Kim's Journal

I am now about 11 weeks post mechanical AVR and aorta aneurysm repair. Doing good in cardiac rehab 3x/week. Still with some fatigue but palpitations are mostly resolved and shortness of breath is improved. I would definitely recommend cardiac rehab! The energy level after exercise is amazing! For all the childbearing women, the menstrual period on coumadin is not as bad as i thought it would be and is doeable. Scar is healing very slowly and looks like a runway, not very tender. More tingly/numb with palpation. Chest tube sites even slower to heal : / Sleeping is also improved now that i can move and turn around in bed more easily and without discomfort. It is bliss sleeping on one pillow again!

Im seven weeks out from surgery with some intermittent skipped beats but otherwise doing well. I started back at work part-time today and it went well, just exhausted. I have a very busy job and i have no idea how i will be able to return to full-time in two weeks but somehow it will work out. Birthday month is August for me and the parents as well, so just hectic...Scars are healing well on my chest and chest tube sites and i am able to lay flat now in bed and turn on my sides. Left shoulder still bothers me s/p surgery but less so over time. The kicker is sticking with a low vit k diet on the warfarin. I miss my greens! Even if i wanted to i would be unable to do a higher vit k diet since i am already on warfarin 15mg daily and i dont want a higher dosage seeing that my body seems to be somewhat resistant to the medicine. Im still wearing my front latching bra and using a soft pad from Autozone on my seatbelt which protects my scar. My cat is sleeping with me again (against my parents advice) but i have to put my heart pillow over my chest so that she doesnt lay or jump on it. The things we do for our children :P Well thats all my random thoughts for today....

I'm about 3.5 weeks status post surgery and now I am dealing with an irregular heart rate and what feels like extra beats with a rate in the 40s. I have been pretty much eradicating caffeinated beverages and I've cut down my evening dose of beta blocker since symptoms are worse in the evening. My cardiologist did a holter on me results pending and ECHO and CXR are next week. He thinks it is from premature beats, not afib. Cardiac rehab is on hold and work restarts part-time on August 3rd. Hopefully everything resolves on its own since it is very uncomfortable. My INR went up to 3 last week on warfarin 15mg daily. Goal INR is 2-3. Hopefully they decrease my dose next week...

I have been having some significant burning left upper arm discomfort since surgery. I'm thinking it is probably due to the constrictive BP cuff the kept using during my hospital stay and possibly also positioning during surgery. Tylenol helps a little. Is anyone else having the same issue and if so, what are you doing for the pain? Thanks!

YAY! Out of the hospital since late Yesterday!!! The only catch is that I have to give myself those darn lovenox injections in the stomach myself since my mother looked like she was clueless on what to do. The first time I stuck myself it was more nerves then discomfort. Hopefully tom at my post op appt that can be discontinued. I actually got a full night of sleep last night out of the hospital as well without interruption which was great!! I strongly recommend anyone getting valve surgery to get the minimally invasive/keyhole approach if they are able to. The recovery is so much easier and went smoothly for me.

Well it appears that the surgeon wants to discharge me hopefully tomorrow if my INR is at 1.5 and place me on lovenox daily, baby aspirin, beta blocker, and warfarin 15mg daily with f/u on Monday in clinic. My flight back to FL is next wed 7/1. It makes me nervous with a lower INR goal but I don't want to be in the hospital for another week either. Either way, Dr. Svensson is da boss!

Still stuck in hospital 7 days out with a sub therapeutic INR. Every day the dose has been increased on the warfarin and the INR has consistently stayed at 1.0-1.1. I am currently on warfarin 12.5 mg daily and INR today was 1.2. Goal INR for discharge is 1.8. Next dose up is 15 mg daily. The heparin drip just got to where it needed to be today at 1800 units/hour so hopefully less blood draws daily. Anyone else have trouble being therapeutic on warfarin initially?

Had my surgery and found out I have a rare unicuspid valve which is probably why the darn thing didn't last longer without surgical intervention. Removal of the 2 chest tubes and vent tube was horrible. Compared to that, the pacer wire removals were a breeze. Had my repeat chest CT done today and awaiting results. INR on warfarin not coming up so I'm now on heparin drip. Either way I'm glad to be here still and appreciate my second chance at life. Pain is minimal and is mostly over my neck and upper back due to limited sleeping options. I'm glad surgery is over with, no more anticipation anxiety!

Wow- a week and a half until my surgery and closing in rapidly! I have mixed emotions and why me? Episodes. My family has been very supportive. At this point I just want everything to be over already....I have been working full time while awaiting this surgery and it has been tough with my breathing and chest pains. I also have the menstrual period from hell which isn't stopping after 2 weeks and I am waiting for the provera to kick in. Are there any women that are on warfarin that can give me any input on how bad the menstrual periods are on that medicine?

Trying to make preparations for my upcoming surgery and trip to Ohio. Very nervous the closer I get to the surgery date, especially with my expanding ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm which has increased to 4.9 cm over a few months. I've been having some chest discomfort intermittently with shortness of breath and fatigue- I guess to be expected!