Rose's Journal

I saw my cardiologist on Monday and my EKG showed that I am having PACs. That explains my occasional SOB. He changed the dose of my metoprolol and he ordered an echo for June. Then, see him again in six months. He said my valve sounds great so that is the good news. And then on Tuesday, I had laser eye surgery to "fix" a hole near my retina. This was done to prevent a detachment. Yikes!

7 YEARS! - Today marks seven years since my open heart surgery! I am so thankful for all of the support I received seven years ago and still on this site all these years later. As what has recently been said here, people don't get it. But this group of heart warriors get it! Open heart surgery is a big deal and we know it. I still think of my surgeon, Dr. Peter Pavlina because he was so skilled and very compassionate when I showed back up to the hospital with complications. My husband, Rick (my Richard ), said he felt that God told him that Dr. Pavlina was the one and I'd say he was right. And my sweetheart was the best caregiver ever. I don't know how I could have gone through this without him. I did have a lot of complications so I don't sugar coat the experience, nor do I ever tell someone they will do fine. We never know how it will go. But in having the complications, I can certainly tell others that I was able to overcome them. A positive attitude; family and friends support; and my unwavering faith in God helped me through those rough times. And those in the "class of 2017" were so valuable to me. We will forever have a special bond. I honestly can say that I was not scared of the surgery because I knew I needed to do it. Apprehensive? Maybe, but I knew that whatever the outcome, God is in control. The worse case scenario would be that I would go to heaven. But God had a plan for me. Now, my heart is doing great. I feel better than I ever have and am grateful for my health. I am also grateful for my cardiologist because it was he who figured out why I was having the complications that I had. He definitely had a part in saving my life. The staff at the hospital were all so great and they celebrated my leaving after the second operation by having all the patients in the step down who were able to wheel their hospital chairs to the door and send me off with a little parade of sorts. They all took extra care to make me comfortable. The best advice I can give is to not compare yourself to others. Your recovery is your own. We are all different. And I can't end this without thanking Adam for this site. His book was also very helpful. God bless all of you waiting and those in recovery!

Echo Results! On Thursday I had an echo - the first in close to six years. When I got the results on MyChart, I was shocked and with tears in my eyes I kept seeing normal, normal, normal on everything! Thank you Jesus! There is no calcification on the prosthetic valve and my ejection fraction was 67.8! I can't tell you how happy this makes me. I've never had a good echo in all my years of getting them. I went through a hellacious recovery but it was all worth it! I've never felt better and I never knew what feeling normal felt like. God bless everyone in the waiting room and those having difficulties. Trust the doctors and do what they say. Try not to compare yourself to others. I thought I'd be great in a few weeks but over a period of 3-1/2 months, I was in and out of the hospital five times - total of 24 days. So I had to realize that not everyone is the same. And that doesn't make me any less of a warrior. Everyone has their own recovery.

Cardiologist visit yesterday. My cardiologist said all sounded great! I had a heat exhaustion episode while biking on vacation in the Poconos a couple weeks ago so we had a good discussion about hydration and my fair skin (as well as a discussion about my age and how the heat affects "older" people differently.) Then he goes on to tell me to enjoy everything now because once you hit 80, things seem to go downhill. He sees it every day. I must have given him quite a look and he said, "Enjoy life now! Don't worry about it!". LOL! I love him - he's a great guy with a great bedside manner and sense of humor. I do believe he saved my life, because he is the one who figured out what was going on when I had all my complications after the surgery. The best thing he said was that we're still early in your valve journey (six years). He kept me on my meds because I'm on low doses and had me stop the aspirin. I have a routine echo next month. God bless all my fellow heart warriors!

