Lisa Hoyt - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Lisa Hoytposted an update

10 days ago

John Cook, Kimberly Eisenhut reacted to this

It's been 2 months today! (Aortic replacement/ biologic aortic valve replaced bicuspid valve). Lots of ups and downs: Post surgery was "mostly" normal, discharged ...Read more

It's been 2 months today! (Aortic replacement/ biologic aortic valve replaced bicuspid valve). Lots of ups and downs: Post surgery was "mostly" normal, discharged at 7 days, home for a week then afib (alerted by my Fitbit, FYI). EMS hauled me away at 9 pm, spent 18 hours in the ER because no beds. Cardioversion was done twice before rhythm was restored. Another four days inpatient. Discharged with ZIO patch for 8 days. The results came back - PERFECT!

Until the very next day. Afib came back and brought a friend, "flutter". First available outpatient cardioversion wasn't open for almost two weeks. I saw surgeon for scheduled follow up a week later and she said - let me make a call. Suddenly there was an opening the next day.

Cardioversion restored rhythm which has held so far - I started driving last week, and started cardio rehab. I see an electrophysiologist on Wednesday to deal with low BP and arrhythmia (not afib). I finished OT/PT home health, still have nurse visit once a week. Great family support.

This site was such a blessing! So many ideas pre-surgery. And encouragement. I kept a video diary from before surgery until now which I am considering posting on FB or Instagram. The expanding back scratcher was amazing - great idea!

Sorry this is so long, I am happy to share and answer questions, I appreciate all of the support I got!

Robert Miller That is quite a story. Very nice incision. Can barely see it. I hope you are doing better these days. ... Read more

Robert Miller That is quite a story. Very nice incision. Can barely see it. I hope you are doing better these days. If not, you might want to see an electrophysiologist. Maybe get one of those 2-week heart monitors to see how you are doing.

Marie Myers Great healing on your scar!

Lisa Hoyt I’m seeing the EP tomorrow and hope to be able to tweak some meds. I can’t go back on beta blocke ... Read more

Lisa Hoyt I’m seeing the EP tomorrow and hope to be able to tweak some meds. I can’t go back on beta blockers until BP gets higher and I had a bad experience with flecainide many years ago. Fingers crossed, but I’m feeling much better!

Robert Miller I am sure you are already planning on this but if you see your EP, which I assume means electrophysio ... Read more

Robert Miller I am sure you are already planning on this but if you see your EP, which I assume means electrophysiologist, see if your continuous episodes of AFib and flutter can/should be addressed with ablation. Since you have AFib, I assume you are already on blood thinner. If not, that would be another question. I suspect you will get an EKG. If so, use your fitbit right afterwards and see if it gives the same result. My Galaxy watch and Kardia 6L always give wrong results.

Rose Madura Lisa, glad you are feeling better but so sorry you are having these issues. I had both AFib and Aflut ... Read more

Rose Madura Lisa, glad you are feeling better but so sorry you are having these issues. I had both AFib and Aflutter after my surgery. I seemed to bee very symptomatic to the inflammation. I had fluid buildup around my heart and fluid around my lungs that didn't seem alarming to anyone until I kept going into AFib. Hang in there. You seem to have everything under control. Thanks for the update and please keep us posted.

Susan Lynn Lisa - Sorry to hear about the post-op afib. It's unfortunately very common after surgery. Glad the ... Read more

Susan Lynn Lisa - Sorry to hear about the post-op afib. It's unfortunately very common after surgery. Glad the cardioversion finally worked. Let us know how you make out the electrophysiologist. All the best!

Lisa Hoytposted an update

73 days ago

I have been following this site for a few years and now, suddenly, I am having surgery this Friday - Jan 18. Any tips for recovery after open heart? Or where ...Read more

I have been following this site for a few years and now, suddenly, I am having surgery this Friday - Jan 18. Any tips for recovery after open heart? Or where to look? I have googled and watched videos, started making my own videos for people in my own situation. What did you bring to hospital that you couldn't live without? What do you wish you had?

Rose Madura Lisa, I had the same surgery as you over eight years ago and am doing well. A couple things to bring ... Read more

Rose Madura Lisa, I had the same surgery as you over eight years ago and am doing well. A couple things to bring is a long charger cord, and a travel pillow. At home, you'll need someone with you for a week or more and a recliner was helpful because sleep is a little difficult to come by. God bless you on this journey.

Angus Butler I found in the hospital last week in recovery for 6 days I really used the extending back scratcher t ... Read more

Angus Butler I found in the hospital last week in recovery for 6 days I really used the extending back scratcher tool not only to itch places had to get to but it served as a reacher for me for things i just couldn’t reach out for when my wife or nurse wasn’t around. My wife packed it never thought I’d use it it was lying beside me I used it the most. I found ear plugs to block out others noises and sirens pods were nice too. Chargers. Easy comfortable shoes/ slides that you can walk halls with. All the best, I’ll be praying for your successful surgery and recovery ! It’s going to be great!

Lisa Hoyt I just ordered a back scratcher! I hadn't thought of that. I have no one staying in the hospital with ... Read more

Lisa Hoyt I just ordered a back scratcher! I hadn't thought of that. I have no one staying in the hospital with me for most of the time. I feel so healthy right now that I keep forcing myself to think what I won't be able to do so I can plan accordingly.

