Ah, life! I\\\'m glad to be here and yes, things do get better.
Well, it turned out to be a bad week, losing my darling cat companion. My thanks to all ...Read more
Ah, life! I\\\'m glad to be here and yes, things do get better.
Well, it turned out to be a bad week, losing my darling cat companion. My thanks to all who sent comforting words and caring thoughts to me in this difficult time. It really helps.
Earlier in the week I had my follow-up appointment with my surgeon and that went quite well. Everything looked good and I\\\'m healing well, except I do still have irregular heart beats which he thought was \\\"probably\\\" A-Fib. He suggested that having a cardioversion procedure might be the solution, but to check with my cardio doc on that. I thought the Maze procedure I had during my mitral valve surgery was supposed to solve the problem of irregular beats, but apparently not. While I don\\\'t look forward to having my heart shocked back into normal rhythm, I hear that cardioversion is not such a big deal. It\\\'s done as an outpatient procedure and doesn\\\'t require a hospital stay (I\\\'ve had more than enough of the \\\"hospital experience\\\" for a while). Guess I\\\'ll see what the cardiologist says.
I can sometimes hear my mechanical valve ticking when I\\\'m lying down, and at those times I\\\'m definitely aware of the irregular beats. Hearing myself ticking always reminds me of the crocodile in the Peter Pan story, who swallowed Capt. Hook\\\'s watch (along with his arm) and forever after haunted Hook with the tick- tick-tick sound. But I digress...
I finally got the results back of a CAT scan of my head that was done several weeks ago after my episodes of dizziness and vertigo. The scan was clear, so now I\\\'ve been given the OK to start cardiac rehab finally. I\\\'m going to the orientation for that next week and am looking forward to getting started.
I\\\'ve been out walking more, now that the weather has started cooperating. I\'m also able to go out for extended periods of time without tiring myself out too much. Last night we went out for pizza and Italian gelato and a movie, \\\"Crazy Heart\\\" which Jeff Bridges definitely deserves an Oscar for.
Now I\\\'m looking forward to springtime and a visit to my son Matthew in Santa Cruz, CA, hopefully in another month or so.
In the meantime, I\\\'ll keep on tickin\\\' (and clickin\\\')!
Susan
Just when I thought my mending heart was being knit back together nicely, I lost my sweet 14 yr. old kitty today. My Lucy, who sat in my lap faithfullyevery ...Read more
Just when I thought my mending heart was being knit back together nicely, I lost my sweet 14 yr. old kitty today. My Lucy, who sat in my lap faithfullyevery day when I came home from the hospital. And when she wasn\\\'t curled in my lap she was watching over me while perched on the arm of my recliner.
We had to put her to sleep today. She had been losing weight over the past year and we tended to downplay that,thinking it was just old age. But there were more major health issues we weren\\\'t aware of until today, and suddenly it became time to say goodbye.
As I said goodbye to Lucy, I told her that I will see her again someday. Dr. Claussen, our veterinarian (who knows about my open heart surgery) then added, \\\"But not for a long, long time\\\". Her words gave me comfort. Life does go on, despite the pain of loss of loved ones as well as the setbacks we face every day.
I\\\'ll write more later,
Susan
Happy Valentine’s Day, Everybody!
The heart symbolism of this day has a whole new meaning for me this year. To be whole and mending is a wonderful thing ...Read more
Happy Valentine’s Day, Everybody!
The heart symbolism of this day has a whole new meaning for me this year. To be whole and mending is a wonderful thing and I am so grateful to be here. It has been exactly one month to the day since I had my mitral valve replaced and I’m getting a little better every day. I feel like I made some major progress in the last week or so, getting some energy back and being able to do more.
Here is some good news to look forward to down the road, for all of us who are taking Coumadin or Warfarin:
At my follow-up appointment with my cardiologist last week he told me he is heading up a drug trial here for a new blood-thinning medication which will eliminate the need for individual monitoring with blood tests. It will be the same dose for everybody, given in pill form daily. He’s hoping that the FDA will approve the drug in another two years or so. I don’t know the name of the drug, but will find out. Just wanted to share that bit of encouraging news.
