Joan's Posts

Hard to realize it's been 5 months since my surgery, but the time has gone by quickly. I have another few weeks of cardiac rehab and I have mixed feelings about the rehab.....it was helpful in the beginning but I really don't see much benefit lately. I am well supervised but no one really pushes me to move to the next level so I sort of drift along dong whatever suits me at the time. Maybe it's time I get a personal trainer when I complete the rehab program. I am down to a small dose of toprol (12.5 mg.) now and I feel less tired with the lower dose and also got rid of the occasional dizziness. I will be seeing my cardiologist after Thanskgiving for another checkup. Hurrican Sandy was an "experience" for alot of us here in N.J. and we were without power for about a week and I had a large cedar tree fall on my house during the height of the storm but luckily and miraculously it didn't do any damage to the house. I live up in the Mts. of NW N.J. (yes, we do have Mts. in N.J.) and we have alot of forests/woods so the tree damage in the area was extensive. But those poor people down at the NJ shore really got nailed and are still without power in many areas. Low BP has been a problem of late with it running in the 50/80 range and it does come up a bit with exercise, but with the lower dose of beta blocker I think it will become more normal....hopefully. Nothing much else is new, but I want to wish all of you waiting for your surgery GODD LUCK and a speedy recovery. Happy Thanksgiving to all........ Joan Davenport AVR 6/12/12 p.s. a special Happy Thanksgiving to Dr. Allan Stewart .

I just noticed that it's been two months since I last wrote in my journal.....sorry about being so delinquent but time really has flown by this summer. I am celebrating my 3 month post op anniversary today and I am feeling great!!!! I started cardiac rehab the other day and so far so good. I go 3 times a week and it is in a hospital setting so I feel safe and well monitored. I am under the supervision of several RN's at all times. Had another echocardiogram done a few weeks ago and all is well and my cardiologist is thrilled that my new valve is performing so well ( nice and tight and no leaking). I finally got over the "tired all the time" feeling when I cut back on the metoprolol. I now take 25 mg. once a day. Thanks Adam for contacting Dr. Salenger at Good Samaritan Hospital in Warwick, N.Y. for me concerning my question about being tired after heart surgery. He suggested several ideas one of which was the metoprolol. Since it is a common drug (beta blocker) given after heart surgery it might be something others need to consider. The drug does have the tendency to make you drowsy/sleepy/tired. I hope all of you awaiting your surgeries have as good an outcome as I had. My surgeon was Dr. Allan Stewart at NYPresbyterian Hospital and he is THE BEST!!!!!!. Best wishes to all and many blessings...... Joan Davenport AVR 6/12/12.