Sheila's Journal

Hi HVJ friends, I just stopped in to say HI and to say life is amazing. I don\'t even think about the surgery. The only reason it came to my mind today was - I wrote the date down and it struck me that the date seemed familiar. I am staying active with hiking, swimming & running. And, I also have started a 30-day challenge of Abs, squats & arms. My goal is to be the healthiest & strongest I can be before I turn 60 this October. :-) I wish all the new ones the best. May it be as easy for you as it was for me. Sheila Garrison

I\'m celebrating my 1 yr anniversary post AVR with these home-made heart shaped cookies with \"stitches\". Check it out on My Photos. I\'ll be delivering them this morning to the heart unit at the hospital where I now work doing massages on some of these pts. I\'m healthy & strong and have had no adverse problems since surgery. I pray all you new ones waiting for your surgery will have it as easy as I did. Love to all my HVJ friends who also went through this last year with me. Sheila

It\'s 3 weeks until my actual 1 year anniversary date (July 12th), but I have exciting news to share and I can\'t wait any longer. I\'ve been a massage therapist for 15 years now with 11 year having my own practice. Two weeks ago, I had a dream job dropped into my lap from God. I now work part-time at the best hospital in our area as a massage therapist in the Palliative Care dept. My heart surgeon splits his time between 2 hospital (I was at the other one) and I get to massage post op heart pts!!! Who else but me would know first \"hand\" how to soothe that annoying ache we all felt between our shoulder blades. I\'ll also be working in labor & delivery unit. I\'ve been better than ever since getting my new aortic valve. I wish all the new HVJ friends an uneventful recovery such as I had. Sheila Garrison

I finally had my post op heart check up with my cardiologist on Thursday....8 months & 3 days after my surgery. I had an echo & heart monitor done 2 weeks ago and everything is perfect. The doctor told me (in his broken English) \"that I was boring\". I responded with a big smile on my face that I would take that as a compliment.....meaning, everything is ok and I don\'t need to see him ever again. :-) Looking forward to meeting some of my fellow HVJ friends who had their surgery last year with me. Take care! Sheila

Ok...so, it\'s really Valentine\'s Day. It\'s also 7 months since my AVR surgery. I\'m still so very thankful from the bottom of my heart to the top of my new aortic valve. I continue to pray for the new folks getting ready for their surgery and wish you all the best. I thank God for all the blessings he continues give. Sheila

Yes, it\'s been 6 months since I received my new aortic valve. I continue to have energy and no shortness of breath. Life is great!!! I read the journal entries of the new pts and those getting ready to have the surgery. I remember writing much of the same. I\'m so happy that the waiting (pre-surgery days) was the worst part of the whole experience.... oh, except of not being able to lay on my side for a couple of weeks. Love you all, Sheila

It\'s been five months since surgery and everything continues to be fine. I just wanted to wish all of you who had your surgeries during the summer months and before, and those of you about to go through this amazing life-changing event..... A very MERRY CHRISTMAS!! May God bless you throughout your jouney. With love, Sheila

I didn\'t realize it was 4 months after surgery (today) until I was on a challenging hike in our mountains. There were 10 of us and I was noticing how they were all huffing & puffing....and I wasn\'t! I love my \"high performance\" mechanical valve. I wish those of you getting ready for your surgery to know & believe it\'s the best thing! Take care, Sheila

Yesterday, I got to meet and have lunch with fellow HVJ Dan Cline. We both had our aortic valves replaced on the same day, same time (July 12th), but at different hospitals. It was great to actually talk face-to-face with a real person (not that you all aren\'t real) who shared such a big-deal surgery. I look forward to meeting up with a few more of you. Even though our family and friends were with us....we actually went through it. So, thank you, Dan, for sharing your story with me...and for a really good lunch!! I\'m doing great with this new mechanical valve. I rarely even think about it. But, I will always thank God for getting me through this. Sheila

It\'s been 100 days since I\'ve received my mechanical valve. I\'m enjoying the engery I have and wished I would have known about my aortic valve stenosis a few years ago. Now, I\'m trying to make up for time wasted. I follow new HVJ members and keep those of you who are about to have this surgery in my thoughts, my heart & prayers. I wish I could give you all a big hug and let you know....you will be ok! Keep on moving & breathing & loving..... Sheila

The time has really gone fast for me in regards to my recovery. I wish it for others....for it to be uneventful. BUT, I have been having a sharp pain on the end of inhalation under my rt. ribs/breast area. It will last for 3 -4 days and then I\'ll be fine. I\'ve had 3 (several days)episodes of this. Since I have no fever and I\'m not short of breath, the doctor isn\'t concerned. I guess I\'m not either. Although, I\'d like to know what it is. Scar tissue from the chest tubes? My lung over stretching? (Is that possible?) Has anybody else experienced this??? Take care HVJ friends! Sheila

