Kevin's Journal

7 weeks post op(a day late!): Hey all, I gotta say I feel amazing after 7 weeks. I do at times, mostly when I wake up in the morning, have tightness in my chest. It goes away fairly quick. Nothing some Advil can’t handle. My incision looks great and “the bump” is gone. Still take 1 aspirin and day and 1 25mg metoprolol in the evening, but will discuss how much longer with my cardiologist at my spot next week. I got the approval for cardiac rehab starting June 12th. I look forward to going but have a feeling that with my progress I might not need many sessions. This week I am walking 6 miles a day and feel great. My lungs open to full capacity when brisk walking and it feels amazing! I haven’t tried jogging yet. Other than that life is good and am looking forward to planning a nice celebration of OHS success trip. For all that are in the waiting room or just starting recovery know it gets way better so take it day by day and keep your head up. Cheers!

Post op visit. Today I had my 2 week follow up visit with my surgeon and everything is great. He said I am healing nicely and my chest X-ray shows my sternum is straight, lungs are clear, and my heart is shrinking back to normal size! It is a great feeling of not having any palpitations, fluttering, or heart racing. What a relief. I still have chest discomfort and what not, but I know it’s part of the healing process and will continue to get better. I am finally allowed to shower and go out to walk to mall or grab dinner or what not. My next visit will be with my cardiologist in about 2 weeks to do an echo. For all that are waiting, I never thought I say this, but the waiting is the hardest part. Don't get me wrong recovery is a slow process, but recovery gets better each and every day and it is a great feeling knowing how strong you are and how amazing your body is. Life is good!!!

Week 1 post op.....it’s good to be home but can be terrifying at times. A lot of mixed emotions from felling good, sad, exhausted, and just learning how to move slow for some time. My appetite sucks and I’m losing weight, but I guess I needed to lose some anyways lol. Not the way I wanted to though. My body constantly goes from hot to cold all day long. My temp is always in range so who knows. I have a home health care nurse who comes every day to change my dressing. I have a slight wound opening that oozes a little but she said it look ok and not infected. I have my follow up with my surgeon on Tuesday so he will look at it then. Showering has me baffled because I’ve been using body wipes and dry shampoo because my nurse said I can’t get my bandage wet! WTF!? I haven’t had a freaking shower in about a week and I think that is starting to break me down. I have the usual clicking and popping in the chest which feels weird and I know it’s normal but still kinda gets to me also. I am more than thankful that I had this chance to be fixed but damn there are days that make to feel like you are struggling more than you did before surgery. Hope all is well everybody. I will check in as my body allows me to lol.

Boy was that a quick 4 days!!! I am officially home from open heart surgery. Doctor said he repaired a VSD as well as a Sinus of Valsalva fistula. He was able to use my own heart tissue with no patches or mechanical valves! Progress was made so quickly that he said there is no reason for me to sit here and take meds when I can do that in the comfort of my own home. Still pretty sore but manageable and foggy/tired in the head. I know in due time that will all be relieved.

Hey everybody, all is said and done. Surgery went smoothly with no complications. Nurses say I am improving faster than they thought but at times I don’t feel it lol. Coughing sucks!!! Give me another day or two and I will share my story. Thank you all for you prayers and thoughts that helped me get through this.

Surgery postponed!!!! So I just received a phone call from my surgeons office stating that he was called in for an emergency transplant surgery and that my surgery would be pushed back a week to keep me as a first case surgery rather and a second case later in the day since my is not as common and he wants more time. I was mentally ready for Wednesday, but I believe things happen for a reason and I’m glad someone else is getting a chance to be saved!

Pre-Op Day! As I sit here at the Cleveland Clinic (Weston, Florida) going from one station to the next it is all starting to sink in.... holy crap next Wednesday I’ll be starting the next chapter in my life!!! It’s scary yet I’m anxiously waiting to start it and see it happen! Today consists of chest X-ray, CT scan, blood work, anesthesiologists consult, pulmonologist consult, then finishing off at my surgeons office. Today is very overwhelming but ready for it to be over. Different emotions are all hittting me.