Melissa's Journal

Gina Fiorentino  Hi Melissa, I've been cutting the strips to size and using them for a few weeks. REALLY like it. Not only does it calm down the redness and tender incision line, but I hear also fades the scar (and protects from the sun!) The only thing, is that I'm lazy and not good at scrubbing the strips each time before wearing, so I tend to toss them after a few days. But I understand if you scrub them and let them dry out between wearing them, they last up to two weeks.

Rose Madura  I'm trying Scar Away roll on but have not seen results that I'd like to see yet. Actually, haven't noticed any improvement. I didn't get the strips because I waxx worried the adhesive would bother my skin.

Civita Fahey  I have used them Melissa but they were just ok.. I ended getting a prescription one called Cordran tape and its done wonders.Though I did have two rounds of kenolog injections too.. mine was pretty thick.its now just about flat..

Dorothy Roer  I just recently bought a similar product called fade away. How long after surgery can you start using these types of products?

Nancy Surprenant Takahashi  I used them for a lump i had removed on my shoulder and the plastic surgeon told me to use them. I thought it worked out well.

Lilly Black  I used them....the problem? Try taking it off! Depending on how much your scar has healed, it hurts to remove.....at least for me it did. It’s like taking off a bandage. My skin is quite thin and my scar was not fully healed....not a good experience. I really did not do well with any of the scar products. I used oils when I healed. Hope yours is a better experience 😊

Darlene Smith  I just had an MRI of my knee. The sternum wires were not a problem, and I made sure they were aware of my valve ring. Just make sure you tell them about your surgery and what exactly what done.

Heath Knight  I had an MRI before I even left the hospital as they wanted to check on the repair. Everything went fine. Nothing to worry about. Good luck in your healing process, and heal quickly.

Civita Fahey  I used Vitamin E. I had some keloiding of its so I got Silicone strips from Amazon.. they keep the scar moist..

Diane T  I had a plastic surgeon close me up and has me using Strataderm (https://www.stratpharma-online.com/global/usa.html) for the 6 weeks after he removed the Steri-Strips. My follow-up appt. is next week 😊. He said I could use any brand of silicone gel, but I simply purchased what was in his office. The key is using silicone — nothing else has been proven to work.

Adam Pick  Melissa, I did not need to take Metoprolol but here's some information about the drug - https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2014/05/27/metoprolol/

Marie Myers  Metoprolol will lower your BP and heart rate. If the heart rate or BP get too low, you might feel lightheaded. Definitely discuss this with your doctor-he or she she may reduce your dose. I have been on 12.5 mg twice a day for a year now without problems.

Helen Daw  OMG!! My surgeon just today put me back on it and that is exactly how I feel right now. I thought it was in my head. I was on it right after my surgery 5 weeks ago and I wasn't feeling right, it lowered my blood pressure to 80/50 so they took me off. Now my blood pressure is 139/82 and my heart is beating at 112 BPM so I'm back on it again. Not liking it so I will call my cardiologist tomorrow.

Noreen Kitchen  I am definitely light headed and dizzy when I take metropolol my cardiologist changed my dose to 12.5 only at night instead of morning and night. This way I didn’t have to deal with the dizziness.

Nupur Andrews  I am taking 12.5 extended release at nite and I think after a month my body is finally getting used to it.

Rita Savelis  Yeah, betablockers will do that. Make you feel tired, slow everything down...
Most patients have to take them for awhile to give their hearts a rest after its OHS trauma, but hopefully you won't need to stay on them long.

Vikki Deedrick  The only thing I noticed is that it made me tired. Thankfully I was only on it temporarily and was able to start weaning off of it after 3 months. My first weaning was to only take it at bedtime so the tired worked in my favor. I don't remember feeling light-headed even though I have always had low blood pressure. Some days with the Metoprolol it was as low as 100/40-45. One day in my cardiac exercise class it was low enough they wouldn't let me exercise. That's when I stopped taking it in the morning and took it only at bedtime. Ask if you can start weaning off of it.

Helen Daw  I talked to my cardiology yesterday and he recommended that I start taking it once a day at night. Lets see how that goes....

Michael Neverisky  Upper back, sort of under my left shoulder, yes. I've mentioned it to a couple of nurses and they say it's not uncommon and may be due to the way we were positioned... contorted... during surgery. It started with me when I was home, about a week after surgery. I used Oxy one night to sleep, and only Tylenol and a hot press after that. Two and a half weeks from surgery now and the back pain is fading. Hoping it calms down for you soon.

Toni Z  Yes, I have pretty bad back pain after. I think it was from the hospital bed. It did get better and back to normal. Not sure if it was week 3 or not.

