John's Journal

Valve replacement surgery was almost 26 months ago; I had planned an update at 24 months...oh well. Have a routine echo exam tomorrow, which reminded me just how long ago my surgery was. The fact that I am up and active, and don't think about the AVR is testimony to the genius of the medical community, especially Cleveland Clinic. I did undergo two cataract procedures, with good results, and am basically sound. Still on metoprolol and torsemide, but a low levels. Lots of new faces on the HVJ site. Welcome to what can be a really neat experience. John Teftt AVR--CleveClinic--5-4-12.

Posting between cardio visits...next is early July, with echocardiogram. Only change since last post is continued deterioration in vision. Opthamologist has identified 1 cataract worthy of surveillance...and I am scheduled for 6 month follow up. Gonna get by with old specs I hope...would have to get corrective lenses if I were still employed.....Hmmm.... I have had no luck trying to engage the medical community in pursuit of a connection between OHS and vision/memory deterioration. Several unofficial comments from India/Pakistani students hint strongly that such a connection is being studied. Someone with a scientific inclination please follow up. Again, recovery from OHS much slower than \"as advertised,\" but the net results are there. Thanks again HVJ. J Teeftt, AVR, CClinic, 5/4/12.

Not only 90 days without the Cardiologist,this week marks TOTAL 8 months AVR Surgery. Everything is pointing in a positive direction. Next step is in 6 months, when an ECHO is scheduled. Caution to others: the vision deterioration and memory loss are more common than we think. If my memory loss stabilizes, no neurologist involvement is necessary. Decision on that is at next Cardio appointment. Not so with eye doctor. Appointment to follow. I hope someone more scientifically inclined will follow up these 2 problem areas. Access to Pakistan/Indian research would help. Old grouch that I am, I must admit that in spite of a long drawn out recovery, plus a couple of unresolved issues, I am much, much better than at New Years 2011, 2012, etc. Peace be to all...J.Teeftt, AVR, CClinic

It has been two months since my last doctor visit. That\'s a big deal. One negative has been a weight gain of five pounds in about sixty days. My January Cardio visit will hopefully confirm that this gain is NOT heart or lung fluid retention. I think the Toursemide works, and the gain is result of a heartier cool weather diet, and a lack of exercise. My walking has leveled off at 1/2 mile daily; the \"Silver Sneakers\" program kicks in January 2013, which may help. I envy those that report \"trouble sleeping.\" I often sleep 10 hours/day. The more I sleep the worse I feel. I was discharged by my employer after 6 months medical leave. This has been disappointing, and I suspect depressing. Mebbe I can blame weight gain and over sleeping on my ex-employer!!! Hmmm... For a guy who had such a miserable post op, my current stats are great.. BP a consistent 120/80 with resting pulse of 85. No A-fib since shocker 5 months ago. Stamina, skin tone, circulation WAY BETTER than pre-op. To all in Pre-op: Waiting is the worst part. To all in Post-op: Ain\'t this great!!! Thanx HVJ, you are my rock. John Teeftt, AVR, Cleve C, 5/4/12.

After September visits with Cardio and PCP, several meds were adjusted/cancelled. Unfortunately, Sept was a slightly backwards month, but we did learn enough to make more adjustments. Confidence is high enough that I am off the 30 day appointment cycle, and am now scheduled for early January. Cardiologist strongly hinted that as a result of this \"90 day free home trial\" I may get my discharge then. The only problem now, is to try and keep my job. Policy is to hold it open 6 months; I am looking at 8. Oh well, another challenge. To any other post-ops struggling with fluid retention on heart and lungs, ask your Dr. about TOURSEMIDE (DEMADEX). Worked great for me. Thank you HVJ. You are my rock. John Teeftt AVR 5/4/12 Cleveland Clinic.

Since my last post, we have changed diuretics, with awesome results. Torsemide (aka Demadex) did the trick. Substantial weight loss, with obvious fluid loss in legs and ankles. Apparently, same was true with heart and lungs. My old nemisis, shortness of breath, although still with me, has signifigently decreased. My daily walk routine is now 4 to 5 times greater than July.(We are talking feet, not yards or miles !!!). Got a clean bill from the Pulmonary specialist, noting very minor fluid. Cardiologist has reduced Torsemide to a \"maintenance\" dosage, and has started to reduce other meds. There is a glimmer of hope, that after 4 months, I may be coming out of this after all. No re-hab scheduled yet, but it can wait, as I see progress. Thank You HVJ. You are my rock. John Teeftt AVR 5/4/12, Cleve Clinic

