Lynn Loudermilk - Heart Valve Journal

Deena Elani I hear ya, Lynn. I find it hard to pace myself. Yesterday I took an extra long walk and didn't have the energy to get back home, even after resting for awhile. ... Read more

Lynn Loudermilk Thanks Deena. I just wanna feel better and more like me, my patience is wearing thin. Now that I have all this energy especially, but then like you said it ... Read more

Cheryl Mann I hear you both! My energy level is lagging pretty badly too. Between recovery from surgery and the new meds, those little bursts of energy just don’t last ... Read more

Susan Lynn Lynn - Sleep whenever you need to rest. Forget about the clock. Your body doesn't know what time it is.

I was not prepared for the lingering fatigue. ... Read more

Cheryl Mann Susan - that is the best description of recovery that I have heard so far!

Lynn Loudermilk Hey Thanks Susan. When I get so tired I feel like a wimp. Yes I know it was major surgery and I need to have patience, but it is so difficult. I am not used to having this much energy.

Rose Madura All I can say is, listen to your body! You k ow it best. There will be days when you are plumb wore out. It's ok. Rest on those days. Lots of napping too!

Deena Elani Hi Lynn, the bouts of pain can be so debilitating. It's invisible to others. My best friend has rheumatoid arthritis and she has tried everything, as I am ... Read more

Lynn Loudermilk Deena thanks....We have decided on Elly for the cat. Yea, I have tried it all. It is difficult to convince dr's that the only thing that works is t3. Honestly ... Read more

Cheryl Mann Lynn, so sorry you are hurting - is anything new going on that is aggravating the fibro (getting too cold, not sleeping, food triggers?). I hope you feel better soon.

Lynn Loudermilk Cheryl, yea, I don't sleep very well ever, I could have had a food issue with dinner out, not sure. Thanks a day of mostly rest helped a lot for now. Does ... Read more

Patsy Stewart Hope you’re feeling better today.
How fun to get a new kitty! I hope she’s still a little playful and brings you hours of joy.

Deena Elani Nice! Incision is really fading! You dont look like you had open heart surgery 4 weeks ago!!! How’s your walking going? I am having a hard time figuring out how much to push myself walking wise.

Lynn Loudermilk Deena, some days it goes really well others I just don't wanna do anything, but force myself to do something. Anywhere from 2-4 times a day 5 minutes at a ... Read more

Deena Elani Thanks, Lynn. I have been doing around three walks per day, six or seven minutes each. I walked longer one day and did 4 round trip of stairs (15 up and 15 ... Read more

Adam Pick Fantastic updated! Welcome home Lynn!!! I slept in my bed right away. Lookin back on it... I wish I had a few nights in a recliner prior to making that transition. Take it easy!!!

Joseph Heinzmann After surgery I had a few woozy instances when getting out of a chair to a standing position. I think it was a combination of post-surgery weakness coupled ... Read more

Deena Elani Fantastic news, Lynn. Night and day difference from one week ago. You're in such a better place, glad for ya. Keep it up!

Lynn Loudermilk Thank you everyone. Love being home. Great caretaker *hubby. Thank you all again!

Rose Madura I "slept" in bed with a wedge. But didn't sleep well at all. I would get up in middle of night and move to the recliner.

Ana Brusso Congratulations Lynn and welcome to recovery. Good post and good husband. I slept in my bed with a wedge but woke up several times during night but after a ... Read more

Susan Lynn Lynn - I also wanted to know every step of the process in advance of my surgery, too. The timing varies but, for me, catheter and IVs were out on the day ... Read more

Rose Madura I think it was day 3 for me.

Bonnie Vilchez Catheter & one chest tube out within 24 hours. Two other chest tubes out by third day. IV stayed until fourth day, but you will want it for pain meds. I didn’t ... Read more

Joseph Heinzmann I had robotic MVr so I think if I answered it would be apples/oranges. Be sure to compare like surgeries lest you get inaccurate expectations. And remember even then, your mileage may vary.

Dawn VanDenBosch My SAVR was done March 1, 2016. I am a little vague as to the timeline, but total time in the hospital was 5-6 days.
When I woke up from surgery, I had no ... Read more

Rose Madura Hi Lynn. Good questions. I'm not sure if everyone gets pacemaker wires, but I did. It's not too bad in the scheme of things. It's it hard to recover? ... Read more

Marie Myers Yes, I think everyone gets pacer wires, since the possibility of arrhythmias always exist during and after open heart surgery. Mine got pulled out about mid ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar I had 2 pacing wires. I think they are standard practice, just because doing all that slicing in the heart tissue may lead to serious rhythm issues, so while ... Read more

Lynn Loudermilk Thanks to all of you. So glad I asked those questions.

