Teddy Atkins - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

29 days ago

Hi,
Hope everyone is having a wonderful January. This month I am starting cardiac rehabilitation. I am excited to start and gain my mobility back. I was... Read more

Hi,
Hope everyone is having a wonderful January. This month I am starting cardiac rehabilitation. I am excited to start and gain my mobility back. I was curious if any one had any ideas of what I should bring for my first day?

Thank you

J Alexander Lassally While some people get a ton out of rehab, realizing that every day of the process in months 2-3-4-5 i ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally While some people get a ton out of rehab, realizing that every day of the process in months 2-3-4-5 is about recovery - is key. Self paced walks of increasing duration and speed are king or queen to recovery and you can do that every day.

Valerie Allen Rehab is great and will boost your confidence with exercising as they monitor it. I didn’t need to ... Read more

Valerie Allen Rehab is great and will boost your confidence with exercising as they monitor it. I didn’t need to bring anything unless it is your insurance etc. just wear comfortable clothes.

Teddy Atkinsposted a journal

40 days ago

Hi,

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Last month was hard ,but well worth it. It is a blessing to see how far I have come with my recovery. I... Read more

Hi,

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Last month was hard ,but well worth it. It is a blessing to see how far I have come with my recovery. I'm glad to say I'm starting my cardiac rehabilitation program this month. And I'm nervous about it and also very excited as well. So lots of good things are happening

Happy 2026!

Rose Madura Congratulations on your progress Teddy. May 2026 be a great year for you!

Teddy Atkinsposted a journal

67 days ago

I was wondering if anyone had any problems with night sweats? My cardiologist says its common for the younger people to experience this phenomenon. It's ...Read more

I was wondering if anyone had any problems with night sweats? My cardiologist says its common for the younger people to experience this phenomenon. It's a weird situation that only lasts 15 minutes and it's gone.

Grace Mason Hi Teddy,
I had night sweats for a few weeks after returning home post surgery.
Just an annoyan ... Read more

Grace Mason Hi Teddy,
I had night sweats for a few weeks after returning home post surgery.
Just an annoyance for a bit. Unless you start running a fever I wouldn't get concerned.

Chris Germano I had exactly what Grace described. Very normal for the first few weeks. Hang in there, it'll get bet ... Read more

Chris Germano I had exactly what Grace described. Very normal for the first few weeks. Hang in there, it'll get better everyday.

Teddy Atkinsposted a journal

68 days ago

Melinda Donahue, Kent Dunkleberger, Michael Chaisty and 2 others reacted to this

Hi,

I must say it is nice to be home and already seeing improvements as I progress.

Marie Myers You did it! Congratulations on your surgery!

Melinda Donahue Home helps a lot

Ana Brusso Congratulations on your successful surgery, continued good health. 🙏❤️❤️‍🩹

Teddy Atkinsposted a journal

70 days ago

Harry Neumann, Rose Madura, Pamela Gregory and 2 others reacted to this

I got released from the hospital . And so proud and happy to be home. Thanks for all your supporting prayers

Valerie Allen Excellent news, congrats!

katie shaw Congratulations!

Rose Madura Welcome home!

Marie Myers You did it!

Pamela Gregory There is no place like home!!! Congratulations

Teddy Atkinsposted a journal

78 days ago

Pamela Gregory reacted to this

I am very nervous about my surgery coming up. But yet happy and excited about my new beginning. And praying for a very good outcome for my surgery.

Wendy Hanavan I feel the same Teddy. I’ll be praying for us both leading up to our surgeries tomorrow. 🙏🏻� ... Read more

Wendy Hanavan I feel the same Teddy. I’ll be praying for us both leading up to our surgeries tomorrow. 🙏🏻❤️

Pamela Gregory Sending thoughts and prayers to Teddy and Wendy for a successful surgery

Susan Lynn Teddy and Wendy - You're both going to do just fine! We'll be cheering for you tomorrow and anxious ... Read more

Susan Lynn Teddy and Wendy - You're both going to do just fine! We'll be cheering for you tomorrow and anxiously awaiting your post-op good news!!! Go get 'em!!!

Teddy Atkinsposted a photo

78 days ago

Wendy Hanavan, Susan Lynn reacted to this

Rose Madura Great picture!

Susan Lynn Great photo!

