Jimmy's Journal

It has been 6 years today since I had my Aortic valve replaced. My life has been completely normal. Keeping up with my 4 boys coaching football and basketball without skipping a beat - No Pun intended - LOL. As I reflect on my journey, I will always be great full for this site and those on it that encouraged me when I needed it. It was exactly what I needed when I needed it. I could ask any question and get a response from so many that it helped ease the fear. So thanks again to all my HEART friends and for those that still waiting for your surgery - YOU GOT THIS! Jimmy Johnson Aortic Regurgitation Bicuspid Aortic Valve replacement 2/20/2012

I have been so busy with work I missed my normal post back in Feb. Everything is all good. Heart looks good. My BP is still good. I have been living every day like a gift. I spend it with my family and think about the future. To all those waiting I know it's scary but the risk is worth it and I haven't looked back. I wish the best to everyone and please use this site and the people on it. It helped me so much and I will forever be grateful. Jimmy Johnson AVR 2/20/12 Bovine Valve.

Things have been going really well. I still feel good and it's great that my normal pulse is in the low to mid 50's vs 99. My BP is good. Basically I am a 100 mph and feeling good. I am exercising more than I ever have and harder than I did before my surgery. I am eating better. Note that I said better because I still enjoy pizza and a good cheeseburger and a beer or two from time to time. It's been really nice to think about other things instead of my leaky valve. I don't have to worry all the time and that feels good. I am enjoying my boys. They are all active and playing sports and I get to coach them and that is a lot of fun. I will continue to say that without my HJV family there to offer support and share their stories it would have been a lot harder to get to this point. So THANK YOU ALL!! Here's to another year down and many many more to come! Jimmy Johnson AVR 2/20/12 Bovine

Wow - 2 years ago today I was under for the biggest change of my life. Everything went well that day and into my recovery and still goes well today. I am enjoying life and have slowed down to appreciate the small things. My 4 boys (all under 7) are keeping me busy. I am also reflective of the time leading up to my surgery and those that helped ease my fear. This site was really a big help in putting me in touch and building those connections where people were open and honest and I could also share my fears while not over worrying my family. I really hope that others are making those connections as I and others did. For those waiting - Please let me know if I can be of assistance at all. Jimmy Johnson AVR 2/20/12

I had my one year follow up with my cardiologist after my Echo a few weeks ago. His words \"Everything looks perfect - We will see you next year.\" I am ok with these short and sweet appointments after years of constant checking and following. By BP was also perfect which before the surgery was not the case. Things are going well - I still get some numbness around my incision area but nothing that I should be alarmed about. The family and I are enjoying summer - My oldest started tackle football this year. I have two of my boy’s school this year (2nd grade and Kindergarten). My third starts pre-school and my 4th will get some much needed one on one time with mommy. As always this site continue to be an outlet for others like us to connect and form bonds while allowing family and friends to understand us a bit more. Thanks Again Adam!! Hope the rest of the HVJ family is doing well and for the newbies let me know if I can help answer any questions you may have. Jimmy Johnson AVR 2/20/12

Ty Charles Johnson was born on 4/11/2013 at 1:17 pm. He was a little peanut at 4 lbs. 10 Oz. He was 2 weeks early. Photo has been added. Everyone is doing great. With our family medical history (bicuspid valves) the doctors wanted to be safe since my 3rd son was operated on at 6 weeks old with a Coarctation. Though Ty has a bicuspid valve he looks good. They are not concerned. They also checked my other 2 boys and they have normal valves. Life has really been exciting this last year after my surgery and I am overjoyed to know that the next 12-18 years will be crazy/fun/challenging but most importantly there will be a next 12-18 years and beyond. Wanted to share the great news with my HJV family..Now if I could only get a little sleep..haha Jimmy Johnson AVR 2/20/12 Bovine

At this time last year I was under getting my valve replaced. I had family and friends supporting me and the best doctors in the area. Was I scared? Absolutely..But it had to be done. You will hear this many times on this site but as I reflect on my experience the waiting was the hardest part. I won’t go into a long drawn out reflection story. I will just say my life is moving forward with other things now that my heart is not my primary concern. I focus more clearly on my family and job. It has been a great year. We are expecting our 4th child in April. Another boy..4 boys wow. It\'s exciting to thing about life in the longer term vs. short term. There are so many people on this site that help me before - prayed for me during and encouraged me after. Adam, Thank you somehow doesn\'t feel like enough with what you have created here for folks like us to connect. But I will say a whole heartedly THANK YOU!!! Please let me know if I can help anyone out there that has just found this site or if you are in the waiting period. I will answer any questions you may have. Thanks, Jimmy Johnson AVR 2/20/12 - One year down..Many more to go