Diane T Others have already given good advice on the pacing wires. Recovery is different for everyone, of course. That said, I was healthy and active before surgery, ... Read more

Rose Madura The perfect choice is YOUR choice. Do you diligence and then make the choice tou feel is best for you. Don't be afraid to get opinions from cardiologist and ... Read more

Kendal Zinn I didnt think twice... i went with tissue valve .. had some bad luck but went with tissue valve on second surgery also. No blood thinners is mostly why I cose tissue.

Steven Methot There's a song... "Don't think twice, it's alright..."

Lynn Loudermilk Thanks everyone

Marie Myers Choosing the valve type was the hardest decision I ever made. I did decide on the tissue valve, mostly to avoid Coumadin. But I went back and forth for months on my decision!

Paige Aguilar At 16 I had to make this choice. My reasoning for tissue was due too having a very long life ahead and wanting children. It gave me the best opportunity at ... Read more

Rose Madura The hospital gave me a surgical bra that I used until I could tolerate my usual ones. I did use a shower chair for a little while. Dry shampoo probably a ... Read more

Marie Myers I went bra free for my recovery. Like Rose, I used a shower chair for about a week or so. I think I wore 2 hospital gowns, one front-way and 1 back way for ... Read more

Barbara Wood Bra- didn't wear one for at least a month ( too uncomfortable!) I wore tank tops with a bra shelf built in & if I was feeling modest I'd wear a cardigan over ... Read more

Susan Lynn Dental care is extremely important for everyone, but especially critical for heart patients. The germs in your mouth can travel through your bloodstream ... Read more

Lisa Coombe I went about 7 years before I went to the dentist, only went because my cardiologist needed a dental report done, thankfully I only needed 3 fillings done and ... Read more

Lynn Loudermilk for me 2 teeth pulled and a filling plus deep cleaning. After surgery I can get the crown.

Rose Madura I agree with Susan. Proper dental care is vital to heart care as well as our overall heath. I also pre medicate and certainly recommend it.

Phyllis Petersen It's one of the most difficult decisions and one that only you can really make. Even though I had repair, I still had to make the decision just in case. I chose ... Read more

Debbie Swartz Welcome! I am on the other side. Had valve replacement Oct 27 and doing great! Waiting was unnerving but was quite calm when time came. My surgeon said I would ... Read more

Steven Methot When they say it's your choice... it's your choice. You will get people who will swear up and down on their particular valve, but in the end after gathering ... Read more

Rose Madura One of the most difficult choices to make. I recommend talking pros and cons with your cardiologist and surgeon. But at the end of the day, you must decide. ... Read more

Craig Cole Hi Lynn! Probably the hardest, most deeply personal decision you will make, and certainly an area I have spent the most time researching. In the end - no ... Read more

Lynn Loudermilk All of you are so wonderful, thanks for being here!

Susan Lynn Lynn - As I read your post, I can almost recall that feeling I had before interviewing my prospective cardiac surgeons. I had an exhaustive list of questions ... Read more

Lynn Loudermilk I don't feel like I have a choice, it is who my cardiologist sent me to and the surgeon is good. I only met him once.

Susan Lynn Lynn - You always have a choice. There are many options in valves, surgeons, entries, and procedures. In addition to the wonderful community of heart warriors ... Read more

Rose Madura I wholeheartedly agree with Susan. You do have a choice. Your doctor should not be offended. Explain your trepidation and I'm sure you will be understood. A second opinion is never out of order.

Rhonda Williams I interviewed 3 surgeons before I felt comfortable. So glad I did! Feel free to read my journal and you'll see why.

Thomas Brusstar I agree with the other commenters: for something this big, you have a choice. People travel all the time to other cities to use a surgeon who does this all ... Read more

HOME

ABOUT US

COMMUNITY

LEARNING CENTER

SURGEON FINDER

HEART HOSPITALS

VIDEOS

ADAM'S BLOG

CLINICAL TRIALS

STORE

CONTACT

JOIN US

SIGN IN

Lynn's Journal

Lynn's Journal

New Patient Posts

Heart Hospital Map

Surgeon Finder