Kim's Journal

Sue Sanchez Grela  Thank you Kim for sharing your experiences! I met with my surgeon yesterday and I was so prepared for what was discussed thanks to you and everyone. I will soon start my journal.

Kim Jones  It's still scary, but inevitable...the morning of I woke up in peace took a shower and did what I had to do. I am lucky that I have had so much help. Did you get a date?

Catie B  It sounds like this pain is really tough and is holding onto you. I'm glad you're getting checked and hope things are ok.
I had a horrible pain deep inside, a little to the left of my right armpit and extending my arm and moving it left and right or reaching for things could be excruciating. But mine was intermittent, I was told it was normal and it stopped after a few weeks.

Michael McMullen  Yes Kim, I have pain on right side, around the arm pit and wrapping around to my scapula muscle group to mid back. ...muscles spasms!@#$% ...and same with me on extending of right arm...ugh I see surgeon tomorrow for post op follow-up.

Kim Jones  Ok. Sorry, not sorry that I am not the only one. I called the surgeons office this morning, they just told me to increase meds and I switched to Advil as well. It is helping, thank God. I really am sorry any of us have pain but it really beats the alternative. I was lucky apparently that I didn't drop dead already. I would like to know what the surgeon says tomorrow Michael. Great job by the way on all the mileage you are putting on. I am excited to have made it around the block 2times today. One more walk when it cools down this evening, it's 80° here today.

Michael McMullen  Thats awesome Kim on the two blocks...how I started too...and glad the weather is cooperating. I also had to increase med intake, unfortunately, like you say better than the alternative though. ...my PCP suggests chest xray...but want to see what surgeon says. This too shall pass :-D

Kim Jones  Yes it will Michael. I spoke with a friend tonight that had his OHS 35 years ago and he remembered th right side pain. He also was not fortunate to have the good wire for his sternum and has to adjust his from time to time manually. Good luck tomorrow, hoping it is a simple albeit annoying hiccup.

Emily Rowley  It's so great to hear an update from you. Whoa, alot more, so are you on any blood thinners? Try to take each step slowly as it comes-I know they push you to get up which isn't nice at the time but helps alot with starting our recoveries. You are still in my thoughts hun xoxo Take care 😚

Rita Savelis  Of course you are still loopy after only a few days. I'm sorry you couldn't get a repair and instead got a surprise replacement valve. I hear you on waking up from surgery and facing those first days. It hurts or there is major discomfort... But you are able to update which is great and something I did not feel like doing for weeks.
Take care.

Catie B  I hope you start to feel less pain soon, Kim. It's a tough battle early on. Congratulations on getting through your surgery--it'll keep getting better, you'll keep getting stronger.

Heath Larner  Thanks for the update. The progress for me seemed to be weekly. Literally every seven days I seemed to have a 10-15% jump in strength and stamina. Keep walking and eating. You'll get there soon!

Rita Savelis  The water weight will drop off as your heart begins to pump more efficiently. I imagine you are already on some sort of diuretic pill for at least a few days/weeks...?
I lost a lot of weight in hospital after surgery, but there was still that odd tire of water around my middle and swollen ankles...
Yikes! Is this my body??
It does get better. Take care.

Kim Jones  Rita, so far I have lost 21lbs, no more diuretics for me, I was starting to get headaches so I think it's good.

Phyllis Petersen  Of course you're stressed! You're going for heart surgery. Take some time tomorrow and do something fun, even if it's just a special dinner before you have to stop eating. All the best for a successful surgery and an uneventful recovery!

Lisa Giaccone  Good luck Kim! I wish you the best and most speedy recovery. I am awaiting my mom's on Feb 22. Please post how things are going in the next couple of weeks.

Kim Jones  Phyllis, my parents will be here soon, I have lost 7 lbs in a week. I foresee cards and family time tomorrow.
Lisa, I will post. My grandmother had her first quadruple bypass at 74 and had the same again 4 years later. She was full of spunk and lived well into her 80's.

Kim Jones  Thanks Ron, I am trying to look past my fear, it gets harder the closer I get. All will be well, and I am excited to have my energy back.

Clare Auten  I really don't remember too clearly the early days in the hospital. I do know when I got home, I did all those things alone. They were tirinf. Taking a shower might mean taking a little nap, etc. My husband went back to work on day 12. My four year old and I were home alone while the other kids were at school. We managed to take care of each other. We got breakfast, lunch, loaded the dishwasher etc.

