Nicole's Journal

Mike Roskowinski  Nicole sorry to hear about your loss. Definitely things could be worse for us. At least our issues can be fixed while some people’s are not. Prayers to you for a good surgery

Joey Hardee  Very sorry, Nicole. I know that is hard especially because you want to be there too. I told my wife before surgery that I had already lived an awesome life for 55 years and to think they can fix me and extend my life is a wonderful blessing.

Susan Richards  I have had those thoughts many, many times. I actually know three people right now who are waiting for a kidney donor. One of them is only 30 and this is her second one.
So sorry for the loss of your friend.

Erik Jensen  I'm so sorry for your loss, Nicole. I'm also sorry you're losing part of your on-site support group for your surgery but it's amazing to have friends so willing to travel to be there for you, now your deceased friend's family. I have a good friend who just went through prostate cancer surgery on Tuesday and I too found myself feeling fortunate, all things considered. Best of luck to a successful surgery and recovery, and I hope your friend's family finds peace.

Marie Myers  Sorry to hear about your friend. It does throw a whole new light on your own upcoming surgery, doesn’t it?

Christi Harrington  I'm sorry for your loss. I am really glad to hear that you are still feeling loved and supported in your journey.

Barbara Wood  I'm so sorry about your friend Nicole - I'm a 9 year stage 3 breast cancer survivor, my valve & heart rhythm problems were caused by my treatment...but I know I'm so fortunate to still be here. Very best wishes for a successful surgery & a smooth recovery!

Kimberley Anchell   Ahh - Nicole - Thanks for sharing that story. I have a feeling that there will be several data points that reinforce how lucky we are to be eligible for OHS. I’m sorry for your loss - please know that we are many prayers are being said for you and your family.

Rob Sparling  So sorry to hear about your friend. 46 is way too short,

We. Are. Lucky. Totally agree. I have thanked Fox several dozen times that what ails me is easy to find, monitor and repair. Painful and risky, but mechanical. Thanks for sharing the story. And you will be just fine! Keep your positive attitude and it will be to your advantage (and we need as many of those as we can get, right?). ❤️💪

Joy Vera  I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, Nicole. You are so right that we are lucky. Best of luck on Friday.

Susan Lynn  Deepest sympathy on the loss of your friend. We are very lucky. You'll be joining the recovery club before you know it! All the best! ❤

Nicole DuPont  Thank you everyone for your kind comments. This has been a hard week with surgery in just a few days. It’s nice to have such a wonderful community for support.

Rob Scilingo  Hi Nicole. I am truly sorry for the loss of your friend. I bet a lot of emotions are going on right now especially with the surgery coming up soon. My thoughts are with you.

Marie Myers  I think it is possible to be online remotely in 2 weeks after surgery if all goes well and you are feeling good. Really , you just have to see how it all goes, and take 1 day at a time. I think we have had some people working like that early after recovery, hopefully some will chime in and tell you their experiences.

Civita Fahey  I worked remotely at about 3 weeks. I was able to check emails and do a few things. I got tired quickly so my doctor allowed me to increase hours each week. its definitely doable as long as you are up to it.

Susan Lynn  Nicole - Everyone is different and recoveries can vary. I had a side incision mitral valve repair and was able to resume phone calls and emails just 4 days after surgery. I usually took a nap, and walked a few times a day, but I felt fine. Take it at your own pace. Work will always be there. ❤

Dan Baltazor  When I started back it was remotely. Just take your time and focus on recovery first. Your view point pre op about how you'll think and feel in recovery is very different from how you really think and feel, at least for me. Once you step back into the work mode, it's difficult to step back out if you realize you did it too soon. I didn't step back in too soon and very happy about that decision.

Mike Roskowinski  Nicole I was able to return to work after about 5 weeks. I felt like I could have returned to work at around 3 weeks. I work from home doing IT work and my job is not stressful at all. It all depends on how you feel and what your surgeon says. My disability would not let me choose when I went back. I had to get approval from my surgeon to go back to work. I think if you talk to them and your boss then you should be able to get back to working. I am not sure if you need to take naps or if you get tired easy and need to rest but make sure your team is aware of that.