It\'s offical....I do NOT qualify for cardiac rehab. Called each doctor and the ins. co. Since I\'m consider a \"wellness\" pt with no pre exsisting diseases or issues and since there were no complications post op, I don\'t get to do even one day of cardiac rehab. Instead, my primary doctor who is a marathon runner (he even did the marathon to the north pole) had me come in and gave me a written training log(?) for 2 months. I\'ll take what I can. Otherwise, I\'m doing great. Except, I\'m not losing the weight I put on before & after surgery. Not much to lose, but annoying that it\'s there. As my doctor calls it...\"vanity weight\"....whatever! Hard to believe where I was 10 weeks ago. Amazed that I was able to get through it as I did. I thank my God for His blessings He continues to give me!! Sheila

Am I the only heart valve pt. who wasn\'t approved by ins. co. for cardiac rehab? I\'ve noticed that several of you are as healthy as I am and still read that you were able to do some cardiac rehab. I feel left out... :-( Sheila

I wish DVB would have written his advise to me on Wednesday to take my interval training easy. I was feeling strong and joined several neighborhood high school kids who are on the cross country team at the golf course behind us for some interval training. I was keeping up with the slowest of them, but also sucking some serious wind. I was able to catch my breath quickly when I stopped. The next day, I woke up with pain on my rt. side chest area. I figured I over did it and my muscles were sore. I worked through the day, but each inhaled breath gave me a sharp pain (rt lung area). Remember those chest tubes? Felt like that. I took a muscle relaxer & and pain med before bed. Friday was even worse. Now, I was feeling concerned, so I stopped by the urgent care place and asked only for my vital signed to be taken. I wanted to see if my O2 Sat% was ok. Long story short.....I was sent for an X-ray and I had a 10% \"Primary spontanious pneumonthroax. Since I don\'t have any lung disease, they don\'t treat it. Sent me home to relax and a repeat X-ray in the morning. Was this God\'s way of telling to slow it down?? I\'m listening now. The doctor sad he didn\'t think it was caused by the interveal training. He gave me several ideas. He said it\'s common for (tall) people to develope this after being at a loud rock concert. And, it corrects on it\'s own. I\'m doing much better today, but will still take it slow and stop singing, \"I Am Woman Hear Me Roar\". Oh, and the runner\'s tape is the answer for the incision area. Sheila

I had no idea what to expect of my recovery at 2 months post-op. But, I am very pleased to say the least. I saw my regular doctor today who explained that being on the \"lowpressor\"med had caused me to hit a wall with my cardio. I\'m being weaned off of it. For the women: You know how the bra/sports bra irritate the lower part of the incision? I tried different things (gauze, folded paper towel, wash cloth), but what works is \"runner\'s tape\". A strip down the middle works perfectly (for me). I\'ll try and contact you all on your personal journals about having a reunion next summer. If you are interested, please contact me via my email: Sheilagarrison10@yahoo.com Stay strong and always praise The One who blesses you. Sheila

7 weeks and 3 days post op and I finally saw my cardiologist for the first time since surgery. Since I was having no problems, it really wasn\'t that big of a deal. All though,I was annoyed with having to wait 3 1/2 hrs. in his waiting room to see him. And, if you know me, it takes a lot to annoy me. After 2 hrs. of sitting there, I asked the girl at the front desk \"how much longer?\" and she said he was running behind. I sat back down for a few mins, then decided to drive home & fix me some lunch. I got back and they didn\'t even notice I was gone. Several pts. in waiting room chuckled that I did this and 2 of them did the same. I\'m happy that was my last visit to him. He took me off all meds except for the coumadin. I\'ve been in a slump with my cardio. Not walking/jogging as much. Not sure why. Take care HVJ friends! Sheila

I went back to work (part-time) at 6 weeks post op. I only worked on 8 clients over the 3 days (4-athletes. 2-pregnancy, and 2 of my over age 75 men). I missed them all, but between you and me....it kicked my butt. I feel so strong in other ways, but using my upper body strength wipes me out. I was getting ready to go out swimming with the kids when thunder clouds opened up. It\'s our desert monsoon season. So, I\'m thankful to be able to get in an afternoon nap in the cool of the house. I\'m enjoying reading the new HVJ of the recent surgery ones. Helps me remember how far we\'ve come and blessed we are. Sheila

My recovery has been fast and uneventful. \"I thank you, Jesus, for all the blessings you give to me.\" I keep thinking about you all and those of you who had your surgery during this summer of 2011. I\'ve been trying to figure out how to get a \"One Year Celebration\" for all of us for next year. It\'s easy for me to travel, but most of you have children or can\'t for other reasons. So, what I want to do is go to you, if possible. Let\'s do a 5K together. Or does your city offer the 5K Tour of the City runs? I have lots of other ideas. Let me know if you are interested. You all mean a lot to me! Sheila

