Susan's Heart Valve Journal

Anna Jones Hi Susan, I don't live in Cincinnati. Some thoughts I have are:

1. Join Meetup.com You will find a bunch of different special interest groups to join and ... Read more

Anna Jones Hi Susan, I don't live in Cincinnati. Some thoughts I have are:

1. Join Meetup.com You will find a bunch of different special interest groups to join and something might stir your interest.

2. Check out Planet Fitness. It's membership is inexpensive, they are usually open and staffed 24-hours a day, and I don't think they require a contract.

3. Check out yoga or tai chi.

Hope this helps.

Rose Madura What about a local Y or recreation center? My husband and I joined our rec center for $34 each for the year (senior rate). It allows unlimited access to the ... Read more

Rose Madura What about a local Y or recreation center? My husband and I joined our rec center for $34 each for the year (senior rate). It allows unlimited access to the walking track. We can do the gym with weights, elipticals, bikes etc for $2 each time. We've met "regulars" there including talking to the workers. They have other activities - swimming, volleyball, zumba etc for nominal fees.

Sonia M First of all Congratulations on completing your Rehab and recovering from your surgery.
I’m a motivational speaker volunteer at my hospital’s Cardiac Rehab ... Read more

Sonia M First of all Congratulations on completing your Rehab and recovering from your surgery.
I’m a motivational speaker volunteer at my hospital’s Cardiac Rehab for over 3 years.
As a Cardiac Rehab Mentor, my first suggestion is perhaps if you are interested and see it in yourself that you can be a volunteer at any hospital near you and help other Cardiac patients with their recovery, will be something great that you can do with your time.

And being active doesn’t stop at rehab graduation, plz make time to do any activity you can during the day, specially walking.
Wish you All the best!!

Sophia Ridley I was off for 3mths. The change of routine, hussle and bustle of commute and work (I have to go through Central London) and having to think wore me out, I did ... Read more

Sophia Ridley I was off for 3mths. The change of routine, hussle and bustle of commute and work (I have to go through Central London) and having to think wore me out, I did a staggered return over a few weeks. It was exhausting at first, but give it a few weeks. Do be watchful not to overdo it when you think you’ve got this!!

Rita Savelis Exhausting! And I feel for you doing work AND rehab.
Not to mention your team moving and your login changing. Geez....
You needed that nap in front of the ... Read more

Rita Savelis Exhausting! And I feel for you doing work AND rehab.
Not to mention your team moving and your login changing. Geez....
You needed that nap in front of the TV.
Do NOT feel guilty for leaving early!
It will get easier, but take it slow. And NO guilt!!

Civita Fahey I went back to my desk job after 10 weeks, ( I had been working at home around 6 hours from week 6), but, being in the office, and as you said doing things ... Read more

Civita Fahey I went back to my desk job after 10 weeks, ( I had been working at home around 6 hours from week 6), but, being in the office, and as you said doing things like walking around and moving, is exhausting. I took a nap almost every day for the first couple of weeks after going back full time.. things will settle down, your body will get used it.. one step at a time.

Bonnie Stone-Hope Hi Susan,
Having to deal with IT on your first day back is enough to make you want to have a nap! And then to realize that you have a new environment to adjust ... Read more

Bonnie Stone-Hope Hi Susan,
Having to deal with IT on your first day back is enough to make you want to have a nap! And then to realize that you have a new environment to adjust to, just sounds exhausting.
Time to be very nice to yourself, do some "self-talk" and just focus on you!
Best wishes, Bonnie

Gerald Poulton Good for you Susan and there is nothing wrong with being the youngest woman in the class 😀. Keep up the good work, the best investment that a person can ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Good for you Susan and there is nothing wrong with being the youngest woman in the class 😀. Keep up the good work, the best investment that a person can make is in themselves and that us what you are doing👍

Melissa A I’m having surgery in 3 weeks. I’m 28 and my Dr warned me multiple times that I will be the youngest one in cardiac rehab. But I’m excited to go and make ... Read more

Melissa A I’m having surgery in 3 weeks. I’m 28 and my Dr warned me multiple times that I will be the youngest one in cardiac rehab. But I’m excited to go and make new friends :) I work with the public and the older ones are my favorite! They have great story’s

Danielle Smith I also started Cardio rehab this week. I'm 34 and am significantly younger than my classmate. I'm also one of only two females in a class of about a dozen students. ... Read more

Danielle Smith I also started Cardio rehab this week. I'm 34 and am significantly younger than my classmate. I'm also one of only two females in a class of about a dozen students. Interestingly all the males have had heart attacks and both myself and the other female student have had cardiac surgery. Not sure if that reinforces a recent finding on the differences between treatment of both sexes post heart attacks or not...