Today marks 6 years since my OHS. I had my biscuspid aortic valve replaced with the Edwards Magna tissue valve; ascending aorta with a dacron graft; aortic root replacement and arch repair. The surgery was long and the recovery was not easy. I had a myriad of complications that can be read on my journal. That being said, today, six years later, I feel great! It was well worth going through all I had to go through to feel healthy again. During this time, I learned to appreciate some small things in life like my travel pillow (they called me the pillow lady at the hospital), dry shampoo, walking, listening to your body, the value of a second opinion and choosing the right surgeon. My husband was especially great during my recovery and is always great for that matter. I am hoping to get many more years out of this valve. I am very honored to be one of Adam's Angels and I value each and every one of my fellow Angels and warriors. We are all in this together. Each of us have different stories yet we are connected in a way that nobody wants - yet here we are. I'm also so thankful for technology and the fact that they could even fix what was wrong with me. It's amazing and getting more amazing each year. If and when I need a new valve, who knows how it will be done. My thoughts are all over the place today. This type of surgery is emotional and it changes you. God bless everyone. Thanks to all those in the class of 2017 who were a big help to me. I'm trying to pay it forward by helping others.

Cardiologist Visit Today!
Hi everyone. Today, I had a routine visit with my cardiologist. It was my annual checkup. And I have good news. He said that my EKG was normal, and the best was when he told me my heart sounded perfect! Those are words you love to hear. We had a great discussion about a number of things, and he cleared up my concerns about taking too much calcium. He was going to order a routine echocardiogram since it has been five years since my last one, but we decided to wait one more year when I'll be on Medicare. I'm glad I have a doctor who is also concerned with finances. Best wishes to everyone!

5 Years & Counting!  So, today, May 31^st marks the five-year anniversary of my open-heart surgery to replace my severely stenotic aortic valve, ascending aortic aneurysm, and aortic root replacement. It turned out that I had a myriad of complications which landed me back in the hospital four times for a total of twenty-four days in the hospital over a period of three months. To all my fellow heart warriors, thank you for the support received and I pray my support of you has been helpful as well. I give honor to my sweet husband, Rick (Richard) who took such wonderful care of me and was always an encourager even though he was scared many times throughout this journey. I owe my life to my cardiologist, Dr. Cata and to my surgeon, Dr. Pavlina. They too were very upbeat and positive even when my situation was grave. All of the nurses, aides and workers at the Kettering Medical Center heart hospital, I honor you. Everyone was professional and caring. To those in the waiting room, I can say with certainty that if I can do this, you can do this. Trust your doctors and follow their instructions. They know what to do and have a great success rate. A positive outcome is definitely in your favor. I'm amazed and "awesomeized" at God's love for me and for bringing me through such a scary time in my life. After five years, I'm feeling so much better. It was definitely worth it.

I had my annual checkup with my great cardiologist last week. All is well! I don't need to see him again for a year. Other than an EKG which was normal, no other tests are needed. I asked about the dacron sleeve to repair the ascending aneurysm and he said they rarely ever go out so CT scan is not necessary and I'm doing so well, an echo will only be done every 3-5 years. It was great news. I'm so thankful I switched to him! That's the value of a 2nd opinion. I'm so glad he helped me through all my complications. He was very supportive and compassionate during my many hospital stays. To all those who are in the "waiting room", I know it is scary but your prognosis is so good. Definitely worth it! Godspeed.

4 Years Ago! Today marks four years that I went through my open heart surgery! It's hard to believe that it has been four years. My surgery was long - about 7 hours - and I had an aortic valve replacement, ascending aorta replacement and aortic arch repair. Even though I had a plethora of complications and had to be readmitted four times; spent 24 total days in the hospital, I still say it was worth it all. God was with me the entire time and apparently, he wasn't done with me. Rick, my husband, was terrific and I was so proud of how brave he was. It was hard on him too. So, I posted a picture of our May 2019 trip to Alaska. On average, we would walk 5-6 miles a day on this trip and I was able to do it and not be exhausted at the end of the day. We were with a tour group where we were on the go constantly. We still walk most days - about 2-3 miles and even walked all last winter outside during Covid. In Ohio, walking in the winter time is a big deal. While most people gained weight, I lost 10 pounds. I'll post a recent picture as well. We also are riding our bikes more this year. For those in the waiting room, I'll say what I always say... Trust your doctors - they know what they are doing. Like your doctors. Get more than one opinion. Remember the odds are in your favor. Listen to your body. And take a travel pillow to the hospital! This Memorial Day, I remember my Uncle George who died in WWII at the young age of 18. God Bless you all.