Nicole DuPont  Thanks for sharing your experiences. I know that work shouldn’t be one of my main concerns, but I think having a “what if” plan helps with the overall anxiety.

rich monoson  You'll do great with surgery and watch how fast you drift back to the computer and phone while resting at home. It actually feels great to be productive while your resting and recovering. If you have a low stress job you are miles ahead of most of us. As soon as I got home I was trying to gather documents, get papers signed, answer questions from stressed clients and I thought to myself "How wonderful to be back". After the hospital Nicole I believe it is the start of something new and see how happy you are speaking with everyone you come into contact with. I was so grateful that even the most cantankerous of people I was glad to speak with. You're truly going to experience something special. By the way, I'm as cantankerous as anyone I deal with!!

Rita Savelis  It's good that the pressure is not coming from your employer (and only from you!). It's hard to predict how you will feel and how your experience will go. So you'll play it by ear and hopefully not put too much pressure on yourself if things don't go according to a predetermined plan. Work will always be there. Give your body some time to heal if you can. OHS can be exhausting. Take care.

Civita Fahey  Hi Nicole.. I chose a tissue also at 55. My doctor gave me the pros and cons of both and I went for the tissue. its a personal choice, but so far so good. Best of luck with the surgery. Ask any questions you need, many wonderful people on this site that will be happy to answer.

Lea Parker  Hi Nicole,
I was 52 at the time of my OHS - also aortic valve replacement and an aneurysm repair. I opted for bio prosthetic valve instead of a mechanical mainly because I wanted to avoid blood thinners for life. I am very happy 3 years later with my bovine valve. I was even invited by Edwards Lifesciences to attend Patient Day and learn all about the valves they make and procedures they have pioneered (like TAVR). I spoke to a researcher there who shared with me the fascinating work they are doing with “valve in valve” replacements....which of course I wanted to know all about! Let us know how we can assist, you have alot of folks here who have walked the path...blessings to you, Lea

Alan Jamieson  I was in the same boat - my cardiologist said that regardless of which valve I chose, that I would need another one sometime down the line. I was not eligible for TAVR this go around, but with a bio valve, I will be eligible for TAVR next time, but wouldn't if I got a mechanical. It was an easy choice for me.

Naomi Gray  Hi Nicole, I'm glad to hear that you are making a progress in your journey. I'm 51, just like you. I've just got a bovine tissue valve for replacing my bicuspid aortic valve. I don't have to take coumadin, plus my high blood pressure was fixed, and I no longer need to take high blood pressure med.

Julie M  I also had OHS, a little over three weeks ago, and chose a tissue valve to replace my mitral (had a ring put on my tricuspid). I'm 67 but even at your age, I think it beats being on blood thinners for life with a mechanical valve. And just imagine the strides that will have been made by the time these tissue valves need replacing! Best of luck with your surgery... I will keep you in my prayers. It's true when you hear the worst part is the waiting. God bless!

Diane Esposito  Nicole, I know you’ll make the decision that’s right for you. As you can see, you’re not alone on this site and there is plenty of collective wisdom and experience here. My problem was my mitral valve which thankfully was repaired but I had decided on a bio prosthetic valve as a back up if the surgeon had not been able to repair it, because I didn’t want to be on Coumadin the rest of my life. You have time to do the research and talk to your doctors and will make the right choice.

Rob Sparling  Nicole, I was diagnosed with bicuspid aortic valve last July (2018). My cardiologist prepared me for tissue valve with TAVR for a valve-in-valve procedure later, once needed. Surgeon had a different opinion and recommended Ozaki Procedure. Cardiologist left it to me but supported that recommendation, and that is the way I went. I am now 7 months post-op and no issues. (Going to Cleveland for next check-up next week and will offer an update then!) Please see my journal for the play-by-play and my surgeon review.

Most important part: You are in the right place. Don’t fear this thing. You will transform. Once you do, you will know. Trust us all. Waiting and the uncertainty is the absolutely worst part. ❤️💪

Heidi Rockwood  Hi Nicole, choosing a valve was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made and I agonized over it. I’m 54 and have decided to go with the tissue valve next week.

  Nicole, you're not alone.
The fear you have is normal.
Probably everyone on this website who has had ohs felt fearful at some point. I know I did.
Just try not to let it grip you.
Make sure you choose an experienced surgeon (one with a proven track record who does a lot of the type of surgery you're having).
Rest assured that excellent surgeons typically have an excellent medical team working with them.
I pray you find God's peace in the midst of all of this.
He will hold your hand and walk with you as you traverse this ohs journey.
Peace and blessings to you!

