Paul Lebel - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

100 days ago

Brady Busch reacted to this

In praise of spreadsheets! :

We've had our problems in the past with medicare or especially BCBS not covering random hospital charges.
This time, ...Read more

In praise of spreadsheets! :

We've had our problems in the past with medicare or especially BCBS not covering random hospital charges.
This time, anticipating the HUGE price tag of surgery, I started a spreadsheet when all of the line item pre-op EOBs began arriving from BCBS.
I flagged every one that left me a balance to pay. Then I called BCBS and had conference calls with them and Mayo. Without exception they always said "Don't pay that yet, we will look into it".
Then, silence... while I awaited the BIG surgery bills.
Yesterday the 1st batch of EOBs arrived. Check out the summary! :

J Alexander Lassally Very good. I am on pins and needles as I wait for my charges from Cleveland. It took me about 6 weeks ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally Very good. I am on pins and needles as I wait for my charges from Cleveland. It took me about 6 weeks of daily work to liaise with insurance on mine - so I appreciate your hard work and the relief you must feel... Congrats!

Karen Hommel I have Medicare and BCBS Az and i have not been billed for anything. I am grateful!

Matthew Malooly Wow. That's crazy. I've always done this forever tracking expenses for healthcare. Every single ye ... Read more

Matthew Malooly Wow. That's crazy. I've always done this forever tracking expenses for healthcare. Every single year there are bills I'd pay but shouldn't if I hadn't been paying attention. This is always one of my top recommendations in taking responsibility for your healthcare.

Ana Brusso It sure did. 👍

Rose Madura Wow! Great news for you!

Paul Lebelposted an update

101 days ago

Sharon Behl reacted to this

Self Soothing during early recovery: Y'all know what I mean. We all have our healthy and unhealthy go to's.
Unfortunately for me, my surgery took place ...Read more

Self Soothing during early recovery: Y'all know what I mean. We all have our healthy and unhealthy go to's.
Unfortunately for me, my surgery took place 4 days after Thanksgiving just as the holiday feasting, sugar and alcohol was getting underway.
I had gone a year sugar free and severely reduced alcohol consumption. And I felt GREAT physically and mentally. Quitting sugar was by far the hardest thing I ever gave up (I'm a die-hard desert and icecream eater). But after 7 weeks or so without sugar last year, it yielded the greatest reward: clearer thinking, awareness and loss of visceral fat.
But it all went out the window to soothe my recovery malaise during the holidays.
All that to say, as of this morning, I'm back on the wagon. Hope it won't take another 7 weeks to clear my sugar addicted dopamine receptors. It was SO worth it.

Ana Brusso You will do well Paul. You did it before and you can do it again. I have never been able to completel ... Read more

Ana Brusso You will do well Paul. You did it before and you can do it again. I have never been able to completely be off sugar. Be well heart warrior

Sue Maize Good for you Paul! I’m having my own “scared straight” season too; this time it has to last bec ... Read more

Sue Maize Good for you Paul! I’m having my own “scared straight” season too; this time it has to last because I’m finally prioritizing my health.

Paul Lebel "Younger Next Year" GREAT book! Was given to me when I retired. There's now a woman's version too. ... Read more

Paul Lebel "Younger Next Year" GREAT book! Was given to me when I retired. There's now a woman's version too. The basic premise is that now that you're rerired, no more excuses, take some of the time you spent at work to devote to your fitness, esp now that you need it more than ever.

Sue Maize Thanks Paul, I love reading so I’ll be sure to check it out!

Paul Lebelposted an update

101 days ago

Motivation, How Long?!
At 7 weeks, I'm back in the pool and on my bike. THAT is a part of me. But that's it. I can't get out of bed in the morning ...Read more

Motivation, How Long?!
At 7 weeks, I'm back in the pool and on my bike. THAT is a part of me. But that's it. I can't get out of bed in the morning OR after mid-day nap.
We are supposed to be prepping our house to sell, and I have zero motivation to do anything but lay down with my Kindle.
I can't even start juicing the lemons from our tree. Is this normal? Maybe it's my ongoing vertigo wearing me out, which I'm now taking Meclizine for. Folks further along, I'd love to hear from your experience.

Rose Madura I had a lot of complications and didn't feel I even "turned the corner" until after three months and ... Read more

Rose Madura I had a lot of complications and didn't feel I even "turned the corner" until after three months and fully recovered in a year. It's still early for you at 7 weeks. But you should walk every day and wondering out loud if you have some depression going on. Talk to your doctor about not wanting to get out of bed etc. Vertigo is horrible. Does meclizine help? It did nothing for me and I needed to have the Epley maneuver. I was diagnosed with BPPV which caused mine. God bless you and hang in there.

