Linda Whitney - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

3561 days ago

Mary K, Eddie Patton and 1 other reacted to this

Enjoying Southern France 6 months post-op. Life is good! Funny, open heart surgery opened my mind as well. Prayer works! God Bless you all!

Linda Whitneyposted a journal

3737 days ago

I had MR repair surgery on April 9th and I feel great considering that was only 11 days ago, but I'm concerned that I still have very shallow breath. Does ...Read more

I had MR repair surgery on April 9th and I feel great considering that was only 11 days ago, but I'm concerned that I still have very shallow breath. Does this improve as time goes on and is this the normal healing process, or should I be concerned? I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

Nancy D If they gave you an incentive spirometer you can not over use that! They had me bring mine home with ... Read more

Nancy D If they gave you an incentive spirometer you can not over use that! They had me bring mine home with me and I found it really helped me increase my lung capacity. If you don't have one you can practice taking in SLOW DEEP breaths, hold and then exhale slowly. Repeat several times daily, in groups of like 6 breaths each time. Hold support on the incision and cough too. You do not want to develop pneumonia for sure! Our natural response is shallow breathing to limit incisional pain, but that isn't good for us over the long haul.

Terrie Syvertsen Linda- You are fresh out of the hospital and I think if the breathing is concerning you, you should ... Read more

Terrie Syvertsen Linda- You are fresh out of the hospital and I think if the breathing is concerning you, you should put a call in to your Doctor and pass on the information and see what he/she says as they may want to have a home care nurse drop by or have you go in to be sure that your lungs are ok. It is worth a phone call to set your mind at ease and after successfully getting home from surgery you should do what is best for you and in this case follow your "gut" just to be safe. Happy for you that you are in recovery and be patient with yourself as you continue healing!

Pat Bluemel I think I was at 10 days still huffing and puffing on short walks. It's kind of blurry now. Don't h ... Read more

Pat Bluemel I think I was at 10 days still huffing and puffing on short walks. It's kind of blurry now. Don't hesitate to email or call your medical team. In the meantime use the breathing spirometer a lot.

Wiliam Height Check in with med team, but incentive spirometer needs to be used to prevent pneumonia and build up v ... Read more

Wiliam Height Check in with med team, but incentive spirometer needs to be used to prevent pneumonia and build up volume. At this point you should be between 2000-3000.

Bill Hendrickson My improvement after 11 days was exponential. Very very good 😊,.Hope you have similar experience.

Greg Milis How is your spo2? Did you measure that? I caught pneumonia after surgery and after 38 days of surgery ... Read more

Greg Milis How is your spo2? Did you measure that? I caught pneumonia after surgery and after 38 days of surgery I am home using oxygen generator because my spo2 is up to 89 without oxygen

Linda Whitneyposted a journal

3738 days ago

Kimberly Biddick, Meredith Bray, Ericka Carlson and 1 other reacted to this

I had successful surgery April 9th at Cleveland Clinic and am recovering in comfort. Thanks to everyone out there who sent notes of encouragement, you were ...Read more

I had successful surgery April 9th at Cleveland Clinic and am recovering in comfort. Thanks to everyone out there who sent notes of encouragement, you were all absolutely correct! The waiting and worrying and fretting was the worst part. If I can do this (Chicken Little), then anyone can navigate through it. You are all the best!

Tammy Pilcher Yay Linda! I'm so happy for you!

Jeff Lashins Way to go! I'm headed to Cleveland next weekend for an aortic valve repair. I am supremely confiden ... Read more

Jeff Lashins Way to go! I'm headed to Cleveland next weekend for an aortic valve repair. I am supremely confident in the Cleveland Clinic. It's just my pre-op nerves that are the problem now. :)
Your post-op report is really encouraging!

Barry Van Gemert How did Marc go in to repair your valves?

Dan D. Glad to hear that everything went well and that you're recovering in comfort. I'm still in the waitin ... Read more

Dan D. Glad to hear that everything went well and that you're recovering in comfort. I'm still in the waiting and worrying and fretting stage, so your encouragement is very helpful.

Linda Whitney I can't believe how smoothly everything went. They have this down pat. They literally walk you thro ... Read more

Linda Whitney I can't believe how smoothly everything went. They have this down pat. They literally walk you through each step and make sure you feel informed, secure, comfortable, warm, and yes, even loved! Awesome experience. Still can't believe I actually got through this! You can too!