Judy S  Nicole, it’s totally normal to be scared. What will help is learning from all the experience on this site and arming yourself with information. Make sure you talk to a few surgeons to see who has the experience, the outcomes, and the ability to repair your valve if that’s possible. Pick a surgeon who you feel you can trust. It made all the difference for me.

Kathy Blank  Nicole- I remember feeling exactly like you do now when I first realized my longtime heart murmur for MV Prolapse got worse and I needed surgery. I was overwhelmed at first and it took a few months for me to wrap my mind around the idea of OHS. But I decided to research and take control of my care and this community made ALL the difference. This post helped me organize a list of questions and my daughter accompanied me and took notes. She remembered things I didn’t. Let us know how your appt goes! https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2016/12/18/questions-before-dr-accola/

Marie Myers  I can really sympathize. I felt totally overwhelmed at the news I needed heart surgery also. It is good to bring someone else with you to appointments, because it is a lot to process. Just take one day at a time, and you will get through whatever you have to get through. Like others have said, be sure your surgeon does a lot of the type of work you need. Wishing you peace through your journey!

rich monoson  Nicole, I went in for my yearly check up fulling expecting the annual "you're fine. See you next year and we'll re-examine then". Not this time. I was immediately told by the surgeon that this needs to be done in the next 4 weeks. It was like an out of body experience hearing this. I felt the blood drain from my face. The thoughts were running randomly wild. I was completely taken by surprise the urgency. Once that initial processing takes place the acceptance phase begins. Once accepted I put my head down and marched forward ready to grab the bull by the horns. This always present heart condition hanging over me is going to get fixed. I actually got to the point where I was looking forward to the day. I prepared mentally and focused on aggressive rehab (things I can control). It went spectacularly and I'm 3 1/2 weeks out and feel like I didn't even have surgery (absent the sternal annoyance). Nicole, you're going to do great. Attitude is everything. Please note this surgery has a 99% success rate. It's a gift that such a successful procedure exists that will improve the quality of our lives and extend our lives. This has been an awesome experience and will provide a new perspective on everything. Your surgical team and cardiac care nurses are heaven sent and you'll be overwhelmed with support you receive. Nicole, its a process and the mental preparation and attitude is essential to making this as good as you would like it to be. Look forward to your updates and I'm rooting for you!

Nicole DuPont  I can’t thank you all enough for commenting so soon after my post. Your shared experience is definitely going to get me through this. I admit the fear has a grip on me right now, but it’s new and I will find the peace I will need to head into surgery. I’m going to be patient with myself in getting past this freaked out and weepy phase. Thanks for the encouragement, and thanks for your support which I hope to eventually pass on to others just as you have.

ski kemp  ..You will, and before you know it, you'll be there too giving encouragement to someone else. It's natural to feel scared, for me this was the first time I ever had to go to the hospital for a procedure in my life. I had no idea I had an Aneurysm. Unfortunately it grew so large, it caused a stroke - ascending aorta over 6 cm, never had a symptom until the stroke. Found it Thursday afternoon and had to have surgery first thing Friday Morning. Never had time to research, or discuss, it happen so fast, It was 2 weeks before my 49th birthday. I worked out 5 days a week and have been active all my life. it was no where on my radar. I didn't really find out what corrective procedure they did until after the surgery, I didn't really know all the details going into it. The night before the surgery they asked me - Tissue or Mechanical?.. I said "you tell me" I had no idea and got a 10 min summary on each and made a choice...It just so happened that the Hospital had one of the best thoracic surgeons in the State and I literally asked him "could you do the surgery please" less than 12 hours before the actual surgery, just met him, but had heard about him through my cousin who happen to be a cardiac ICU nurse...by the grace of God, he did the surgery....after all that, I can tell you, I'm doing well. No deficits from the stroke, it all came right back within a hour. I'm now 8 weeks post op. Back to work, energy is almost normal and I'm Good Nicole and getting better...what you stress'in about :) . You will too! but you will have to be a patient, patient. Recovery takes time, but each week you will get stronger. You have a good medical team and they are prepared, and your prepared, you got this! Be Blessed and tell you BF not to worry either, your both going to be okay.