Ray Miller - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Update posted on...

April 13, 2019

Been going to my cardiologist once a year since my double bypass and aortic valve replacement three years ago.
Went to the ER with some minor left chest discomfort. They made an appointment for me to see my cardiologist last Monday. He ordered a Heart Cath for yesterday, thought he might need to put a stent in another area or there might be some other problems.
Gave me the all clear yesterday afternoon, said no problems. Due a follow up in a month along with a Echocardiogram. Just to be sure everything is work ok. Is this a normal follow up?
Finished up the Heart Cath yesterday afternoon, said all was fine heart, veins and double bypass area. That was sure good news.

Like | Dan Baltazor likes this

Marie Myers Sounds like everything is going well. If the cardiologist was happy with your cath and EKG, I would say you are in the clear. Did they give you any idea on ... Read more

Marie Myers Sounds like everything is going well. If the cardiologist was happy with your cath and EKG, I would say you are in the clear. Did they give you any idea on the cause of the left chest discomfort?
My aortic valve replacement was 2 years ago, and I am seeing my cardiologist once a year. I think if you are not having any symptoms once a year is adequate.

Up date on my progress.

Journal posted on February 7, 2017

One year, one and a half months out now from my aortic valve replacement and double bypass and doing what I think is great. Been doing a lot of walk on the ranch, plus 8 to 12 hours a day working. Did my first Canyon hike this week end in Palo Dura Canyon 2nd largest Canyon in the states.. Still heading to hike the Red Woods or the Grand Canyon this spring. Wearing a 25 lb back pack now on my hikes.

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Update posted on...

August 27, 2016

Update. Now just past 8 months, feeling great, been back to work on the ranch full time for 7 months now. This week went on Craig's List and bought a full set of weights for weight lifting. Doctor said I could start slow and build back. Looking forward to these work outs. Also heading for 15 miles per day on my walk abouts here on the ranch. Planning adding in a bit of jogging in about 30/40 days depending on how I am feeling. Planning on 15 minutes stretching, 45 minutes weight and the balance of up to 2 to 3 hours walking. What do you all think about this exercise program after my heart valve replacement and double bypass?

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Lise Bowles Great job! The picture in my mind of the ranch sounds beautiful! I hope it's cooler than it is here. You are inspiring to me who only is only 11 days out!

Catie B That's an incredible amount of walking. Woo Hoo!

Darlene Smith Holy moly! Sounds like a lot to me. But good for you!! And if your doc approves, then go for it.

Update posted on...

July 10, 2016

Headed to the six month mark on the 20th of July. Feel really great, working full days here on the ranch. Even got in five miles worth of walking in Saturday. Have dropped five notches on my belt and I hope headed for my waist size at 32/34 inches by my 12 month mark. Still getting a lot of support from family and friends which is great. I don't ever for get the Lord had his hand in this. It is great to be on the road to full recovery.

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Ron Broadhead That's really great Ray. Here's to a speedy and continued uneventful recovery!

Steve Wykstra Just read your whole journal, Ray. What a great story and inspiration, and on this Sunday morning it just makes me praise God! Also it makes me want to come ... Read more

Steve Wykstra Just read your whole journal, Ray. What a great story and inspiration, and on this Sunday morning it just makes me praise God! Also it makes me want to come work on your ranch for a while after surgery! Maybe you'll need to open a bunkhouse for recovering heart-valve-surgery patients so more of us can come work as ranch-hands and recover like you did! PTL! (I can cook the chili for us!)

Update posted on...

June 24, 2016

Been five months since my aortic valve replacement and double bypass. Have returned to full ranch work, walking 2 to 5 miles a day. Working 10 to 12 hour days. Feel like I am in my 20's again. Dropped 5 notches on my belt as well. No more doctor visits check up now for a year. All is well and good.

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Petey Bello Congratulations Ray on the success of your surgery & recovery! Glad you are doing so well :)

Chris Vereb Outstanding! Exactly what I need to hear!

Franklin Wyrick Congrats, keep doing what your doing!

Lynn Jorgeson I am 4 days until my surgery, and your positive experience is very encouraging. Thank you for sharing.

Lise Bowles Amazing!!! I hope I loose a few belt notches and get back my energy! I thought my lack of energy was due to aging, I am 61, but clearly you have popped that bubble of an excuse!

Lilly Black Great to hear! awesome for you!

Condition update after valve replacement and double bypass.

Journal posted on April 29, 2016

All my doctors have released me to go back to normal activities just after 13 weeks of my valve replacement and double bypass.