Rita Savelis I hear you Susan. It seemed like most in my rehab were older men (some of whom appeared to have never worked out in their long lives). There were a few young ... Read more

Rita Savelis I hear you Susan. It seemed like most in my rehab were older men (some of whom appeared to have never worked out in their long lives). There were a few young women (in their 20s) and I felt quite sorry for them because it was really a world of old folk.
(and I was 54!) The lives and worries of the younger women were SO different from those of the retired folk. Just because everyone had had OHS didn't mean they could relate to the others...

Marie Myers Ditto for me. I never really bonded with any of the other patients, and when I finished my 35 sessions I was done with them. I have been keeping up on my own ... Read more

Marie Myers Ditto for me. I never really bonded with any of the other patients, and when I finished my 35 sessions I was done with them. I have been keeping up on my own with bike riding and walking. I just turned 64 , but I was pretty much the youngest one there.

Gerald Poulton Hi Susan, I think you have to answer that one, do you feel healthy enough to return those hours if work . Can you afford to take more time off work with no ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Hi Susan, I think you have to answer that one, do you feel healthy enough to return those hours if work . Can you afford to take more time off work with no pay ? It does seem a tad early to return but it depends on how you are doing. I had full pay so I didnt rush it. You have to do what is best for you .
Take care if you 👍

Civita Fahey I worked full time after 10 weeks.. I did have a partial FMLA which allowed me to leave an hour early on MWF when I had cardiac rehab.. IF you are still on ... Read more

Civita Fahey I worked full time after 10 weeks.. I did have a partial FMLA which allowed me to leave an hour early on MWF when I had cardiac rehab.. IF you are still on FMLA which you doctor can extend due to rehab they have to allow you to go to your visits. maybe you even ask about that.

Lilly Black Susan, I took exactly 3 months leave with disability. When I went back to work, it was difficult because as you said, not much time to work on cardio rehab. ... Read more

Lilly Black Susan, I took exactly 3 months leave with disability. When I went back to work, it was difficult because as you said, not much time to work on cardio rehab. But I managed although it was super hard emotionally. I had to be on the ball at all times because I had 5 people reporting to me, and I had client meetings as well. I won't lie, it was difficult, but I made it and feeling pretty good now. I was not up for the challenge, but in hind site, glad it worked out :) good luck! too bad your Employer won't give you what you need.

Adam Brown Susan, sorry to hear it’s a struggle, but sounds like you have to be patient with yourself. If your PT says you’re doing the right things, you just keep ... Read more

Adam Brown Susan, sorry to hear it’s a struggle, but sounds like you have to be patient with yourself. If your PT says you’re doing the right things, you just keep doing them.

I just walked down the hallway and feels like I ran a 10-k. I bet I won’t feel like that a week from today. I have confidence that you will keep getting in better shape between now and when you return to work.

God bless,

Adam

Rita Savelis I hear you. It is still so very very early for you. Post surgery is exhausting. You have to take it slow and going back to work is daunting for everyone. It ... Read more

Rita Savelis I hear you. It is still so very very early for you. Post surgery is exhausting. You have to take it slow and going back to work is daunting for everyone. It is hard to know where you will be in 5 more weeks but perhaps you can go back to work part time at first like many do. One's energy does come back, but slowly. OHS is NOT like other surgery. Your heart has been traumatised and it controls so much.
It took me a LONG time to feel I was making progress, but I was thankful that my doctors said it would be like that and I did not feel like I was outside of some impossible norm.
Often it feels like 2 steps forward, one step back.
Don't feel bad about doing all the resting you need to do now. I wish you the best.

