Susan's Heart Valve Journal

Hello Everyone,
Latley I've been experiencing some strange heart beats lately. I have wokr up from a stressful dream to find my heart beating very hard and fast. I had this happen just sitting and watching tv, then go to stand up and my heart beats heavy and fast. I'm 10 months post aeortic valve replacement and am not due back to the Cardiologist until december. Is this happening to any of you? I just don't knoe if it is worth going back to the doctor early.

Today I am 7 months out from my AVR surgery. I'm feeling okay, but not how I thought I would feel. All the doctors told me how much energy I would have post surgery. I don't have any more energy now than I had 6 mo prior to surgery.

But the good news... Today I went to see a different cardiologist. He had a very bubbly personality and easy to talk to. I took a list of about 4 questions that I turned over to the nurse, along with a medical history when I arrived. He made a point to answer every single question, and then wrote his answers down on the paper and gave them back to me for when I got home! WOW.

We talked about my energy level, and he agreed to reduce my metoprolol dose, to help with the energy. He was also willing to discuss a reduction in aspirin therapy as well. (you see I also have ITP, so with platelets at 37k - my blood doesn't clot very well and I bruise very easily.) I was SO HAPPY that the cardiologist was willing to help me balance my Heart Valve Issues and my ITP.

I now hope that in another six months, as I get further and further from my surgery date, that I WILL have more energy, less bruising, better handle my stress, and feel more like 58 instead of 78.

Today was my last day at Rehab. I'm happy and sad about it. I do feel much better and more confident that I can lift/tote/walk as much as I want. I also feel a real sense of accomplishment that I made it through rehab - but it did take 14 weeks to get in the 36 visits. Mostly I was there 3x a week, but had a few weeks where I was either exhausted in general or had something going on at work and felt I could not go to rehab.

I'd like to continue exercising, and rehab does have a maintenance program that is fairly cheap - but I worry whether I will make myself go 3x a week after having worked all day. (Many days are very stressful.) It was a lot easier to go to rehab when I was only working half days three times a week.

I also feel like I need to find something to get involved in socially. Surviving OHS is a second chance in life, and I don't want to waste it just sitting around my condo. Any suggestions? Anyone live here in cincinnati interested in getting together for a meal or a movie?

Hi Everyone,
I'm looking for some feedback on how they are doing with Cardiac Rehab. I am halfway thru the 36 classes and am having a lot of knee and back pain. I work hard - but am not doing anything that should aggravate these areas. The class is set up to use a different machine after every 5-6 minutes, but I do spend the last two periods on the treadmill, because I like it best. Would welcome your comments and suggestions.

Today was my first day back to work. I was only there 4 1/2 hrs, then left for rehab. It was a hectic morning, as since I had been gone for 8 weeks, the network didn't recognize my login anymore - so I spent most of the AM with the iT department, and the rest of the time sitting up my new desk. (My team moved while I was out. Any yet...no one bothered to email me and tell me!) I felt so guilty leaving at 12:45 for rehab, but I sure was tired after hiking around the office all AM, and then going to rehab. I came home, turned on the TV and fell asleep for almost 2 hrs.

Completely expected feeling this way, but worry about wearing myself out. How were your first days?

Hi everyone. I started Cardiac rehab last week and am enjoying it. The exercise feels good and when I find it hard, I just tell myself I'm making my heart better.

There is one thing... I'm 57. Everyone else in the class is close to 70, several are in their 80's. I feel really out of place. I know it is silly - I just didn't expect to be the only one under 70. :-)

Hi everyone,
I am talking to my employer about returning to work. I wanted to return part time @ 20-24 hours a week, so I would have time to go to Cardiac rehab 3 afternoons a week. Cardiac rehab does not have a slot open till Jan 9th 2018.

