So much going on. had OHS mitral replacement/tricuspid repair. diagnosed with seizures in August. now they are worse. Updated my online video surgery diary ...Read more
So much going on. had OHS mitral replacement/tricuspid repair. diagnosed with seizures in August. now they are worse. Updated my online video surgery diary today. https://youtu.be/pV7JSRPPrk8
My seizures are worse, drs. haven't found the cause yet. I'm not sure if its a post surgery issue, or not related to surgery at all. looking for answers.
Susan Lynn Stephanie - I am sorry you're going through so much. I am hoping that some definitive answers and p ... Read more
Susan Lynn Stephanie - I am sorry you're going through so much. I am hoping that some definitive answers and progress are ahead of you. You are in my prayers. ❤
So much going on. had OHS mitral replacement/tricuspid repair April 2018. diagnosed with seizures in August. now they are worse. Updated my online video ...Read more
So much going on. had OHS mitral replacement/tricuspid repair April 2018. diagnosed with seizures in August. now they are worse. Updated my online video surgery diary today. https://youtu.be/pV7JSRPPrk8
My seizures are worse, drs. haven't found the cause yet. I'm not sure if its a post surgery issue, or not related to surgery at all. looking for answers.
Debbie Chatzky I hope they will figure it all out. Thank you for posting. I’ve been thing of you!
Giving myself a lovenox shot injection after low 1.2 inr. Dont mind my morning hair. :)
Rita Savelis Yikes! I hated those shots. But I did it in my thigh instead.... Hang in there.
Judy Shaw I haven't had to take this medication but I took medication for arthritis for years in the form of in ... Read more
Judy Shaw I haven't had to take this medication but I took medication for arthritis for years in the form of injections. I put it in my thighs also. People would ask me how I could do that after they would cringe lol. You do what you have to do. Blessings to you Stephanie.
Kelly Stoll Wow! Stephanie, you have so much courage. Be proud, despite the pain. Thinking of you and wishing tha ... Read more
Kelly Stoll Wow! Stephanie, you have so much courage. Be proud, despite the pain. Thinking of you and wishing that each day will be a little better.
https://youtu.be/zKBTu6l_eF4
I have blood / inr checked every week. on Wed. it was 1.2 and NO ONE CALLED ME!!!!!!! today is Monday. last time it was 1.2 I ...Read more
https://youtu.be/zKBTu6l_eF4
I have blood / inr checked every week. on Wed. it was 1.2 and NO ONE CALLED ME!!!!!!! today is Monday. last time it was 1.2 I had TIA's and was left with double vision. I'm not happy.
Nikki Escue I can honestly say that I hate Warfarin. I'm also struggling with my INR, it's 1.9 and has been for 5 ... Read more
Nikki Escue I can honestly say that I hate Warfarin. I'm also struggling with my INR, it's 1.9 and has been for 5 days. Does your Doctor have you on any backup medicine? Mine has me on the Lovanox injection. Also, ask your Dr about getting a referral to Alere Home Monitering. That way you can check your own INR with the poke of a finger and report it yourself. It's a lot easier than having to go to the lab and wait for the results. I hope they get everything straightened out and you start feeling better soon 🙏🏻
Rita Savelis I am really sorry to hear about your INR troubles. It can be so frustrating. I have also experienced ... Read more
Rita Savelis I am really sorry to hear about your INR troubles. It can be so frustrating. I have also experienced INR staying at the same rate as anticoagulants were slowly increased. When the INR does finally get where it needs to be, then you can decrease the anticoagulant dose. It's a pain.... and the worst part is how nervous one can get about something that is out of your control , or when the medical system makes you feel bad about your stupid INR level. I say this, having been there. I get my INR checked at a lab and I go on internet the same day to see my results. Can you do this? I hope that your INR will get where it needs to be, and then you will be stabilised. It can take a longer time on some bodies, but there is rarely a good answer as to why.
Take care.
Kelly Stoll Thinking of you Stephanie and wishing you strength and peace as you move ahead. May things improve so ... Read more
Kelly Stoll Thinking of you Stephanie and wishing you strength and peace as you move ahead. May things improve soon and you feel better too.
