Rosemary's Journal

Jackie Owens  I'm as you know 7 days out and foods I loved, make me sick now! I like (which is bad) Caffeine Free Coke. My Dad bought me some today and I about lost it with one sip. It tasted strange to me. I can't even use my normal toothpaste. Glad it's not just me... I felt a bit crazy!

Autumn Griffin  I am so glad you feel better minus the smell and taste issues. I am sorry to hear about that. I hope everything goes well at home.

Jean Raber  John Lyons also wrote about this after his surgery. Everything tasted like metal. Adam, site founder, weighed in noting that those smell/taste distortions are pretty normal. Hope it passes soon.

Nancy D  taste was an issue for me post op, way more than smells. I lived on ice water, cold fruit and toast for a week before I could try anything else....popsicles are good too, especially the red ones! ;-)

Jean Raber  Chuck, make sure you eat, stay hydrated, and take a few breathers for yourself. I've been a caregiver, and you'll need your strength. Bless you.

Christine Oliva  Chuck, thank you for sharing and you both keep on ticking and taking care of each other. Gold blessings in Rose's recovery.

Cheryl Batzing  Chuck, thanks for the update. Will continue to keep Rose in my prayers for a swift and uneventful recovery.

Adam Pick  Thanks for the update Chuck! Our thoughts and prayers are with Rosemary, you and all those around you!

Rosemary Resler  My poor hubby Chuck is now resting, these past two weeks have really tired him out. Chuck stayed with me throughout the entire hospital and skilled nursing ordeal. We got home two days ago and he's still been going going going with all the medical personell that have been flowing into our house. I'm happy to say that I no longer need a walker to walk, am able to do small things in the kitchen, bathe and dress on my own now. Now tonight I'm ordering him to take a shower and sleep in our bed!

Lynne Ladd  Anxiety is normal. We all have been thru it!!
You're doing a great job of getting organized and relaxing with your Hubby!! Enjoy!!!

Mary K  Lynne is right. While you are waiting, you might want to put together a play list of your favorite music to bring with you.

Jeanette Davidson   Great way to keep yourself occupied! Visualize yourself well and healed. Before you know it you will be walking the halls on step down beginning your recovery! I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers heart sister!❤️

barrett burris  Great idea for the playlist. I don't have a date yet but sounds like it will be early to spring of next year. I've already started telling myself, "It gets better", so when I wake up from surgery it will be in my mental playbook. Thanks everyone so being supportive of those of us facing it.

Enrique K  I will be getting aortic valve replacement in 2 months. I am nervous as well but I know everything will be OK! Good luck with your surgery Rosemary. God Bless!

Rosemary Resler  Thank you everyone, well tomorrow morning I'll be in surgery very early, the first surgery of the day. Have to be there at 5am and surgery is at 7am. I still haven't packed my overnight bag with essentials, can't seem to get in gear today. Last night both me and hubby fell asleep on the sofa and woke up around 9am, can't believe we slept there all night!

Terry Shermeister   I remember my surgery as the time grew closer. What I found was that once you get to the hospital everything goes fast and before you know it's done and you are in your room starting the recovery process. I had my surgery first thing in the morning too. That was best for me. No recollection of breathing tubes or anything else. Prayers and fast recovery to you.

Rodger Dixie  Good luck tomorrow. Had my surgery on August 17. Home four days later. Anxiety is normal. It will go fast.

Christine Oliva  Rosemary best wishes and prayers for your surgery. We'll keep our toes and fingers crossed! May your road to recovery be so quick and easy. Take care and the same to you family too.

Elaine Cutri  Doing something fun this weekend Is the best medicine!
The rehab place sounds like a good idea. It'll give you a chance to get some strength back and build your confidence. I wish you a successful surgery and smooth recovery.

Rosemary Resler  This is an interesting skilled nursing/rehab facility. In the rehab wing they have an apartment set up for physical therepy where they teach you how to get in and out of bed, how to sit and get up from the dining table, a full kitchen to help you with all the appliances, a living room area with sofa and side chair and full bathroom to teach you how to get into and out of a tub. There are also two full flights of stairs for practice in the rehab area. I'd say they have everything covered!

Meredith Bray  SOON! It'll be a piece of cake after you're released from the hospital. My nurses wouldn't even talk about releasing from the hospital until i could walk unaided, get in & out of bed, stand/sit, and go up stairs. I think you'll be fine. So....SOON the rest of your life starts, it'll be rough, and you can do it. One day at a time...each day will bring a new challenge and a new success. DO IT, GIRL! ;)
Meredith

Terry Shermeister   Rosemary you have a great attitude and it will serve you well. My thoughts and prayers to you. Trust in the staff and know you are in the hands of the best that there is!!!