It\'s almost a year since my surgery. I remember this time last year as this was the time I found this site and my life and courage changed. I will forever be grateful!! My heart is looking good and BP is also good. My son who has surgery when he was 6 weeks old for a coarctation is also looking good. He has a bicuspid valve but at the moment the gradient is looking good. We know that if he has to do something when he is young we will go ROSS but we are hoping that he can live a long time before needing anything done. Our little bun in the oven had a prenatal echo done the other day as they want to be cautious and his heart looks awesome so that was relief. Now we can focus on April with thoughts of 4 boys OH BOY instead of worrying if his ticker is ok. We have returned to a normal routine. My Older boys 6&5 are asking about why Conor and I have the same scar but they are like he\'s faster than we are so he\'s ok..Gotta love kids. The benefit of this site is it never stops giving. I will come back from time to time to read the words of encouragement I got and offered and I am reminded that I had my chest cracked open. I am pretty sure I can handle anything. Its great seeing people still helping those that are about to go through the journey. Here\'s to a great 2013 and Healthy Fun living!! Jimmy Johnson, AVR 2/20/12

It\'s hard to believe that it\'s almost 9 months since I had my surgery. I don\'t really have much to report health wise and maybe that\'s the biggest thing to report. All is well and I still feel great. I have even noticed that my scar is starting to lose some of that purplish color it had. I have been busy with work and my family. As I reported last time we are expecting and will find out what we are having in a few weeks. I will be sure to come back and share that news. The doc said on our last visit it looks like a boy - that would be 4 boys - OH BOY. I have also been coaching my oldest son in flag football. We have the playoffs this weekend so he is excited about that. I am really excited about the holidays this year as it was this time last year when I got the news that the leak had gotten worse and surgery is more than likely needed. So it will be good to just think about family and friends with no added worry stuck in there. So thankful for all those on here that stay in touch and continue to share their lives. Jimmy Johnson AVR 2/20/12 - I feel better than ever

Time really does fly. It\'s been 6 months already. Please ask me all the time so has life returned to normal and I tell them no. It\'s better than normal. Before my normal was worry (when/how/why). And now it\'s just doing Running/Swimming..not thinking about it. I am reminded of it every day when I see the scar. But it doesn\'t remind me of what I went through but it reminds me to thank of what I will do. Life does get better. You will feel better...People will not treat you differently. You can do this! The big news. My wife showed me a picture of my youngest of the 3 boys. (FYI - Valve Replace surgery will do a lot of things for you but the one thing it doesn\'t do is make you smarter!). I must have looked at the picture for 5 mins and she was looking at me like \"do you see it yet?\"..I looked at her with help in my eyes and she said \"look one more time at everything.\" So I did and then I noticed it. He was wearing a T-shirt that says BIG Brother. Boom..We are going to be parents again for the 4th time. The 1st thing after I hugged and kissed my wife was please don\'t let this be twin boys..Haha. This Life is wonderful and again I thank Adam for sharing his experience and for creating a site for other like me to talk and become a family of Valvers!! Jimmy Johnson - AVR 2/20/12..OR DID I?...doesn\'t feel like it..