Steve Farthing Hopefully the shots will be temporary. Maybe you can dab on a local anesthetic to numb the poke a li ... Read more
Steve Farthing Hopefully the shots will be temporary. Maybe you can dab on a local anesthetic to numb the poke a little. Labcorp and Quest labs offer online results to patients if you sign up for that. But home INR testing Nikki mentioned sounds like a good idea.
Stephanie Jones @nikki, yes, i'm on the lovenox injection now. fun times.
Open heart surgery diary. Double vision, low inr, blood clot, tia, ministroke
Anna Jones I am so sorry you are dealing with all of this. I cannot even imagine.... I hope you will get bette ... Read more
Anna Jones I am so sorry you are dealing with all of this. I cannot even imagine.... I hope you will get better news on Thursday, that your vision will improve, and that your recovery will finally be on the straight and narrow.
Tina Maroon So sad to hear that your dealing with all this. I hope your vision improves.
Rita Savelis Oh, gosh, Stephanie. That's hard. After-effects are hard. You didn't need anything more to happen.
T ... Read more
Rita Savelis Oh, gosh, Stephanie. That's hard. After-effects are hard. You didn't need anything more to happen.
Thinking of you and hoping things smooth out...
Maria Gapinski Stephanie, I am so sorry about your needing a second surgery and the multiple side issues that you ha ... Read more
Maria Gapinski Stephanie, I am so sorry about your needing a second surgery and the multiple side issues that you have experienced. Will pray that things improve for you. Thank you for sharing the valuable information; it will help a lot of people. One of your videos mentioned UTIs. In case it it may be helpful, my parents both were prone to UTI, and it stopped recurring when they started taking a Cranberry supplement (400mg) once a day with breakfast. We currently take one capsule of Nature's Answer Cranberry Full Spectrum Herb, although the full daily serving is 800 mg; 2 capsules. Wishing you the best for a full and speedy recovery!
Stephanie Jones maria, i'm prone to uti's because i have an incomplete double ureter. (each kidney has a tube connec ... Read more
Stephanie Jones maria, i'm prone to uti's because i have an incomplete double ureter. (each kidney has a tube connecting it to the bladder. one of my kidneys has 2 tubes, one goes to the bladder, the other ends (stopped growing) and doesn't connect to the bladder, so its a dead end, urine sits in there and collects bacteria. it stinks. in the future I may have surgery to remove the incomplete uterter.
Anna Jones Stephanie, you have been through so much. I am so very sorry and hope that your INR levels will impr ... Read more
Anna Jones Stephanie, you have been through so much. I am so very sorry and hope that your INR levels will improve quickly and that you will be able to go home very soon.
Gina Fiorentino Stephanie, I'm keeping you in my thoughts. I hope things stabilize quickly with your levels and that ... Read more
Gina Fiorentino Stephanie, I'm keeping you in my thoughts. I hope things stabilize quickly with your levels and that the double vision disappears as well.
Susan Lynn Hoping you are on a quick road to recovery. soon.
Suzanne Finn Stephanie, So to here of your struggles. I had a similar experience that docs think was TIA but symp ... Read more
Suzanne Finn Stephanie, So to here of your struggles. I had a similar experience that docs think was TIA but symptoms were tingling in both legs and right arm. My INR was also low at 1.7. I was treated with injections and higher Coumadin dosage. It took a while but up to 2.8 now. It’s definitely scary, but I’m trying to keep my head straight. Without surgery I wouldn’t be here. So, I guess it’s all perspective. Hope you are feeling better soon and get your levels stabilized. All the best to you.
Kim Lonergan I hope you are doing better and have been able to go home since you posted the video. I watched all o ... Read more
Kim Lonergan I hope you are doing better and have been able to go home since you posted the video. I watched all of your videos when I was told I needed mitral valve repair. You made me feel less anxious that I can make it through all of this. Just wanted to wish you a speedy recovery and to say thank you for all your videos.
In this video I explain (what worked and didn't work) for me, that made the hugest difference in pain vs. odd feeling. If you are getting ready for any surge...
Susan Lynn Wishing you a speedy recovery, Stephanie.
Debbie Chatzky Stephanie! Wishing you a gentle recovery! Your videos are so helpful. I am going for my second mitr ... Read more
Debbie Chatzky Stephanie! Wishing you a gentle recovery! Your videos are so helpful. I am going for my second mitral valve surgery. Also a replacement after a repair. Do you have any tips for the breathing tube?
