Sandra's Posts

I have been reluctant to post as I do not wish to add to anyone's pre-op anxiety. I had my mitral valve successfully repaired on August 24 and was successfully extubated after surgery. Sometime on August 25 I went into respiratory distress and was re-intubated and placed in a medically induced coma. What I have been able to discern from the doctors and my medical records is that I developed bacterial pneumonia and sepsis among other things. It is only by the grace of God, excellent doctors and nursing staff, and a lot of prayers and support from family and friends that I am able to write this journal entry. I was in the medially induced coma in ICU from August 25 until I woke up on September 20 with someone asking me the do you know where you are questions. My favorite was what day comes after Tuesday :) When I woke up I realized the last thing I remembered was being transported from my room to the O.R. on Aug 24. That is a huge lapse of time and a bit unnerving. I can't speak to postop pain from the surgery because by the time I woke up I was pretty well healed. I didn't even know we had gone through hurricane Irma. Again thankful for friends and family who secured my valuables and my home. I had no damage. I was released from the hospital on September 25 to my home with home health care and a month of home physical and occupational therapy. I came home with some essential tremors in my left arm and hands which have mostly subsided. Even at this point I still have no stamina or endurance, but I finally started cardiac / pulmonary rehab this past Wednesday. I believe it will make a big difference. My memory in general seems to have taken a big hit. My short term is really bad. Hoping as time goes by it will get better. I feel very fortunate to feel as good as I do. Slow and steady with a lot of "new normals". As I write this I am wearing a Holter monitor as they think I may have developed Afib. The post op echo showed not even one drop of a leak in my newly repaired mitral valve. That was a big relief. Wishing all of you a Happy and Healthy 2018.

Just home from my preop. They did another echo and I actually could see my free swinging mitral valve flap. My surgery is this Thursday 8/24 although for some reason I didn't make the list. Prayers and healing thoughts to everyone else having their surgeries this week. Personally I just want to get it done and am looking forward to feeling a whole lot better.

I am facing my MVR with median sternotomy with my biggest fear being the anesthesia and whether they will be able to get me off the ventilator. I have COPD and chronic bronchitis, also sleep apnea. I have been cleared for the surgery by a critical care pulmonologist of my surgeon's choosing and I realize I may develop postop pneumonia. Hoping someone in the group had similar risks and would share their experience. Except for some shortness of breath and my cough I am otherwise asymptomatic.