Best wishes to all,
Susan
My body has been trying to tell me to take things nice and slow... and easy. As I was getting ready to go to my followup appointment with my primary care doc ...Read more
My body has been trying to tell me to take things nice and slow... and easy. As I was getting ready to go to my followup appointment with my primary care doc the end of last week, I got rocked by a big wave of dizziness, followed by rubber legs and the need to sit before I crashed. Called my husband for help and, wonderful attentive caregiver that he is, Jerry was there in a second. Spent about 5 minutes sitting with my head down, feeling nauseous, sweaty and horrible, but never passed out completely. Called the cardiologist\'s office to report what happened, and the nurse asked me if I had eaten anything for breakfast. Well, I had not yet gotten around to that and also hadn’t taken my morning pills. On top of that I apparently was getting all worked up about getting to my appointment. So I spent most of the rest of the day in my recliner feeling pretty weak and not wanting to get up, afraid that I’d have another episode. I haven’t had a repeat of that, thank goodness.
Then Saturday night I had a major muscle spasm or cramp in my neck, shoulders, arms and back. On the 1 to 10 pain scale it rated about a 12 – by far the most pain I’ve experienced since the surgery, more painful than the run-over-by-a-truck-feeling right after the operation. Hollered for my trusty caregiver Jerry (what would I do without him!?) who came running with a couple of pain pills. The whole thing lasted about 5 minutes and ended before the pain meds kicked in. I’ve since learned that muscle spasms and nerve problems in those areas of the body do occur after heart surgery. I now have some stretching exercises my PCP gave me to do and I can apply heat to the pain if it comes back. It hasn’t returned, so let’s hope it stays away.
I\'m finding that my energy and endurance level are increasing but I really have to remember to pace myself. Was able to go out to a restaurant for a nice dinner yesterday evening and handled that just fine.
Today my big outing was to the lab for a Coumadin recheck and the rescheduled visit to my primary care doc, who says I’m doing well despite the recent setbacks I described.
Patience is the name of the game. I also have to remember that the road to recovery has some potholes along the way.
Update from Susan:
It is great to be back home, with nobody waking me up at 4 am to weigh me or take my blood. Also, the hospital\'s version of heart-healthy ...Read more
Update from Susan:
It is great to be back home, with nobody waking me up at 4 am to weigh me or take my blood. Also, the hospital\'s version of heart-healthy cuisine left everything to be desired.
Now that I\'m back I\'ve spent a lot of time in my recliner, reading, watching TV and being hovered over by Lucy, my cat. She\'s appointed herself guardian of my well-being and when she\'s not curled up in my lap she\'s on sentinel duty on the arm of the chair. Funny how our animal companions know when we need to be looked after.
The fatigue is what really gets me and it grabs me out of nowhere. I can be humming along feeling fine and then all of a sudden it\'s like an alarm bell going off: \"Stop! Rest! Now!\". So I stop and rest and maybe take a nap.
I\'ve had some pain off and on from the incision but it has not been bad. I\'ve also had some neck and back issues, but I think that\'s due to strained muscles from twisting and turning while trying to avoid using my arms for support.
Appetite has been good. We have enough food to feed an army, thanks to neighbors and friends and the wonderful people at our church.
Coumadin level was up to where it should be when I got tested yesterday. We\'re still tweaking the dosage and I have to return to the lab for a recheck on Monday.
All in all, things are going very well. My husband Jerry, my main caregiver, should be nominated for sainthood. Cranky invalids can be a real challenge and he has been doing a great juggling act.
More later,
Susan
Hey Everybody!
I got to go home yesterday (Wed. 1/20). It is wonderful to be back and such a relief to have the surgery behind me, although I know there will ...Read more
Hey Everybody!
I got to go home yesterday (Wed. 1/20). It is wonderful to be back and such a relief to have the surgery behind me, although I know there will be challenges in the weeks ahead as I recuperate.
They decided to keep me at the hospital a couple of extra days to get my Coumadin level up to where it should be. As mentioned in earlier entries, I ended up getting a mitral valve replacement rather than a repair. When a TEE (trans-esophageal echo) was done in the OR it was immediately apparent that my mitral valve had a lot of calcification and scarring, which meant that a repair was not an option. My surgeon said the degenerative changes to the valve were consistent with a history of rheumatic fever, and this was a big surprise. I did have strep throat a few times in my childhood and early adulthood and rheumatic fever can be a complication of strep, so who knows.
