John's Journal

Hi all, almost six weeks since my aortic valve replacement. All my vitals (bp, pulse ox, heart rate) have been normal for weeks, and even stopped the weekly in-home nurse visit two weeks early because that is going so swimmingly. Saw my cardiologist last week and got a clean bill--valve sounds great, no fluid in lungs. Got the OK to drive and even go back to work, not just behind a computer but also bartending. So that's nice. He said to take it easy with lifting anything heavy for a while, which is fine. Said to see him again in a couple of months. 

Did my stress test yesterday as a baseline for the upcoming cardiac rehab. Still have some sternum pain, but take only Tylenol or Advil; been off the oxy for weeks. Doing my full walk in the morning, which is around 7,000 steps. Before surgery, I would have to stop because of shortness of breath and burning sensation in chest. Have none of that now. So it's going about as good as can be expected.

The only thing I wonder is when will I get back to "normal." Doc said I'm as good now as I was two or five years ago, which is good to hear, but I'm not so sure. I'm still not quite there stamina-wise, and I do get tired more easily. I'm hoping that's normal post-surgical symptoms that will get better with time. Or is this the new normal for me, three OHSs later? I guess we'll see. But it sure could be worse, that's for sure, and everyone is happy with my progress. Me included. 

Thank you for indulging me.

Thank you to everyone for your input and words of support. I am slowly getting better. I'm walking a lot farther than I was just last week, although I am not breaking any land speed records. My gas/bloating issues are pretty much gone. It was weird how persistent and severe it was, I mean to the point of my not having an appetite, which is news like man biting dog. But that's gone now. 

My vitals are all good, although I am a bit sluggish. I'm thinking that's due to my increase in my Coreg to keep my bp and pulse low. They doubled it since surgery, so I'm hoping that goes back to its regular dosage soon. I still have the occasional sternum/incisional pain, but I'm taking only OTC pain relief for that. And I have a follow-up telehealth meeting with Northwestern tomorrow. I am certainly interested in what he or she has to say. 

Number 3 OHS was tough, no two ways about it. The first two days in particular. I'm so glad it's over, and tomorrow marks three weeks since the surgery. Just hoping that with each passing week it gets better, and by the end of August or sometime in September I will be given the All Clear sign. 

Thank you all again for your comforting words and concern, and best of luck in your journeys.

Hello everyone, I'm home after six days from my third OHS. Had some rough patches but nothing the medical folks haven't seen before. Valve is seated well, and all numbers look good. All except bp, which is higher than they'd like. But not dangerously high, and it's steadily getting better. I've taken three 10-minute walks each day too. So I'm doing everything I've been told to do upon discharge.
Here's my thing, though. Five days post-op I began experiencing severe bloating, and it's still with me. I mean SEVERE. The X-rays of chest and abdomen don't show any issues. Still, it feels as if I'm with child, and for the last two days I've taken everything known to man to get rid of it: 1) Gas-X, 2) Tums, 3) IB Gard, 4) Mylanta, 5) stomach massages used on gassy infants, among others. Now I just drank a small of glass of bicarbonate. I've been told it's because my organs took a shock with the heart-lung machine and eventually it will get better. I sure hope so, because it's tough walking around as if I'm 8 months pregnant. It's something I never experienced before and did not expect this time. Any help would be welcome.
Thank you all for checking in on me. We are in a rough stretch in our lives, and it's nice to know there's  a support group in your corner. All the best.