Nancy D Great to hear from you and enjoy your success with you!!! Continue to take good care!!!

Linda Whitneyposted a journal

3778 days ago

LaDonna Mangile, Adam Pick, Mary K and 2 others reacted to this

Hello folks! Strange bus we're all riding, huh? I'm having tests at Cleveland Clinic scheduled for mitral valve repair April 9th. I'm grasping for strength ...Read more

Hello folks! Strange bus we're all riding, huh? I'm having tests at Cleveland Clinic scheduled for mitral valve repair April 9th. I'm grasping for strength to get through this process. Today I thought of all those sky divers who jump out of a perfectly good airplane, & hold hands while they glide to safety. This community reminds me of that. God Bless you all for being there!

Ed Smith Welcome to the site, Linda. I like your analogy to sky diving, but I think most of us have taken "for ... Read more

Ed Smith Welcome to the site, Linda. I like your analogy to sky diving, but I think most of us have taken "forced" jumps. Best wishes for all your testing and surgery, You've chosen a terrific hospital (even if it is far away from your home).

Linda Whitney Thank you for your warm welcome! You are spot-on about "forced" jumps. I wanted to add that I don' ... Read more

Linda Whitney Thank you for your warm welcome! You are spot-on about "forced" jumps. I wanted to add that I don't even like to fly, let alone jump out! About your insomnia, try OTC melatonin, or Sleepy Time Tea (Celestial Seasons brand). Worth a try. Still getting the hang of this site...........

LaDonna Mangile I do too....excellent analogy! Now that I think about it I would be probably more scared to jump tha ... Read more

LaDonna Mangile I do too....excellent analogy! Now that I think about it I would be probably more scared to jump than I'am to roll!

Wiliam Height You are going to a superb heart center, no worries you will be fine. Prepare mentally and prepare fo ... Read more

Wiliam Height You are going to a superb heart center, no worries you will be fine. Prepare mentally and prepare for recovery.

Linda Whitney Thank you for that encouragement William!

Penny Prichard Positive thoughts your way

Bob M Yes, this is an awesome Community! God bless and rise up!

Duane Beeman "Forced jump off an airplane". Man, that reminds me of a great joke......but I can't tell it on this ... Read more

Duane Beeman "Forced jump off an airplane". Man, that reminds me of a great joke......but I can't tell it on this site.

Linda Whitney Wish you could Duane, we all need to laugh more!

Bill Hendrickson Your in good hands at CCF and surgical team . I just got my 6wk approval at ccf. My surgery (actually ... Read more

Bill Hendrickson Your in good hands at CCF and surgical team . I just got my 6wk approval at ccf. My surgery (actually 2 back to back )worked out very well. My pain in icu was a 3 for 1 day and a 1 in step down unit. I can say every day after discharge has been very good day ,no bad days. My ability to do complex problems has not diminished which has been a real blessing. I was totally at peace as I was moved into the operating room suite. My best wishes to you in your journey for comfort and a good outcome.

Linda Whitney Your words are a huge comfort to me Bill. I wish I could achieve the serenity you mustered going in ... Read more

Linda Whitney Your words are a huge comfort to me Bill. I wish I could achieve the serenity you mustered going in to the operating room. That's the part I'm having trouble with. Surrender just ain't my style. (Stubborn Irish genes).

Terry Shermeister Take care Linda! You are on a journey that will bring you to a stronger and happier place. I know h ... Read more

Terry Shermeister Take care Linda! You are on a journey that will bring you to a stronger and happier place. I know how you are feeling as I meet with my surgeon today to discuss when my surgery will be. Stay in the moment, Prayers, Terry

Tim Goff Linda, you will be in good hands there so be confident that they will do their job and all you have t ... Read more

Tim Goff Linda, you will be in good hands there so be confident that they will do their job and all you have to do is keep positive! Certainly for me the most stressful was prior to entering the OR, but I realized without this life saving surgery I would not be around long--- easy choice after that. I prayed a bit and then just let the pro's do their thing. You will be in our thoughts

Duane Beeman ....and when you're recovering, maybe I'll call you and tell you that joke I can't post. While they s ... Read more

Duane Beeman ....and when you're recovering, maybe I'll call you and tell you that joke I can't post. While they say it hurts to laugh, this one is worth the pain. Talk to you soon.....

Linda Whitney OK Duane, I'm ready for that joke!