Sophia Ridley  Yes, I had the same. I went to a Physio at c8wks post op. I also got odd headaches on my scalp, this was caused by the muscles at the back of my neck.

Soggy Rodent  I had back pain too...I'm guessing ur chest was opened. When they spread the 2 halves of ur breastbone apart, it puts pressure on the joints in ur back where ur ribs meet ur spine. And the hospital bed is no help. The more u get up and move, the better ur back should feel.

Civita Fahey  It was about 5 weeks only because I couldn’t get a earlier time. Seems to have been a popular thing 😊

Susan Rush  I started Rehab 8 weeks after surgery on January 9th. The holidays seems to have delayed it a bit. But I tell you I was glad for the wait - I felt more able to participate by waiting. It still tires me out though. :-)

Barbara Wood  Mine was about 6 weeks, I also had a wait of a couple weeks to get in. I did 3 weeks of supervised rehab with ekg leads, then did 5 weeks of a less structured program, still in the hospital. I had a $ 50 copay for each session in the cardiac rehab & $50/ month for the health & wellness program I moved into - So it was a cost saving thing.

Gina Fiorentino  I love audio-books. If you have a smartphone or iPad you can download the "Audible" App, and listen to your first Audio book for free. On the site, you can listen to na sample reading from each book to cruise around and find what you like.

Sometimes when I'm restless, I will put on headphones and listen to an audio-book and it helps me focus my attention, yet its so passive that if I drift off- I will go into a nice, relaxing sleep. Its easy to rewind, replay and navigate from chapter to chapter.
www.audible.com

Michael Neverisky  I bought a Kindle Fire HD8 just prior to surgery for $50. With this device I am reading a novel, writing a journal, keeping in touch with friends and watching video. Great chance to write!

Celia Waterkeyn  Listen to the radio. Have conversations with friends either on the phone or over a coffee, Scrabble, crosswords. Sorting out drawers and other menial practical tasks i’ve meant to do but never had the time. Walks and more walks.

Michael Zernell  Melissa, that sounds a lot like what I went through. I had a tube put down my throat through my nose(cant remember what it was called) they pumped out the badness from my stomach but once it was done I felt fine and could actually have some water :)

Susan Rush  I had very bad nausea starting about 4 days after surgery. The next 4-5 days were terrible, but when it finally subsided I felt much better, but wore out. I feel you pain!

Michael Neverisky  Hi Melissa. You and I are on the same timeline, and I can hardly wait to be on the recovery side too! It's going to be better than OK, life is going to be better. Reading the post-op blog updates here confirms that. We are extremely fortunate to have access to this type of medical care! Regarding nervousness... I find it helps to place the palm of my hand on my chest while expressing gratitude to my heart. A few deep, slow breaths and a heartfelt "thank you" helps me. In this moment, everything is OK.

See you in recovery, friend!

Marie Myers  I got a lot of reassurance from this site. So many people had the same thing I did, and they got through it all! I also listened to calming and acceptance videos on U Tube. Last but not least, I took a Xanax occasionally when I was just too wound up...Here 's to a smooth surgery and easy recovery to you! You really can do this!

Bonnie Stone-Hope  Hello Melissa,
Totally normal to be apprehensive.
What are your favourite things to do?
Watch a funny movie, chat on the phone with friends, read other journals of folks who have had their surgery.
Best wishes for an easy successful surgery and look forward to reading your posts and updates next week

Helen Daw  My surgery is on Feb 13 and I am in the same boat. Totally freaking out. I just joined this website and hopefully I can read how others coped with their anxiety.

Toni Z  What helped me was knowing that this is routine for my doctors and they know what they’re doing. Focus on a positive outcome was the best medicine for. Best wishes to those with upcoming surgeries.

Gerald Poulton  Same as I just wrote on Helen's post
I know it is easier to say than do, but I have been there to. This is Not only a necessary thing in your life but it is also the procedure that is going to make you better. Many years ago it would be a very dangerous operation but now it is a well practiced procedure and the morbidity rate is something like 1 % and that includes old out of shape people after a heart attack. For most like me, the operation is surprisingly painless and recovery is more patience than pain. We are all scared but we should really welcome the procedure that saves our lives and repairs our sick body. You are very fortunate that your valve can be repaired, luckier than most ! You will do fine, count your blessings 🙏Welcome your savior and look forward to your recovery and a better, healthier life👍

Sophia Ridley  Best thing I did was a back and shoulder massage a few days before surgery. Drank water to flush my system and went to bed before my children. First time I had slept through the night in weeks/months. Felt like a different person. It also loosened all the muscles in readiness for surgery.