My employer will not let me return 20 hrs a week and keep my health benefits. They are wanting me to work 30 hours a week. This could make scheduling cardiac rehab more difficult. (I would in an office as a project manager. Stress level = medium.) Has any of you worked this much when you first returned to work?

I would appreciate any advice you have. My only other option is to remain fully on disability (unpaid) until I can return to work full time when Cardiac rehab is complete.

I guess the first thing I have learned - is make sure your surgeons office does the inital set up of Cardiac Rehab for you on week 5. Mine didn't, and I have lost almost 3 weeks waiting for a slot to open for me. Also - since it is the end of the year, of course my insurance changes on Jan 1st. So trying to get information about insurance you don't have yet is VERY DIFFICULT. Had two calls to the Ins. Co - and got two entirely different sets of information and pre-certification requirements for Cardiac Rehab. Seems like all I have done for two days is talk on the phone to the doctors, Rehab, and Insurance. I'm exhausted! And still worrying that the new insurance will deny/cause issues with getting rehab set up and paid for. Cross your fingers for me!

This week has been a tough one. Being home alone is starting to take it's toll, and I have done a few things around the house I probably should have let wait, but didn't.

My Physical Therapist says I am making good progress, but It doesn't feel like I am getting any better. Walking around the hospital on Wed and today trying to do some grocery shopping, both WORE ME OUT. It was just too much for me. I had someone with me to carry everything, but the walking was just too much.

I looked at the calendar today, and I have just 5 weeks left before I go back to work. I know 5 weeks is a while away but My office building is HUGE, and I am worried I won't be able to do all the hiking around that the corporate culture requires. I have so far to go in just 5 weeks and I am concerned.

I had my surgical followup today with the NP at my surgeons office. She was very through and answered all my questions. She said the valve sounds great and I appear to be doing well and released me from surgical service. I have two weeks yet to wait to go visit MY Cardiologist's NP to get me registered for Cardiac Rehab.

One confession - walking into and around the hospital for the followup appointment WORE ME OuT! It was a lot more walking than I had been doing, and I fell asleep in the car on the way home. So I have more work to do before rehab! :-)

Home two days from hospital. Got dressed myself- seemed to take forever.

I feel like I am missing/forgetting something. House is stocked up with groceries, I'm packed for the hospital, and have the dogs packed for the kennel. And am just sitting around watching movies and doing laundry. Am I forgetting something??

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for you help and comments on yesterdays post. I was so frustrated. It appears my visit to my surgeons office yesterday paid off. My surgeon called me this morning and first off assured me that Dr. Nasty Anesthesia guy would NOT be on my care team. He said he had a favorite person, and I would enjoy talking to him the morning of the surgery - in person. He then talked to me about my procedure and confirmed what we had talked about previously (the heart educator was wrong) and fully answered all my questions. He was very patient and apologized for what had happened at the pre-admin testing.

I felt so much better after talking to him, and now feel a little more confident in the surgery.

As for Dr. Nasty - Oh yeah...I'll be writing to the hospital - before surgery.

Thanks to all of you for your support!

Hi Everyone, went for pre-admin testing at the Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. OMG - it was horrible. I leftt here in tears because of the way the anesthesia Dr spoke to me. You just would not believe the arogance and lack of compassion this man expressed to me. He wasn't even in the room with me - it was by video call. Later Heart educator came in telling me about my procedure. It was NOT the procedure the surgeon discussed at my office appointment. When got all done - I left and went to the surgeons office and spoke to his nurse about both problems. Asked her again to have the surgeon call me or schedule another appointment with dr. (I've been waiting a week already for surgeon to call me to discuss test results, as he had not looked at them when I had my office visit.) Surgery is scheduled for next tuesday. I don't know what to do.

Hi everyone. I am 2 weeks out from an aortic valve replacement and am worried about the recovery more than the surgery. I live alone and am worried about being able to take care of myself. I have a niece staying with me for the first week, but am on my own after that. ANy ideas? My surgery is Nov 21st at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, OH.