Laurie's Journal

Hi Everyone! It's now been 1 year and 9 months since my aortic valve replacement and by pass surgery. All is truly well. A few small things still bother me. Where they took the vein out of my leg for the by pass part of the surgery, it is still numb and painful. I had no idea that would last this long, Maybe it never goes away. I have minor discomfort on the chest incision. My BP remains low, about 110/70 or lower and my heart rate stays about 55-60. Ankles still swell, mainly the one where they took the vein. But, all and all, everything is good! For anyone who is getting ready to go through this or just went through this, just know that soon it will be in your past and life will resume. It will always be one of the most MAJOR life events you will ever have to face. Just remember, we are not just Survivors, we are WARRIORS!

I had an appointment with my Cardiologist yesterday and he was very happy with my progress. He said to keep doing what I have been doing (with the long power walks) and I don't need to come back for 6 months. YAY!!

This is the first time I am writing about my surgery. I hope that my experience can help ease fears or anxiety for anyone who is facing surgery. I went to my doctors office for my 6 month check up. I was going to ask for a referral to a Gastro Specialist because I had been having digestive issues for about 2 years. It was the first time I was seeing Brandi, a Nurse Practitioner. She was a very serious young lady, but also very focused and thorough. When she listened to my heart, I informed her that I had a heart murmur and that it was physiological. She didn't like what she was hearing so she scheduled some tests. Within 2 weeks, I was at McLeods Hospital and they were running tests. I had an echo of my heart, an ultrasound of my abdomen and I am not sure what the other test was. They called in the radiologist to look at the ultrasound of my abdomen, and then after the echo, they called in a cardiologist. Meanwhile, they had me sit in the waiting room. I told myself as long as they let me go home everything was golden. They came out and let me go home. A day or two later, I get a call from my doctors office telling me that my ejection fraction was 25 - 30 and they were making an appointment for me to see a cardiologist. They gave me no other info, so of course I Googled the EF they gave me and "heart failure" came up, so I figured that was what I had. I was in shock. About a week later I went to see the cardiologist and expected him to confirm that I had heart failure and to put me on medication. But instead, he informed me that I had a leaking Aortic Valve and that instead of 3 flaps, I only had 2 and that I would need a valve replacement. Needless to say, I started crying. They were very kind and made me an appointment to see the surgeon. I met with the surgeon, whom I adore. He explained everything in detail and answered all of my questions. I told him I was a self employed artist and that I had orders backed up for 4 weeks. He told me that I could delay the surgery until I got my orders completed. It was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I was able to complete all of my orders and not disappoint my customers and a curse because I had a month to think about the surgery. During the month leading up to my surgery, I tried to find some peace, because to be honest, I was scared. I went on You Tube looking for videos. take my advice and don't do that :) I saw way more than I wanted to see. I looked for inspirational videos, and found some, but I still was not at peace. Finally, a week before the surgery, I finally found peace in Bible Scriptures and a particular Casting Crowns song, Oh My Soul. I was ready to do this. I decided to have nothing but a positive outlook and to visualize myself months AFTER the surgery. After a month of tears and searching for peace, the day was finally here. I awoke from the surgery and I had the tube down my throat, they had to put mittens on me because I was trying to take it out. They don't like when you do that :) Once they took it out I was so thirsty. Needless to say I drove the nurses crazy over water and ice chips. Within a few hours I had gas trapped in my chest cavity, let me tell you, all of the pain medication in the world doesn't touch that pain. Finally, the next day, they gave me a blessed pink gas relief pill. After a couple of those, I was a new woman and it was all up hill from there. I was released from the hospital 5 days later. I had a home health nurse come for about an hour and set up a monitor. My mom stayed with me during the day for about 2 weeks and my husband and daughter at night. By the 3rd week, I told my mom I would be fine on my own. I spent the next 3-4 weeks taking naps and watching the Food Network. I didn't allow myself to worry about anything but healing. It was the most stress free 5 weeks of my life. Now I am seven months post op and my husband, daughter and Lucy (my pointer) go for super long, fast paced walks every night (unless it's raining). I feel great! I still have some pain and numbness where the incisions are on my chest and left leg where they took the vein from, but overall, it's all good. My ejection fraction is now 40-45, my digestive issues are gone and because I wanted the best possible outcome, I quit smoking and I was a life long smoker. I know this is long winded and I am sure I left things out, but I hope this helps anyone who is facing this surgery.