Barbara Wood It is still so early for you Susan! The first 6 weeks can be really tough & exhausting. What you describe sounds about where I was at that point. Will you be ... Read more

Barbara Wood It is still so early for you Susan! The first 6 weeks can be really tough & exhausting. What you describe sounds about where I was at that point. Will you be doing cardiac rehab? That really makes a big difference. I started back to work 1/2 days at about 12 weeks post - if you can swing it, that would be a good way to ease back into it. It sounds like you are doing great! Hang in there, it does get better:)

Catie B Glad you are doing well, Susan. I think tiring very easily is part of the package.

Cardiac rehab will start you at a pace you can manage. They are very mindful ... Read more

Catie B Glad you are doing well, Susan. I think tiring very easily is part of the package.

Cardiac rehab will start you at a pace you can manage. They are very mindful and watchful over patients--supportive, too.

Lisa McLaughlin Glad you're doing well! I liked Dr Answini and plan to schedule my surgery for mid January. I'm still deciding on mechanical or tissue valve. Did you have minimally ... Read more

Lisa McLaughlin Glad you're doing well! I liked Dr Answini and plan to schedule my surgery for mid January. I'm still deciding on mechanical or tissue valve. Did you have minimally Invasive surgery or the traditional sternotomy?

Susan Rush Lisa, Dr Answini did a minimally invasive procedure. My scar is only about 3" long and doesn't look bad at all. The way Dr. A explained it, he goes in planning ... Read more

Susan Rush Lisa, Dr Answini did a minimally invasive procedure. My scar is only about 3" long and doesn't look bad at all. The way Dr. A explained it, he goes in planning a minimally ivasive procedure - but depending on what happens or what he finds then he would move to a traditional sternotomy.

Karen Warren Don't forget to take all the prayers and positive vibes from this site with you. I'm sure you will be made good as new and home before you know it. I will be ... Read more

Karen Warren Don't forget to take all the prayers and positive vibes from this site with you. I'm sure you will be made good as new and home before you know it. I will be praying for you and your heart team. I mean, what could wrong on my 60th birthday--nov21. You got this. Be strong.

Rita Savelis Of course there is always something one forgets. But you have to give up control. Things will happen. Some will be what you expected. Others will surprise you. ... Read more

Rita Savelis Of course there is always something one forgets. But you have to give up control. Things will happen. Some will be what you expected. Others will surprise you. Your situation is singular.
Enjoy the movies.
Wishing you the best. Take care.

Civita Fahey its unfortunate that you had to have this experience. Of course we can all have bad days, and maybe Dr. Nasty was having a bad day, but, it shouldn't be brought ... Read more

Civita Fahey its unfortunate that you had to have this experience. Of course we can all have bad days, and maybe Dr. Nasty was having a bad day, but, it shouldn't be brought over to his patients. Compassion and empathy should be #1 when it comes to healthcare and treating patients. I'm glad you got it cleared up.. best of luck on your surgery.

Rose Madura Susan, glad the surgeon took care of everything for you in a professional manner. When my cardiologist retired, they hooked me up with Dr. Bedside Manner. ... Read more

Rose Madura Susan, glad the surgeon took care of everything for you in a professional manner. When my cardiologist retired, they hooked me up with Dr. Bedside Manner. Within two minutes of meeting me (and without any kind of exam or test) told me I needed surgery and wanted to know what kind of insurance I had because "these things are expensive". We were in shock and then livid. We switched to a new cardiologist whom we love and were so glad we did. Some people just need "nice" lessons.

Gerald Poulton Hi Susan, it is a tough time for you, a combination of fear and panic as the days tick by and surgery gets closer. . but you just have to try to understand ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Hi Susan, it is a tough time for you, a combination of fear and panic as the days tick by and surgery gets closer. . but you just have to try to understand that you are in good hands and whatever procedure your doctor ordered would have been necessary. It is quite common for surgeons to have poor bedside manner and they are under a lot of pressure and extremely busy. Hang in there 💐

Karen Warren Hi Susan, maybe call back the office and tell them you NEED to make an appointment with the surgeon before surgery. Write down all your questions and make sure ... Read more

Karen Warren Hi Susan, maybe call back the office and tell them you NEED to make an appointment with the surgeon before surgery. Write down all your questions and make sure he answers them. Surgeons are busy, but you should have all your questions answered. Maybe he has a nurse practitioner or physician assistant you could see. Prayers your way.