Feeling great and working 8 to 10 hour days here on the ranch.

Still dropping weight with a goal of 180 lbs from a high 4 years ago of 430 lbs. Down to 264 now.

Making plans to hike the Palo Dura Canyon in Texas this fall and the Grand Canyon in Az in 20 months, to the bottom and back. Might shoot for the Appalachian Trail in 30 months, from Fl. to Canada.

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Sophia Ridley Ray, you should bottle what you're made of!

Kate Watson That's great to hear! My hubby and I want to plan some type of adventure when I'm recovered enough to enjoy it and challenge myself a bit.

Ray Miller Kate Watson good for you and your husband.

8 week post op undate.

Journal posted on March 16, 2016

Just to let you know I am at the 8 week mark now. Have returned to full ranch work, lifting up to 50 lbs of feed grain and still walking a mile to two miles an evening after work. No pain or discomfort to speak of. Heading tomorrow to see the rehab people at BSA. Don't know what they will be able to due for me as I am feeling really great. Still have a bit of a cough from the tube but the docs are telling me it will go away. Anything I should watch for at this point? My docs keep moving my appointments out for my check up. Just completed my yearly physical and that Doc said every thing is looking good. Still dropping some weight. Have about 50 lbs to go.

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Angela Hicks Wow...congratulations

Eddie Patton Doing great. No better medicine than being active and resuming life. Just listen to you body. Congrats.

Christine Oliva Wow, you are superman. Keep on doing whatever you are doing because its working for you. Congratulations and upward and onward!

Wanda Mroz Awesome!

Jan McClain I read all your posts Mister Stereotypical Americana Macho Rancher Cowboy Rodeo Guy. You are adorable! But remember to be sensitive on this site, it's not a ... Read more

Jan McClain I read all your posts Mister Stereotypical Americana Macho Rancher Cowboy Rodeo Guy. You are adorable! But remember to be sensitive on this site, it's not a competition, and not everyone (or maybe anyone) has had such a smooth course, and you don't want to make people feel bad. Having said that I understand your exhilaration at feeling so much better than pre-surgery, keep up the good work, losing weight is hell for most of us, glad to hear you're so motivated!

Barbara Laurie Ray, thanks for the update, I admire your progress! Your post reminds me not to worry about something I won't know until I get there! It's also great to hear ... Read more

Barbara Laurie Ray, thanks for the update, I admire your progress! Your post reminds me not to worry about something I won't know until I get there! It's also great to hear that there are people who have a really good outcome, what a blessing, especially if you have to get out there and keep working! Have a great day🍀💕🍀

Ray Miller thanks to everone for their answers and advice.

Judy Midas That's terrific!!! Love hearing things like this!

Update posted on...

February 7, 2016

I am a 70 year old maIe, I am 2.5 weeks pass my aortic valve replacement and double bypass. I was off pain medication the day after the surgery. 1.5 days in ICU and 4 days in step down cardiac care unit. Release from the hospital 1 day later. Total of 6.5 days in hospital. Suffering no real pain, some discomfort in leg area, but no swelling, redness or heat in leg area. Chest incision looking good as well. Cough is all but gone now. Vitals they say are in normal range check four times a day. Taken me off of blood pressure med and CPAP Machine.
Walking a thousand steps a day out doors and slowly increasing each day. Still doing breathing exercise once or twice a day.
A couple of questions how long till the sternum is healed and how long till I can expect to return to full ranch duties.

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Artie Rubin Hi Ray, Congrats on your solid recovering. As for your "how long till?" questions, it's essential that you ask your surgeon those questions. You'll want to ... Read more

Artie Rubin Hi Ray, Congrats on your solid recovering. As for your "how long till?" questions, it's essential that you ask your surgeon those questions. You'll want to explain to him exactly what ranch duties you want to return to, and he can then advise you how long till, for each specific duty.

My own sternum seemed to have healed by the end of the second month post-op. My surgeon told me I could technically (though I might not feel up to it) do any AEROBIC exercise I wanted right after my op. What I COULDN'T do for several weeks was any exercise which involved pulling, pushing or lifting.

So, again: ASK a professional. BTW, I'd heard that, with a bypass, the leg incision carries more discomfort than the chest incision. So what you're feeling sounds perfectly normal. All the best, Artie

Sophia Ridley You must discuss with your surgeon with regards to your sternum and leg wound. Many here (and I) have attended cardiac rehab which will help you considerably ... Read more

Sophia Ridley You must discuss with your surgeon with regards to your sternum and leg wound. Many here (and I) have attended cardiac rehab which will help you considerably in your recovery. I would wholeheartedly(!) recommend it.

