John's Journal

  John, has your iron level been checked recently? I used to have Restless Leg Syndrome and although it can be a genetic issue or the result of some neurological issue, it also can occur after major surgery and be the result of low iron and/or long periods of sleep deprivation. Here is an abstract of a study of post op Restless Leg Syndrome. It's a study of a 9 year old and I realize you are not a 9 year old but it might give you some questions you can ask your doctor. The first time I had it, I never knew what caused it but when I had my second bout of Restless Leg Syndrome, it came shortly after having two surgeries close together for Ovarian Cancer. Afterwards, the magnesium and iron in my blood was low and took a while to get the levels to stabilize. It took two rounds of IV therapy but it went away. My Restless Legs are no longer restless and haven't been for some time now (6 years). Here's the abstract if you'd like to read it. I hope this helps a little or at the very least gives you a direction to investigate. ~Karen

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16939866

Jean Raber  I'm a long-time leg flopper. Good idea to have underlying causes checked, as Karen mentions. But if it's benign RLS and driving you nuts during the day, you can get a thing that looks like a curry comb with flexible plastic bristles on it. I rub this on my legs when they start jerking, and the whim-whams go away. There's some thought that RLS could be on a spectrum of neurological phenomena related to Parkinsons/essential tremor. My doctor is tracking me and some other RLS patients to see if other neurological symptoms develop, but for many years, this has remained pretty stable.

Jean Raber  Hope this is not TMI, but I also sleep alone because my legs jerk in the night; doesn't wake me up, but bugs my husband. This arrangement works fine for us and cuts down on grouchiness. If co-sleeping is important to you, there are meds you can try. Or get a king size bed.

Rosemary Resler  Congratulations John, best of luck in your new job. Maybe I'll be able to get a part time job after I've recovered, retirement hasn't been too good to me!

Janice Powell  Amen that is a special date because me,my sister and my grandmother had our babies on that date and they are all boys and the babies the last born that's special and my baby and my sister was early too but they was fine lol..

Elaine Foster  John, I too had a cancer removed 4 months after OHS. It took me by surprise, as I had no idea there was a tumor growing in my bladder. I believe my heavenly Father has my life in His hands, so I am trusting in a good report when I see the Dr. in Sept. I also need to have a colonoscopy then. God brought me through OHS with flying colors, so I know I can trust Him with this also. Praying for you "heart brother". God bless you

John Jones  Thanks for the prayers everyone. I return them to everyone getting ready for surgery! With prayer we can all heal from OHS. God bless everyone!

Tammy Pilcher  Wow, John, I hope that's it for you! Heart surgery and appendix surgery in two months time is enough! God bless!

Steven A Husted  wow john the appendix operation probably hurt worse than the open heart surgery god bless you heart brother

John Jones  Hi All, I was told by my cardio rehab I'll need a release to allow me to continue re Hab. I have an appt with the appendix doc Friday so I'll be at least 1 week behind on being released. My wife isn't budgen on this. And I happen to agree. It'll work out according to Gods will. Which is great with me. We all need to keep our heads up and keep pushing thru. It gets better .

Terrie Syvertsen  John- For a Man who dealt with a "Double Whammy" you are an inspiration to us all about keeping your spirits up, patience, Faith and acceptance! Taking things one day at a time, following God's will (and minding to your Wife's wishes is a biggie, biggie, biggie! Hope you continue to recover from both the appendix and heart surgery smoothly from this day forth! Heart Hugs to you both & Bless you too!

Lewis Garlisi  My wife reported a lot of jerking / sudden movements for a few weeks post surgery. I have no idea why, but fortunately it did stop.

Gerald Schaffer  You have to watch that Ambien. A friend of mine was sleep walking on that and cooking meals and leaving the stove on and on another day feel asleep while driving his car and got in a crash. Don't get too dependent on that stuff.

