Mabel's Heart Valve Journal

I lost my dad in 1997 he was only 57. I wanted to share this pic of a recent day at my course. Wouldn't ya know, a beautiful cardinal just plops right in front of my tee box. So beautiful and peaceful. I know he is watching over me!!

Happy Friday everyone!! Just hit my 5 month mark from my mitral valve repair!!!! I can finally sleep on my left side with no discomfort and best of all, playing golf again. Not as much as I would like, still get tender at the sternum, but making progress. One of my main issues after surgery was really painful spasms, sometimes on my shoulders, lower rib area or just on one side. Glad to say those have stop about a month ago. Hope everyone has a great weekend and moving forward to our great recoveries!!!!

Hello everyone!! Cold is getting better. almost done with rehab and finally drum roll please...…………………………………. I can finally sleep on my side... and all night!!!!!!!!!! Man did I miss that!!!!!!!! Also played a full round of golf. NO STERNUM discomfort or pain after. Time does heal all.

Ok, panicked, got over it and just realized I will get sick even after open heart surgery!!! First cold, cough and sneezing since my operation. I hadn't been sick in over a year so this one caught me off guard. Going back to work, being around staff, etc.. got a cold. Boy does coughing my sternum to get sore again!!!!!!! As much as you want to not sneeze or cough, just can't be stopped. My daughter is also sick so taking care of her as well. Dr. said all is well and it will take its course. UHG will I ever get over the stress!!!!!!!!

Next step for me is attempting to swing my clubs, been Nov last year since I have played on a course. I went out Sunday, thinking just chip , light pitch and putt. Warm up was good, light stretching, warming up. Well I am so happy to report that I was able to hit my 5 hybrid , almost full swing just like before. This put in in such a positive energy location I hadn't felt in a long time. I needed to get out there and prove to myself that I could put my mind to this and conquer my fears. This morning no pain in the sternum. Going to rehab and celebrating with my fellow golfers there who have been so encouraging. It seems like recovery is conquering small goals to finally reach the big one, satisfaction with my new self.. new health.. and I am ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

HAPPY HEART DAY EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone and happy Monday! This past weekend was a rough one for me, going on 14 weeks and honesty had a really bad weekend. Not a big fan of pity parties for myself, I found myself feeling really sad and frustrated. Sternum discomfort can really get me down and make me feel like will this ever be over. I know I can't rush my recovery, but I dont' know if anyone else feels like this. Does anyone else ever felt like OHS interrupted their life??? I love my progress and feel so grateful to be breathing again with no shortness of breath. I had such a bad weekend, pain started again in the sternum, xray confirmed NO issue with wires, etc... Its just very sensitive at the incision point on top of my chest. I had practiced golf last week, just 20 balls, felt great, didn't over do anything. I didn't attempt to hit balls again for fear of exacerbating this condition . Again, putting my life on hold.. Cardiac rehab is amazing, I even went back to lesser weight on the upper body exercises as to not stain my sternum area. I am not a whiner, just ready for this to be over. LOL UGH... Thanks for letting me vent...

12 weeks and feeling so much stronger!!! I finally let go of the fear in rehab, the nurses and others there are so supportive and truly care about how everyone is doing. No having a lot of discomfort, only feel incision tenderness when I push or pull things. Today I hit the golf course and pitched and putted, I felt so thrilled to be able to be out and not out of breath like before. I didn't think I could be hitting balls this soon but it felt amazing. To the fellow golfers on this site, give it time and you will be out there again!!

Hello everyone: I am almost 11 weeks post op and really enjoying cardiac rehab. Each week I am getting stronger and flexible in the upper body. My question is this. Did anyone experience pectoral discomfort on and off during rehab? I ice when I get home and it helps. I had a mitral valve repair with Dr. Adams in New York and its has been a long journey to feel better physically and mentally. My group at the rehab center are all so supportive but have been years since they had there open heart surgeries. Any comments are truly welcomed. When does the sternum feel NORMAL??? I am doing the arm thingy that you crank, free weights up to 3 pounds now, and the Nu step with the arms.

Good morning!!! Today makes 10 weeks since my mitral valve repair. It has been a long journey with some blimps along the way. I will say cardiac rehab has been amazing in my healing mentally and physically. The group support there along with knowing the nurses were there monitoring each session, was very calming. Hope to be on the golf course soon, slow but steady at this time. Still get sore if I get a little excited and try to do more around the house LOL. Wishing all of you a healthy 2019 and may we all continue to thrive and like I refer to me, MABEL POINT 2 IS ready to move forward. So thankful for Dr. Adams and his team in making my heart surgery possible.