Well, hello all!! I have returned. Finally. Got to say this has been the hardest thing I’ve been through in my life.
I feel like I went away from myself and the world I knew to a far away place.
Went away, lost my self, pump head so friggin real. Pain real. Emotional lability, uncertainly, depression, fear for the future. All so real. But here I am!
I am a 69 years young active grandma with 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren. I babysit for kids to fill my days with joy & laughter.
I had 3 stents a year ago placed through my wrist, afib the past 3 years. I have a porcine mitral valve that was “installed” via a 6 hours or so full sternotomy on 02/28/25.
For a-fib & a-flutter I had the MAZE procedure completed & a left atrial appendage clip placed during the procedure. I have had cardio version many times & cardiac ablation 1X prior to the OHS. No fib or flutter since this surgery.
Surgery 02/28/25. 4 days in cardiac ICU; 4 more days till discharged home. Heart wouldn’t pace itself right after surgery. Scary! Team cautiously waited and it finally kicked in. No pacemaker needed.
12 weeks post op this Friday. Have been doing cardiac rehab 3 days a week for the past 5 weeks. I feel like I have just now FINALLY turned the corner.
I at last am feeling more like myself before all these heart issues kicked in 3 years ago.
I have a very strong family history of heart disease, both sides & in siblings. All seven of us still on this earth, for a reason! All dealing with heart & other issues, ages 61 - 71.
Dad had quadruple bypass surgery at age 40, lived a very active life until passing at 61 from a heart attack.
I want to get back to hiking fields, streams, mountains, beaches, forests . . . my prayer for now.
Thank you ALL for sharing all you have shared. Every share helps so many.
So thankful for my cardiac team, Kevin Hodges, this website, Kevin’s book, all who share here and those to come. And of course my “village”. Heart strong we are. ❤️❤️❤️
Daisy Tanner Wow! That’s a lot.😱Glad you’ve turned the corner. Sending prayers that you will soon return to ... Read more
Daisy Tanner Wow! That’s a lot.😱Glad you’ve turned the corner. Sending prayers that you will soon return to the things you love to do. 🙏🏼 take care♥️
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Hi Peggy, I´m glad you finally are feeling well wishing to hike fields and enjoy nature. God bless ... Read more
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Hi Peggy, I´m glad you finally are feeling well wishing to hike fields and enjoy nature. God bless you and all colleages of this community
Rose Madura Hi Peggy. Glad you've turned a corner. Recovery can be difficult and long sometimes and I'm glad you ... Read more
Rose Madura Hi Peggy. Glad you've turned a corner. Recovery can be difficult and long sometimes and I'm glad you are starting to feel better. I had a long and difficult recovery as well so I feel your frustration. Hang in there. We are a tough group and understand what each other is going through. Godspeed.
I’m back. 11 days post full sternotomy to get a brand new porcine mitral valve, MAZE procedure and left atrial appendage closure. That on top of 3 stents ...Read more
ORTONYX Sternum and Thorax Support Chest Brace Post Open Heart Surgery Sternum Fractures Rehabilitation / ACHB5255-XXL Has anyone used a brace like this ...Read more
ORTONYX Sternum and Thorax Support Chest Brace Post Open Heart Surgery Sternum Fractures Rehabilitation / ACHB5255-XXL Has anyone used a brace like this post sternotomy and if so did it help with anything? Thanks.
Fidel Martínez Ruiz In my case, and I think this is a general practice, the medical team put a compression bandage aroun... Read more
Fidel Martínez Ruiz In my case, and I think this is a general practice, the medical team put a compression bandage around my chest, so that the sternum heal properly, and they will give you a list of rules about what you can and cannot do in the postoperative period. I don't think it's necessary a chest brace, but ask the doctors if it is in yours.
Marie Myers I didn’t even have a compression bandage, but everything healed well. It is important to follow the ... Read more
Marie Myers I didn’t even have a compression bandage, but everything healed well. It is important to follow the “ return to activities rules” like no lifting more than 10 pounds for a few weeks.
Rita Savelis No brace, no special bandages. The body heals well in most cases as mine did 10 yrs ago. There are ma ... Read more
Rita Savelis No brace, no special bandages. The body heals well in most cases as mine did 10 yrs ago. There are many devices on the market because there is money to be made.
Fidel Martínez Ruiz You are probably right, Rita. In my case, I had a bandage on,
I don't remember how many days, and if ... Read more
Fidel Martínez Ruiz You are probably right, Rita. In my case, I had a bandage on,
I don't remember how many days, and if I coughed or sneezed, I had to hug
myself, so as not put tension on my sternum. But the body recovers (thanks
God).
Yumiko Ishida It did not look like that, but my surgeon prescribed a vest. I think it was something a team at my ho ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida It did not look like that, but my surgeon prescribed a vest. I think it was something a team at my hospital designed and developed. It came with a pad to place over the sternum and had hooks and a zipper. Was very uncomfortable, so I took it off when I went home and only wore it when I had to go out. I won’t bother with it unless your surgeon or a doctor prescribes it. I would wear it if prescribed.
Margaret Fielden I had a compression band with a velcro fastener round the chest in hospital. I have worn it round the ... Read more
Margaret Fielden I had a compression band with a velcro fastener round the chest in hospital. I have worn it round the abdomen to support back injuries since!
Fidel Martínez Ruiz I just remembered (it's been 15 months since surgery) that I
didn't get a compression bandage but a s ... Read more
Fidel Martínez Ruiz I just remembered (it's been 15 months since surgery) that I
didn't get a compression bandage but a simple dressing on the surgical wound. I
had forgotten (lol). I'm clarifying this to avoid confusion, agreeing with Rita
and Marie. In the end, everything went OK.
Dr. Gerdisch is a world-renowned heart valve surgeon that has performed over 4,000 heart valve repair and replacement operations that include minimally-invasive techniques.
I feel like I went away from ...Read more
I feel like I went away from myself and the world I knew to a far away place.
Went away, lost my self, pump head so friggin real. Pain real. Emotional lability, uncertainly, depression, fear for the future. All so real. But here I am!
I am a 69 years young active grandma with 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren. I babysit for kids to fill my days with joy & laughter.
I had 3 stents a year ago placed through my wrist, afib the past 3 years. I have a porcine mitral valve that was “installed” via a 6 hours or so full sternotomy on 02/28/25.
For a-fib & a-flutter I had the MAZE procedure completed & a left atrial appendage clip placed during the procedure. I have had cardio version many times & cardiac ablation 1X prior to the OHS. No fib or flutter since this surgery.
Surgery 02/28/25. 4 days in cardiac ICU; 4 more days till discharged home. Heart wouldn’t pace itself right after surgery. Scary! Team cautiously waited and it finally kicked in. No pacemaker needed.
12 weeks post op this Friday. Have been doing cardiac rehab 3 days a week for the past 5 weeks. I feel like I have just now FINALLY turned the corner.
I at last am feeling more like myself before all these heart issues kicked in 3 years ago.
I have a very strong family history of heart disease, both sides & in siblings. All seven of us still on this earth, for a reason! All dealing with heart & other issues, ages 61 - 71.
Dad had quadruple bypass surgery at age 40, lived a very active life until passing at 61 from a heart attack.
I want to get back to hiking fields, streams, mountains, beaches, forests . . . my prayer for now.
Thank you ALL for sharing all you have shared. Every share helps so many.
So thankful for my cardiac team, Kevin Hodges, this website, Kevin’s book, all who share here and those to come. And of course my “village”. Heart strong we are. ❤️❤️❤️