Adam Pick  Hi Rosemary, Cardiac rehab was the turning point in my recovery. I can not encourage you enough to join a cardiac rehab program for the physical, emotional and social benefits it provides. Here's some info about starting cardiac rehab - https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2010/02/19/start-cardiac-rehabilitation-begin/

Mary K  Hi Rosemary. I agree with Adam. And not to worry about your fitness level before surgery. You will start at just a few minutes per station, anyway. You may even feel that you were not given enough in the beginning. Who knows, you may end up more fit after surgery than you have been in years! I did the first time I went through rehab.

This time, I am finding the emotional support from being around other heart survivors to be very helpful. There is a very real community among those who have "been there".

Jean Raber  Rosemary, I think a lot of us are in your position. I'm pre-op, have been tired for the last five years, and rarely exercised, though I have made an effort to push myself a little more due to some other health issues.

Janice Powell just started cardiac rehab. She said her first two days were a piece of cake, started out very easy. She might be another person you could ask.

Bill Cherry  I started phase II cardiac rehab three weeks after aortic valve replacement. It was one of the best things I've done for recovery. I graduated from phase II and am continuing in phase III.

Rosemary Resler  I guess I'm very apprehensive because I've never really exercised, except once when I went to physical therapy for my back and that was just awful. I will read Janice's journal. I'm hoping that I have tons of energy afterwards, imagine how clean my house will be!

Naomi Ivker  I'm with you. I don't know if I will do cardiac rehab. Right now just walking and light housecleaning. Hard to tell if my shortness of breath is from recovery or what my husband kindly calls reconditioning.

Jean Raber  Rosemary, my mother refused to go to cardiac rehab and she got better anyway. The cops did not take her away to the Jail for Non-Compliant Patients, and the doctor did not impose a fee for stubbornness in the first degree. BUT ...

My mom also deprived herself of the chance to recover faster, to get out of the house, to meet other folks who could provide reassurance, and to get some advice about how to exercise. She might also be able to lift her arms over her head today.

So how about just taking it one session at a time? Go once, and if you can't deal, tell them you want to come back in two weeks or a month. Or if they push you too hard, tell them you need a week off.

My mother's doc was still encouraging her to go a year after her surgery; he still felt she could get a good deal of benefit even that far beyond her AVR.

Try to take that worry off your plate for now. Easier said than done, I know, I know. Am praying for your peace of mind.

Mary K  Rosemary, go visit the cardiac rehab that you would attend were you to go, and express your concerns. I visited mine before my AVR. Ask one of the therapists to show you how slowly you would be walking on the treadmill to start. Believe me, it is a snail's pace. Honestly,, after hospitalization and then four weeks of sitting at home, I was so happy to go there! And it is making a big difference in my recovery.

Meredith Bray  I'm a slug too!Going to rehab is NOT at all like going to the gym. The therapists & nurses are kind and gentle. it's an opportunity to know what you can do without doing any damage. you'll start out excruciatingly slow. And you'll be hooked up to a heart monitor. And you'll get your blood pressure checked several times. And you'll learn how it feels to move again. And boy oh boy, will you be tired. And it will feel so good!
Meredith

Terry Shermeister   Hi Rosemary! Well, I can't speak to the hysterectomy but the nurse is correct. The pain is not an issue. The key I guess is that you need to keep up with the pain meds before it becomes an issue. I just followed orders and I was good. Now 15 weeks post op and I'm biking, walking, swimming and doing everything just as before. Healing thoughts and prayers.

Jean Raber  Hi, Rosemary, what sorts of tests did you have pre-op? I know it can be kind of grueling, but maybe it keeps your mind off the surgery for a bit.

My mother concurred. Said she had way worse pain with her hysterectomy surgery than with her sternotomy.

Rosemary Resler  Today's tests consisted of CT w/contrast, angiogram w/contrast, xrays of chest, echocardiogram, ekg, echo of neck and arteries, tons of bloodwork and full physical.

Elaine Cutri  The nurses will probably encourage you to stay ahead of the pain so you are comfortable as possible moving around. I was surprised that the pain was not as bad as I thought it would be. Best wishes on a successful surgery!

Lynne Ladd  Your feelings sound absolutely justified. And your body is telling you how much it needs this surgery. Fatigue makes us weary. It is a big deal surgery, and with all that we read, ithere are still some unknowns for us as patients, so, being nervous is normal. Hopefully, this week will pass quickly for you and you can start your recovery and be on the road to having energy again. May God bless you as you embark on this journey to wellness.

Mary K  Rosemary, you are not alone. I was falling asleep at 7 p.m. before my surgery. You are almost there now, We are all here for you, and will cheer you on your way.

