T.C.'s Journal

So, I haven't been on here in a while and today I realized I need a community to share these moments, so I am back! I am 8 months post OHS #2, had the Bentall procedure done by Dr. Starnes. Went through a little hell with my incision opening up and having to have a nurse come to the house every day for 10 weeks to clean and redress the hole in my chest! Whatever, I am young and strong and well it all turned out just fine! But the area is all new skin and more sensitive than further down my chest. I went through cardiac rehab just fine, lost a little weight (bonus!) and go to the gym 3x a week as instructed. So mainly no structural issues and have been going about daily life as one should...right? Yes and no...and here's where I would love to hear from you. Even this late after surgery my chest is tight, I have emotional moments where I want to cry (omg..like now writing this!), sometimes I feel a little cracking in the upper chest, I touch my scar and wince a little and want to cry (even though I have lived with a scar down my chest since I was 5 and Dr. says I have double the scar tissue in the exact same place so double the recovery) I think the newness of this one gets to me more, I feel less confident at the thought of being romantic (divorced 2 years ago) let along "hitting the dating scene", and hide all this from friends and family putting on the "I'm great" face. Does anyone else have these emotional moments, these sensations/pains? I was made aware that the anesthesia takes a VERY long time to leave your body because it can get into your muscles and sit there, and that could explain the moments where I tear up...I don't know though. Anyway, I would love to hear from you. I do find when I eat well, no sugar, no alcohol, no carbs, it is less, and I find when I am close to my woman cycle it is a bit more! lol Trying to take it all in stride. The more I smile, the better I feel, but I have come to realize there are others out there that have gone through similar situations and I would really like to hear from you. Thank you for your support!

I am almost at 10 weeks post surgery...I was wondering if anyone has gone for a massage before this point in recovery? If so, did you find it hard, any discomfort, able to lay on your stomach (I still haven't). Thanks!

Today I am 7 weeks past my OHS at USC Keck by Dr. Vaughn Starnes! I am 46! I had a complete Aortic Root Replacement and a new Resilia Aortic Valve put in me. This is my 2nd OHS, the first was when I was 5 years old! Zipper #2 if you will! Everything went well! But somehow I have managed to mess up my incision and no it wasn't because I lifted or started activity too fast! I had a hematoma pop the night before I flew home to Florida and that started the opening. I now have a 4.8cm long opening - or I say HOLE - in my chest and am set back a few extra weeks. Very upsetting, but I have to get through this. Me - I'm doing great, driving, walking, being a mom going to daughters tennis matches, walking the dog, resuming mother duties...not walking the 4 miles a day to the beach like before, but will get there. Emotionally, it set me back. I'm a single mom and I'd love to be going out more with friends, but I'm embarrassed and sad that I the top part of my scar is not looking like the bottom part! And now I have a wound vac coming to speed it up! More tubes, great! :( Anyway...has this happened to anyone? What did you do? The thought of carrying around a wound vac for 2-4 weeks (I think) is very upsetting to me! I have cried about it and even to the local surgeon who is taking on my case since Starnes is in LA. Thanks everyone. And I am sending all my love and well wishes to everyone on this site! I am new and super thankful to Debby Tomlinson for referring me to it!