Paul Lebel Thanks Rose. Yes I've done both the Epley and Foster maneuvers, and am seeing a vestbular-occular pt ... Read more

Paul Lebel Thanks Rose. Yes I've done both the Epley and Foster maneuvers, and am seeing a vestbular-occular pt therapist. The only relief I'm getting is from the meclizine. With it, I can feel the vertigo, but it's kept down a bit.

Rita Savelis Paul, you've been through a lot. 7 weeks is still so very very early. It can take time to get your mo ... Read more

Rita Savelis Paul, you've been through a lot. 7 weeks is still so very very early. It can take time to get your motivation back, to feel like doing regular activities. You are back in the pool and on your bike. This is great. It may be awhile before you have motivation to do more. Feeling down after surgery (plus having aftereffects such as vertigo) can make it hard to do regular things. I was exhausted for months after surgery. I didn't feel normal or like doing normal things. I sat on the sofa a lot. Recovery takes time. Don't be hard on yourself. There is much to process and your body and mind need time to heal. There will be time for juicing lemons in the future. Take care.

Richard Munson I feel your pain in vertigo. Had 2 bouts right after surgery and one while laying in bed. Wife called ... Read more

Richard Munson I feel your pain in vertigo. Had 2 bouts right after surgery and one while laying in bed. Wife called 911. Rolled onto the floor, other on treadmill also not good. Knock on wood, none since. I was 79 at the time so at 70 you are just a kid.

Marie Myers Not being able to sleep more than a couple hours in a row is very hard on the body and may be slowing ... Read more

Marie Myers Not being able to sleep more than a couple hours in a row is very hard on the body and may be slowing your recovery. Have You consulted a urologist to see if they have any suggestions? If your prostate is enlarged to the point of obstructing urinary flow, you might benefit from an urology visit. Hope that helps.

Richard Munson At least its not frozen like gregs

Pamela Gregory 7 weeks is very early! Give yourself a break. It is great you are doing a few activities you really ... Read more

Pamela Gregory 7 weeks is very early! Give yourself a break. It is great you are doing a few activities you really like but it definitely takes several months to start feeing "normal" again. Your body has been through a huge trama and needs time to heal. I think your mental self (at least for me big time) needs time to heal also.

Marie-Ange Jacques You are still early at 7 weeks .I remember after surgery,I could not walk properly,feel out of balanc ... Read more

Marie-Ange Jacques You are still early at 7 weeks .I remember after surgery,I could not walk properly,feel out of balance.My heart was beating so fast that sometimes I was out of breath and feel like it was out of its proper place my stomach felt tight but the physio therapist told me that with time all will improve. I had shoulder and upper back pain. Recovery is slow and healing takes time but trust God in the process. I did have depression too and I cried for no reasons.I take several med including blood thinners.

Today 4 months after my surgery I am 95 percent back to normal.
Each day is a new day and I take one day at a time.
You will be okay too.🌹

Sharon Behl Hi Paul, I am at 7 weeks, too. My motivation/energy/feelings of "blah" are intermittent. I always fe ... Read more

Sharon Behl Hi Paul, I am at 7 weeks, too. My motivation/energy/feelings of "blah" are intermittent. I always feel better after a walk outside. I want to say that there is some evidence that beta blockers can affect mood; not to mention you've been through the biggest health crisis ever. It's worth asking your doc if your meds might contribute to those feelings. Other than that, be gentle/patient with yourself. "Ha, you say!?" "Try it, you'll like it!"

We moved in March 2022 and prepping our place to sell is still fresh in my mind. There's no way I'd be enthusiastic about doing it at 7 weeks post-op!! Hang in there!

Paul Lebelposted an update

119 days ago

Fun! Just had another round of serious vertigo. Spent over 10min kneeling at the kitchen sink, world spinning and vomit threatening. I was just making lunch.

Still ...Read more

Fun! Just had another round of serious vertigo. Spent over 10min kneeling at the kitchen sink, world spinning and vomit threatening. I was just making lunch.

Still on the couch over an hour later too "car sick" to want to stand.

Richard Munson Well, i can relate to that. I had vertigo a couple of weeks after i got home. Laying in bed watching ... Read more

Richard Munson Well, i can relate to that. I had vertigo a couple of weeks after i got home. Laying in bed watching tv. Wife called 911. Fell on the floor it was so bad. Thought i was dying. Room upside down. Only lasted a minute or 2 and when they arrived it was over. Then a month or so later had a mild attack on my treadmill. Fell on the floor, luckily i had the shutoff clip on my shirt. Split my head open. That was 3 years ago and knock on wood nothing since. I am convinced surgery related unless it reappears. Good luck and hope only temporary. Very scary.

