Karen's Journal

Hope everyone who celebrates it had a nice Thanksgiving. I know I did, happy to be here. Saw my surgeon last Monday and he examined me and asked about my walking. I walk about a mile a day, or a little more. He also said he was recommending me for cardio-rehab. Finally! He also took me off the Amiodarone completely. Yay! I guess he figures my chances are low of going back into AFib. He told me my sternum is healed and I could resume normal activities. That sentence was so great. I also have been released from his care unless, of course, I need to see him for any reason. I do have to go to my cardiologist and my GP but that is normal. I already have seen both of them and have my next appointment already scheduled with my cardiologist. I am so happy and relieved that I am doing so well and sleeping better and getting exercise. Hope everyone is doing well and everyone waiting for surgery knows that it gets better on the other side of surgery, little by little.

I know I haven't posted in a while but have been tired and having trouble typing as my fingers are numb. I did post that the surgery was a success. I was in the hospital for 8 days as the surgeon was trying to get off 35 lbs. of fluid I retained after the surgery. After the hospital, I went to rehab for 2 weeks and am now home a week. I have lost most of the 35 lbs. of fluid. Walking has helped. I still am not walking as much as I should but I am trying. I wish I knew if this fatigue was normal after 4 weeks. I see the cardio-surgeon on Monday so I will see what he has to say. I also have questions about potassium as my potassium was very low in the hospital and also sometimes in rehab. Since a blood test is the only way to know the potassium level I want to know if I should be getting more blood tests. But all in all I'm doing good. Also glad the surgery is behind me. I guess that is all for now.

I have pre-op this afternoon and an early surgery (7:30am) Thursday morning so we are leaving for the hospital tomorrow and staying at a hotel because we have to be at the hospital at 5:15 am. I am feeling very nervous but hope that I will be calm the day of surgery. I know all of you are rooting for me. I won't have my computer so this will be the last time I post until I can get to a computer again. "See" you all some time after my surgery in a week or so. Thank you for all the encouragement.

Four more days until my surgery. Have pre-op on the 24th and surgery at 7:30 am on the 25th. Still nervous; guess I will be until I get into the surgical suite. I'm also hoping I have everything I need for the hospital stay afterwards. Is there anything that is helpful to bring after an OHS valve replacement?

Hi again, I feel a little less anxious after writing to friends and also talking about my heart surgery. I still have a week to go. I read the book the surgeon's office gave me and saw that pre-op will take about 4 hours since they do an education class for family during the pre-op. I know I will be very nervous by then and the next day have to be at the hospital by 5:15 am for a 7:30 am surgery. I am glad it is an early surgery. I just hope I make it through. I guess that is normal, at least I hope it is. I'm also nervous about after the surgery but I was in their cardiac short stay unit for my tests and everyone was great. I'm glad they leave the monitors on you but will be glad when all the tubes are out. I guess I am more nervous because my surgeon said I was frail (in his estimation) because I am overweight and walk with a cane. I also am nervous about not being able to get up from a seated position without pushing up with y arms and I know I can't use my arms to do that. The surgeon told me I couldn't and I know I can't because the sternum has to heal. I will be using a walker as that keeps me more evened out, with equal stress on each side. I can walk some without help but the sitting thing really has me concerned and also walking up steps as that is the only way into my home. I guess I should just take this one thing at a time. My father died from a clogged aortic valve in 1977 so I am glad that medicine has come a long way in making this surgery available to everyone. When my father was going through this, there was only one hospital in NJ and when he went for a procedure they said he was too heavy. Months after that he died. OK, I guess I have been under more stress than I thought. I guess my anxiety comes and goes. Thanks for "listening". Karen S

Hi all, I'm 66 years old, live in Alabama, and have been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. I have been seen by a cardiologist since 2012. This past July my echocardiogram gave a severe reading and my cardiologist said it was time to do replace my valve. I had a cath and a TEE and both showed severe stenosis, actually my cardiologist said the leaflets in the valve were fused. He and the cardiologist who did the cath said I would feel much better after the surgery. I really haven't noticed many signs of a BAV but I do have swollen feet and legs and some harder breathing after walking a distance. Anyhow, irregardless of symptoms, I need the surgery. I met with the surgeon two weeks ago and he wanted some more tests. I had a CT of my lungs, doppler of carotid arteries and a breathing test. Passed all tests. I saw my surgeon today and discussed the surgery in more detail. I am getting a bovine valve as I have some walking issues and he doesn't want me to fall and put me at risk for a stroke. Also, he is doing a mini-sternectomy instead of the full sternectomy. I believe the difference is about four inches of incision but the loss of blood is less and recovery time is shorter. At any rate, when I went to schedule the surgery date, I was asked when I wanted to have the surgery, I said as soon as possible. Little did I know, he had an opening next Thursday. So I am having my OHS on Thursday, 9/25/14. I guess that is less time to be anxious. Glad I am on here with everyone who understands.