Seriously....has it been 5 weeks since my surgery? Let me check my calendar... It seems like a memory...except, when I sneeze, then I remember. I\'m up to 4 miles a day of mixed walking & jogging. Going kayaking again tomorrow at the lake. Back to gardening and cleaning the pool and so much more. I know my limits and it will come back with time. I went into work today and told them I wanted to come back next week. Told them I wanted to give whoever wants a free massage one, so that I can see how I\'m doing. I can\'t do any of my fancy sport stretches yet, but soon.. But, I still have my pressure down and the few I did said I\'m still the same. I knew life was good,......just sort of forgot how great it really is!!! I feel like I did in my 20\'s. Sheila

Yesterday, I celebrated 4 weeks since surgery by going up to the lake (Silverwood Lake) with some family & friends for some kayaking. Mostly, I sat and watched them all play in the water. But, I did go once with my dad & did some light paddling. Felt great! Had my INR checked today & it was up to 5.6. I\'m making the PA crazy with my numbers being so up & down. So, off of the coumadin until Friday. I received a full body massage today and it was great. I\'m getting back to all my normal routine. Can\'t wait to do the kettle bell & squats.... As my friend said, \"I was hoping that surgery would do something for your nuttiness \". But, hey, it wouldn\'t me, right? Sheila

Now, the time is going fast....after going in slow motion the 1st 2 weeks. Woke up this morning feeling back to normal, so I bounced out of bed and went for a brisk 2 mile walk. On my way back up to the house, I brought the trash container up from the street (I live on a small hill - 200ft). I walked into the house sweaty. Brian looked at me and said, \"Grandma, you not breathing hard?\" I thought for a moment and said, \"Hey, I\'m not!\" Ilove my new heart valve. I see my doctor today and will ask if I can start jogging/running again. I got in the pool yesterday and mostly \"floated\". Will ask if I can start swimming again also. God has blessed me with a strong body and I praise Him for all He does for me and blesses me with. May everyone of you continue to make each day the best you can! With much love, Sheila

I\'m sad to say that I couldn\'t go on my camping trip up north....due to I wasn\'t very good yesterday and over did it. I can heard you all now scolding me and telling me to slow down. I get it now....I really do. Came down with a low grade fever with body aches. So, here I sit in my house on a gorgeous day and realizing that I\'m not \"special\" with super human power....that I\'m just like you are and need to follow the rules and slow down and let myself heal. (Am thankful there\'s no ice cream in the freezer today). Sheila

I\'m feeling pretty good heading into my 3rd week after surgery. It\'s not as bad as I thought it would be. My INR has stabilized, so now I can get it checked weekly for a while. Tomorrow, I\'m leaving with my Dad to meet about 6 other family & friends on a camping trip in northern California. I\'m hoping it will be relaxing, but knowing my family.......there will be a lot of walking, which will be good. Take care all my HVJ friends! Sheila

For those of you who don\'t read my Facebook page, I have to admit that I was busted big time by my sweet daughter for driving. It was only a short distance, but it felt oh so good. I drive a very easy car to get in and out of (Scion xB), but I realize that\'s not the point. This morning, I went on a 1 mile walk with my grand-daughter. We are getting into our monsoon weather, so for us desert people, a humidity of 35% is almost unbearable to us. (I can hear you eastern & southern folks laughing now! My INRs are still being watching closely. I have to have it checked about 3 times a week. Is there an at home tester I can get? What do I do when I\'m out of town for 5 - 6 days? Sheila

I saw my surgeon\'s PA today and had the stitches removed. I told him what all I\'ve been doing. In one breath he said to slow the pace down a bit. In the next breath, he said to walk more and that I can go on a backpacking trip next week that my brother has planned in northern California. I still have to wait another 2 weeks to get in the pool. I\'m going to try and sleep in my bed tonight. It doesn\'t seem smart to go from the recliner to sleeping on the ground in one step. Sheila

Is it me or did anybody else feel as though the first 2 weeks went really slow? I get my stitches out tomorrow and see the surgeon. FYI: Sneezing several times after having your sternum broken really hurts. May God please bless me with more patience. Sheila

I tried to get ready for church this morning, but apparently, it takes me a whole lot longer to shower, blow dry and get dressed. Some friends of mine picked me up and took me out for lunch. It was crowded and a long ordeal. I came home and took a long nap. Then, another friend invited me out to the movies and I went. A good comedy...which hurt a few times laughing. Came home to another long nap. Now, the muscles in my upper back are screaming at me again. Time to go to bed early. Tomorrow, I\'ll do a short 1 mile walk. Sheila

I finally have been able to get the only discomfort/pain under contol with the Flexeril I received yesterday. So no more Hydrocodon-calling to those few that received my drug version call of the drunk-calling. You would have enjoyed a bigger laugh with me on the Flexeril, but thank goodness I couldn\'t lift my hand to call. I still don\'t have much of an appetite, but have been surprised by a few cravings. One is ice cream. I\'m not an ice cream eater at all, but these last few days, I want it every day. I\'ll take another easy day today....... You all are the best for being here. I plan to spend more time this afternoon going over the HVS site. Sheila