I had \"hung my hat\" on starting re-hab in early August as the final option to solve my shortness of breath problem. Well, a setback occurred, and the re-hab was delayed (I refuse to say cancelled). I am now scheduled with a pulmonary specialist in late August. Cardiologist is reducing his role. I\'ll repeat from July...\"this better work, as it appears we have run out of alternatives.\" Will post again after meet with specialist. Thank you HVJ. You are my rock. John Teeftt AVR, 5/4/12, Cleve Clinic

Cardiologist visit 7/11 not very exciting. No answers or advice on \"shortness of breath\" issue. Had chest X-ray 7/13 to make sure there is no fluid on lungs. Soooooo off to Re-Hab we go. Schedule is 12 weeks with orientation 8/3. This better work, as it appears we have run out of alternatives. In the interim I have developed my own little \"walking program,\" which is showing mixed results. Thank you HVJ. You are my rock. John Teeftt AVR, 5/4/12..Cleve Clinic.

Had Cardio visit 6/29 with another mini echo. Finally, GOOD RESULTS. The A-Fib has been gone 7 days as a result of Cardioinversion; heart appears stronger (what a shocker). The heart fluids are now 90% gone. Instructed to step up walking efforts (get it?), and will discuss in 2 weeks. Old pre AVR \"piano legs\" condition is back/not to worry, yet. Interesting history on blood thinners...started with coumadin. Terrible results...rollercoaster ride. Went to an expensive innoculant(forget name) which I vetoed due to cost ($1200/week,uninsured). Settled on predaxa--reasonable cost, no diet restrictions, no testing. You figure it out. So, I finally got a passing grade. Thanks HVJ

After my 6/14 post, cardiologist decided \"can\'t wait\" on medicating out of A-Fib. Back to hospital 6/21 for \"cardioversion\" and further tries at getting INR readings to acceptable levels. Insurance denied on one blood drug. What mass confusion. Anyhow, the Cardioversion\" worked. I am 3 days out of A-Fib with noticeable improvement. This is shocking (get it?)\' and I am racing fast towards normal recovery. Will post again as soon as INR goals met. Thanks for being here, HVJ.

After the ER visit, things got worse. Fluids have worsened, and I am in full A-Fib. Trying now to medicate out of both problems, plus coumadin to minimize A-Fib related clotting. Hospitalized 6/5 thru 6/8 to get started. Missed 6/11 coumadin target by a mile, so add another roly-coaster ride to my routine. I read journals daily, and envy those with prompt, problem-free recovery. With your help, I am refusing to give up. Thanks for being there, HVJ.

Thursday was to be my four week gala after AVR surgery. Instead, a trip to the local ER after 4 bouts with chest pounding breathlessness. After X-ray, CT scan, and review of vitals, I was sent home with advice to monitor the small fluid deposits on heart and lung. No real answers on short of breath issues. Today I reviewed same with hotline at CClinic. Advised me to accelerate cardiologist schedule, but otherwise not to be concerned. So, I wait it out pending my 6/5 cardiologist visit. Otherwise, I can report several areas of improvement, most related to circulation. Better exercise program started today. Appreciate the HVJ support.

Somewhere in HVJ, long before pre-op, someone said to get an old fashioned heating pad. So I did, then I forgot it. Now wrestling with shoulder and hip muscular pain. Reluctant to go the percocet route. Dug out the pad and added as my right shoulder shawl or napping aid. Results are excellent. Clinic phone nurse said \"twenty minutes at a time.\" I get 40 minutes of solid relief from the 20. Try it. John Teeftt, AVR, 5/4/11

Wan\' t to ask today about \"being loopy,\" a phrase often cited by others but one I never fully understood. Now I get it. I am 15 days post anesthesiology, and using less than 50% allowable pain killer. It takes me forever to do things logically. 4 tries to access my email account??? I have about given up on my two daily loves, sudoku and crosswords. Can\'t even balance my checking account. What a mess. Anyone else as limited as this? Any shortcuts???