Not sure how much, "full ranch duties" entail but I am almost 9 weeks out from minimally invasive AVR and I can lift 20-30 pounds without effort, but I have ... Read more

Not sure how much, "full ranch duties" entail but I am almost 9 weeks out from minimally invasive AVR and I can lift 20-30 pounds without effort, but I have lots of sensitivity on my right breast area after doing a lot of physical activity. I had a 10 lb lifting restriction up till 6 weeks and after that the doctor just told me to pay attention to my body and not overdo it. I think it depends on the person. My friend had AVR full sternotomy and at 8 weeks was lifting 50 lb bags of sugar (she is a bakery owner). Congrats on your recovery and looks like you are well on your way to returning to ranch duties!

Ray Miller Thanks for your answers. I think I would like rehab, but that is not a real consideration unless I do it here at the ranch. I am 45 minutes down our very ... Read more

Ray Miller Thanks for your answers. I think I would like rehab, but that is not a real consideration unless I do it here at the ranch. I am 45 minutes down our very rought ranch road to the highway gate. Then an hour to Amarillo to the BSA Heart Rehab Center. I may get some direction from the center and see what I can get done on the ranch. Just a note the first night home I fell and took EMS two hours to get to me to get me up, no damage. The leg just went to sleep and did not support me. A soft tuck and roll that I learned from rodeoing and in the service. So any thing I do I have to be sure of my footing. Just completed a little more then a 1/4 mile walk this afternoon. Again thanks for you answers. This is really my first experience of not being able to do what I want to do for more then two weeks in my life.

Debra Gann Sounds like you are doing great! I'm a rancher too. Use to being able to ride my horses. Haven't had surgery yet but I'm sure I will be wondering and impatient ... Read more

Debra Gann Sounds like you are doing great! I'm a rancher too. Use to being able to ride my horses. Haven't had surgery yet but I'm sure I will be wondering and impatient about being able to take care of the ranch. Somehow it will all work.

Robert Frederick Ray: Slow and steady might be a faster recovery. You should consider going to rehab for one week and let them sort of test the limits for you. Maybe you could stay in town and do some walking.

Emily Rowley Wow, you're doing better than me! About 9 weeks but fully by 6 months or more, everybody heals at a different pace.

Ray Miller Post op 30 days now vale replacement and double bypass. walking 2 miles a day includes up and down grades, once or twice a day. Leg wound just about healed, ... Read more

Ray Miller Post op 30 days now vale replacement and double bypass. walking 2 miles a day includes up and down grades, once or twice a day. Leg wound just about healed, chest wound 99.9% healed, tube wounds healed. Really feeling great, more energy than I have had in two years. No huffing and puffing on my walk/hikes. Once in a while some sort of short pain on the left side of chest, it appears then gone in a minute or two. Happens just once in a while, not every day. Vitals staying with in norms, been removed off blood pressure meds. No blood thinners. First appointment with surgeon post op on March 1st. Cardiologist appointment 17th March. Heart & Vascular Case Management Nurse Practitioner says I am doing excellent a week ago today. Any thing I should be watching out for??

Ray Miller Five weeks now and walking some days up to 3 miles in one go up and down hills. Weather turned cold yesterday with snow and rain. So I missed a day. Planning ... Read more

Ray Miller Five weeks now and walking some days up to 3 miles in one go up and down hills. Weather turned cold yesterday with snow and rain. So I missed a day. Planning on getting out today and restarting going to be in the 60's.

Feeling great, leg wound and chest wound is doing great as far as I can tell. Not napping as much during the day. Sleep in three to four hours straight at night. Going to send my hospital bed back on Friday, feel I don't need it any longer.

Have had only one check up with the Heart & Vascular Case Management Services and that was a couple of weeks ago. Next follow is with the surgeon March 1st. Still dropping weight have dropped two sizes in jeans in the five weeks. All vitals are being checked twice a day and are holding steady.

Really chopping at the bit to get back into the harness and out and about on the ranch. Cows are just about done caving, sure hated to miss those babies, getting ready for a 9000 acre controlled burn in one of our pastures. Lots of work to get done, sort of tired of burning daylight.

Have read five books, done three on line Ag Extension Courses from Texas A & M on Wild Hog History and Management, Wild Quail Management and Pond Weed Management. Run out of anything good on Satellite to watch. time to get to work now.