I can hardly believe it has been three years today that I had my surgery! I'm so thankful that all is well. I remember waking up (after about 22 hours) with a breathing tube because they couldn't get me to wake up and breathe on my own. Who was to know that was the beginning of a rough recovery period. A couple of weeks ago, I saw my cardiologist for a routine checkup and he said that my heart was "perfect". Rick and I walk about 3 miles on most days and I can go up hills (and the stairs) without getting winded. That something I never want to take for granted. Before my surgery, I chalked everything (shortness of breath, etc) to the aging process. I see now how I should have listened to my body. I have a wonderful appreciation for all the health care workers who took care of me. I got to know them well. From my surgeon to the nurses, to the aides, to the food service and cleaning people - they all made my multiple stays at the hospital as pleasant as they could. My surgeon called me his rusty penny because I kept coming back! My recovery period was a rough one and you can read my journal if you want to know more about it. But if I learned anything about the ordeal (and this could be good advice to those in the waiting room), it is good to get a second opinion or more until you are comfortable. I had four opinions and they all agreed which was good. Secondly, trust the doctors. With all my complications, there were times the doctors seemed baffled but they all worked together and got me better. It took about three months of afib, aflutter, pleural effusion and even a 2nd surgery to put in a pericardial window and drain fluid from around my heart before I felt better. But my final hospital stay was in August of 2017 and I've not been back, thank the Lord. There was one issue with PVC's that, with a adjustment of medicine, was taken care of. Right now, I'm on 81 mg of aspirin, 12.5 mg of metoprolol twice a day and 2.5 mg of amlodipine. All very small doses and I'm thankful for that as well. The other advice for others is to trust God. He is the master physician and will bring you through anything. Best wishes to all those awaiting surgery. You can do it! If I can, you can! It's as simple as that.

My husband Rick and I went to Gatlinburg, TN in the Great Smokt Mountains this week. One goal I had was to climb up Clingmans Dome which is the highest point in the Smokies. We did it! The steep grade made it difficult for anyone and it is that steep for the half mile up to the summit tower. While we had to rest along the way, we didn't see anyone who didn't rest. Coming down such a steep grade was definitely hard on my 61 year old knees and shins. I was sore for 2 days! But I could never have done this 3 years ago so it was a very exciting moment for me. Going to post one more picture of the view which also made it worthwhile. Info about Clingmans Dome..."Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, in the southeastern United States. At an elevation of 6,643 feet, it is the highest mountain in the Smokies, the highest point in the state of Tennessee, and the highest point along the 2,192-mile Appalachian Trail." The surgery changed my life!

It is so unbelievable that two years ago today, I had my surgery for an aortic valve replacement to treat my severe stenosis; an ascending aortic aneurysm replacement because I had an aneurysm that was 5.4 cm; and a Hemiaortic arch replacement. The surgery lasted seven hours! Today, I feel like I have the heart of a 20 year old! My new resting heart rate is 55. The surgery was well worth it – even though I had many complications – 4 readmissions and 24 total days in the hospital. In the end though, all is well! I had a little blip in October but it was a medication issue and a simple adjustment took care of it. I’m on 12.5 mg of metoprolol, 2.5 mg of amlodapine and a baby aspirin. That’s it! A far cry from after the surgery. My husband, Rick and I just returned last week from a two-week Alaskan trip. We walked anywhere from 5-8 miles a day and my heart held up very well. When we are home, a typical day is to walk about three to five miles a day. And we walk nearly every day. I know that may not seem like much to some but I never was able to be very active because my valve issue was something we watched since I was 7 years old. I’m 61 now! So this is a big deal for me. If I could offer any advice to those awaiting surgery, I’ll be a broken record….Get more than one opinion (I had four); choose the best doctor you can; trust your doctors; believe that the outcome will be better than the alternative; and most importantly, trust in God. He’s the one who is in control. My next goal will be to climb up Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina – plan to do it in September. God bless all of you who have had surgery and who are awaiting surgery. You can do it!