Duane Beeman  Gerald: I need to sleep. Period. You can bet that I will do whatever I have to do to get that sleep. And Toporol gives some people nightmares.......but not me. Every drug impacts different people differently. Your friend should have known after burning the eggs in the middle of the night that he was taking the wrong medication for him !! And why was he driving a car under the influence of Ambien. It is supposed to be taken before you go to bed. Not before you take a drive in the country ! The worst I have suffered is "drooling on my pillow." I intend to KEEP using it until my normal sleep pattern returns. If I find myself making spaghetti sauce in the middle of the night I'll reconsider

Gerald Schaffer  Duane I wasn't suggesting that you should not take the stuff, by all means you need your sleep. It was just as a precaution based on my friends experience in case you haven't heard of some side affects that many people get. As far as his accident it happened 16 hours after taking the medication, it has some type of rebound affect hours later that can cause you to fall asleep. It was funny for awhile what was happening, he ate whole boxes of cookies, cooked like twenty pancakes one night, ate a quart of ice cream another. The one thing he never did was clean up so his family always knew when this happened.

Terrie Syvertsen  Gerald-Kind of you to take the time to tell a heart brother of an experience with a medication that might have such side effects. Gives a heads up to the awareness level. Have a good day.

John Jones  I am sure that you know a clean class a with no csa is one of the most valuable commodities to possess right now. And it seems that the industry is finally ready to loosen the purse strings a bit to get a good one.

Tammy Pilcher  So true, John! My wonderful husband has been a true blessing for me! We've been married almost 30 years and he's always been great, but this experience has just reaffirmed how fortunate I am to have him! God bless!

Nancy D  Are you ever right about that! They do go through it, and the sight of us in ICU on a ventilator is not likely a memory to fade too soon. My husband was my rock, and we are closer than ever since this! John, it will take as long as it takes, and wishing won't make it go by faster. Know she is right where she wants to be, helping you through this! Each passing week in rehab will help more than you feel, and when you look back you will see all the improvments you have made! Be patient with yourself, and her, and soon she will have you to lean on again! It is not a journey for sissies for sure! Stay focused and strong, and work hard as you can with in the limitations you are under now.....Soon you too will be counting it all in months and then years!

Steven A Husted  if it is worry you question the doctor about it it may be just part of the healing or it may be a problem the doctor can tale care of

Greg Johnson  Well I don't think that is enough information. What kind of pain? Where is it located? When does it occur? What other issues did you have? etc... I had pain that resulted in a slight decrease in my exercise tolerance after 3 weeks. This resulted in (after sage advice from this group ) a trip to the ER and the removal of 1 liter of fluid from my lungs. If the pain is something that doesn't feel like it is related to bone / scar tissue healing process, I would go to the ER and not wait till Thursday.

John Jones  Thank you for that advice, I'm thinking of that this am as it is worse and my coughing is increasing.

Terrie Syvertsen  Happy 4th to y'all.! Yes! Naps are a crucial part of healing in my opinion! As your body readjusts to all the "work" done on it there are times as it is gathering strength and direction again it tells us "whoa" take a break. Everyone is different in the amount of "naps" taken but realize that between the medications and changes thru surgery it is one of the common ways our body responds to it all. Take care and know the naps will lessen as time goes on and you build up that stamina again. Happy Healing.

Nancy D  I agree with Terrie! You and your whole system has gone through a lot! The heart and ribs are healing but everything has to learn to live with circulation corrected and not how it has been for who knows how long. Medications, and the release of pre surgery stress is enough to make anyone tired! Good for you for listening to your body! Rest is essential as the deep breathing is! Happy Healing!

Meredith Bray  Isn't it nice to have your brain back? Took me about 8 weeks before I was on top of my brain game again. Yes, naps are normal. Even 3 hour naps.

Terrie Syvertsen  Meredith ---8 weeks! I'm still searching for mine! and John, enjoy those naps while you can- I am going to take one now as I have been up and down an 8 ft. ladder in my kitchen painting it a brilliant new shade of sage green and I have earned it. (Remember too that I am going on 11 months post-op soon so NO LADDERS for you.

Judith Collins  The wires do not dissolve. They stay unless you have them taken out and most people do not do that unless they break.

John Noriega  Welcome John...this is a great place to be...especially since the alternative is not one we really want right now. Onward & Upward!