Pam's Journal

Lewis Garlisi  I have heard different answers from medical professionals. A couple say do nothing, while others say vitamin E products can help. There is also a product mentioned in Adam Picks book (which I recently donated to a future ohs candidate, so
I can't readily look it up). At 8 weeks post surgery, my scar is still pronounced with some scabs, so I'll probably follow up to see what others may suggest. Good luck.

Jen Huff  I'm going to use Biocornieum - it's FDA approved containing silicone. You can get it from a dermatologist or plastic surgeon's office. My surgeon said 3-4 weeks post op.

Ed Smith  Pam, I have used Maderma in the past with success following minor surgery several years ago (suggested by a dermatologist). Walgreens also has a generic version with the same ingredients. My Cardiologist said to be sure there are no scabs left before applying anything (other than soap & water).

Arlie Rauch  I don't seem to remember the details too well. My mitral valve repair was almost 2 years ago. I was warned to stay away from some pain meds. I did take the prescribed meds until I could get along well without them. My pain seemed bad for maybe the first week and then tapered off. I still take a low dose aspirin every day, but that is not for pain. Take what you need until the pain subsides. Make sure it agrees with the doctor's plan for you.

Judi Nunez  Hi Pam, I can clearly see staples so you probably don't have them. Looks like a zipper. I feel same about medication. I take Percocet but only when I'm feeling pain. Usually just 1 in morning and 1 before bed. If I'm uncomfortable during day I take half. I'm trying to wean off but feel I need them sometimes.

Bill Hendrickson  Pam
Pain varies quite a bit for each person. I had two chest openings about 3 hrs apart . When I was in CIC waking up the nurse did a double take when I said my pain was 3 out of 10 . When in the step-down unit my pain med was Tylenol only. When I left the hospital I didn't need any pain med.

Pat Bluemel  Each person handles pain differently. Like Bill I was on Tylenol on day 3 in step down, that's mainly because I am narc intolerant. Tylenol does help I take it about twice a day now when I need it.

Mary Myers  Pam, of course each individual is different with procedures and pains. I took pain meds for the first two weeks I was home from the hospital. I took them pretty much as described.H During the night my body would wake me up with pain. Then I took the pain meds so that I could get back to sleep.
Had twenty one days that I woke up in the middle of the night. I think my new piggy valve thought it was a newborn! When I was able to start lessening the pain meds I took Tylenol during the day, and the other pain meds before bed. It was not long and I was off everything. So do not worry, let your body tell you. If you are in pain, I would encourage you to take whatever you need. By week three I was off everything but tylenol as needed. That is exactly when I started sleeping better. Drop me an email whenever you have time. I am so happy and thankful that you are doing so well my heart sister. Big hugs from Mia.

Pat Bluemel  When I had my nose worked on 10 years ago they taught me how to "throw" my sneeze, next time instead of stifling, just open your mouth clutch your pillow and let it go and sneeze out of your mouth more or less, it's much better than stifling in my opinion. Take lots of zinc and vitamin C too! Hope you are healing well.

Ed Smith  I hate the sneezes that happen without warning (i.e., not enough time to grab my chest). Pat is right about not trying to stifle a sneeze. Let it out and hold your chest as tightly as you can.

Jennifer Anderson  I had to laugh when I read this because I just sneezed for the first time the other day and it was brutal. After that I carried around a small pillow because I was paranoid about sneezing again and wanted to be prepared. Good times, good times. :D

Meredith Bray  What Jennifer said - I was paranoid and carried that darn pillow everywhere for about a day. FIREWORK IN THE CHEST!!

Mary Myers  out of th e hospital. .Sorry that it took awhile for♡♡♡ the nurses to really take you serious, about the pain you were experiencing! That is in the past (thank goodness). For walking I would say, start short distances. Do not walk when temperature is too warm.Increase distance each day. Take your cell phone with you! I walked holding my heart
pillow on my incision.
Enjoy your walk. Big
Hugs♡♡♡♡♡♡

Edith Dim  So glad you got to leave the hospital, I wish you a smooth recovery from now on. Sending healing hugs
from Arizona to Florida.