Bonnie Stone-Hope Great video, Stephanie, with very useful information.
Thank you.
Mark Wilbur Stephanie, I'd give you a big hug if I could! I am one of the "waiting and wondering" patients who c ... Read more
Mark Wilbur Stephanie, I'd give you a big hug if I could! I am one of the "waiting and wondering" patients who come here to learn everything I can from others' experiences. Your narrative is informative, instructional and emotionally moving. I am sorry that you had to experience this inexcusable treatment, but am grateful for you sharing with us in such a memorable way. I am saving the link for future reference as it will surely help me (and others) when it's time for surgery! Thank You! Hope your recovery goes well and that this memory soon becomes dust in the wind...
Carolyn Newell Great video and information. Thank you as my surgery is tomorrow. I'm so sorry you had to go thru thi ... Read more
Carolyn Newell Great video and information. Thank you as my surgery is tomorrow. I'm so sorry you had to go thru this with that awful nurse.
Wayne Casey I had a redo of mine too. I found the second time around much better than the first. Sending good v ... Read more
Wayne Casey I had a redo of mine too. I found the second time around much better than the first. Sending good vibes your way.
Barbara Wood So sorry that you have to go through this again Stephanie! I had a mitral valve repair a few months a ... Read more
Barbara Wood So sorry that you have to go through this again Stephanie! I had a mitral valve repair a few months after you & have to say this is my number one fear. Wishing you all the best & sending positive vibes.
Rita Savelis Oh Stephanie, thanks for your new video update, but so sorry to hear you have to go through this aga ... Read more
Rita Savelis Oh Stephanie, thanks for your new video update, but so sorry to hear you have to go through this again..
Darlene Smith I would definitely get a second opinion, from both a different cardiologist and another surgeon, pref ... Read more
Darlene Smith I would definitely get a second opinion, from both a different cardiologist and another surgeon, preferably a mitral valve repair specialist.
I had mitral valve repair December 2016. With an anoplasty ring. Met with the surgeon today because the valve is not opening properly. Had a TEE in the morni...
Anna Jones Stephanie, I am so sorry you are going through this. I cannot even imagine the number of emotions you ... Read more
Anna Jones Stephanie, I am so sorry you are going through this. I cannot even imagine the number of emotions you are going through. I've watched your educational videos from time to time and read your journal. My prayers are with you that the Metoprolol will take care of your symptoms and allow enough blood to flow through your valve.
Please think about seeing a second surgeon and getting another opinion too.
Bonnie Stone-Hope Hi Stephanie,
Just watched your video and sorry to hear that you are having problems. Sounds promis ... Read more
Bonnie Stone-Hope Hi Stephanie,
Just watched your video and sorry to hear that you are having problems. Sounds promising that you do not need surgery again, and that medication might be the solution. The Metoprolol should help your heart rate for sure.
I am curious about your TEE. When I had my TEE, was instructed to not swallow the gel, just to swish it around the back of my throat and spit it out. Interesting to hear that you were advised to swallow it.
Last, but not least, Ms. Cat Jones is adorable, and obviously a great comfort to you. Our animals just seem to know when we need their extra attention and love.
Best wishes, Bonnie
Barbara Wood So sorry...hope the metoprolol does the trick & a 2nd surgery is avoided - this must all be very stre ... Read more
Barbara Wood So sorry...hope the metoprolol does the trick & a 2nd surgery is avoided - this must all be very stressful! I was given a small amount of a liquid to gargle - bitter, but at least not a gel. Best wishes to you...adorable kitty btw:)
stupid stupid stupid!
My daughter got on it , balanced right away. was standing still, moving slowly, turning fast, completely in control. "It will balance ...Read more
stupid stupid stupid!
My daughter got on it , balanced right away. was standing still, moving slowly, turning fast, completely in control. "It will balance for you" My ex-husband says. reluctantly I got on to try. Was just standing still at first. then made it go forward a bit, then backward a bit. then i started getting scared and decided to get off. Only I didn't know how to get off. they said you just have to hop off. well, this thing..... starting swirling, and i lost complete control, my ex husband lunged off the couch to catch me knowing it wasn't going to be good. before he had his hands on me, I went flying 4 feet back and on my side. landed on my right side (ribs) right arm/elbow and wrist.
right away I started feeling a pain in my chest, like when you have a bruise that someone pushes on. i felt like a complete idiot. what a stupid thing to do. I was scared and didn't want to cry and upset my daughter. her dad could tell i was holding it in and asked where i was hurting? the incision? no, deep in my bone. just stupid of me. it just looked safe and easy. I feel fine now. ... except feeling like an idiot. what a poor decision.