Civita Fahey Hi Susan
working in healthcare myself (compliance side) you should report any treatment that you feel is not compassionate.. its the hospital's staff job to ... Read more

Civita Fahey Hi Susan
working in healthcare myself (compliance side) you should report any treatment that you feel is not compassionate.. its the hospital's staff job to treat you like a human being and not a number..You should feel comfortable with both the doctor and the OR staff when having such a major surgery.. I would call the CEO, COO or whomever is in charge of that hospital and let them know how you were treated. I'm sure they have a compliance office where you can contact the Compliance officer. You should not feel confused as to what surgery you are having.. it should be very clear to you.. If you are having surgery on Tuesday you should have your test results by now.. If the doctor is too busy to review labs he should have a competent staff to help him out.. I'm sorry you had to go through this..its stressful enough knowing you are going in for surgery without being treated like you are number in a system.. Best.. civita

Barbara Wood I'm glad Civita gave you such good, practical advice. We deserve to go into this major surgery feeling assured & confident in our care team. I see your surgery ... Read more

Barbara Wood I'm glad Civita gave you such good, practical advice. We deserve to go into this major surgery feeling assured & confident in our care team. I see your surgery is very soon, I hope you will be reassured by your team & feel better about the surgery. Sending positive vibes...hang in there Susan & keep us posted.

Nancy James I was fortunate to have my oldest daughter come from out of town and stay with me for 3 weeks. I know that when people who don't have someone to help them ... Read more

Nancy James I was fortunate to have my oldest daughter come from out of town and stay with me for 3 weeks. I know that when people who don't have someone to help them that the hospital can arrange for you to go to a place that you can stay until you get through the first couple of weeks. In my case I'm 68 and would have been able to go to a Retirement Home Community place that is set up for this very thing - you can talk to your hospital about that. I wouldn't suggest you try to do it alone. You will need help. Keeping track of the medications - fixing meals - even doing dishes would be a chore for a few weeks. I am at 6 weeks post surgery right now and I'm able to do most everything, but I am still very sore in my upper chest and arms areas. The doctors say it will get better - but it's easy to get impatient when you just don't feel like you are feeling great. This is a major thing so you need to make sure you have help....call your hospital and see what they would suggest...you will be glad you did.
Nancy

Nancy James That's great. Just have to be bold and stick up for yourself and find answers. I have Humana Gold Choice insurance and I cannot believe that they totally ... Read more

Nancy James That's great. Just have to be bold and stick up for yourself and find answers. I have Humana Gold Choice insurance and I cannot believe that they totally took care of all my home care - Nurse, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist and I just finished up last week.....it was so great to have that to rely on - This is all new so it's hard to know what to do - but just ask questions - and you will find that everyone is so helpful....Good luck and God bless.

Catie B Once you're home from the hospital you could request Meals on Wheels, if that would be a help. I had no friends/family to help and completely understand your ... Read more

Catie B Once you're home from the hospital you could request Meals on Wheels, if that would be a help. I had no friends/family to help and completely understand your concerns. It's good if you have neighbors you could call on in a pinch, for things like opening a tight jar. Wishing you a very successful surgery and recovery. Susan!

Margot Swann Susan, my open heart aortic valve replacement was Oct 2. The first few days in the hospital were tough but I found after that my recovery soared. I’m ... Read more

Margot Swann Susan, my open heart aortic valve replacement was Oct 2. The first few days in the hospital were tough but I found after that my recovery soared. I’m glad you have a companion that first week home. I felt weak and a little unsteady. The second week I was just extra tired. I would definitely line up friends and food after that. The Home Health will help you feel safe.
Keep posting!

John Dodson Hi Susan, I had AVR surgery on Oct 18. My son was here for the first and third weeks. To fill in the 2nd week, he setup a website in which friends could volunteer ... Read more

John Dodson Hi Susan, I had AVR surgery on Oct 18. My son was here for the first and third weeks. To fill in the 2nd week, he setup a website in which friends could volunteer to provide stays or meals or whatever other help I needed. It depends on your community of friends, but it worked very well for me. The free website is called: lotsahelpinghands.com

Best of luck to you.