Jim Kelly-Evans  Great, Pam. Like you, I was lucid and wrote notes and instructions while on the vent...I was on the vent for 17 hours. Have a sweall recovery and enjoy your walk today. It's too cold and icy for me to walk outside here in Philadelphia so I walk around the kitchen. :)

Nancy D  Great report of great progress!! Don't try to rush things, rest, deep breathe often and walk in the house, repeat!! Take good care!

Cheryl Batzing  Pam...chest tubes out are a huge thing to celebrate! And glad your pneumothorax is clearing up. Continued prayers for your healing!

Bob M  Great news! Tubes out! Almost home where your home is where your new fixed heart is. God bless and rise up!

Lewis Garlisi  Great news Pam. Agree with Nancy D's advice. Don't forget your spirometer (I was often reminded to use for my pneumothorax issues). Best wishes for a steady recovery.

Ed Smith  Pam, this is all good news and getting the chest tubes out feels so good (once they're out). Going home on your Birthday would be a great present, but you're wise to leave it up to your surgeon.

Emily Shively  That chest tube is not fun! I kept telling my nurse that it was worse than the sternotomy! I'm glad you're in high spirits!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Fantastic news, Pam! You are on your way now!! So great to hear from you! Will continue to pray for you and look for more good news! Hugs!

Terrie Syvertsen  Hello Pam. Just a note to say I am thinking of you today. Hope the breathing is going better and you are off the vent by now. I imagine you
up and walking as you were full of good energy just before you went in and sounded like you were going to use up that energy with your people at the hospital and friends to "bring you on home" as soon as possible.
Take it slow and easy. Hope you are comfortable. Terrie

Mary Myers  Pam, I am so happy that you are ready for the surgery. I ended up feeling that way too. That is absolutely wonderful, that you can have surgery at the hospital you work at. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you through this journey. In the past I have talked to our heart sisters before surgery. Before you know it your healing will begin.
I saw my cardiologist this week, (7 months post op)he gave me all good news. The new valve is functioning like it should, and I only need to remain on Lopressor. I will see him in October! I can do pretty much anything I want. (No snow shoveling or walking in cold temperatures of 30 below.) You are in my thoughts and prayers, along with the rest of this lovely heart family. Please keep us posted as soon as you can. I found that it was nice to have my laptop at the hospital, to communicate with the heart family.
Sending butterfly kisses and eskimo hugs your way!
Love,
Mia (Mary)
kidsjunction@gmail.com

Bob M  I pray that you surgery and recovery will be uneventful. Monday will be a new day for you with a fixed heart. God bless and rise up!

Tim Goff  Great to hear you are comfortable with the many choices. I wish you all the best and please keep us posted.

Cheryl Batzing  Pam, sounds like you are well prepared and have and excellent team in order. Prayers will also be coming your way for a successful surgery and quick recovery.

Lisa Repp  I am so glad that you are in a good frame of mind and adequately prepared. I am praying for you, and I know that God hears all of our prayers.....every last one of them!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Way to go, Pam! I know you are so well prepared, both for the surgical experience and for the transition from hospital to friend's home to your home. It is so great to hear that fear has dropped down, and it is all because you have done so much to prepare and to "wrap your head around" the days ahead.

I will be praying along with everyone else, and will be anxious to hear how you are doing. Do you have a time for surgery so we can send up extra prayers surrounding that time? And I do so hope you will find someone who will post the news for you during surgery and the ICU and other hospital times until you are up to taking over.

?Perhaps your friend who is a nurse? Even I would be happy to post for you if you have your friend call me with updates. It is certainly doable if you cannot find local help with that. No mountain too high and all of that!

Blessings on you, Pam, and we know without question that the Almighty has been graciously responsive to our prayers. He will have control of everything. (Like the sign in our bathroom - "RELAX. GOD'S IN CHARGE!")

Hugs and positive thoughts and prayers that you sleep well before and find relaxing is something that comes when you need it since you have practiced so much.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do. Name of hospital???

Again, love and blessings for you, Pam!

Lewis Garlisi  Great attitude Pam. You really are fortunate to have such a support team. Most of us have the same concerns about the vent, but it really wasn't so bad, and you will probably hardly remember it. Best wishes.

Pam Driggs  Thank you everyone!! Your comments mean so much!!
I will have my nurse friend post on here with updates. I will
be at Sarasota memorial hospital. The surgery is at 0700.
Bless you all!!

