Lulu's Journal

Well I'm just passed my 5 month mark, and the dizziness and eye floaters are becoming a problem. I have the floaters daily and some days they are really bad. The dizzy spells come and go alot during the week, and not when I'm busy either. They happen while driving (scary), watching television, eating a meal or even just working at my computer. When it happens, I get a weird sensation that comes over my face and my vision become doubled. If it happens while I'm speaking to someone, I can't seem to remember what it is I was talking about. Hmmmm I'm beginning to get concerned. I have a call into my doctor, to find out what I should do next. Any suggestions here?

Well this week is my 6 week mark since my mini mitral valve repair surgery, and I'm feeling really good. I took my first spin class today, and I felt amazing! My instructor and many of my cycling friends were all there keeping a close eye on me and my heart rate. In the spin studio, our heart rates show up on the screen in the front of the room. We all have nicknames, and everyone knows mine.... Fit4Life! I kept a very close eye on my heart rate and also on how I felt during class. Feeling strong!

Any other fitness buffs on here? If so, how did you go about getting back into your regular workout routine after surgery. I had a mini mitral valve repair, and I'm really missing my cardio workouts. Would love to hear what some of you have done.

Well, I've hit the 4 week mark and I'm patiently waiting for Cardiac Rehab to get me on the schedule. I've spoken to them at least 3 times, and they are so slow at getting back to me. I'm ready to move forward.

Well tomorrow will be 3 weeks post-op for me, and I'm feeling great! I'm up to walking 1.5-2 miles and I feel really good. Anyone else out there that was very active prior to surgery feel great at the 3 week mark? I would love to know how your recovery was. As I am enjoying the walks on beautiful fall days and taking in the amazing fall colors, I'm also missing my regular workouts like cycling and barre classes. I'm trying to be patient, but some days it's hard.

Today I am two weeks post-op from my mini mitral valve repair, and I'm feeling really good. I had my post-op visit with my cardiologist yesterday (actually the nurse practitioner), and she was telling me that it may not be a good idea to get back to spin classes when I'm ready. She thinks that it's too much on the heart. Hmmmm!! I took spin classes 4 times a week prior to surgery as well as barre, yoga and high intensity interval training classes before surgery. As I respect her opinion, I will begin cardiac rehab soon and when ready to move forward and get back to my normal workout routine, I will take it slow and see how my body feels. Now it's time for me to get out of the house and take a WALK. Have a blessed day!

Today has been a great day! It's Friday to start with, and it's been the most beautiful day all week. The sun has been shining all day, a light breeze and boy did I take advantage of that. My dear friend Kerry came over with lunch today for a visit. We sat on the deck, enjoyed a delicious lunch and just talked about everything. I love talking to Kerry because she had the same surgery two years ago, and it's nice talking to someone who understands what you've gone through. After our lunch and chat, we took a nice walk on my cul-de-sac. What a great day!! Feeling so good.

We've hit the 1 week post-op mark, and I'm feeling better everyday. I'm doing as the doctor ordered, walking a few times a day, breathing with the spirometer and getting rest. Tomorrow I see my nurse practitioner for my follow up and I'm looking forward to it. Still sleeping in the lazy boy since it's more comfortable, but all in all I feel good.

It's day 5 since my mini mitral valve surgery and I woke up this morning with pain I had not felt yet. Wow! It took my breath away and made me feel a little light headed. I keep telling myself "One day at a time".

After having a tough night sleeping mostly due to being uncomfortable, I had my home health nurse Elizabeth visit me this morning. After going through the normal vitals and having her ask how I'm feeling, she wanted to change the dressing on my incision. I didn't think it would bother me, but when she took off the original dressing I got a little dizzy and feeling like I was going to pass out. I sat down for a bit, and then when I was ready I took a look at my incision. I'm so amazed at how small the incision actually is. It looks great! So we put a new dressing on and now I'm feeling back to normal. The key thing for me at this point is to nap today and catch up on the sleep I didn't get over the last two nights. I'm so blessed to have a wonderful caring husband who is keeping me in check.

So today is my first full day home, and I took my first walk outside. Wow, what a difference from walking the halls of the hospital unit I was in. I walked down my cul-de-sac to a friend's house and felt a little light headed. Turned around and went home. I was only gone for 5 minutes. Wow, when I stepped outside I felt strong and then realized that this is definitely something I have to take day by day. One step at a time. There are many more walks to come. Listening to my body.

Well I went in to iNova Fairfax Hospital and had a mitral valve repair surgery done. My surgery date was on Tuesday, 10/7 and today 10/9 I am home and feeling like myself again. Ready to move forward with recovery and just feeling good.

Well with 1 day, 15 hours and 31 minutes until my surgery start time, I'm feeling so much more at peace about this surgery. I have so many wonderful friends who are praying for me, and I'm blessed to have a team of "prayer warriors" coming by tomorrow evening to pray with me. God sure has blessed me with some amazing people.

Well I met with the nurse practitioner this morning for a quick physical and to go over the surgery, and all went well. It became real today. It's been easy talking about it with my husband, family and friends over the past few weeks and now it's right around the corner. Good news is that I'm Dr. Massimiano's very first patient of the day which is pretty early (6:30 AM). I'm feeling ready for this, and I know I have many people praying for an easy surgery and recovery.