Kim's Journal

Anna Jones  Hi Kim, we all recover at our own pace. However, I think you should call your cardiologist to discuss this with him. I didn't really start improving until week 6, but whenever I had concerns about what was going on, I spoke to the cardiologist to see what he had to say. Sending prayers for an easier recovery.

Nancy Surprenant Takahashi  Hi Kim, I had MVP and maze, my incision was made below my right breast but it took SEVERAL weeks for me to begin to feel like myself, I used to get pain across my chest too. My surgery was April and I would say my stamina is still not what it used to be. I went out today and came home totally exhausted. Keep your doc posted but remember we all heal differently. I would read how others felt so great...well not me, it's been a long journey. Emotionally it has also taken a toll on me, my doc sent me for CAT Scan w/imaging and during the test I just broke down and cried and sobbed. This is a very big operation and does a toll on us. Stay strong!

Susan Lynn  I had a mini-t and I had alternating tenderness and numbness as the nerves regenerated. I was definitely tired and took advantage of early bed time and napping, as needed. I don't know if it was the medication or the surgery, but it does take awhile before you feel like yourself. My cardiologist said 6 months, but for me, I think I felt pretty normal in less than 3. Hang in there - you'll feel significantly better in the coming weeks.

Jennifer John  Kim, be gentle with yourself. Takes time. I’m coming up on week 10 of MV repair with maze procedure via right thoracotomy. Healing of incision and surrounding nerves has taken longest. Patience.❤️💪🏼

Kelly Stoll  Hi Kim. I can't say much about the pain, but arm weakness was a major issue for me. Once I got past about 12 weeks, it improved. In truth today is the first day I haven't felt totally at a loss physically, and my surgery was at the end of April. Hang in there and let your body heal. In time you will see improvement!

Kim Lonergan  Thank you all so much for the reassurance. I will take all of the advice given and try to be patient with myself and continue on the road to healing both physically and emotionally. I really appreciate each of you taking time to respond! It has really helped lift me up!

Ivana Okereke  Hi Kim, I was put on the same meds and due to my extremely low blood pressure, I was given so much fluid that I gained 22lbs in water weight. I am now 3 weeks post-op and am finally back to my pre-surgery weight. I believe there is still more water retention because, just like you, I ate very little, felt very nauseous and couldn't keep anything down in the first week. I am sure I lost weight too, but can't tell due to the water retention. I think that the pain meds made me nauseous more so than the magnesium and potassium though. My blood pressure has stabilized now and is around 110/78, but my pulse is still high. I don't know if this is normal and how long it should be that way. Wishing you a speedy recovery and soon enough you will be off all the meds which are causing you issues.

Kim Lonergan  Thank you Ivanka. I know we talked about fluid retention right after you came home from your surgery. Were you on blood pressure medicine when you got home? They told me not to take mine if my top number is under 100. It has varied between 85-92 but this morning it was 79/67. My pulse is 110 though. Not sure what to do or if I should wait things out a few more days. I hope you are feeling better and I hope your recovery continues to go great!

Jennifer John  Kim, I had same procedures on 5/31. I also gained about 20+ lbs of fluid. Wow. That’s gone now, and I’m feeling so much better.
My second week at home, BP was a bit too high, so doc cut daily Lasix and potassium down from 2 to 1, put me on Metoprolol, which lowered BP to normal range.
At my one-month follow-up visit, doc stopped Lasix, changed Metoprolol to a longer-acting one, Toprol, and a milder diuretic, Aldactazide. My pulse is still rather high in 80s-90s, but that takes time. The heart is remodeling, as they say. Be patient and gentle with yourself. Everyone’s different.
Check out my journal posts of 6/20 and 6/22 on the ABCs of post-op. Might give you some chuckles.😍💪🏼🎶

Rita Savelis  This all sounds like regular OHS aftereffects. I lost my appetite and my tastes changed. Water weight, fast heartbeat - all a reaction to what has happened to your heart and body. You need some weeks to let yr body get over all it's been through. And the doctors help you out with various standard meds and substances. Eating more salt can help with low blood pressure, hence the potassium...Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Anna Jones  Hi Kim. I had mitral valve repair on 6/11. Food tastes normal again but I am down to 96 lbs and don't eat much either. I also have low BP and high pulse. I'm changing cardiologist. If I get some answers I will pass them in. Sending prayers

Steve Farthing  Yes, I had high heart rate until I stopped the lasik. If you are 9 lbs below pre-surgery weight, why still on lasik?

Judy Shaw  Kim, they gave me lasik in the hospital but my body was not ready for it. It caused a drop in my blood pressure. Then they filled me with Metamucil 3 times a day that caused terrible diarrhea for a day and a half. Started to give me lasik again and I refused. Good grief I was dehydrated. She didn't give it to me anymore. Of course I was sent home with the same medications as you but I have not taken them. I weigh myself every morning at the same time. So far I am down 5 pounds from my presurgery weight. I am watching closely but so far no fluid retention.

Kim Lonergan  Thanks for the responses! I feel like many of you know what I’m going through. I did check in with my surgeons office Friday regarding the lasiks and they said stop lasiks if I’ve lost that much weight, as long as i don’t have swelling. I guess recovery is one day at a time.

Judy Shaw  Kim, I've had something similar but my surgeon told me it wasn't my heart. To be safe let your doctor know this is happening.

Susan Killian  I have random pains in my left chest. At rehab they seem to think it is from healing muscles and bone, I did notice it is worse when I do too much.

Kim Lonergan  Thanks for responding Judy and Susan. I appreciate the info. I will be seeing my cardiologist Tuesday. I just wanted to see if anyone else had experienced these symptoms! It's very uncomfortable.

Anna Jones  kim, call your insurance company. Ask them to send you a list of their Cardiothoracic surgeons. Or, do a google search for [name of your health insurance company] provider locator. Once you know what surgeon is covered, you can make an appointment to see him and his insurance department will take care of setting things up for you.

Steve Farthing  I believe the total fees for my MV repair including pre-op tests, CT scan, heart cath, carotid echo, labs,etc came to about $200,000. Those fees were reduced to around $30,000 by Medicare which all providers accepted as full payment! But if you use a provider not covered by insurance, you could be on the hook for the highest possible fee from that provider.