Mary's Journal

Yesterday was 8 weeks post op and what a difference! I'm feeling really good, back to almost everything I was doing before surgery. I do have a few questions...for those who were prescribed aspirin after surgery...how long were you told you had to take it? I was told 6 months, but I'm curious if that number differs by surgeon. A friend of mine who had OHS 4 months ago was told he would be on it forever. Next question, as far antibiotics before a dental visit go, were you told to take them before hand every time, just for so many months after surgery, or only for major dental work? My cardiologist said for 6 months after surgery I should take them but it wasn't necessary after that. I asked why, he said there wasn't enough evidence out that says it's necessary, but it's good to be cautious for the first 6 months. Just curious if anyone else got different answers or opinions. Also wondering if anyone swears by maderma for a scar fader before I buy it, also how long did you wait after surgery before using it? Thinking of and praying for Rachel and everyone else going into surgery this week!

Tomorrow will be 6 weeks post op. I returned to work for half days this week and it went well! I can honestly say I'm feeling about 90% back to normal already! My walking pace has picked up tremendously in the last week. I even found myself slightly jogging to put something in the mail cause it was so cold outside!! lol Everyone who sees me who know I went through surgery say they would never be able to tell anything happened because I look so well. I've picked up my 25lb baby a few times and was no sore at all from it...thank God! I haven't had any tightness or soreness in my chest in probably a week or so, hoping that means my sternum is healed! I was taking this homeopathic medicine called arnica which is for muscle soreness, tightness etc..and I really think it helped me heal faster. Still waiting for results on the holter monitor. Anyone know when its ok to start putting something on the incision to help scar fading? It looks pretty healed at this point..once that glue finally fell off (around 3 1/2 weeks) it started looking so much better! Doctor said best thing for it is open air...anyone else told that? Good luck to all those going into surgery this week!

Had my follow up appointment yesterday, was happy to hear that my heart is almost back to normal size just after a month! Only concern my cardiologist had was whether or not I'm having any V-tach beats...in the hospital on day two I had a run of 13 beats with V-tach so I was put on a beta blocker. They have me wearing a holter monitor now for 24 hours to see if I'm still experiencing any...however I don't think I am. They said if I am experiencing it still then I may need a pacemaker eventually, I am really hoping I don't! Time will tell... Other than that I am feeling pretty good, don't need to nap during the day and feeling like I can lift a little more weight. I was told if I had to lift my son (25lbs) I probably could at this point. I decided I will only try though if no one is here to help. Started driving again last week and it feels so good to have freedom back! I plan to start work again next week for just a few hours and see how it goes. Still praying for Rachel and hoping for a fast recovery for her and strength to endure whatever is ahead.

Thursday will be 3 weeks post op, I'm feeling pretty good. Wondering if it's normal to not be able to raise my right hand above head level though? I can lift my left side fine but the right feels like I will pull something out of place if I tried to move it certain ways or raise it too high. I assumed it was normal part of recovery until a nurse friend didn't think it seemed normal. What are your experiences?

It was 2 weeks ago today I got a new pulmonary valve. Time is passing fast and I'm amazed how fast I'm recovering. Ive been off pain meds since around day 10. I can sleep in bed and on my sides! I get through the days with just one afternoon nap, I don't feel out of breath at all when walking. I still have lots of tightness on my right side, can't lift more than 5 lbs, but those are my only complaints. I had my follow up last Friday and they said everything is looking good. My next appointment will be with the cardiologist on the 25th. Anyone know around what week I can expect to be able to lift my right arm all the way up? I can go about head level...but the left side I can raise all the way. Also wondering what everyone uses to try fading scars and when it is safe to put anything on it. They closed my incision with sutures and glue. Thinking of all you who had surgery this week and hoping your recoveries are going well!

Hi, it's been 5 days since my surgery. I came home on day 3 to my amazement! I'm down to just motrin for pain and that seems to be working ok. I can get up on my own and walk around a little, I can shower and use the bathroom on my own without too much difficulty. I'm sleeping pretty good through the nights so far and only napped once today. I would say from the average perspective I'm right on track and doing great! My questions are though: does your heart actually beat louder after surgery or am I just more aware of it now? Do you ever feel like your heart is beating faster when it's actually not? I feel like it is sometimes but it wasn't picked up on the monitors in the hospital at all so I'm thinking it's just in my head. How long was it before you didn't feel weak? How long was it before you felt like your lungs were totally opened up again? Anyone ever go see a chiropractor for the back pain after surgery and if so, how soon after? Praying for all you in surgery this week and all of you still recovering! We can do this!!

