Michelle Persson - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

483 days ago

Darrell Malone, Adam Pick, Yumiko Ishida and 2 others reacted to this

Everything is done! Surgery was 4+ hrs, got to my room about 11:30am last Thursday. Woke up with a migraine that lasted 2 days. On Sunday, I was told I could ...Read more

Everything is done! Surgery was 4+ hrs, got to my room about 11:30am last Thursday. Woke up with a migraine that lasted 2 days. On Sunday, I was told I could most likely go home on Monday then the a-fib started and my numbers were all over the board. They agreed to let me out Tuesday afternoon, still some a-fib. They replaced the mitral, fixed the trsicuspid & added some kind of clip. I won’t lie, it’s been tougher than I thought it would be. Thank thankful to b home

Darrell Malone Welcome to recovery

Valerie Allen Glad you are home! Sorry it was so difficult.

Adam Pick Welcome home!!!! That's great. As you may know, atrial fibrillation is very common after heart valve ... Read more

Adam Pick Welcome home!!!! That's great. As you may know, atrial fibrillation is very common after heart valve surgery. Here's an educational video all about that - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydZBp4B8KOY

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) After Heart Surgery: Is it Common?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydZBp4B8KOY

https://www.Heart-Valve-Surgery.com - Learn important facts about atrial fibrillation (Afib) after heart surgery from Dr. Marc Gillinov, Chair of Cardiac Sur...

El McRae Michelle, welcome home. I’m just 5 days home and I truly feel great. Each night I sleep better, eac ... Read more

El McRae Michelle, welcome home. I’m just 5 days home and I truly feel great. Each night I sleep better, each day I walk, do stairs and small things around house. I had bad headache first couple days but it ended. Hope you’re feeling great today. Beth

Michelle Persson Thank you, Adam!

Suelynn Hanegraaf Welcome home, Michelle! It will be small steps at first, but every milestone is a boost for your conf ... Read more

Suelynn Hanegraaf Welcome home, Michelle! It will be small steps at first, but every milestone is a boost for your confidence. You’ll get there!

Rex Austin Glad thats behind you! I'm 14 months past surgery and still have some bouts of afib. Hang in there! ... Read more

Rex Austin Glad thats behind you! I'm 14 months past surgery and still have some bouts of afib. Hang in there! You will continue to improve!

Michelle Perssonposted an update

491 days ago

Rose Madura reacted to this

Well, first my surgery was scheduled for the 8th, I got a call that they had some emergencies come in so the schedule had to be changed. Wednesday the 10th ...Read more

Well, first my surgery was scheduled for the 8th, I got a call that they had some emergencies come in so the schedule had to be changed. Wednesday the 10th was the new date. Sat at the hospital all morning then around 12:30 I was told there was another emergency surgery. I get to try again tomorrow morning. I think someone replaced my brain with a 3 yr olds, I left one of my bags at home & forgot other things. To be close to the hospital we’re at our daughters, thank the Lord we’re the same size.

Susan Lynn Michelle - You've got tremendous patience! Although it's difficult to be rescheduled - twice, be gl... Read more

Susan Lynn Michelle - You've got tremendous patience! Although it's difficult to be rescheduled - twice, be glad you're not an emergency.
Don't worry too much about leaving the bag at home - you've got a lot on your mind. The hospital provides pretty much everything you'll need. Borrow a robe, pj pants or shorts, and a phone charger from your daughter. I totally over packed and didn't need most of the stuff.
Wishing you all the best, tomorrow. We'll be waiting to welcome you to recovery.

Michelle Persson Susan Lynn Thank you for the positive note!

Sue Maize Oh Michelle—that’s tough to get bumped like that, but I agree with Susan—better that you’re n ... Read more

Sue Maize Oh Michelle—that’s tough to get bumped like that, but I agree with Susan—better that you’re not an emergency! I overpacked as well and sent all my clothes home minus my slippers—the hospital gown worked best for IV and other tubes I had to take everywhere with me, not to mention excess weight from fluid retention. The only things I really used were lozenges, hair ties, my phone and charger, and my own small bottle of shampoo/conditioner because the hospital “shampoo hat” made my hair waxy. Also tooth brush/paste, hairbrush and lip balm. Everything else they provided. I’ll be praying for you! ❤️‍🩹🙏🏻

Sue Maize Oh, and deodorant.