Alina FH  Kim, using the toilet is a bit tricky in the first couple of weeks, because you have trouble twisting. Your range of motion is limited, so cleaning up is a bit tough. Showering is ok, you can buy a medical chair and sit if you feel like you tire easily. I did not sit on mine, but I used it to rest my legs while shaving them. Now, washing and moussing my hair was THE absolute most taxing chore during my recovery for about a month or so. I had to take a 2-3 hour nap after washing my hear, it would tire me up sooo much. I have medium length hair, too, and very thick and curly. Second to washing my hair, climbing stairs was another thing that made me very tired. Another easy chore that was difficult for me was putting shoes or socks on - my husband did that for about a month, too. I could not easily bend over. Good luck.

Meredith Bray  Surgery on Wednesday, home on Sunday. Sunday evening I sat on my shower chair and my husband held the shower head for me. I did everything myself - very slowly! And then I took a nap. I have short hair and can let it air dry. I don't think I styled it for several weeks. Pro Tip: Get a hair cut and shave your legs before surgery. If you wax facial hair, do that too. I found that my hair and nails did not grow for about 5 weeks after surgery. It was GREAT!
Meredith

Rita Savelis  I second everything already said. Small tasks can wear you out, so you do them and take a rest. Or you put them off for another day. I tied my hair back and let it be for a few weeks. I took sponge baths sitting down.

Kim Jones  Awesome info y'all. Glad. I cut my hair off then. I guess I need to find a booty bottle like they give you after childbirth. 3days left and my allergies are kicking in. Down here in Florida the spring flowering trees are blooming. Beautiful but ugh to my nose and chest, don't want to postpone this surgery.

Cathleen Weed  You'll be tired but try to get back to normal as soon as possible even though it's uncomfortable. Walking is SUPER important. Rest a lot too but also get out of bed and move about ❤️ Best wishes! 💛

Emily Rowley  Quite easy, the hair brushing might be uncomfortable with reaching-I cut mine too and it was so much easier to care for! Showering and washing hair and going the toilet were hard for sometime especially as feeling off balance on my feet. The Nurses will hopefully help you with these tasks until you feel ready to try on your own. I am guessing you haven't gone through menopause (forgive if I am wrong), in this case surgery onsets menstrual cycle therefore loads of pads-I just used uncomfortable unisex Hospital ones (one Nurse bought some from the local pharmacy for me), this is another reason why I stayed in Hospital gown+Hospital disposable undies (they placed a 'bluey' sheet on my chair due to leaking out). Sorry this doesn't sound nice or advertsing. Soon you will be back on your feet 😃

Kim Jones  Hey Emily, I had no clue about that part. Some days I wish I had no uterus but alas it still does its thing, just had the factory shut down. ;) Thanks for that tid bit of info. I have had 2 kids completely natural so that is a battle fought as far as disposable mesh undies and all the wonderful things that follow. 😉

Ben Hyman  Good luck on your Mitral Valve journey. I'm having my Mitral Valve repaired robotically at Mayo Rochester in March

Kim Jones  Good luck to you as well. I am sure the wait is hard for you. I have had a 12 days notice and am ready to get it over and done with.

Charlene Lanigan  Good luck! I'm having the same surgery on February 7th! It is a little nerve wracking to know so far ahead when the date is but I also am excited to just know I'll feel better and not worry so much.

Marcia Mcgregor   I found out three weeks ago I have a problem, and I have been through the tests and will see my surgeon Feb. 1st. I understand my surgery should be with in a couple of weeks of that appointment. I look forward to reading how your surgery goes. I feel as you do, not looking forward to surgery but I am looking forward to feeling better.

Kathy Blank  Kim- you are a week ahead of me so I look forward to hearing about your recovery and progress! Stay strong!

Kim Jones  Thanks y'all. I am told I have a fantastic surgeon. Feeling anxious today until I read the messages here. I will try and post as soon as I can. Good luck to you all as well.

Kim Jones  Linda, I am in the Gainesville area. The surgeon I have just moved over from UF health which was Shands. It takes me 25 minutes to get to the hospital. I'm very fortunate to live in such a fantastic area with fantastic doctors and surgeons.

Dwight Miller  Prayers being sent, you will be fine. You are part of this support team that provides strength and knowledge.