Nancy's Journal

Bob Fessler  I'm 65. Not quite 70+ but close enough to know what you are going through. All the stories here help. The recoveries all are different but the stress felt, the surgery experiences and the questions asked/answered are all helpful to me.

Jennifer McInerney  Hi Nancy, I am 62 and I felt the same way. All these younger athletic folks running marathons etc. I walk for 40 mins. And I'm proud all day. I'm not scheduled for surgery yet, but will be once I have symptoms. Good luck with your surgery and recovery. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Debby Morgeson  I'm 59 and just had my aortic valve replaced with a tissue valve on June 12th, 2017. I'm definitely not the athletic kind. Lol
I'm doing well, just a bit uncomfortable when I try to sleep on my back (a first for me). Good luck to you and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have. 🙂

Roger Bideleux  Hi Nancy,
I qualify for membership, 70 last January. Welcome to the community. My surgery was for repair, or if necessary replacement, of mitral valve 6 days ago. A repair was the result and apart from a couple of glitches all has gone well and I hope to be home tomorrow.
Let me know if I can help answer any questions but I am not, by any means, an expert! I hope you get as much from this site as I have, it is great to have so many supporters.
Roger

Marie Myers  I don't think 63 qualifies me as young, but I do play a little doubles tennis with other little old ladies like myself...Am I an athlete? No, but I am active...

Alethea Scally  Hi Nancy, My dad is 71 and just had a SAVR (open hear surgery for aortic valve replacement and coronary bypass) on June 13th. I posted in real time about his experience in the hospital starting from ICU through discharge. Hope my journals help you!

Vivien Appleby   Hi Nancy. I am almost 69. Have only just joined. I have a bicuspid Aortic Valve no no date yet for surgery. Would be happy to share my journey with you. vivienappleby@ gmail.com
Regards, Vivien

Steve Farthing  FYI - Some docs can replace a valve thru a smaller incision without performing a sternotomy which may reduce the driving restriction by a few weeks. If your doc does not offer that option, you might not be told about it - even if you ask!

Cathy Zuber  Hi Nancy....I'm 66...there are different things or options available. First, check with Senior Svcs in your County/Township and find out if there are transportation services available. Also, your church. In some areas, people with no one else at home..go to rehab facility or nursing home rehab to get stronger , so they can stay alone. Do you have a friend/ relative who could be with you at home first few days after you come home. I was fortunate that my Sister and daughter were here for me when I came home..then the Home Healthcare team from the hospital came here 3 times a week to change dressings, do PT, etc. also. Cardiac Rehab wouldn't always start right away, anyway.you might be driving by the time the Drs say you can start rehab. Lots to think about....and you aren't alone. My daughter lives with me because she is mentally disabled , doesn't drive, and I'm her legal guardian. ...lots of challenges for us all....prayers. Cathy

Catie B  Hi Nancy. My heart goes out to you. I went through my surgery and recovery alone last fall. Hopefully as Cathy Zuber said, there may be some local resources that may help you. You might consider Meals on Wheels. I started cardiac rehab pretty early and didn't realize they would forbid me to continue the outside walking I'd been doing, including walking to the store and fast food--they wanted all exercise to occur with them while being monitored. If I were doing it again in similar circumstances, I'd have waited till I could drive before starting cardiac rehab and continued my independent walking regimen longer. I did end up using a taxi quite a bit. I did enjoy and thoroughly recommend cardiac rehab. There was just the inconvenience factor till I could drive. The main accommodation I needed in my apartment was to have a reclining piece available. I anticipated that and it was a wise investment, since it wasn't physically possible for me to sleep in my bed for several weeks. I left frozen foods in my freezer before surgery and those also were helpful.
People are good to reply. Keep posting questions as the need arises...

Marie Myers  Luckily for me, I had my husband to help. But I rented one of those electric recliners that can lay flat and also sit you straight up to help you get up. It was great for the first 3 weeks. Didn't need help getting up .I had some co-workers who drove me around a bit, and one of my neighbors made some food the first couple days

Vanessa Corwin  I live by myself too. Arrange your home so you don't have to do any heavy lifting, reaching high places, pushing or pulling for the first few weeks. Comfy chair, couch, whatever, catch up on your movies/TV/reading! And local food delivery services (in my area Fresh Direct) were a godsend. As were my great friends & sister.

Lynda Ruiz  I live alone and was blessed to be recovering at my sister's post OHS in her state, but post orthopedic surgeries I went to a rehab facility for a week. I do prepare my home based on restriction of lifting, bending etc. I prepare meals to be ready in freezer. Dr's have different restrictions on driving. I was driving at 2 weeks after hip & knee replacement & cardiac doc said 3 weeks.