Serena's Journal

So we met with my cardiologist this week, and finally got to see (and read) the results of the TEE from the day of the scheduled surgery that turned everything sideways. Dr. Tam reports this drastic reduction in regurgitation almost NEVER happens, and there's really no definitive answer as to why it did happen, but the plan is to monitor to see it if continues. Or rather, to see if medication can make it continue and can address some of my other symptoms, which may be atrial fibrillation or tachycardia. So, we've replaced the propanolol with metoprolol, and will be doing an external echocardiogram in a few weeks. I'll also be wearing a Holter monitor to see if we can capture the arrhythmia episodes so they can pin down the type/source, since that can likely be addressed via a catheter procedure if it is afib or tachycardia. We may have additional medication changes to further attempt to regulate the back pressure. Regurgitation is still present in both the aortic and mitral valves, but if it can be maintained at the reduced levels, then surgery to replace those valves becomes a much more distant prospect. It's not off the table yet, because we don't know that the medication-managed plan will be successful, but it is not in the immediate future at this time. At present, I don't feel any differently than I did immediately before the surgery date. My blood pressure is down, in the 110/74 range, but the goal is to reduce it further. Here's hoping my time feeling like a guinea pig is short but successful.

Serena's husband Larry posting here: During a routine final pre-op examination, Serena's surgical team discovered that her valve leakage has abated so dramatically & unexpectedly since her test in august that they made the command decision that she is too healthy to warrant proceeding with surgery at this time. Yes I realize this raises all kinds of follow up questions, many of which we don't have answers for yet. Right now we are just grateful for the news and waiting for her to come out of anaesthesia, & we expect to be able to go home possibly as early as today. We appreciate your patience & will post more once we have better ways to communicate than via my pitiful little tablet device. Thanks again for your support! --Larry

Hello all--this is Serena's husband Larry here. This post is one final attempt to see if we can get this journal's email function to work properly for our subscriber/followers. (Background: We want to use this website to keep our friends and family up-to-date about things via email, but we've been unable to get our last 3 journal updates to go out as email to any of our subscribers like we think they are supposed to.) If this post also doesn't work, we're going to abandon this tool in favor of old-fashioned email. (If anyone reading this has had any similar experiences w/ this website and knows how to solve it, please let us know ASAP--surgery is in two days!) If you are subscribed and you DO get this post via email, please check in with us at heart-valve-surgery.com/journals/user/serenasorensen and give us a heads-up! Thx, --Larry

I've decided that the key to managing my own anxiety is distraction. Granted, my anxiety is not overwhelming--I feel down to my toes that this is going to be such a vast improvement and that it will all be fine--and I'm actually looking forward to it, but you can't be looking at something this big without some anxiety. For those times when some random thought or comment has sent my anxiety racing, the distraction of work, or organizing the many details for post-op life, or trying to find a lender so that Larry and I can buy his house--yes, that's kind of a funny story, if you haven't heard it--all serve to distract me from the anxiety. And when those fail, then it's time to turn to the old reliable: video games! Our parents were right (sort of): while they don't actually rot our minds, they do certainly turn them off while we're playing them. Saturday we had a nice, low-key get-together with ten of our dear friends to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the day that Larry and I met, and to celebrate my upcoming valve job & rejuvenation. Much hilarity ensued amidst the pumpkin carving, dinner, drinking, and reminiscing. I'm lucky to have all of you!

Hello all! Larry here. Well our surgery day is coming up--this Friday! Serena and I are doing great--cautious but hopeful--and we are just spending the next few days making sure we have our ducks in a row. One of those ducks involves making sure you all are able to get these update messages because it's important to us to make sure you are in the loop! Serena used this journal tool last week to post an update but we aren't sure it actually got out to you like it should have, so I'm taking a moment to troubleshoot it today. If you receive this message, we'd love for you to go the journal at http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/journals/user/serenasorensen and read the update she posted last week. Then, while you're there, if you take a moment to leave a comment on the post or in her guestbook, we'd really appreciate knowing that our messages are getting through to you. Thanks and we appreciate your support! --Larry Iversen

It seems like I've been so busy, but when I sat down to compose this, suddenly I came up with very little that's actually demanded my time during the past few weeks. Except that every little thing that takes brain power seems so much harder these days. Actually, more difficult may not be as apt a description as drawn-out, which makes it seem as if they must be more difficult, otherwise they wouldn't take so long! (Crafting that sentence is a perfect example.) I have too many competing thoughts about work (trying to get as much done as I can); and appointments (2 fillings? I only have 8 teeth left?!); and "Why are drivers/clients/people so spiteful/cranky/out-of-sorts lately?" In complete opposition to all of that, I have this zen-like appreciation for what is important, and have had ample opportunity to opt out of the crazy hectic approach in daily interactions. If "X" is not going according to my plan, but it's not actually going to impede my progress to replacing my heart valves, or it's not truly important in the grand scheme, I'm choosing to give others and myself a break. So maybe I'm a little schizophrenic....as Larry observed, this may be more entertainment than informative, but that's how today turned out to be. Congrats to Tia and Gloria for their recent successful (non-heart-related, but still near & dear to mine) surgeries. Much love to all. Serena

In preparation for my surgery, I had to first rectify the recurrent dental infection I've been fighting for the last 18 months. So, Friday I had my remaining 11 upper teeth extracted, and received my immediate upper denture plate. The denture is both very natural looking as well as attractive, but this weekend's recovery has been tough. I'm going back to the dentist later this afternoon for a post-op, so hopefully can get some of my issues addressed and be a bit more comfortable. As with the previous extractions two weeks ago of four bottom teeth which also suffered from the infection, a lot of my pain stems from the irritation of the sutures and in this case the denture's contact with them. As far as I know, getting the dental situation handled is the last hurdle on my plate before pre-op. The surgery and hospital stay have been submitted to the insurance company, my paperwork for my employer has been approved, and my shared leave request has been posted--to the confusion of many whom I hadn't kept in the loop until now. Larry and I are looking forward to a little down time after the flurry of moving (yes, I moved too) and appointment-juggling that consumed August and September. Thanks to all for the well-wishes & support! Serena