Craig Gay Wow! That really could have ended differently. I'm so glad you are OK. Yvonne
Michael McMullen Yikes...sounds just like something I would do too...good thing all OK.
Stephanie Jones i know. my sister says i should get checked out just in case. like if I slipped and fell like that ... Read more
Stephanie Jones i know. my sister says i should get checked out just in case. like if I slipped and fell like that on ice , I would. but i'm not going to the ER and tell them i was stupid enough to hop on a hover board. are you kidding me??!! still shaking my head at myself
Stephanie Jones I'm really noticing my chest hurting and I just called my surgeon and he told me to go to the ER it f ... Read more
Stephanie Jones I'm really noticing my chest hurting and I just called my surgeon and he told me to go to the ER it feels like my bone is bruised or something even though I didn't land on my sternum. I landed on my ribs on my right side. I'm so stupidso help me a five to have those chest to drain tubes put back in for any reason I will not be happy
Barbara Laurie Stephanie!!! I'm so glad you're okay, though bruised. Keep reminding yourself to deep take several de ... Read more
Barbara Laurie Stephanie!!! I'm so glad you're okay, though bruised. Keep reminding yourself to deep take several deep breaths every hour, it will help avoid chest tubes. Hope it goes well.❤Best Regards💕
Ouch! Glad your Ok to Stephanie. Note to self, stay off hover boards!
Phyllis Petersen I hope it's nothing more than some bruised ribs and that you just need to take it easy for awhile. Ke ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen I hope it's nothing more than some bruised ribs and that you just need to take it easy for awhile. Keep us posted.
Stephanie Jones Just got home from ER. They did a chest x-ray they didn't see anything abnormal. They did a EKG that ... Read more
Stephanie Jones Just got home from ER. They did a chest x-ray they didn't see anything abnormal. They did a EKG that was normal and then they took blood to check my heart enzymes to make sure I didn't have a muscle injury to my heart and that was good so they sent me home.... with an incentive spirometer.
Stephanie Jones I'm in pain like I was just after I left the hospital. It's like I have to heal all over again. Stupi ... Read more
Stephanie Jones I'm in pain like I was just after I left the hospital. It's like I have to heal all over again. Stupid mistake. Lesson learned. And to top it off I have a horrible cold so I keep sneezing and it's hurting my chest. Something that hasn't happened in three weeks
Maggi Turner We all do silly things and learn lessons. At least you have been checked over. It's still early days ... Read more
Maggi Turner We all do silly things and learn lessons. At least you have been checked over. It's still early days Stephanie do be careful.
Stephanie Jones Rhanks maggi and kevin. I think my problem is that I was feeling fine so I forget that I underwent a ... Read more
Stephanie Jones Rhanks maggi and kevin. I think my problem is that I was feeling fine so I forget that I underwent a major surgery.
Catie B Sooo sorry this happened. Keep taking care of you and I hope the pain eases soon.
Ben Hyman You sound just like me (Part A- don't like to wait to be fully healed) as long as you're ok...that's ... Read more
Ben Hyman You sound just like me (Part A- don't like to wait to be fully healed) as long as you're ok...that's all that matters
Phyllis Petersen I sometimes have to remind myself and sometimes I have to remind others who don't understand. Hopeful ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen I sometimes have to remind myself and sometimes I have to remind others who don't understand. Hopefully, neither the pain nor the cold last long. I bet you won't forget so quickly next time.
Stephanie Jones I feel like i pulled a muscle around my collar bone and up my neck on both sides
Stephanie Jones I guess its the subscapularis muscle. On both sides. I gently swept and swiffered my floor today no ... Read more
Stephanie Jones I guess its the subscapularis muscle. On both sides. I gently swept and swiffered my floor today not feeling at all like i was exerting myself. And i kept getting a quick sharp pain on this muscle area if i moved a certain way. Just took some tylenol. :( im not lifting a finger for another week.