A good friend of mine from college passed away last night from a heart attack. He leaves behind a wife and two young daughters. It just has me thinking about everything I have gone through this year with my surgery and how fortunate I was to learn of my condition and keep an eye on it and take action to fix it even though I was scared out of my mind. It just put in perspective for me how lucky I am to still be here. My heart goes out to his family and his community as he was an Indiana State Trooper and one of the truly good guys. With my new lease of life I am still humbled when I hear of someone passing so soon and particularly when it has something to do with the heart. Before my surgery I use to think that once this is done I will never say anything or let anyone know because I don\'t want to be looked at or treated differently. But, I find I am not ashamed and I feel like a warrior who went through something that challenged me physically and mentally. I did it with Pride..Patience..Humility..and Will. In the end I did it because I wanted to not because I had to. I wanted to show my boys that sometimes in life you will be faced with things that are hard and scary. Rely on family and friends (so many that I met on here) and ask for help and tell them what thinking and feeling. Can they relate - no - but, they can listen and hug you and let you know that you are not alone. That was what I wanted to show my boys..Yes, I am afraid..No I don\'t know how this will end up but it\'s okay to be afraid. It\'s okay to need help and let others be brave for you. I find myself just staring at my boys and feeling grateful that I have the opportunity to see them reach major milestones in life and I am overwhelmed. Sorry this was long winded and rambled but thinking about my friend and feeling sad but also feeling very lucky and I wanted others to know I know I am lucky. Jimmy Johnson – AVR 2/20/12

It\'s hard to imagine that I would feel this good 20 weeks after a life altering experience. I just had it built up in my mind that life would be horrible and I would be less of a man so I just tried to ignore it or make believe it wasn\'t happening. Then I found this site where I could read the same fears and concerns that other people \"like\" me were having and would understand. I opened up and shared and what came back was AMAZING. I made connections like Mitch/Greg/Nancy/Janis/Jane who blazed the path and shared experiences and thoughts openly for me to decide my best course of action. I also made connections of people Like Chuck/Stephanie/DVB/Jeff/Chris/Nancy and countless others… That would go after me and I hope I was able to help. I am feeling really good in Body and Mind. I am exercising like I never did before. I eat healthy (though I still like my burger every now and then). I find myself looking at my kids longer in amazement of the people they are and I am over joyed in now having the opportunity to be amazed at the people they will become because I will still be \"ticking\". To use a movie reference with the New Spiderman movie that is out..I feel like I live everyday with my SPIDEY senses in high gear. Things slow down for me and I see them more clearly and feel so connected to what is happening around me and I appreciate it. My 39th birthday is 7/21 and that is how long I have been on this earth but I really feel like I have been \"living\" the last 20 weeks. Not sure that makes sense to anyone. This site is one of the greatest things that has happened to me and I hope others can get out of it what I can. It is sad to see all the newcomers because it\'s a scary reminder of how prevalent Valve Disease really is but with a family like the HVJers it makes it easier to face with humility and hope. THANK YOU for those that help me and for those on the side that I am - I hope wish you all the very best and for those just starting or getting close - you are not alone - we know what you are felling and thinking and I can tell you for most of us waiting really is the hardest part. Let me know how I can help any of you - Please don\'t hesitate to reach out and i will share my phone number and e-mail address and will take the time to listen and tell you about my experience. Jimmy Johnson AVR Bovine Tissue Valve 2/20/12..MOO

I had my 3 month post op echo today. Got the call that heart has returned to normal size and my ejection fraction has returned to normal range. This important because at at my 8 week follow up everything was still the same before surgery and doc wasn\'t sure it would get better. My ejection fraction was in the low 40% range and that is bad. But not anymore. To answer Stephanie\'s question of is it really normal... My answer is yes. Today feels like a rebirth for me. The doc said in July he thinks I will come off the toporol and the lisinipril. That is amazing to hear. I am running 2-6 miles a day 5 days a week. I am playing intensive basketball once a week. Life is good. Now I truly appreciate everything. My boys and I have so much fun. Took my 6 year old to see the Avengers( best movie ever). Ready to go camping and vacation. I am really thinking of the future with hope and excitement. I really have to say my friends and family on here are really and truly awesome. Please keep recovering and living life. For those about to go through it you should lean on the people here. We are here to help like those that helped us. It\'s scary but not that hard of an adventure. Ask for help, except help, don\'t feel helpless. Good Luck... Great surgery...awesome recovery...priceless life!! Jimmy Johnson AVR 2/20/12

Still doing Great. It really is starting to get to be a nonevent. Only thing is nagging soreness in my chest muscles. I haven\'t started lifting as of yet. Still running so I am wonder if I slept funny or it was me throwing the baseball with my son. Dr\'s don\'t seem to be too worried but it\'s a nagging uncomfortable pain that Tylenol doesn\'t help with. Called my Primary DR and see if he can help. Anyways - I am happy that there are so many good updates from folks: Chuck/Mitch/Stephanie/Jan/Linda/Chris/Jeff..Keep on getting stronger Jimmy Johnson AVR 2/20/12..