What I do know is that I have this strong new St. Jude mechanical valve ticking away and it will last the rest of my life. Today when I woke up from my afternoon nap I realized I now have the ability to take strong deep breaths at will, and I can’t tell you how great that feels. I guess that over time I had gradually gotten used to having to take several shallow breaths before I could fill my lungs completely, especially when in a lying down position. My husband said it best: “You have an 8-cylinder engine that’s been running on 4”.
The only down side of the mechanical valve is having to be on a blood thinner (Coumadin) the rest of my life and the levels need to be watched and tweaked regularly and tested every month. I consider that a small price to pay for the chance to start over with a healthier heart.
Again, thank you all from the bottom of my new improved heart, for the caring support, positive healing thoughts, prayers and encouragement you have offered to me every step of the way.
Time to turn in now, but I plan to keep this journal going now that I’m home.
Thank you Adam, for providing this space for people to stay connected and informed on all things related to heart valve surgery. You are providing a tremendous service to us all.
Susan Murphy
The e-mail sent to all, immediately after the results of the operation was revealed, on January 14, 2010.
As most of you know, Susan underwent open heart ...Read more
The e-mail sent to all, immediately after the results of the operation was revealed, on January 14, 2010.
As most of you know, Susan underwent open heart surgery today to correct a mitral valve malfunction. I'm happy to tell you that the surgery was very successful and the surgeon said that Susan now has a stronger and better heart, and a new mitral valve that will last the rest of her life. While doing this surgery, he also did an ablation to correct the atrial fibrillation.
Susan is currently in a post operative room in the Intensive Care Unit. Once they remove her breathing tube, she will move up to the Intermediate Care Unit. She will be probably sitting at the edge of her bed and or in a chair by tomorrow afternoon. Right now, she is still under the effects of the anesthesia. But tomorrow(or the next day), she will be able to receive visitors, and actually talk to them.
We will keep you posted further, but I wanted to get off a quick e-mail to relate the happy news today.
As some of you know, Susan has created a journal, and there will be additional postings in the journal, as well as an opportunity for you to make an entry or additional entries. Incidentally, the link to Susan's website is
http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/journals/guestbook/susanmurphy
Fond regards,
Jerry Murphy
P.S. Megan Murphy was able to create this e-mail in the hospital waiting room on her laptop. :)
I had to have it replaced, because apparently I had Rheumatic fever at one point, and in that case, with the calcification, repair was not an option. So i now ...Read more
I had to have it replaced, because apparently I had Rheumatic fever at one point, and in that case, with the calcification, repair was not an option. So i now have a nice, new St. Jude mechanical valve. I think I can go home on Monday. Each day I am feeling stronger. It feels so good to have this behind me.
Well, that's all for now.
I will have some more later.
Love,
Susan.
Well, we're finally down to the wire here and it looks like the surgery is really gonna happen. Assuming that all systems are "go", following my pre-op physical ...Read more
Well, we're finally down to the wire here and it looks like the surgery is really gonna happen. Assuming that all systems are "go", following my pre-op physical tomorrow (Wed. 1/13)my mitral valve surgery will be Thurs., Jan. 14th in the morning.
We'll be checking into the Embassy Suites across from St. Luke's Hospital tomorrow, so that the next day all we'll have to do is cross the street and we'll be at the hospital first thing in the a.m. Luckily we won't need to rise at the crack of dawn (not that I plan to get any real sleep the night before). We are supposed to arrive at 8:30 am to prepare for surgery and the procedure will be done around 10:30 or 11:00 am CST. So, anyone reading this is invited to send some good thoughts or a prayer my way around that time on Thursday.
My parents and sister are arriving in KC this evening and will also be staying at the Embassy Suites during my hospital stay. Tomorrow night we will all go out for a great steak dinner to celebrate my Dad's 88th birthday, which happens to be the day after my surgery. It will be good to be celebrating with family the night before, as it will definitely help take my mind off things.
For my fellow heart valve patients who are either preparing for surgery or recovering from your procedure, I'd like to recommend a CD of guided imagery that I really think has helped me prepare. It's called "Meditations to Promote Successful Surgery" (www.healthjourneys.com). This imagery is used by the Cleveland Clinic and other medical facilities and has been found highly effective in helping patients prepare for surgery and heal afterward. I heard about it at the Cleveland Clinic's website.