Phyllis Petersen I still get random pain in the shoulder/upper back/ upper chest. I recognize it as "sit down and rela ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen I still get random pain in the shoulder/upper back/ upper chest. I recognize it as "sit down and relax and it will go away." I also get a weird ache on my right side and when I touch the area, I realize more numbness is gone. I think this will probably go on for awhile. They didn't give you any stretches before you left the hospital? I was given a booklet with walking schedule and simple, but effective, stretches to do right away. A few of them were difficult at first.
Amy Steele It will get better. I still get the occasional stabbing pain in my right chest/shoulder if I move wr ... Read more
Amy Steele It will get better. I still get the occasional stabbing pain in my right chest/shoulder if I move wrong, but not like it was even four weeks ago. At the same point you are in your recovery, I couldn't do much with my right arm without severe pain. Stretching was way too painful. Do what you can and be patient.
Having some serious room spinning vertigo. Just one episode a day but three days in a row. Entire room spinning and tilting. I can't pinpoint anything that's ...Read more
Having some serious room spinning vertigo. Just one episode a day but three days in a row. Entire room spinning and tilting. I can't pinpoint anything that's triggering it. But it's always when I'm walking, never when I'm sitting. I called my surgeons office they thought maybe I just had an ear infection. My ears don't hurt and I don't have a fever. If it happens again tomorrow I'm going to call them again.
I'm 2 weeks post op. healing and feeling great. blood pressure still very low, pulse still fast but getting better.
Mike Czaplewski What causes the lump at the top of your scar?
Stephanie Jones the nurse says it swells there because thats the start of the incision and that everyone gets that. ... Read more
Stephanie Jones the nurse says it swells there because thats the start of the incision and that everyone gets that. It eventually completely goes away within a few weeks.
Susan Lyons My lump at the top is all gone. Top of the incision looks fine but the lower part is redder- I did go ... Read more
Susan Lyons My lump at the top is all gone. Top of the incision looks fine but the lower part is redder- I did gouge it with my thumb,when I flipped over in bed but the redness is longer than that.
Wanda Mroz The lump will go away. Just give it time. My scar is so faint at the top is really faint I can hard ... Read more
Wanda Mroz The lump will go away. Just give it time. My scar is so faint at the top is really faint I can hardly see it. Sounds like you are doing great. Keep healing!
Steve Farthing Thanks for the video (and your other updates) which I watched. It helps me get my head around having ... Read more
Steve Farthing Thanks for the video (and your other updates) which I watched. It helps me get my head around having a mitral repair in the future. Also very interesting to hear the details of your recovery and seeing the huge immediate improvement you explained in breathing. :=)
Ray Farmer So good to see you so well, can't believe the difference. How is the wound and do you have any pain m ... Read more
Ray Farmer So good to see you so well, can't believe the difference. How is the wound and do you have any pain moving about?
Stephanie Jones Steve - you're welcome! I have 4 more ill be uploading about the hospital stay.
Ray- the wound is gr ... Read more
Stephanie Jones Steve - you're welcome! I have 4 more ill be uploading about the hospital stay.
Ray- the wound is great. No problem moving. Just have to keep to the lifting and arm position restrictions no matter how good i feel, my sternum needs to heal properly.
Getting discharged. Just saw the surgeon he said it's normal for my post to be a little fast with lower hemoglobin and just having surgery. He said I'm not ...Read more
Getting discharged. Just saw the surgeon he said it's normal for my post to be a little fast with lower hemoglobin and just having surgery. He said I'm not hurting my heart in anyway and if I am not having any symptoms I'm fine without doing the transfusion. He's just going to check my heart records to see if I had any a fib while it was beating fast.
Mike Czaplewski That's great news! I hope to be writing one day that I am going home :)
I feel happy and healthy. Really feeling like I didn't even have surgery. My pulse is still very fast (96-105 at rest 120 walking slow) and I'm not comfortable ...Read more
I feel happy and healthy. Really feeling like I didn't even have surgery. My pulse is still very fast (96-105 at rest 120 walking slow) and I'm not comfortable going home with my heart over working. I don't want to undo what they fixed. So I'm probably going to do the transfusion today if they think that will help
Stephanie Jones Nurse just told me my blood drawn this morning showed that my hemoglobin went up from 8.0 to 8.2
Mike Czaplewski I pray that everything goes well and you get to go home :) Keep us updated.
