Stephanie's Journal

1 week Post op for my mother: My mother is suffering from depression and feels like she isn't getting better. She has made amazing improvements and doesn't see the difference. Although she still has a feeding tube because the intubation messed with her swallowing she is still doing well. She is still very sleepy but depressed more than anything. She even snapped at me which is not normal. I feel for her and i wish i could do something but i cant. She already suffers from depression before the surgery so its been a lot stronger now. I keep repeating that shes just had major surgery and that she is doing so well.

on October 13th my mother went into UCLA Ronald Reagan medical center for her surgery. we checked in at 5 am and i said goodbye to her around 630. Ive always been very nervous about the surgery because her heart was weak and her health is failing. We were told surgery would take 6-8 hrs. we recieved calls every 2 hrs saying all was fine. At 2:30 we recieved a call saying that they should be finished in another 40 minutes or so. 2 hours passed and still no call. We were the first in the waiting room and now the last. My nerves were very much on edge by the next call which was 2 1/2 hrs after the last. I felt ike something was wrong. The call said she was done and the doctor would come and see us. 30 minutes later the doctor walks down and came with photos. he showed us how small her valves were and how he was surprised she was able to walk. He told us that there were many complications that came up during surgery including having to use a tissue valve instead a mechanical because her valve was too small. when all was done her heart showed signs of arrhythmia so for 3 minutes she had to be transferred back to the bypass machine to place a balloon in her heart and they were worried about neurological damage. He wasnt sure how well she would do after everything. He is an amazing dr. and i thank him for all he had to do and for working with every complication that came along. After seeing the DR. my sister and i were sure she wasn't going to make it. We spent the hrs before seeing her crying and thinking we were going to say our goodbyes. I almost fell apart when we were allowed in to see her. My sister and i went home to get some rest and my father stayed with her. I get a video from my father at 3 am of her awake and my father asking her about her grand kids . she remembered them all which was amazing and showed she had no neurological damage. She is doing so well that the balloon was removed after a day and i feel like i can breath again. I know there are still risks but for now i'm just happy the worst is over.

my mother surgery is a week away and I'm so nervous. i will be caring for her and making her , her meals. was wondering what you guys ate during recovery? Thank you!

Hi, I'm new to this site. My mom(55) is scheduled to have two valves replaced at UCLA this October 13th. I'm very nervous and scared but I'm also optimistic. My mother has been hving problems with her heart for a few years now. On top of that she has numerous other illnesses which makes me all the more nervous.