferences varied by the day. Also, sleep whenever you feel like it - you may find that you're more rested with multiple naps rather than one, long stretch. As much as you want to get back to your normal sleep routine, it may take a week or two until you figure out what works for you!

I wish you continued success with your recovery! Keep us posted on your progress!

Susan Lynn  I was moved up, too. Just think, you'll probably be in and out by lunch! Catch you on the recovery side!

Dan Baltazor  I agree, this site gives you the bond of those who had surgery before you and those who go after you. I couldn't have been as mentally prepared as I was without this community. You got this.

Darrin Vohs  Best wishes Jerome. It will be over in the blink of an eye and you will be on the other side (the healing side).

Steven Methot  I am glad to hear that you're not overly anxious. Looking forward to hearing about your recovery. You got this!

Steven Methot  Ouch. In thinking about it I would be more stressed by the pre-surgery time than post-surgery. I'm a bit of a worrier. Once you're out of ICU are you good for visitors?

Yvonne Wolters  My surgery is 10/15 at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City. Their COVID policy only allows patients to enter the hospital. I'm still hoping the policy relaxes in the next two weeks...

Susan Lynn  Jerome - I won't begin to try to understand how you feel about not having visitors, however, I will say, there is a lot of sleeping right after surgery. The entire first and a good part of the second day are pretty much mostly consumed by sleeping - the anesthesia can hang on even longer than that for some people. I asked my sister why I don't remember most of the time I was in the hospital and she reminded me - I slept through a good portion of it! Clearly, this restriction isn't great, but it will be much easier on your loved ones. You're not just going through heart surgery, your whole family is - and they have to do it without the good drugs you'll be getting! You'll be in and out of the hospital and back home before you know it. You've got this!

Marie Myers  Being a little weird, I actually liked not having visitors during my hospitalization. I am the kind of person that does not want to interact with anyone when I am not feeling great. Hope it goes smoothly for you!

Thomas Brusstar  From the time I arrived at the hospital Tuesday morning until I was out of the ICU the next afternoon, I have to say I was just focused on getting started, and then in the ICU I wasn’t very good company while getting the pain meds right. The nurses in a cardiac ICU are always present, so you’ll have all the help you need. My wife was able to be there in the ICU, but I don’t think I was very good company. The surgeon actually gave the surgical updates by phone anyway so he didn’t have to leave a sterile area and re-scrub. So my wife might as well have been elsewhere. was nice seeing my wife and son once I was in a regular room and could sit up in a chair and socialize, on Thursday after I was off all the opioids — but it was almost more to reassure them I was OK. I was home for dinner that Friday, so it was a short stay. I’m just saying between phone and texting, you can stay in touch, and you will just want to focus on the routine of healing/ medication management with your nurses and the constant flow of therapy and rehab staff that start checking in. So I guess I’m like Marie, I just wanted to focus and get out of there rather than have company. Good luck!