Discharged 6:30 pm Thursday, for a total of 14 days, twice the time I had hoped. Sugar went goofy, oxygen absorption was a problem, on and on. Arrived home, hit the sack. How exciting. Today I have sorted thru old e-mails, plus tried to organize my drug regimen. Have 11 scrips plus percocet, which I limit to 50% of allowable. Weather will be nice today, so I\'m planning a sun bath party

Since I took the iPad home with me (sorry!), I\'ve been faxing Dad his blog and Guestbook entries from work! I\'m nothing if not resourceful! The last few days have been uneventful for Dad. Typical recouperating. However, his oxygen absorption levels are still low or less than required. Tonight, they are going to do a test of sorts, and allow him to walk without the oxygen for a length of time, then test the levels and then determine if his release from stepdown can be accomplished by sending him home on oxygen, temporarily. I think this is right...Sounds to me like a pulmunary issue that should (?) resolve itself soon. All Dad cares about is getting out! The results of this should determine his release date. He\'s still in good spirits, keeping the nurses on their toes, I\'m sure. He\'s depleted the stash of \"healthy\" dark chocolate I left for the nurses by handing it out to them. I figured they deserved a treat when they visited him. I hold nurses in the highest regards, after this experience. Doctors, too, but Nurses are there ALL the time! Thanks to Brooke & Terri for visiting him last night. Very thoughtful and much appreciated by me! I forgot to ask about his sugar, which wasn\'t leveling out either, but now that gives me something to ask tomorrow for the blog.

I have no idea how to write in Dad\'s voice! Anyhow, here\'s a synapsis of what he gave me while I was on the road (for two really long days!) Blood pressure is good. Oxygen levels are good. Been walking around the room a bit, still tight in the chest (phlegm?) spirits are good, marked improvement every day. It\'s quiet on the weekends here. Sugar is giving me some issues, but we\'re playing around with the medicines. Yep, that\'s it. Still debating the extended skilled facility. I will fight tooth and nail with him on this. I\'ll probably lose, but he knows what he\'s doing. Thanks, everyone, for the kind words. I think Dad did a good job, but I\'m a little biased :) And Happy Mother\'s Day to all the moms who follow Dad\'s blog!

As you can see, Dad had his first experience with the iPad this afternoon. Since I do have to return to Nebraska tomorrow, Dad and I made a deal. He calls me every day, and I will update the blog in \"his voice\". I will also read him each guestbook entry, so keep \'em coming. We discussed that many heart surgery patients suffer depression. I think social media such as this helps stave off that feeling of isolation. And while it won\'t be the same as his lovely daughter visiting him daily, it will help. Dad is doing MUCH better than yesterday. Marked improvement in all areas. He\'s now free to walk about as he\'s only encumbered by 1 tube...oxygen. Yay! Thanks to \"the Ninja\" who visited today. Sorry I missed you and good luck on your surgery as well. I should return to the Cleveland area in a few weeks to check on the patient. Thankfully I\'m comfortable with the progress and look forwards to talking a walk around the neighborhood with my Dad soon!

Typing on this thing not like mom\'s prewarUnderwood. I\'m not sure where earlier days went,but thursday found me comfortable on the other side of the tower,beautiful room,fantastic view of horizon . Spent Thursday Chasing the irregularities that remained from surgery, and today finally started on REHAB. Walked fifteen feet Tomorrow, Jenn starts home, and I get to interview prospective skilled nursing facilities. End of message.

My apologies for the late entry. Between working and trying to keep track of Dad, last nights entry just didn\'t happen. Dad got into a very nice room about 3:30 - 4 PM yesterday afternoon. Again, he has super nice nurses and caregivers. He is in MUCH better spirits, ate dinner, and when the Sudoko book came out, my presence was quickly forgotten... LOL! Anyhow, it appears that all will go well, with the exception of the fact that I have to return home and leave my Dad. I have obligations that I must keep. And it breaks my heart. Needless to say, we tried to \"schedule\" this, knowing that it probably work out. But again, I know he\'s in the best hands possible. Additionally, by the amount of texts I have gotten from his friends, I know he won\'t be alone. As I went to the gym this morning, I realized that I need to make more changes in my life. I am truly my fathers daughter, with a few exceptions. I hope my dedication to working out and eating better will be a model for Dad. But seeing what he went through made me realize that I need to change some of my ways. I can run a 5K, but I still smoke. Dad quit smoking years ago, and yet... here we are, just having had the big surgery. My only concern now is aftercare. I\'ve tried to \"compromise\" with Dad about his rehabilitation. I want at least 1 week of aftercare in an accredited facility so that I can fly back and take him home. He\'s independent and wants to go home. I get it. But we need to think about what\'s best for his recovery, not what appears to be easy. My concern is the length of time that he was in ICU. If that is any harbinger of how long his rehabilitation will take, then any added assistance will only help. I also get that rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility is also an \"old age home\" in his mind. And in no way is Dad OLD!!! I\'ll go visit him this afternoon and I\'ll take the iPad for him to see this. He looks forward to the guest book entries. Thanks HVJ family, for your prayers, thoughts, kind words for both Dad and I, and mostly for your advice! Jen