Lisa Repp  This is just a last minute message to let you know that you are in my heart and mind. You are going to be fine, and I look forward to you friend posting your status.

Virginia (Ginger) French  Pam, according to plan you are either in surgery or your surgery is over. Will continue praying for you for comfort and peace, relaxation and rest, and the blessed bliss of sleep!
Love and hugs!

Mark Schmitz  Hi Pam, I didn't have THAT minimally invasive procedure but did have the one where they just make a 4" incision on the breastbone instead of the full cut like the majority of surgeons do. I have a very similar story like yours. I am from Wisconsin and decided to have a consult with Dr. Accola at the Florida hospital in Orlando because I was also looking for the "minimally invasive" incision because I read it is less painful and recovery times are much quicker. Well, at 8 weeks post op I can tell you those two things are true at least in my experience. I never really had any pain and now the recovery is going well. I also decided to go to Dr. Accola because he has done MANY of these types of surgeries, (which I read is extremely important and I totally agree with - when you are talking your health you want someone who has done many and seen many) and the success that Melinda Hacker and Tammy Pilcher had. When I met him in consult he was totally awesome! He really made me feel very comfortable. I chose him over two other surgeons!! both of them stated they would only do the full sternotomy. Back to your question, I don't know what the protocol is for the going through the side like your talking about, but I have been told that that most surgeons feel it is really tricky (?) and they really like to see the heart with their own eyes. Hope this helps and that I didn't ramble on. Please feel free to contact me with other question or ask the other two ladies, they are very good at answering questions.

Tammi Gunwall  I, like Mark, had the mini-sternotomy as well for my BAV. My Dr. (Dr. Farivar) came from Brigham & Women's hospital and is now the chief of cardio thoracic surgery at Abbott Northwestern, here in the Twin Cities. He had much experience with this type of procedure and also mentioned the view of (or access to) the aortic valve was best from this area. He also felt this procedure provided a quicker healing time. Your situation may be a little different and/or each Dr has their certain preferences. It might not hurt to ask him why he recommends one way over another for you. Good luck!

Ed Smith  Pam, I am 3+ weeks post-surgery to replace my BAV, which was done as a "Mini" Sternotomy. My Surgeon (Dr. Marc Moon of Barnes Hospital in St. Louis) said he prefers a Mini-Sternotomy to accessing the heart through the rib cage, as this gives him a better view of and access to the aorta valve during the surgery. At this point, my recovery is going well and I feel better every day (notwithstanding some insomnia and annoying neck pain). Comparing notes with friends who had a full sternotomy, I'm convinced there is less pain and a quicker recovery with the mini procedure. Best wishes for a smooth surgery and easy recovery.

Meredith Bray  My surgeon and I discussed the mini-sternotomy, and he showed me the difference in the incision size. It was only a few inches. He had always said he would do what I told him to do (even with valve choice). I looked at the size of his hands, and decided that I wanted him to have as much room to move around as he thought he needed. I did have a full sternotomy, and Surgeon was very conscious of where he started my scar - I can wear most scoop-neck shirts with only about 1/2 inch or so showing. He said it would be a good excuse to buy some jewelry.

At the beginning of our consultations, I was VERY concerned about the size of the scar, I felt it would be very noticeable and I would have to wear crew-necks and button-ups forever. After surgery and in to recovery mode, I was relieved that I could chose my clothes without regard to my scar. Sometimes now (a year later), I find myself consciously choosing a blouse to purchase simply because it shows my scar. I'm proud of it - it was a life-changing event for me, and I wear it like a tattoo.

Virginia (Ginger) French  Pam, Like several of the heart family members above, I also had a minimally invasive procedure, but it was done by opening only the upper part of the sternum. Good news that you have clear arteries from your cath, because the surgical team will only need to concentrate on the valve. I am a believer, as I think I had fewer motility issues and less pain than the full sternotomy would have been. And I was discharged two days earlier than my husband and I had anticipated. I was happy to head out after I was feeling better and moving on my own power.

I don't know how much of a difference the entry you describe would be, but I would expect the same advantages of less blood loss, less pain, shorter hospital stay, and making movement a bit easier. Having part of the sternum intact to stabilize the area is, I think, very helpful.

Sending you the very best and know all will go well! :o)