Hard to believe that 9 weeks ago at this time I was eating broth getting ready to move out of the ICU to the step-down unit. I have to say Thank You to DR. David Andrews at the Presbyterian Hospital uptown Charlotte and to his PA Buddy for making sure I came out on the other end stronger. I would also like to thank all the Nurses that made sure I well looked after and comfortable. It really is \"Remarkable Medicine, Remarkable People\". I feel so good these days. I had my best workout last night as I was able to push hard and run hard for a long long period of time and it felt great. Getting less and less soreness and tenderness in my chest area. This is my 4th week back to work and I am finding that I get less tired midafternoon... I really do think I am 95% or more back to normal. But not my old normal. My new normal.. It\'s awesome. Really the waiting is the hardest part. In short while in the hospital... Breathing Tube - won’t hurt. Might not even notice it When you weak up you won’t feel pain Chest tubes don\'t hurt. Just feel weird coming out. This is what hurt - not badly or for long but to be candid it did hurt but you can manage it. Catheter coming out...Ouch Pace Maker wires coming. Really ouch but for a few seconds only. This is something you can do and get through. Use this site for encouragement and support. I did and still do. This site really was a life saver for me from an emotional stand point.. Good Luck HVJers!! Life is good!! Jimmy Johnson AVR 2/20/12 (Bovine Tissue Valve) Moo..

Life for me has returned to normal..My new normal where I have a high energy level and I am working out 5-6 days a week. Not only do I stop to smell the roses but take a picture of them so I may look upon them again..Haha..Seriously, I do enjoy life more..I have slowed down and say hi to more strangers..I find I am not in a hurry anymore.. My body has recovered so nicely. I feel stronger and less fatigue. I am still waiting for I start lifting weights, after all I did go through a traumatic experience so why rush it. Going back to work hasn\'t been too bad. I find that I wish I was still home..I have been able to settle in nicely and get back into a good routine. After about the 3 day you are a little over going through the entire story again but I its nice people are concerned and ask about you. My son\'s 6th birthday is this weekend so I am looking forward to that. We do Birthdays up in our house..He wants french toast and gummie savers for breakfast. After his baseball game he wants 2 Dorito tacos from Taco Bell. For his Bday dinner he wants NY style pizza from our favorite pizza place Tony\'s Pizza with Orange and Lime Sherbet on the side. I don\'t think too much about the surgery or that I am in recovery until I make a sudden move or a stretch that reminds me. I have for the most part gotten back to living my life. I still come here often to see how folks are progressing with recovery and offer help to those about to go through the it. Hope everyone has a fabulous week..All this talk about Pizza and Dorito Tacos has made me hungry..Time for a snack. Jimmy Johnson AVR (Bovine valve) 2/20/12..Moo

Saw the Cardiologist today. Visit went well. No Echo as I will go back in 6 weeks for that. After that visit they will look at all the numbers and look at my EF and determine if I can come off the Toporal and Lisinapril. Doc said it was looking like a good chance that could happen. Heart sounded good today. He said I looked good as well. So May 24th for the Echo and July 19th for the next follow up. Going to start working on sleeping lying flat in the bed on less pillows. I am still sleeping propped up a bit. Ok..That\'s all I have to report for this update. Hope everyone is resting and recovering well that needs to and staying calm if you date is approaching. You can do this!! Jimmy Johnson

Things are still going great. Last week was my 1st week back to work. I only worked to about abut 2 and then I headed out. I really underestimated how tired I would be at the end of the day. At least 2 days last week I was in bed by 7. This will be my 1st full week (reg hrs). Let\'s see how that goes. I could also be tired because my walks are now later in the day when I use to do them early in the morning. I will occasionally get some soreness and stiffness but nothing to terrible. I find that my ankles/Knees/Lower back/Wrist ache a bit. Not sure if that is my body adjusting to less medication or just tired from working most of the day and then going on walk runs in the late afternoon. It\'s so nice to pick up my youngest son now. I pick him up and he wraps his arms around my neck and puts his head on my shoulder and just relaxes for the longest time. It\'s awesome. My older boys are still a bit to heave for me to pick up but they have no problem climbing into my recliner with me..haha We had a great weekend. My oldest son will have his 6th Birthday in 2 weeks and my Wife\'s Family is coming in for that. Let\'s see how I do with that many quest and in-laws..haha. Hope those that are recovering are doing so well and restfully. Those about to go let us know how we can help. Everyone\'s experience is different but we that have gone through are willing to answer any question we can. I am looking forward to a great 2012..I am actually ready for the Holiday\'s..This past year my mind and heart was heavy with knowing what I was about to go through. Now I want to experience them with my new lease on life. Jimmy Johnson - AVR 2/20/12