I was just told from my blood getting drawn this morning that my hemoglobin is low. It's been getting lower each day instead of getting better. It's at eight. ...Read more
I was just told from my blood getting drawn this morning that my hemoglobin is low. It's been getting lower each day instead of getting better. It's at eight. So they're going to give me a unit of blood today. I never thought that I would need put someone else's blood in my body. I'm afraid. I dont know. I was just reading about the risks of blood transfusions and I think I might refuse it I'd rather hang out and wait till my heart can make its own blood. Unless it would be life threatening not to. I just told the nurse that I want to refuse the blood transfusion and she's going to send the doctor in to talk to me about alternatives
Cynthia H. I have had several transfusions in the past 4 decades and have had no problems. I believe they screen ... Read more
Cynthia H. I have had several transfusions in the past 4 decades and have had no problems. I believe they screen donors. Not sure if they test blood.
Cathleen Weed Can you get a direct donor? I used my brother. They should be able to set it up for you. Could take a ... Read more
Cathleen Weed Can you get a direct donor? I used my brother. They should be able to set it up for you. Could take a couple days though 😕. Women need a hemoglobin level of 12-16, so 8 is getting very low and hard to recover from in short order without a transfusion. Hemoglobin transports O2 through the blood which is extremely important for you right now.
Stephanie Jones OK I just talk to the doctor she understands my concerns and she says it's not going to harm me to wa ... Read more
Stephanie Jones OK I just talk to the doctor she understands my concerns and she says it's not going to harm me to wait as long as my blood pressure stays above 70/40 which it is on its own without medication right now, or if my hemoglobin drops to below seven. Do you supporting me and not doing the transfusion unless it's life-threatening not to. Theres a .05 chance of getting hiv or hepatitis with the transfusion. They check the blood for diseases but if the donor was just infected a few days before they donate it wouldn't show up. Not worth the risk to me if I can just wait it out and let my body heal and make its own blood. She said usually within a week after surgery it will do that.
Stephanie Jones Bp currently 111/68 so I'm staying positive.
Stephanie Jones I wish I could've banked some of my own blood before the surgery started. I didn't know if that was ... Read more
Stephanie Jones I wish I could've banked some of my own blood before the surgery started. I didn't know if that was an option and certainly wasn't thinking about it
Diane Zeigler I had to get a unit of blood two or three days after surgery. It really frightened me. I wasn't so ... Read more
Diane Zeigler I had to get a unit of blood two or three days after surgery. It really frightened me. I wasn't so worried about hiv or hepatitis. I was concerned when they told me that I could have a negative reaction to the blood in the first 15 minutes and two nurses would be staying with me during this time. Fortunately, I had no reaction, no infection from the blood and it did the trick to raise my hemoglobin. I was very scared.
A gentleman in the room next to mine took a bad fall today. He felt fine like he was able to get up on his own. And then once he was up he tripped over some ...Read more
A gentleman in the room next to mine took a bad fall today. He felt fine like he was able to get up on his own. And then once he was up he tripped over some wires that were hooked to him and fell down. Make sure you use your nurse bell and call the nurse. Because when you're sitting and you think you'll be fine it may be a whole other story once you're standing. Don't take chances this is why the nurses are there. He felt fine like he was able to get up on his own. And then once he was up he tripped over some wires that were hooked to him and fell down. Make sure you use your nurse bell and call the nurse. Because when you're sitting and you think you'll be fine it may be a whole other story once you're standing. Don't take chances this is why the nurses were there
Cathleen Weed He will now probably have a big yellow star by his name .... a technique we use as nurses to identify ... Read more
Cathleen Weed He will now probably have a big yellow star by his name .... a technique we use as nurses to identify patients who are fall risks. The yellow star is known as the "falling star".
I'm glad you are reminding people to use their call buttons. There's also a condition called Orthostatic Hypotension which is a decrease in blood pressure within 3 minutes of standing from a sitting or supine (flat) position causing dizziness or fainting. It's an issue after heart surgery so it's very, very important to have help getting out of bed. A nurse's worst nightmare is a patient who falls. It's SO important to ask for help. Great post :).