Rose Madura God bless you Michelle. May your surgery be successful. ❤️‍🩹🙏

Michelle Perssonposted a journal

526 days ago

I was wondering about what you wore home from the hospital after open heart surgery. Are jeans comfortable or would joggers/leggings be better? I have a 2 &1/2 ...Read more

I was wondering about what you wore home from the hospital after open heart surgery. Are jeans comfortable or would joggers/leggings be better? I have a 2 &1/2 hour car ride home. I was just told to wear a shirt that either buttons up or has a zipper but nothing about pants. It’s been hard getting to sleep at night thinking about all these things that need to be figured out. I’m sure everyone knows what I mean.

Cátia Ribeiro Hope everything goes well with the surgery

Grace Mason Hi Michelle,
I would leave the jeans at home and definitely opt for joggers or loose pants. It is ... Read more

Grace Mason Hi Michelle,
I would leave the jeans at home and definitely opt for joggers or loose pants. It is not unusual to gain 10-20 lbs in fluids they pump in during surgery and it takes several days to normalize back to presurgery weight.

Kathy Ozio Definitely loose pants.

Deena Z Think absolute comfort, regardless of the fashion statement it makes:)

Suelynn Hanegraaf Best wishes for your upcoming ❤️‍🩹 surgery. Excellent question! I wore loose fitting jogging ... Read more

Suelynn Hanegraaf Best wishes for your upcoming ❤️‍🩹 surgery. Excellent question! I wore loose fitting jogging pants and pajamas and a size up in tee shirts with a wider neck (to get over my head without raising my arms) and zippered/snapped/buttoned jackets. Liked the Z Zella brand at Nordstrom Rack. I am not well-endowed and went without a bra for weeks - so consider wearing darker or thicker t-shirts. 😉 When I wanted to wear a bra, I purchased a bra extender on Amazon. Good excuse to go shopping!

Maggie Ma Definitely no jeans. I wear loose sport pants at my discharge this week.

Rita Savelis Anything loose will do.

Daneen Douglas I wore a zip up house coat but loose pull on pants would have actually been better.

Thomas Brusstar Loose fitting is definitely better! I think I lost 15 pounds on my last day in the hospital (they we ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar Loose fitting is definitely better! I think I lost 15 pounds on my last day in the hospital (they weigh you constantly), just from getting rid of fluid. The IVs are constant, and they definitely err on the side of more fluid. So who knows how much you'll gain temporarily, but the short answer is a lot for those few days. Sweat pants/pajamas.

Laura Larkner This is a very helpful post. My aortic valve replacement surgery will be next month and I hadn't rea ... Read more

Laura Larkner This is a very helpful post. My aortic valve replacement surgery will be next month and I hadn't really thought about the impending weight gain. Sounds like I'll be packing sweatpants.

Michelle Persson I didn’t realize you gained weight! Definitely want loose clothes for the hospital & ride home. ... Read more

Michelle Persson I didn’t realize you gained weight! Definitely want loose clothes for the hospital & ride home. Thank you for the information.

Rita Savelis You gain some liquid weight, which you are usually given diuretics for (which make you pee it out). T ... Read more

Rita Savelis You gain some liquid weight, which you are usually given diuretics for (which make you pee it out). The liquid weight is because your heart is weak after surgery and liquid from your blood can back up into tissues. Usually this liquid weight is lost quickly, even while you are still in hospital. I remember having a tire of extra weight around my middle, which quickly was lost.

Michelle Perssonposted a journal

535 days ago

I have epilepsy and was wondering if anyone out there has it also. How did you do with the surgery? I’m a little concerned about it because when they did ...Read more

I have epilepsy and was wondering if anyone out there has it also. How did you do with the surgery? I’m a little concerned about it because when they did an (I think) MRI w/nitro I had a small seizure a couple hours later. Not sure how my brain will handle surgery & everything. I haven’t had a seizure for over a year, so just wondering.

Robert Miller I don't have epilepsy but did you discuss this with the surgeon? I assume he didn't have any concerns ... Read more

Robert Miller I don't have epilepsy but did you discuss this with the surgeon? I assume he didn't have any concerns or at least he mentioned any complications if there are any at all.

Michelle Persson Thank you for your input! I hadn’t even thought about talking to the surgeon about it. Things have ... Read more

Michelle Persson Thank you for your input! I hadn’t even thought about talking to the surgeon about it. Things have been happening fast.