Teddy Atkinsposted a journal

90 days ago

Hi,

I have to travel for my surgery. And its winter. Its a good few hundred miles outside of town .Does anyone have any tips on traveling to come ...Read more

Hi,

I have to travel for my surgery. And its winter. Its a good few hundred miles outside of town .Does anyone have any tips on traveling to come home after surgery to make it more comfortable?

Valerie Allen Flying or driving?

Teddy Atkins I am driving

susan harris my son said the car seat (riding in back seat) was hard and uncomfortable. i wish i had put a piece o ... Read more

susan harris my son said the car seat (riding in back seat) was hard and uncomfortable. i wish i had put a piece of foam down. make sure hodpital can give you enough pain meds to get you home. (even if you stop for night in hotel). make sure you have a 24 hr pharmacy at home to fill pain meds. not knowing what time discharged and what time arrive home, could be night!

Teddy Atkinsposted a journal

92 days ago

Hi,

Planning for my surgery had made me wonder a few things. What is the most useful thing to have when coming home from the ...Read more

Hi,

Planning for my surgery had made me wonder a few things. What is the most useful thing to have when coming home from the hospital? And would clothes with zippers be easier to put on than the pull on clothes?

Rose Madura Great question. I would get pants with elastic and shirts that button in the front to wear home from ... Read more

Rose Madura Great question. I would get pants with elastic and shirts that button in the front to wear home from the hospital. You may be a little bloated. A recliner was helpful for me. You can rent them if you don't have one. A shower chair was helpful as well. I'm sure others will chime in with more ideas.

Teddy Atkins Thank you

those are really good ideas

J Alexander Lassally 10000% Have a recliner chair on hand for sleeping with electric controls. In case the bed does not f ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally 10000% Have a recliner chair on hand for sleeping with electric controls. In case the bed does not feel comfortable. Many of us relied on this for the first weeks/month post surgery!

Richard Munson Wow, 10,000 %. I actually did not have one and look how great i turned out. In my eyes anyway.

J Alexander Lassally @ Richard - and you had your special apparatus you invented to hoist and fling yourself around !

David Buchanan Definitely zippers !!
loose fitting tshirts
recliner was where I slept for 3 weeks when I got home

Wendy Hanavan Hi Teddy, it looks like we are having our surgery on the same day – December 2nd. It’s getting ve ... Read more

Wendy Hanavan Hi Teddy, it looks like we are having our surgery on the same day – December 2nd. It’s getting very real, isn’t it?

I wondered about getting a recliner and after some good advice here I’ve got one organized (to rent) and be delivered before I go into the hospital. I also started to pull some clothes with zipper fronts out and put on a rack.

BethAnn Dispoto I was quite swollen so shoes that are a little bigger and slip ons

Teddy Atkins Thank you

definitely going to find clothes with zippers. December 2 is definitely around the corn... Read more

Teddy Atkins Thank you

definitely going to find clothes with zippers. December 2 is definitely around the corner.

susan harris a wedge for bed. after one night in recliner, my son actually preferred wedge we borrowed from a fri ... Read more

susan harris a wedge for bed. after one night in recliner, my son actually preferred wedge we borrowed from a friend do not sure where they got it but it’s a giant wedge of giant covered in cloth ghat keeps you elevated in bed.

susan harris a massage therapist that came to house. believe it or not, it was cheaper than going out to one and h ... Read more

susan harris a massage therapist that came to house. believe it or not, it was cheaper than going out to one and he said it helped a lot. he was sore from tubes.

Teddy Atkinsposted a journal

95 days ago

Hi,

This is my first post. Very glad to join a community of heart patients like myself. I was diagnosed with a Congenital Aortic Stenosis when ...Read more

Hi,

This is my first post. Very glad to join a community of heart patients like myself. I was diagnosed with a Congenital Aortic Stenosis when I was born . Had a surgery when I was one year old. Now I am 33 years old . I will be seeing my first surgeon consultation tomorrow.

Marie Myers Welcome to the HeartValve site. This a a great place for people who understand your situation, you ... Read more

Marie Myers Welcome to the HeartValve site. This a a great place for people who understand your situation, you can also get good information on many heart related issues.

susan harris you are close to my dons history. OHS st 5, just had new valve age 27. you will do great. do your ho ... Read more

susan harris you are close to my dons history. OHS st 5, just had new valve age 27. you will do great. do your home work about options. don’t let anyone tell you what’s right for you. you get to decide!

Teddy Atkins Thank you