Jackie Owens  I feel your pain. My surgery is next week. Most days by noon I'm exhausted. Partly due to the heart meds I'm on, the other is just general fatigue. I find if I lie down betweeb 2-5 pm I'm able to get up, eat dinner and feel pretty good until late evening. I've cut my hours at work, etc. I am still making myself take my daily walks to stay fit for surgery. My fatigue happened pretty quick. Last month I was in the gym, Mtn biking, swimming, etc...then just like that...extreme fatigue. I think it's just our bodies saying "it's time". I've had this leaky valve for 38 years and never had any issues until just recently. Good luck to you in surgery and recovery.

Rosemary Resler  Thank you everyone, I'm just about mentally ready for this to be over with. Eight more days to go, then I'll be on the other side...

Jeanette Davidson   Welcome! Sounds like things are falling into place. The anxiety is so normal and really painful. They will
All take good care of you. I would encourage you to take the pain meds as you need them , especially the first few days. Ask me questions as you need. I am happy to support you heart sister!💞

Autumn Griffin  I am so with you on the fatigue! I am tired all the time. I can barely keep up with work and my house is a disaster. I am glad I don't have to work until 11am so I can sleep in.

Rita Savelis  Sometimes I can't figure out if my tiredness comes from healing or from beta blockers or from where. Learning to live with it....

Eleanor R  Have patience with yourself after the surgery, for the tiredness will persist, but probably from a different cause (meds). The first few months, I was tired and ready for bed always by 9pm (and I was used to staying up until 11-12 all my life). But once the "take home meds" are finished, you will be surprised, and only remember the tiredness which limited what you could do. I am 13 months post AVR and have so much energy, much more than years before. I wish you the very best. Eleanor

Autumn Griffin  I have heard some heart sisters and brothers post about the different medications and it seems like a lot. About how many do you have to take? And about how long ?

Naomi Ivker  I agree it is very hard for me not to be able to do things for myself. I am hoping it is a short condition! I had a mini sternotomy and the surgeon and cardiologist said 4 weeks back to normal activity. Sitting here, that is hard to imagine but reading everyone's posts has given me faith.

Naomi Ivker  I knew this was coming for years but really only about 2 weeks between what I thought was just a 6 month checkup and avr. Scary to hear I couldn't wait for it.

Lynne Jeffreys  Hi Rosemary, We all agree with you that this could be one of the scariest things you'll ever have to do. I had been waiting for 10 months with 4 cancellations before going in Aug 11, 2015.I'm home since Sunday.
A little sorer but looking forward to getting on with the rest of my life. So, Rosemary, this too shall pas as they say and everyone here at HeartValveSurgery is behind you. This will be over before long, so If I can wait 10 months it will be a breeze for you. Lynne

Tammy Pilcher  Prayers and best wishes, Rosemary! My surgery was nine and a half months ago and wasn't as bad as I anticipated it would be. I've done great and will be glad to answer any questions I can for you. God bless!

Clare Auten  Welcome to the site. I had AVR on 1/9/14 so I am about 19 months post op. I am doing great. Feel free to read my journal. You can ask any questions you have. Autenclare@Gmail

Rosemary Resler  Thank you Clare for the welcome. This is such an interesting site, almost like Facebook for heart patients, love it.

Mary K  Welcome Rosemary. I had an AVR two months ago. Many of us here have had one. If you click on our names you can scroll back and see our whole blogs. I was shaking in my shoes at first, but came to acceptance, had the surgery and am now grateful beyond words to have been given a second chance.

Gerald Schaffer  Welcome to the site Rosemary. I'm scheduled to have my aortic valve replaced August 26. The days fly by as I get closer but I realize it something that needs to be done. The alternative is a bit too final.

Naomi Ivker  Welcome! It is scary, being able to hear what others have gone through is invaluable. I had avr 6 days ago

Rosemary Resler  Naomi, I'm so encouraged to know that you had this surgery six days ago and can actually have the strength to get online! All the stories I've read so far are so encouraging.

John Jones  Porcine valve replacement July 6, feeling exceptionally good, Mowed grass this afternoon with a push mower although self propelled.

Naomi Ivker  Rosemary I was terrified before and am so glad not to have that fear that every chest pain would mean not waking up the next day. The hardest part for me is not sleeping but that is from being feverish (I think) which doesn't appear common. Hope that situation is mending. What type of procedure are you having?

Jean Raber  My am up for MV replacement at some point, but took care of my mother who had AVR. Bottom line: She did not have top-of-line hospital or doc, was 81, surgery was emergency on Christmas Day, had many complications because she was stubborn and didn't want cardiac rehab ... and two years later, she is doing just fine. If your situation is better than that in any way, you'll do even better.

Gloria Savannah-Austin  Watching and waiting, have a F/ip appt. on Sept 11. AVR in my near future. Have other valves issues, but Aortic biggest concern, with Severe Regurg and stenosis.