Richard Munson A back scratcher. Good idea. I always backed up to a tree with rough bark. It was a bear of a job tho ... Read more

Richard Munson A back scratcher. Good idea. I always backed up to a tree with rough bark. It was a bear of a job though.

Susan Lynn Lisa - Almost everything is provided for you, but a robe and pajamas pants made the frequent walks in ... Read more

Susan Lynn Lisa - Almost everything is provided for you, but a robe and pajamas pants made the frequent walks in the hallway more comfortable. Noise canceling ear buds or headphones may also be helpful. You'll be just fine. Best of luck to you!

Lisa Hoyt Thank you everyone! It's getting really real now.

Robert Miller https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/learning-center.php The only thing I can think of bringing to the ... Read more

Robert Miller https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/learning-center.php The only thing I can think of bringing to the hospital is your phone and charger so you can communicate with your support team. But you probably will be tired so it won't matter much. And the most important thing to me after surgery was taking a shower. Expect that they won't let you take a shower until just before you have the tubes and wires removed. Otherwise it's just the usual thing as in the learning guide (get those pillows...)

Learning Center for Heart Valve Disease & Surgery

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/learning-center.php

Get important facts about heart valve disease, symptoms, risks and treatment.

Pamela Gregory Comfortable pillow, blanket from home, and slippers (non slip) were my favorite things to have

Adam Pick Lots of great ideas here. I also found there were a few "invisible" items to bring to the hospital t ... Read more

Adam Pick Lots of great ideas here. I also found there were a few "invisible" items to bring to the hospital that I wrote about here - https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/10/29/top-5-invisible-things-patients-must-bring-to-the-hospital/

Invisible Things Patients Should Bring To The Hospital

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2008/10/29/top-5-invisible-things-patients-must-bring-to-the-hospital/

Learn what invisible things patients should bring to the hospital before heart surgery.

Lisa Hoyt Thanks Adam, I have loaded up on the invisible things!

Christine Loff Bring something to read - I brought a Kindle. I spend endless hours sitting in a chair or lying in th ... Read more

Christine Loff Bring something to read - I brought a Kindle. I spend endless hours sitting in a chair or lying in the bed between walks down the hallway and visits from nurses/doctors. It can get boring.

Wendy Hanavan Hi Lisa, I am thinking about you today as you approach your surgery date. I had an aortic valve repla ... Read more

Wendy Hanavan Hi Lisa, I am thinking about you today as you approach your surgery date. I had an aortic valve replacement and ascending aorta repair on December 2, so I am now six weeks post surgery. Wishing you the best, it will all be fine and before you know it, you’ll be home and on the road to recovery. You’ve probably already packed, but I found having a nice soft blanket was a comfort in the hospital as well as an eye mask. I also had my family bring me some nice herbal tea bags from home.

Thomas Brusstar Chapstick. If you ask at the hospital they will give you a tube of blistek or whatever, way too medi ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar Chapstick. If you ask at the hospital they will give you a tube of blistek or whatever, way too medicinal (and then they bill $37 for a tube of it...). Especially after intubation, chapstick is nice.

Robert Miller As for the invisible things, you will VERY likely be a lot better off afterwards. And I never felt mo ... Read more

Robert Miller As for the invisible things, you will VERY likely be a lot better off afterwards. And I never felt more secure than going into the surgery. Yes, if you know what they actually do it can feel scary. But during surgery, you probably have half a dozen people around you. After surgery, you have sensors hooked up to be constantly monitored and sounding an alarm if the slightest thing is wrong, have nurses literarily seconds away from you, doctors around, etc. I can't think of a safer place to be... Being woken up at 5am to take x-rays, take medicine, do blood work, etc is the part that isn't much fun...

Thomas Brusstar I also wanted to send a quick post-surgery email to my family and close friends, to report that I'm a ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar I also wanted to send a quick post-surgery email to my family and close friends, to report that I'm all good. To avoid having to collect all the right emails on my phone in a hospital bed, I created a blank email beforehand with all the email addresses, then put it in my Drafts folder. So the day after, or whenever you feel like it, the email drafting that requires thought and manual dexterity is done, and you just add the simple part (e.g. my surgery went well and I can't believe how good my hospital food tastes!),

Tammy Emam 9-10 foot phone/tablet charging cable!!!

Jyll Welte The eye mask is very helpful because lights can be bright overhead and not always easy to find the ri ... Read more

Jyll Welte The eye mask is very helpful because lights can be bright overhead and not always easy to find the right switches, much less get to them! Also, if you have an app on your phone to give you some sounds or “white noise”, it helps to drown out all of the random voices and beeps out in hallways when you are trying to rest between all of the nurse & doc visits.

Wanda Mroz Great ideas here some I never thought of. I would also bring some “booty” wipes. Lol baby wipes ... Read more

Wanda Mroz Great ideas here some I never thought of. I would also bring some “booty” wipes. Lol baby wipes work too. They are great for a quick wash. I had a bad stint of diarrhea after surgery due to the fiber supplements being too much for my gut. The wipes would have been a God send. But they didn’t have any so the nurse improvised for me. They have many uses.

Wanda Mroz Best wishes for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery 🙏🏻💕