It has been 14 months since my surgery. I feel Great! In fact, I went to my family doctor last week and he took me off the blood pressure medicine. I see him again in three months and if my blood pressure remains under control, he is going my to start weaning me off the metoprolol. Very good news indeed! I reflect and thank God every day that he sustained me through my surgery and all the complications I encountered. I am humbled by His grace and mercy and just knowing who is in charge helped me to stay calm. Another change of events for me is that I've taken a six month hiatus from retirement. The company I retired from asked me if I would commit to helping for six months to be the interim Inside Sales Manager to help with some transition going on and training new employees. This is my third week back and I'm surprised at how well it is going. Everyone was glad to see me and it's been fun reconnecting with many of my customers. Again, I say to those awaiting surgery, it is no picnic in the park but the odds are in your favor and the doctors know what to do IF something doesn't go as planned. God bless everyone on this web site. It has really helped me in this journey.

The Journey May 31, 2017 (one year ago today) I had open heart surgery. I’ve always called it a journey. For me, it has been. I was under the impression that I’d have this surgery, recover quickly and then be much better in about three months. That wasn’t meant to be. That’s why I call it a journey. But through it all, somehow, I knew I’d be ok in the end. I know my faith in God helped. And my trust in my doctors as well. In fact, the whole process of second opinions let me to a new cardiologist (whom we love) and a brilliant surgeon (who saved my life). They were both very upbeat even when I was scared of what was happening. In the end, they figured it all out. My initial surgery, one year ago, was for an aortic valve replacement to treat my severe stenosis; an ascending aortic aneurysm replacement because I had an aneurysm that was 5.4 cm; and a Hemiaortic arch replacement. The surgery lasted seven hours! I had a myriad of complications and you can read my journals if you’d like to know more about them. But this journey has humbled me in so many ways. I was touched by the number of visitors who came to see me in the hospital and at home. I was touched by all the texts and calls of people telling me they were praying for me. I was touched by the love and compassion my husband showed me. God only knows! I knew he was a wonderful husband and he didn’t have to prove anything to me. I love him dearly. But, the kind and gentle way he cared for me…..I’ll never forget how much love he showed in his selfless actions. I am truly blessed with the cream of the crop! One year later, how do I feel? I feel great! We walk consistently 2-3 miles a day (except for Sunday – our day of rest). We ride bicycles – and I’ve not fallen anymore! I have the strength back in my legs. Lesson for others – don’t try to do too much too soon. I don’t get winded even when walking up hills and when we go to the rec center, I even jog some. I’d jog more but my knees hurt! The entire process was an eye opener and I certainly know more about the heart now than I did a year ago. I can’t express how happy it feels to be well again. I guess, I really wasn’t ever well – being born with a bicuspid valve and then getting rheumatic fever at a young age. But I feel well now and I’m so excited about it! For those of you who are scheduled for surgery or who will have to have it someday, I would tell you that it is totally worth it. Yes, I went to hell and back more than once, but as I mentioned, my trust in God and confidence that the doctors would figure it out, helped me to stay calm even during scary ambulance rides and ER visits. And I even feel like I went to heaven and back as well. There was one time I did get scared in the ER and when I bottomed out, I had such peace and joy, just for a few seconds before I came to. Whatever happened, I said to myself, “No matter what happens, I’m going to be ok. Even if I die, I’ll be just fine.” That incident did get the attention of at least a dozen people all crammed in the little ER room and they were putting the paddle pads on my chest – but then I woke up – just like that. Then while we were waiting on a room to be assigned, different doctors would just come in the room in ER and look at me. I didn’t know I was so popular! It brings to mind Psalm 23, Verse 4 – “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” At any rate, this journey has a happy destination. I’m so thankful and grateful. I’m overwhelmed. God is good! My best wishes to all my heart valve brothers and sisters (as Civita says – the class of 2017). You all helped me so much with encouraging words this past year. Now we can help others. That’s what it’s all about. Love and prayers to everyone!

Today, I had a 6 month visit to my cardiologist. I couldn't be more pleased with the news! He said that I am "completely healed"! He reduced my Metoprolol to 12.5 mg 2x a day. Also, if I can drop about 15 pounds, I can probably get off my BP medicine as well. So, I have a great incentive to eat better (and less)! LOL! And I don't have to go back for another checkup for 8 months. To those who haven't had surgery yet, let this be a testament that you can get through this. Is it scary? YES! But as so many have said, our minds can make us imagine the most horrible outcomes. Even with all my complications, the end result is a positive one. Trust in your doctors but also trust in God. Thanks again to all those who provided me with supoort and encouragement.