Almost 6 weeks post op. and I moved the lawn yesterday. It takes about an hour with a push mower. Wow!! I was a little sore but not to bad. Did a little light run on Friday - wow - wasn\'t ready for all that bouncing. Haha I will echo what Janis said on keeping in touch. I am on Facebook if you guys want to connect on there. Going to enjoy today as its back to work tomorrow. Good luck to those that have surgery this week. You have a family of folks on this site who will be thinking about you and wishing you the very best! Jimmy Johnson

Got the all clear to start driving and return back to work. He told I could do what ever I wanted but follow these 2 simple rules. 1) if it hurts don\'t do it 2) if I get tired...rest Told me to skip rehab as it would be a waste of time and money for me. The chest exray looked great and all my vitals were good. When I 1st saw the surgeon my resting heart rate was 108. Today it was 66. Surgeon also listen to my heart and said it sounds perfect. No murmur. I will start back to work on Monday. My boss and his boss have already called me and said no more than 4-5 hours a day my 1st week back. I am going to start walk/run workouts tomorrow. Had my 1st sneeze last night - held out a little over 5 weeks post op. didn\'t hurt so that was good. I can\'t tell how much this site and the people on here mean to me. No judgements. People shairing personal experiences and fears with others. I felt like I knew everything that I could expect preop and post op. Thank you my HJV Family!!! I may not post weekly anymore but I will continue to post updates and check in regularly to see how friends are doing and hopefully continue to make new ones that I can help and support through their journey!! Jimmy Johnson

All is well. Up to 4.5 miles a day walks. Sleeping better. See the surgeon on Thursday. He should release me at that point. I feel great. Our CEO is in town and the local managers are having a leadership dinner with him. Though I don\'t go back to work until next week I am going to go to the dinner tonight. My question is I wonder if it\'s ok to have a beer or wine with dinner? How long after surgery did others wait before they had a cocktail? I am not on any meds that could react with alcohol. Thanks for all the support!! Jimmy Johnson

Not much to report this week. Feeling great. Sleeping better. My resting heart rate in betweens 60-75. It hasn\'t been that low in years. Before the surgery it was 100. Blood pressure continues to be good. Walking 3.5 miles at one time at a pretty good pace. I also get to a nice resting heart rate faster after activity. Still get a little sore because I trick myself into doing more. Nothing major. All and all I am doing great. I see the surgeon next week. Glad Linda the tiger is back home doing well. Glad Stephanie is recovering well Good luck to Chuck who goes tomorrow. My thoughts will be with you and your family. You will do great!! I am loving this new me!!! Jimmy

Its been 3 weeks since my \"v\" day. I am doing well. I am walking a lot very day. I still get days where I am tired and I have to nap and rest. But for the most part i am doing really well. My blood pressure has ravaged from 104/60 to 122/68. That\'s as good as it ever has been. I hoping that I won\'t have to take any mo bp medicine. My pulse usually rest in the 70\'s. It was in the 90\'s prior to surgery. It does dip into the high 60\'s on occasion. Not sure if the 70\'s are still high. I have lost close to 20lbs. Few lbs before the and mot after. My appetite is good. Must be all that walking and the fact that my portion sizes are a lot smaller. I just can eat the amount I use to. The incision scar looks good. I get more flexibility and mobility every day. Sleeping is still some what of a challenge. Maybe one to two hours and then up and back down for one to two hours and up again. I follow that cycle tille about 630 and a that\'s when my kids are up to get ady for school. I go down and have breakfast with them. I am going to move back into my bed instead of the guest room. Now that I am mo mobile I can get in and out of my bed. Plus it\'s memory foam and much more comfortable. I will let you know how that works. I go see my surgeon on 3/29 where I expect he will release me to drive and return to work. My son started tball this week so that gets me out of the house. I go have lunch with coworkers once or twice a week. Hope Stephanie and Linda have a great surgery and and a fast recovery in cleveland. I know they will do great!! Nancy is on fire with her poems. Glad to see Chris and Jeff doing well. Hope Chuck will also have a good go when his time arrives. Glad to see Mitch doing so well as well as Janis and Jane and all the countless others that have supported me in my journey. Jan - its so good you are home and doing well. I agree that people in the south should really look at Dr Andrews as he is top notch. Plus the care we both got in the step down unit. We were lucky huh? All the newbies to the site. You are in great hands here and you quickly feel a part of a bigger family and people genuinely do care about you Jimmy Johnson