Stephanie Jones Yes, we all have those. Ours our red. Nurse said it was to remind everyone that anyone could fall at ... Read more
Stephanie Jones Yes, we all have those. Ours our red. Nurse said it was to remind everyone that anyone could fall at any time. But they should definitely do a separate color for people that are more apt to get up on their own and not call the nurse or something
Phyllis Petersen I had the dreaded yellow band and yellow socks, plus my bed was alarmed, so I had no choice but to ca ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen I had the dreaded yellow band and yellow socks, plus my bed was alarmed, so I had no choice but to call for help. I mostly did things on my own, but they wanted someone there when I moved from bed or chair or bathroom. It was weird at times to wait, but I did what I was told. No sense taking chances. BTW, I've had orthostatic hypotension for most of my adult life.
I finally left Icu today. And I'm in a normal room I can take walks in the hallway by myself and I'm feeling really good. Tomorrow the therapist is going to ...Read more
I finally left Icu today. And I'm in a normal room I can take walks in the hallway by myself and I'm feeling really good. Tomorrow the therapist is going to try to get me to use some steps.
Cynthia H. Must be a relief to have surgery over with.
(Dec 1 was surgery mital valve repair) Day 4 slept full night should be leaving icu today. All tubes and catheter is removed. I only have the pacemaker wires ...Read more
(Dec 1 was surgery mital valve repair) Day 4 slept full night should be leaving icu today. All tubes and catheter is removed. I only have the pacemaker wires in case there's an emergency and an IV line on mywrist. Theyve been giving me stool softeners and laxatives because I haven't had a movement but they also said that's normal for anesthesia. Forced myself to drink prune juice last night. Never had it it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Bp 90/58. They said it's been consistently low and that it might just be my new normal. So no more blood pressure meds for me. As long as I'm not getting dizzy or having symptoms they said it's OK being that low
Phyllis Petersen They gave me warm prune juice with milk of magnesia mixed in when I was in the hospital. It wasn't as ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen They gave me warm prune juice with milk of magnesia mixed in when I was in the hospital. It wasn't as bad as it sounds and the stool softeners weren't doing the trick. I'm glad to hear you're moving forward.
I just did a walk with the therapist about 600 feet, two loops around the wing. It felt so good. I'm going to try to get up later with the nurse and walk again. ...Read more
I just did a walk with the therapist about 600 feet, two loops around the wing. It felt so good. I'm going to try to get up later with the nurse and walk again. Breathing continues to not hurt so much. I should be leaving ICU today or tonight. I just got a shot in my stomach to prevent blood clots. I never had a shot in my stomach before. It doesn't hurt like it does in your arm.
Ray Farmer Sounds like marathon training time! How does your' heart feel'?
Phyllis Petersen The shot in your stomach didn't hurt??? For me, the heparin shots were the worst. We're each a little ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen The shot in your stomach didn't hurt??? For me, the heparin shots were the worst. We're each a little different.
Meredith Bray Yay! Every step gets you farther along in recovery, so walk as much as you can....but also, don't ove ... Read more
Meredith Bray Yay! Every step gets you farther along in recovery, so walk as much as you can....but also, don't over-do it! We all know from experience when you over-do it - you'll end up sleeping all day the next day! Glad the breathing pain is diminishing. I had that for a few weeks.
Stephanie Jones Phillis, it hurt today. About 20 seconds after the shot it suddenly started burning for a few mins.
Phyllis Petersen Oh no! Yes, it was a burning sensation. I hated those shots, but thankfully only needed them for a fe ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen Oh no! Yes, it was a burning sensation. I hated those shots, but thankfully only needed them for a few days. The bruises took a long time to go away.
I dont think im supposed to have caffiene but regular tea bag came w breakfast. Not drinking it
Catie B Doctors seem to be divided about caffeine. I've opted not to have any since my surgery, since I had s ... Read more
Catie B Doctors seem to be divided about caffeine. I've opted not to have any since my surgery, since I had some rhythm and rate complications.
Phyllis Petersen I was giving caffeine with my first meal in step-down. Are you particularly sensitive to caffeine? I ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen I was giving caffeine with my first meal in step-down. Are you particularly sensitive to caffeine? I was glad that my sister was bringing me my Tazo Chai each morning from the cafeteria. It was very comforting.