Well, it has been six months since my surgery and on Dec 1st, I turned 60! I'm feeling great. My husband took me to Amish Country in Holmes County, Ohio for the weekend. Friday night we went on a Journey to Bethlehem which was quite interesting. It was kind of like a scavenger hunt that took us from a church where we registered for the census; to a busy marketplace; to the Inn which had no vacancies; to seeing angels and shepherds; to meeting with King Herod and finally to an Amish farm where we sang carols in the barn and then saw a live nativity. It was so much fun. There were hundreds of people doing this and it was very well organized. At the Amish home, we were treated to coffee, hot chocolate and homemade treats. All free of charge! What a time! The almost full moon made it extra special. So I was able to do all the walking on this excursion both up and down hills with minimal shortness of breath. I'm feeling very well and feel like I'm at about 95% recovered. It's just hard to say, as you all know, if and when we are fully recovered. All I know is that I feel so much better and have so much more energy. This heart surgery journey has been just that -- a journey -- through many things - the pre-testing, the surgery itself, complications, learning all about everything, being encouraged by family and friends and everyone on this site -- to name just a few. I'm so thankful for my team of doctors who took very good care of me and never gave up finding out what was wrong so we could fix it. It was truly a team - from our cardiologist to our surgeon and all the way to the infectious disease doctor who insisted that they drain the fluid from around my lungs. I'm so glad that everything is going so well. Thanks for all of you who have been an encouragement to me along the way.

It has been 19 weeks today since my surgery. The road has been rough but I'm feeling great now! My surgery was May 31 and I had to be re-admitted four times to the hospital. I spent a total of 24 days in the hospital. As my husband keeps saying, "This was no picnic in the park." And I'd have to agree with him. I feel that we've been to "Hades" and back more than once. On my second re-admission, only God knows how close I was to going home...However, things have improved dramatically! We've made two trips, one to Gatlinburg, TN in September and one this past weekend to Chicago. I did great. We also played 9 holes of golf in September. I did fine (health-wise) buy not do fine on my score! The next few days, my chest muscles were sore but it felt good to get out and play. From the last group of blood work done, my cholesterol was 135! I'm really seeing benefits of healthy eating. When all this started, it was over 200. Today, when I saw my PCP for routine checkup, my BP was 124/60 and my heart-rate was 59. We've been walking every day but Sunday (our day of rest) and we took one bike ride. I overdid it on the bike ride and at the end, lost all strength in my legs and fell off the bike on our busy street. Thank God the cars all stopped for me! I need to remember - like so many others have learned - that my recovery will take time. All that time in the hospital took the strength out of my legs. My PCP said it will come back but probably more slowly than I'd like to see. At any rate, I'm feeling great! Finally! To all those recovering, keep it up and don't lose faith. You'll make it! I had my doubts during all the complications, but I did make it! To all those anticipating surgery, I know the waiting is horrible and our minds always imagine the worst things. But, I'm living proof that even if you have complications, the doctors know what to do and will make you better. As hard as it is, try not to worry. I'm thankful for all the prayers that went up for me. I know there were tons and tons of people who prayed for me and I appreciate it so much. This site has been most helpful to both me and my husband. Thanks to all of you who have encouraged us along the way.

With a ton of setbacks behind me, I finally feel like I've "turned a corner" in my recovery. Since my last hospital stay, I've felt really good. We went to see the cardiologist yesterday and it was a great visit! He took me off the Multaq (Afib medicine) completely. He is keeping me on the Metoprolol for ~ 6 months because it helps to keep my hear rate down and also helps prevent Afib or Aflutter. My lungs sounded clear! I'm on no restrictions! He checked out my sternum and said I was ready for golf if I so desired. My blood pressure was up (as it has been when I check it at home) so he put me on a small does of BP medicine. We are going on a trip next week to Gatlinburg, TN so we are very excited for that. This will be our first true taste of retirement. Our summer was pretty much shot due to all the complications. That being said, I don't want anyone who is getting ready for surgery to be scared. Even though I had a lot of complications, I was not the norm. Most people don't have this many complications. Why God chose me for them, we may never know until we reach the other side, but I know this... He was with me every step of the way! And he will be for you. And if you do have a setback, the doctors know what to do. They are working for you. This site has been a great help to my husband, Rick and I and we'll continue to read it and post updates as necessary. Thanks to all who have encouraged me along this journey. My best to all of you.