Paul Lebel Thanks for that Richard. Yep sounds the same. Although mine's low grade in the background all the t ... Read more

Paul Lebel Thanks for that Richard. Yep sounds the same. Although mine's low grade in the background all the time, and flares up bad every few days.
Reading about BPPV and corrective exercises.
Not the cardio team, rather my GP suggested it.

Deena Elani Paul, I had something similar in the hospital. It was related to my blood pressure falling. It does ... Read more

Deena Elani Paul, I had something similar in the hospital. It was related to my blood pressure falling. It does go away, but it dreadful when it happens. Feel for you.

Rose Madura I had terrible bouts of vertigo. It ended up that the crystals in my ear that controls your balance g ... Read more

Rose Madura I had terrible bouts of vertigo. It ended up that the crystals in my ear that controls your balance got out of whack. I had an ENT do an Epley Manuever on me and it put that crystal back in place. If it persists, I'd check into that. He said it was BPPV. Vertigo was terribly debilitating and I wish it on no one. I even quit driving when I experienced it because I was afraid of having an episode while driving. Godspeed. Please keep us posted.

Paul Lebel Thank you both Deena and Rose. I have a bp cuff at home, but my bp's never far from 120/80.
Rose, ... Read more

Paul Lebel Thank you both Deena and Rose. I have a bp cuff at home, but my bp's never far from 120/80.
Rose, I found a bunch of Epley demos on youtube. Tried a little while ago, nada. Will try again tomorrow. Meanwhile after today's episode I just bought Dramamine. :-/

Rose Madura I recommend an ENT to do it. Mine was great. My PCP said when he's tried it, he was successful 50% o ... Read more

Rose Madura I recommend an ENT to do it. Mine was great. My PCP said when he's tried it, he was successful 50% of the time and 100% of the people threw up.

Richard Munson I never threw up but was afraid to drive for awhile. Not sure what i would do. Hopefully pull over bu ... Read more

Richard Munson I never threw up but was afraid to drive for awhile. Not sure what i would do. Hopefully pull over but it comes on so fast. Even walking the dog. One second up, next on the ground.

Valerie Allen Oh my gosh…. Are bouts of vertigo common after OHS then? I learned that migraines are on this page. ... Read more

Valerie Allen Oh my gosh…. Are bouts of vertigo common after OHS then? I learned that migraines are on this page.

Paul Lebelposted a journal

120 days ago

I'm curious about those further along in recovery. How long did it take your heart rate to slow back down?

At 1 month and 95bpm, my resting ...Read more

I'm curious about those further along in recovery. How long did it take your heart rate to slow back down?

At 1 month and 95bpm, my resting HR is still DOUBLE my pre surgery 50bpm.

Rita Savelis One month is very early. It can take several months. And often one will never get back to quite as sl ... Read more

Rita Savelis One month is very early. It can take several months. And often one will never get back to quite as slow as it once was. Often after surgery one is prescribed betablockers to slow the heart down a bit so that it can have some rest after the exertion of surgery. Take care.

Paul Lebel Thanks Rita. Mais je vois que c'etait beaucoup plus complique pour vous! Et maintenant 8 ans sont p ... Read more

Paul Lebel Thanks Rita. Mais je vois que c'etait beaucoup plus complique pour vous! Et maintenant 8 ans sont passer! Bravo!

J Alexander Lassally Mine is still rocking at 85 to 90 bpm and I am 4.5 weeks out from my MVr, Paul

Appreciated you ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally Mine is still rocking at 85 to 90 bpm and I am 4.5 weeks out from my MVr, Paul

Appreciated your notes yesterday and can really relate.

Jennifer Fuller I’m about 8 weeks out and I’m finally feeling that my heart rate has slowed. I haven’t been che ... Read more

Jennifer Fuller I’m about 8 weeks out and I’m finally feeling that my heart rate has slowed. I haven’t been checking it regularly, but it’s no longer racing or thumping in my ears when I’m at rest. It feels normal. Be patient with yourself. It takes time.

Laurent G Nearly 6 weeks after MVR, still around 85/75 day/night despite quite high level of Bisoprolol (7.5 mg ... Read more

Laurent G Nearly 6 weeks after MVR, still around 85/75 day/night despite quite high level of Bisoprolol (7.5 mg)

Paul Lebel Thanks all for your responses. It does seem to be the norm. My 1st cardio rehab isn't til 1/19. Bu ... Read more

Paul Lebel Thanks all for your responses. It does seem to be the norm. My 1st cardio rehab isn't til 1/19. But I plan to ease back into my bike/ swim routine at New Years. Will see if that affects heart rate.

J Alexander Lassally @ 100 this AM. Wow...