Thank you, everybody, for your positive thoughts, encouragement and moral support as I meet this challenge. I know that I'll get through this just fine.
Susan
Thanks everyone for your warm and caring thoughts as I continue the wait for surgery. I now have a new surgery date set: Thursday, January 14th.
I saw my ...Read more
Thanks everyone for your warm and caring thoughts as I continue the wait for surgery. I now have a new surgery date set: Thursday, January 14th.
I saw my cardiologist this week and he advised me to wait until mid-January for the operation, to be sure I’ve completely gotten over this chest cold. He reassured me that it’s absolutely OK to wait a few more weeks. It was important for me to hear that because I’ve been stressing out about postponing surgery. In the back of my mind has been the nagging worry that by waiting too long, I’d somehow miss my optimal window of time to get my mitral valve fixed, and my condition would go irreversibly downhill.
But Dr. Bybee (the cardiologist) says not to worry. He also said he feels extremely confident that I will only need a repair of the mitral valve, as opposed to a replacement, and that I will be just fine. I was very happy to be hear that, but am also prepared for a mechanical valve if that is indicated. We won’t know for sure until I get to the OR.
Whatever the case, I’m trying to teach myself to just let go, think positively, and remember all the many blessings I’ve been given and all that I continue to receive.
Love and best holiday wishes to all,
Susan
What a day. Was supposed to have my pre-op physical this morning, but had to call and cancel because I knew I'd flunk it. I've come down with a nasty chest ...Read more
What a day. Was supposed to have my pre-op physical this morning, but had to call and cancel because I knew I'd flunk it. I've come down with a nasty chest cold and my mitral valve surgery has now officially been postponed. My cardiac surgeon, Dr. Borkon,said "No way" I'm having surgery next week.
I'm actually very relieved, because I was prepared to wait it out until Monday (one day before surgery)to see if I'd be in good enough shape to do the pre-op exam for surgery the following day. And of course, I would not want to be operated on if there was any doubt that I was healthy enough for the procedure. I've heard a lot about how painful it is to cough after open heart surgery and I can't imagine hacking away with my sternum held together by stitches.
So, back to the drawing board. I'm now looking at Tuesday, Dec. 29th as a new possible date for surgery. I feel awful about the last minute cancellation for lots of reasons, not the least being that I just want to get this over with.
I'm coming to believe more and more that things happen for a reason, and it feels like next week's proposed surgery date was just not meant to be. I learned today that my mother had an MRI which shows plaque in her carotid arteries, and now she may be facing surgery herself very soon. She was scheduled to arrive here on Monday to be with me for my surgery, along with my sister Jane and my father. There's no way I would put them through a stressful trip, in light of that news. My family will be close by my side in spirit wherever they are and I'll feel their love for me no matter how many miles separate us.
In the meantime, I'll just keep on tickin'!
Love to all,
Susan
I'm scheduled for my surgery a week from today and I think I'm about as prepared as a person can be. I've sworn off the Internet this week (aside from this ...Read more
I'm scheduled for my surgery a week from today and I think I'm about as prepared as a person can be. I've sworn off the Internet this week (aside from this heart valve surgery site, which is wonderful) because information and misinformation overload have gotten in the way of my staying calm and focused. Connecting with people I love and care about, as well sharing information with other people in my situation, is a gift of the Internet that I'll continue to take advantage of, before and after open heart surgery.
My sister Jane will be flying down here with my Mom and Dad the day before the operation and will stay for a few days afterward. My husband Jerry and granddaughter Megan will be here, of course, as well as Jerry's son Rory and his wife Glynis. It means a lot to be surrounded by family and the emotional support will be invaluable. My son Matthew will be coming to spend Christmas here after I get home from the hospital, and I'm very much looking forward to that.
The routine is that immediately after the surgery I'll go to the Intensive Care Unit for monitoring. After about a day there I'll be transferred over to the medical ward until I'm ready to go home. The total hospital stay should be 4 or 5 days.
On Christmas Eve Matthew will be flying in from CA to spend the holiday with us and visit for several days. That will be the greatest Christmas present of all. I'm looking forward to just catching up with my son and hanging out while I start recuperating. They say I won't be able to drive a car for 2 weeks, but I can go out to dinner or the movies if I feel up to it.
I will keep up this journal to let everyone know how things are going.
I wish everyone love and peace and all things wonderful this holiday season.
Susan