Since my last post, I developed a nagging dry cough so I called the cardiologist (because it was a new symptom). I was told that there was a "bug" going around and to see my primary care physician. BTW, this was true, I knew several people who had a nagging cough. My primary care physician put me on an antibiotic. Two weeks later, I went back with the same cough that didn't get better and got another round of antibiotics. When it still persisted, I left a message for the cardiologist to see if he could start getting me off these drugs because I was convinced the Amiodarone was contributing to it. That was last Friday afternoon so naturally, I didn't hear back from him before the weekend. So on Sunday, I coughed horribly all afternoon. It was non stop. My husband took my temperature and I had a fever so he decided we needed to, once again, go to ER. When I arrived, they immediately took me in and did an EKG which was ok. They took my temperature again and it was 101.5. They were convinced I had an infection. They did order a CT scan and chest X-ray which showed the pleural effusion had gotten larger than from the last tests. So, I was admitted. My surgeon came and saw me and said he didn't see that there was anything wrong as in a complication from the surgery. They called my cardiologist and by the morning, I was off the Amiodarone. They started me on a newer drug called Multaq which has fewer side effects. They ran tons of blood work and tests to "find the infection". They did another Echo which showed the pleural effusion but everything else was great - as far a the heart goes. When the cardiologist on call came in n Tuesday, he agreed to lower my Metoprolol dose from 100mg 2x a day to 50 mg 2x a day. I asked this because my heart rate was in the 50's. In fact, on Monday morning, I refused to take the 100 mg dose. On Monday, a lung doctor saw me and ordered an ultrasound of my lung so they can actually measure how much fluid is there. Some people were saying it wasn't much, others were saying it was. They estimated between .675 - .725 of a liter of fluid. That's more than a bottle of water. On Tuesday, the Infectious Disease doctor came in and said she was going to ask them to drain the fluid so she could have it cultured. Tuesday afternoon, they performed the procedure to drain and he got 1/2 liter of fluid from it. He said it looked clear with no infection. The Infectious Disease doctor came in Wednesday morning and said the same thing and that she would release me that day - which she did. They never did find an infection but just because one has a fever, doesn't mean they have an infection. During this stay, I had three doctors who said to me, "You need to talk to your cardiologist about getting you off the Amiodarone so I'm glad he did. Another thing that happened was that on Tuesday night, the nurse was going to give me my Metoprolol but my heart rate was 58. Her instructions were to call the doctor before giving it to me if it was below 60. So the doctor lowered it to 25 mg dose 2x a day. The Infectious Disease doctor concluded that this was all from inflammation due to the surgery and put me on 2 aspirin a day. Other drugs interact with the Multaq so aspirin was the only thing they could give me to help reduce inflammation. I am now able to take in a deep breath without coughing. I still have cough from time to time but attribute it to the inflammation. So, for now, all is well again! Thanks to those on the site who have shared the issues they had with the medicines we are given. It helped me quite a bit.

Today marks 8 weeks since my initial surgery. I've had a lot of serbacks but feel things are now on the right track. My recent echo showed a small amount of fluid around the heart and a larger amount around my lungs. As a precaution, my cardiologist ordered a chest x-ray. He called the next day and said it was nothing to worry about, just residual fluid from the surgery. He said we are leaving medications as they are and for me to call if I have any unusual symptoms. This week, I've felt better than I have since the surgery. We've been mall walking every day (too hot and humid here in Ohio to walk outdoors) and I've not gotten winded at all. My husband was amazed at how briskly I was able to walk. This is the first I've felt this good since the surgery. It was a long road but I do feel I'm on the way to a full recovery. Thanks to everyone who has given me encouraging words!

Today marks six weeks since my OHS. I've had so many ups a and downs but I feel good today! The fluid around my heart which caused the arithymias was a major setback having to have a 2nd surgery. But while most are talking about cardiac rehab, my cardiologist wants me to take it easy for six weeks. No exertion. He said my body has been through so much that it needs to heal. But he's confident that the "incidents" are over and will wean me off the amiodarone over the next few months and lower the metropolol dose as well. I have an echo scheduled for Tuesday to make sure there is no more fluid buildup and that everything looks good. My heart sounds really good and strong so the surgery was a success. I go back to see him in mid September. I'm so thankful to finally feel like I'm in recovery mode now.

