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Diagnosis: Mitral Regurgitation, Tricuspid Regurgitation, Atrial Fibrillation

Member Since: June 1, 2012

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Paula Murphy posted an update

10 years ago (April 20, 2016)

Almost 4 years since my operation!! I'm really good, working hard to exercise and eat right. But since my operation I feel like I'm trying to live and be happy rather than living and being happy. I seem to spend a lot of time thinking about the past and how... Read more.

👍 Emily Rowley and Nicola Laker reacted to this

Emily Rowley

OHS is life changing, it can change your aspect, outlook on life! When you say work too much what do you mean? Were you able to take the time to recovery or were you hurried? I sometimes think where has the time gone and it's harder going through it as... Read more.

Franklin Wyrick

I have not had my surgery yet, but I can only think that OHS will make one look at life differently. It certainly makes me realize how mortal I am. I have already began to appreciate the little things every day that before I ignored. I hope your dilemma is... Read more.

Paula Murphy

Thank you for your comments and I do appreciate everything. But sometimes I need to motivate myself to enjoy things. No I did not have to work hard after my operation but during my life I worked harder than my husband. (two jobs and he was retired at 58 and... Read more.

Emily Rowley

Do you feel like yourself back again Paula? I defiantly don't, like mind and body are separate at times if that makes sense.. That is great Frank you are appreciating the little things in life, I do too.

Sophia Ridley

Some things are best to acknowledge and close a chapter. It's not going to make you feel better dwelling on this. Maybe think of the skills you learnt, the people you met. You can look back to say "I did that"! You can't change what happened before but you can... Read more.

Brian Stugart

I think acknowledging your feelings is very healthy. But, you need someone to talk to that you trust and that truly listens to you, not trying to "fix things", but helping you, walking with you. If you don't find that in someone close to you in your family or friends,... Read more.

Paula Murphy

Thanks to everyone for your great comments!!! They are so kind and really mean so much.

Barbara Helen Dance

Hello Paula, thank you for getting in touch, I hope you will stay in touch, if only now and then?. I have ordered one of those 'grab' things (sounds rude, !! haha) . There's been a delay, so will not arrive by the end of next week, but hopefully it... Read more.

Paula Murphy posted an update

12 years ago (June 28, 2014)

Today is my two year anniversary of my open heart surgery!! i had planned on going to New York and returning to the hospital to visit the gift shop on the heart floor. When I had the operation and I was trying to walk after, I was using that big... Read more.

Paula Murphy posted an update

12 years ago (November 11, 2013)

How I feel one and a half years after surgery Well I feel so thankful but that is not why I'm writing. If I did not have the experience of reading Adam's book, Heart Valve Surgery, the whole process would have been so much harder. He wrote so honestly that I said to myself several times during the operation, "Well if Adam could do it so could I." My main problem was worrying after the operation that I was going to get pneumonia. I felt like I was never breathing enough, ten times an hour was daunting to me. I convinced myself that I would get it. I was consumed with this! Even after I went home I still thought I would get it and then at a checkup it was found that I had some fluid around my lungs. Well that was all I needed. I felt like a failure and that I didn't try hard enough to breathe. But actually it wasn't pneumonia at all but a common thing after open heart surgery. I had weekly x-rays for two weeks and it went away on its own. So that is why I am writing to maybe help one person if they think this too. Actually if I knew ahead of time I'd just make sure I got the pneumonia shot before. Medically I am not that informed but just know that that was my experience! I wasted so much energy on this when I should have been so happy. But I am amazed at how easy recovery was if I wasn't so terrified. The pain was minimal. I took pain pills for only a few days. Walking was slow at first but as soon as I got my confidence back it was easy then. And if anybody reads this who is waiting for surgery, I want you to know that I was so jealous of everyone that was writing saying how well they did. I was almost mad because it was them and not me. But now I know the only way to get there is to go through it and try and stay positive. It is a wonderful thing these doctors are able to do for us. My best result is I can walk up hills in my neighborhood. Dr. David Adams and his team were so efficient and kind it was enjoyable actually. I never doubted from the first moment I met Dr. Adams at Mt. Sinai that I was in good hands. I thank God every day.

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