Mava's Heart Valve Journal

Greetings friends! It has been quite wonderful to find this website. Although everyone's story differs somewhat, there us much I can relate to when I read your stories! How wonderful it has been to find my very thoughts and concerns voiced by someone else. I think we all felt so alone & afraid in this heart valve journey. This helped me to prepare for surgery better than any other info I was presented with.

I am now in my 7th week post op (Feb 5th 2019), & I'm feeling pretty good for the most part. I'm still taking 1000 mg of Tylenol 3 times a day for pain, which I am hoping to not need much longer. I have scoliosis & neck problems which were aggravated by the surgery, leaving me with terrible muscle cramps after surgery, and they are better now, but I'm anxious to go back to my chiropractor after I'm healed in a few weeks. That will help me a great deal toward normal.

My emotions have been unpredictable during this time, & I have found myself more weepy or frustrated than normal. Sometimes my clue that I haven't had my pain meds is that I feel anxious or weepy. Once I'm on track, I feel myself again. I am used to being a strong person, emotionally, but that's not the case right now. I do feel certain that I will be there eventually.

I had a week with vertigo, so my walks were curtailed a lot. I still walked steps, but I'm anxious to get outside again. I start Cardio Rehab next week, so that will be a help I'm sure.

My lungs had a hard time coming back after being on the bypass machine, and breathing was really hard for me. My cardiologist put me on Lasix which did seem to help dry them out, & I'm still using the spirometer some to keep them open.

My cardiologist also kept me on metoprolol. Even though my blood pressure is low, my pulse just races way over 100 at resting. I'm not sure if that will get better with time or not.

The last few months have been quite a challenge. From finding for the first time that I had a problem with my heart, to facing OHS, to finding a cardiologist, then a surgeon & hospital. From feeling like the only weird one in the country, I find that there are so many who are in this same situation as me! Thank you for your wisdom & stories! They truly lifted me through the bad times! I'm very grateful to be alive, & am trying to enjoy each day that I have to live! God bless you each one, & for those who are in the waiting room, my heart is with you!

It's been 3 weeks since my OHS by wonderful Dr Kevin Accola. He was able to repair my mitral valve, & I'm finally at a point where I feel better than before the surgery (while on pain meds! Lol!) I'm looking ahead to recovery & cardio rehab, & for now jus

Dear friends, I have taken your advice and just concentrated on my own healing this past week, despite the desire to keep updated & posting. This week has been up and down for me, physically, emotionally, & mentally. Some days good, some bad, but always moving in the right direction. I found out my natural desire to hold back on medication wasn't a good idea at this point in my recovery. Fortunately I have a very attentive family who stepped in when I needed it, getting me back on track with painkillers & muscle relaxants, making all the difference in my emotional & physical well-being. Being kind to myself has been my goal this week, & today I am enjoying this beautiful Florida Sunday. I'm grateful to God for this blessing of renewed life & a future of improved health ahead of me. Whether you know or not, & whether I have responded or not to your comments & posts, you have made my recovery so much better. I know that my recovery is my own, so I'm not setting out to break records in goals accomplished. That's just not me, but I am making sure I do what makes me feel good & healthy in my recovery. God bless those of you who are about to have surgery, & those of you who are recovering now. May your hearts & minds be full of good things today!

Just checking in at the end of day 6. I am still too tired to post very much, but wanted to check in anyway. Everyone's positive comments are so helpful! Thanks everyone. Each day is better than the last one. My time is filed with lots of sleep, walking, & breathing exercises. I have to work on my oxygen level remaining where it should. So that's all for now. It's great to be in my own comfy bed, without all the iv's etc. God bless each of you who are recovering or anticipating surgery soon! ❤️❤️

Nurse Jessica hugging me as I'm heading home. The whole staff at the hospital is amazing. Advent Health Orlando is so uplifting & thinks so much of the patient first. I was in no rush to leave because of it. Thanks to everyone who prayed for us across th

Nurse removed surgical bandages. Hard to describe how I feel. Happy and emotional all at once. Picture from 2/9/19.

My family & friends were there for me at my surgery, which went without a hitch

I've made it to the big day at last! God is good & I'm grateful for my family & friends & all of you heart warriors! I'm at peace & ready for this. Thanks to those who prayed for me! Blessings!

Count down is for real now! 5 days to surgery! It almost seems like a dream sometimes & I am moving in automatic mode! But much better than dealing with nervous anxiety like I sometimes have had. I am trying to get everything ready on my list for the hospital now, & pack a bag. Because I am full time caregiver for my parents (98yrs & 92yrs), much of my concern has been getting the right help to come assist them during my surgery & recovery. Since my hubby will need help I have a wonderful agency that is starting tomorrow & that helps my peace of mind. I appreciate the kind thoughts & prayers sent my way, & pray for those who are coming up for surgery. God bless you all!

Count down is for real now! 5 days to surgery! It almost seems like a dream sometimes & I am moving in automatic mode! But much better than dealing with nervous anxiety like I sometimes have had. I am trying to get everything ready on my list for the hospital now, & pack a bag. Because I am full time caregiver for my parents (98yrs & 92yrs), much of my concern has been getting the right help to come assist them during my surgery & recovery. Since my hubby will need help I have a wonderful agency that is starting tomorrow & that helps my peace of mind. I appreciate the kind thoughts & prayers sent my way, & pray for those who are coming up for surgery. God bless you all!

Enjoying a fun day at Disney in 2017, with my husband Chuck.