Marie's Journal

Catie B  Sooo sorry for the afib, Marie. Hopefully, they'll help you get things under control soon. Hang in there!

Linda Richards  How are you feeling? I had minimal invasive for Mitral Valve Repair. I bought this pillow from Bed Bath Beyond and it was the best for being in bed.

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/plush-backrest-pillow/3315271?Keyword=bed+pillow

Marie Migliaro  I'm in a rehab center. They wouldn't send me home since I live alone. I'm terribly bruised and sore but doing well. Had a problem with the groin incision when dressing was removed today.. A liite open and draining so I have to go on antibiotics.

Jennifer McInerney  I don't really have any advice except take it one step at a time and focus on the positive outcomes you see on this site. I will be thinking of you and saying a prayer for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Wendy Wood  Hi Marie - this type of surgery, ... well heck, any type of surgery is scary. But for those of us with heart valve problems, inaction is, in the long run far more dangerous and threatening than surgery. You will just have to be strong, trust your doctors, and have faith that you will get past this and extend and improve your life going forward. I will be thinking about you and sending you positive energy and holding your hand across cyber space on Monday.

Barbara Wood  Marie, I had the basic sternotomy 2 weeks ago. My husband said I was hooked up to all kinds of things in the cicu, but I really hardly remember it. ( he also said I didn't look nearly as bad as he feared:)). I left for the step down unit the next day with chest tubes, heart wires-( catheter removed in the cicu) all removed in a day or 2, heartwires last. It really wasn't painful for me- weird, but not painful. I wasn't hooked up to ivs in the step down. You'll do great, praying for you Monday:)

Marie Migliaro  Thanks. I'm really ready to get this over with. Doc said he can do it minimally because I already had a cauterization and a stent put in. I was worried about the cath, but wasn't bad at all. He did it through my wrist and felt no pain. I'm hoping this is a little like that. I just hate the thought of all the needles and especially the breathing tube, which my doc says I won't remember. Hope he's right. I have a strong gag issue. Hope you are feeling well!

Adam Pick  Hi Marie, Here's a few stories that might ease your nerves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRt6mCFj74M&t=4s

Adam Pick  https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/12/24/fear-anxiety-before-heart-valve-surgery/

Steve Farthing  Your doc is very experienced and does lots of valve procedures and is noted as an expert in minimally invasive technique. Lots of info on him on the Internet.

Matt Sheffield  Tubes and stuff didn't see to bother me. I was on a breathing tube for awhile after surgery, I have pictures to prove it, but honestly I have no recollection of the breathing tube. There was pain when I woke up, but they got that dialed in quick. They had me on Fentanyl. It was better than morphine or norco. Only needed pain meds, for a couple of days, after that I was feeling well. Your surgery will go great and you'll be back at it sooner than you anticipated.

Matt Sheffield  Tubes and stuff didn't see to bother me. I was on a breathing tube for awhile after surgery, I have pictures to prove it, but honestly I have no recollection of the breathing tube. There was pain when I woke up, but they got that dialed in quick. They had me on Fentanyl. It was better than morphine or norco. Only needed pain meds, for a couple of days, after that I was feeling well. Your surgery will go great and you'll be back at it sooner than you anticipated.

Marie Migliaro  Thanks Matt. Doc keeps telling me I won't remember breathing tube too. Hope you are well now and feeling great!

Laura Jacobs  I hope everything went well for you today Debby and you are resting comfortably as possible. Best wishes!

Ronese Nantelle  I'm a "newbie" to this amazingly helpful site. Though I have many supportive family members and friends who wish me the best, i still feel so much alone. None live near me and im very lonedome for them. I am finding it very helpful, comforting, inspiring and informational read and see of others who are going through similar cardiac events. i am feeling more settled. I feel more calm writing here and starting to connect others here who are on this same or similar journey that I am on. It's denfinitely a courageous (and scary) journey.

My thoughts and prayer are being SENT UP for you dear and for ALL of US here and also for the doctors nurses and others who will be treating us. [[♡_/\_♡]]

May I please ask, when is your upcoming surgery, dear? Mine is coming up IN 11 DAYS on JUNE 13th.

Thank you for READING this. GOD BLESS YOU. HIS BLESS YOUR DAYS. GOD BLESS YOUR LIFE! _/\_ .... xo

With Love, RONNI Bach (Retired RN) Hamilton, GEORGIA - Love. I

Marie Migliaro  My surgery is the day before yours on June 12. I have no idea what to expect. Except for my little doggie, I live alone. I have 4 kids but some of them don't live close...in another state. My son will be with me for the surgery and I'm so thankful for that. Since this is my first major surgery I don't know what to expect so I understand Ronni! I'm sending prayers for you. I have decided to put myself in God's hands

Ronese Nantelle  Im praying for you,dear Marie. I had to cancel my surgery for June 13th as I suffered an old back injury and had to had to see spine specialist at the same hospital,I was scheduled for the valve surgery by-pass. He did an MRI and saw that my lumbar spine was inoperabl and said I was not a candidate for back surgery. The back condition was VERY painful and had left me living on large doses of dailyvmedication (presciption ibuprofen 2400mg a day) over the past 7 years. I fell and broke my taitailbone when i was 35yo plus overdid the lifting most all of my life. Spine Md suggested epidural indural injections, long term. I refused to get them. I was fitted with a very good back brace.

MY cardiothoracic surgeon took me off IBUPROFEN due to FDA RISKS OF HEART ATTACK & HEART FAILURE, in the news ongoing studies going back from 2002 till now. FDA Warning Is out now. Crazy. It's been less that 3 years that ive been on this high dose. Now 2 weeks since started using back brace, some relief. Still off ibuprofen, using extra strength TYLENOL. Works fine.

PRAYING FOR US ALL. Getting SELF back on track, gearing up for HVR in near future. I will be back on this wonderful site, IT'S SO VERY VERY HELPFUL!

GOD BLESS YOU MARIE. GET WELL SOON. MY THOUGHTS & PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU. Amen. IN GOD'S HANDS.

With Love & Support, RONNI BACH from GEORGIA