Hi everyone, just a quick update to say that my surgery was the 24th as planned. All went well, I was in icu just overnight and then was moved. I didn't feel ready to leave icu at all but they know better I guess. What surprised me the most was the amount of pressure in the back, it was very difficult to breath without strong pain meds. The paid is caused by the chest tubes so once thy come out its much much better! I'm hopefully going home tomorrow. Can't wait to see my little boy! Thanks for all the prayers, and I will be praying for all you! It's a tough road, but hopefully will be well worth it!

It’s only 2 weeks away before my heart surgery. I am anxious to have it behind me but also terrified of facing it at the same time. I can’t talk about my concerns or fears to my family or friends because they just tell me to stop worrying and that everything will be fine…well easier said than done when they’re not the ones having the surgery! I am worried that I will go through this process only to find that it didn’t help anything. I am worried that my baby won’t have proper care, he’s too little to understand why I can’t hold him etc.. I am worried he will resent me and think I love him less, and that he will grow closer to others for comfort who will be his care givers. Everyone thinks I should be happy that I’ll have a break from changing diapers, getting up during the nights etc…well I’m not! Those are motherly duties that are done out of love for a child, and I am greatly saddened that I won’t be able to care for my own baby. I am worried that something will go wrong and I’ll be the next tragic death story, and that my son will never remember who is mother was. Without looking for them, horrible stories just keep haunting me and raising my anxiety level out of the roof. In the last 2 months I’ve heard of 2 different people who needed a 2nd surgery from the first one not working and someone else just lost their 4 year old boy from heart surgery complications. I’m fairly certain I will face post op depression seeing both sides of family live out of state and my husband can’t afford to take time off other than what he’ll have for vacation and sick days. I’ll be in the hospital alone, it’s over an hour away so I’m not counting on too many visitors. I’ll have all the time in the world to lay there thinking about how much my life sucks at that moment and I’ll miss my baby terribly. I also was just hired for a new part time job which I will need to start as soon as I’m recovered as well as return to my other part time job that will have 6 weeks of piled up work since no one else knows how to do my duties. We just moved into a house 2 weeks ago and I’m also going to want to finish unpacking when I’m well enough to do it. This surgery couldn’t have landed at a more stressful time in my life and the worst part is that I chose the date! Granted it was 4 months ago I made the appointment not knowing we would find a house and be moving this close to the surgery. I just wanted to be back on my feet before Christmas which was the reason I picked end of October. If friends hadn’t already taken time off from work to help with childcare then I would be postponing the date. My husband will not let me make any changes..he says there is never going to be a convenient time (I think he’s just scared I will never go through with it). I know I am not alone in this process, and I hope I didn’t depress anyone too much, I just needed to express my feelings in hope that it will help me find some sense of peace with this decision and that it will have been the right one. If I actually had symptoms then I would probably be more scared not to have the surgery but since I feel the way I have all my life It’s tough not to 2nd guess If this is right. I was told that my heart was too dilated though to have surgery via catheterization so if the numbers are that high it must be time…sigh I love reading all your posts, it’s helped to cope with what lies ahead and should be expected during recovery. God Bless

I can now officially say my surgery is this month (24th). I have some questions for those of you who have already had your surgery. Do you feel it’s important to have a family member with you during the hospital stay? My husband will only have 2 weeks off, so we’re trying to decide if he should work the week while I’m in the hospital so he has more time to help once I’m home. (I have very few people who can help with my toddler post op) Is a recliner necessary to sleep better for the first few weeks or will my bed be ok? When could you get in and out of bed without help? Could you use the bathroom and take showers ok on your own or need help? How many weeks was it until you could lift about 30 lbs again? (my son) Anyone ever have this surgery without their heart being stopped? I was told it was possible. Any unexpected surprises you wish you knew before hand? My surgery will be to implant a pulmonary valve since I don’t currently have one. I have no symptoms as of right now but my MRI showed a lot of regurgitation and my cardiologist said it will be a problem in the next 10 -20 years. They recommend having it fixed now while I’m young (28) and healthy. Has anyone else gone through this in a generally healthy state? I’m wondering if recovery will hopefully be easier this way. I really wish I could just wait 10-20 years for this surgery but my cardiologist thinks it should be done before having more children which I why I opted to get it over with now. As the date gets closer I’m getting more anxious. We also just moved into our first house last week so it’s pretty stressful trying to unpack and get things in order before surgery. Any tips are appreciated! Thank you, and I will be praying for all of you on this journey for fast recoveries.

Hi, This is my first journal, I\'m scheduled to have open heart surgery in October. My son will be 18 months at the time and I\'m very concerned about when I will be able to take care of him again on my own. Has anyone gone through this with young kids? If so, at what point in your recovery would you have felt comfortable being home alone with a toddler? I don\'t have much family in the area to help and my husband will only have the first 2 weeks off. Any feedback from your experiences is appreciated!