I had another attack of Aflutter late Friday/early Saturday that landed me in the ER and hospital. My heart was racing in the 130s. I was admitted and they gave me more medicine to help me convert to normal sinus rythym. I did so late last night and my heart rate was steady in the high 60s to low 70s. I've just been released and we're hoping this is the last time. We are going to discuss a cardiac ablation with our cardiologist when we go see him this week. It's something to consider because I am so symptomatic to these aflutter attacks.

They did the surgery Monday, June 19th early in the morning. The surgeon drained nearly one liter of fluid from around my heart. He also performed a pericardial window procedure. They shocked my heart back into sinus rhythm. The chest tube was left in until Thursday morning and after another chest x-ray I was released Thursday afternoon. Each day since returning home, I've felt better. No more Afib attacks. Today we took a walk around the neighborhood and I felt really great. I wasn't winded but I am tired tonight. I believe that each day will now get better. Getting home health care for now. I'm thankful for the doctors who figured out what the problem was. I'm thankful for my cardiologist who figured it all out. I'm also thankful for our surgeon who did the pericardial window and drainage. He's also the best. All the nurses and aides...I had great care and because I was in the hospital so long - 20 days - we got to know them. I am very blessed and fortunate to have such a wonderful husband who was there every day with me. He encouraged me and was my advocate. He has been my rock and with his help, I feel confident I'll recover quickly from the setbacks we had to face. I give thanks to God for holding my hand through this trial.

Two days after my last post I had another setback. I was rushed again to ER and readmitted. Another bad Afib. My doctor said I'm very symptomatic to Afib and my body can't take it. My heart rate raced and BP plummeted. They gave me medicine in ER which caused a bad reaction and I completely passed out. They did a chest xray in ER. So they scheduled a cardioconversion. My heart continued to race in the 130s all Tuesday night. When my cardiologist saw me and how bad I looked he compared the ER xray from ER to my initial post op xray he realized there was fluid buildup around my heart and lungs. So the did an echo to be sure. The echo confirmed the fluid buildup. So, they cancelled the cardioversion because they now believe the Afib (wbich is now in aflutter )was triggered by the fluid buildup. On Monday, I will have to undergo another surgery to drain off the fluid. If that in itself doesn't get ba k into regular so us rythym, then they will shock my back into rythym. Surgery is scheduled for early Monday morning. I'm ready for all these complications to go away so I get I to the healing process.

It's been a while since I posted. My surgery was very successful but I had a major setback with Afib and had to be rehospotalized for 3 more days. That's under control now and I've been home since Friday afternoon. Many thanks to this site which gave me the courage to go through with the surgery. I won't deny I was scared. I'm getting home health care - an RN, physical therapy and occupational therapy. This for my own piece of mind if nothing else. My setback was scary. It's hard to know what is normal for me and what is abnormal for me. The idea of taking the neck travel pillow was great! It really helped. I'm out of Afib hopefully for good and working on getting back my energy and strength. All my best to those with upcoming surgeries. I'll be praying for you all.

Hi everyone. I have been chosen by my wife to be her ambassador for her heart valve journal. Therefore let me begin by saying my wife's surgery went very well. Our brilliant surgeon, Dr Pavlina,told us that he only had to replace the aortic valve, and the ascending aorta. Dr Pavlina also told us the exciting news that there was NO aneurysm as previously thought, Praise God. The only minor tetnacality was my wife's breathing tube. Each time they attempted to remove the tube, my wife could not breath on her own. This was attempted several times through the day and night with no result. Reason being is that my wife would go in and out of conciousness, therefore not realizing that she wasn't breathing. So the old saying, if first you don't succeed, they finally succeeded at 4:30 this morning. So to sum up this story, my wife has successfully crossed over the river Jordan into the Promised Land. Rose and I would like to personally thank each as amazed everyone, for your prayears, all the many posts, and all the kind encouraging words. One thing I was amazed about this website was, how many people, both young and old have heart problems.