Thomas's Journal

Just checking in. Almost 3 weeks post op.[Feb 21st) and in recovery mode at the house. Doing well! Still taking Tylenol regularly, but pain is not that bad at all. Sleep is going very good in my own bed and getting plenty. I was surprised how weak you get after this surgery! Just starting to get energy back. Appetite and taste is slowly coming back..and the emphasis is on the word slowly. This has been the most frustrating thing of all, everything tasting weird and unappealing. This of course causes you to not each much at all the first couple of weeks and lost 18 lbs and e very very weak at times. I have to say that aside from the appetite issue I am thankful to be doing very well.

9 days Post op for Aortic Valve replacement. On the whole, doing really well. Been home for 2 days now and that is a fantastic feeling! Down 15 lbs from day of surgery, but appetite is slowly returning,thankfully. Just eating very small fruits and toasts with glycerna shakes. Amazingly I am able to sleep in my own bed and had 9 hrs last night. This was a godsend after having virtually none the first seven days.

Almost one week ago I had my Aortic valve replaced!Should be getting out from Tufts tomorrow! Keeping held up was my low INR Number. 1.9 this morning, needs to be over 2.Very tired and extremely weak at times and sleep is sparse. Food not that good at all and no appetite, bloating and gas is constant. Pain wise I am off oxy since yesterday and now am only on Tylenol

Big Big Day for me tomorrow Wed. Feb 21st. Aortic Valve Replacement at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Thank you all for the support I have received from here! Complete faith in my surgery team at Tufts,and also from my support team. Ready to get beyond this and start the recovery!

Pre-op today in Boston! Cleared for surgery on Wed Feb 21st. Another round of Blood tests were had, a urine, ekg, and also a chest X-ray. Blood work was very thorough and included 6 tubes! ( My God!) and got results back when I was there- AMAZING. All clear on that end and all clear on chest X-ray, urine and ekg. They want you to be tip top for the big day. Had a meeting with my surgeon ( Mr.Hong Zhan) who again guided me, my wife and son thru any questions we had. Took his time and very nice.I am surely in great hands! 

Running into a little hiccup past couple days with an itchy rash of sort on both arms ,little on stomach and back. I researched this somewhat and could possibly be a delayed reaction of sorts from the dye used for my aortic cath, which was on the 16th. Maybe interacting with meds I am on. Got checked out and was prescribed prednisone, which I started taking today. Anyone else have this happen? Still a bit black blue …and yellow from the cath on my arm

No bleeding thru wrist bandages during the night thankfully and slept really good all thru night. Taking the next couple of days off.Bandages came off tonight ( wrist and groin) and no issues.Doing really well😀

Went for my Angio Cath yesterday to see if anything else needs to be taken care of during Aortic valve replacement. Thankfully, not too much going on besides.Have a very small vein that is 99% clogged but other ones right near it are covering for that one nicely . So small they don't think a stent is even doable. A moderate bit of plaque on another, but no crisis. Procedure went really really well.Mild sedation and was nice and relaxed, but aware of everything.They tried going thru the wrist but couldn't so the groin it was😀. Only issue I had was when  was getting ready to leave My wrist artery opened up again and it looked like a massacre.Blood pressure dropped, turned white and excessive sweating, on verge of fainting. Once on the bed patched up and felt much better immediately. To home an hour after that. No moving of wrist for the next 24 hours but am doing well

My Surgery is scheduled for Feb 21st ! Things are getting real😀 Had my blood work down yesterday for my angio cath Tues and looks good. Need clearance from my dentist now,which could be a hiccup in this plan as my teeth are not the greatest and need some work.Good grief.

Talked to my Dr. today about my ECHO results from Mon Jan 2nd. Seems my results from Aug 2023 ( Severe Aortic Stenosis) to even more severe this past reading.That said My Dr. thinks it is time.Was planning at first for prob mid April but now looking like mid Feb Surgery for me, which I am totally on board with. Have a angiogram set up for Jan 16th. In good spirit@s and have started working on my recovery plan.