After my morning mile I felt like I had a bit more so I took my boys on a slow walk and we made it another mile. Now I am sure I will rest a bit tomorrow. Don\'t want to over do it. I had been to doing pretty well with pain until my wife punched me in the chest last night. It was an accident. She completely forgot and she got excited after I was explaining kicked in and she punch me. It didn\'t hurt to long. Really finding it harder to sleep. My back and neck hurt. I feel like I am pretty mobile at this point. Feels more muscle pain versus the chest. Wall. Sending big positive thoughts for Jan who has her surgery in the same hospital and surgeon that I had so I am certain she is in good hands. Glad Chris is doing so much better. Big scare for a minute. Linda/chuck/Jeff/Stephanie. Not much longer buti am certain you guys will do great. You have the right attitude and you all seem as mentally ready as you can be. I will continue sending positive thoughts. My mantrain the hospital was \"eye of the tiger\". I hummed that as I walked ny 1st laps until my very last one. Thanks HJV Family. Have a great weekend!!

Wow. Few weeks it was hard to imagine myself here and what it would be like. The surgery and hospital stay wasnt really that bad. Other than a low hemoglobin count that made me dizzy for a few days not bad at all. Now I am home with the family. When my boys saw the scar the my oldest said that doesn\'t really look to good daddy ( that aft a week of hearing how good it looked). My middle son could just muster up that my belly button looked funny ( nothing was done to my button - it looked the way it\'s always looked) Still trying to avoid lifting heavy stuff. I find that it gets easier to get dressed as well as shower. Doing my walks. We go to the mall or target to walk if it\'s raining outside. Still sleep like 2 hrs then up a bit and then sleep for 2 more hours. The soreness and muscle aches are kicking in. Today the at home nurse starts coming over every other day for at least 2 weeks. Again thanks to ALL my HJV family for the support and kind words. It really did and continues to help. Also sending prayers out to Chris!!!

It was nice coming home to all the photos and get well letters my boys wrote me. The recliner has been the area where I am the most comfortable. Though I can\'t put the foot rest down with out help. I did sleep in the quest room bed lest night and it\'s low and easier to do the hip walk to get in position. I used a wedge pillow propped up on other pillows to get angle I needed. My boys slept in the room with me. Took laps inside the house and now that\'s it Warner heading outside for a walk. Each day is diff. I am just going with the flow.

I was discharged today at noon. Sorry about not writing myself in ethe hospital. The percocet they were giving me made me really dizzy and I just wanted to keep my eyes closed. All went well. Took me back about 740 that morning. The last think I remember was we are just going to put this hat on you. Then I woke in the ICU. They were yelling give us a good cough and the breathing tube was out. Let me just say that the surgeon was fantastic. He did the surgery in 2.5 hrs. All things went excellent. I was in such good hands while I went through this. My hemoglobin got low and and that made me very nasueas and light headed. Once off the Percocet and on the iron tablets I started to feel better. I ended up getting a ministernum. I was pleased the didn\'t have to cut me all the way open but doesn\'t make it any less sore. Had an echo done yesterday and all looks really good. The surges said this is the best you heart has sounded your entire life. I made it about 25 laps today before I was discharged. Thank you to the folks that really helped me get reay and for those about to go try not to be too sacred. Ask all the questions you want we will answer any way we can. I will start to respond to me guest page post shortly. Jimmy Johnson 5 days post op.

Jimmy\'s doing so well! I\'m so proud of him. He\'s such a champ! He makes this look easy. He took a lap around the hall pushing a wheel chair this afternoon and they were going to do it again tonight. I have to come home in the evenings to take care of the kids and take them to school in th mornings.