Tia's Journal

It has been almost two years since I have made a journal entry, but I have often read the updates of others. Thank you for sharing. I had open heart surgery on February 28, 2011 to repair my leaking bicuspid aortic valve and to repair the resulting aneurysm. I did not find out that I had the bicuspid valve until age 50 in 2006. I am very thankful that it was discovered and that the surgery could be done, saving my life. My mother lost her life due to a burst aorta in 1995, but no one knew she had any problem with her heart or aorta before it burst. I so wish we had known so that she could have been saved. That makes me even more grateful that my valve defect was found in time to help me. I am getting along well as far as my heart is concerned. All is operating as it should be. I did retire early from special education teaching at the end of the first semester in December 2011, mostly due to fatigue resulting from other health issues. I also was not fully recovered from my heart surgery and bleeding ulcer right after the surgery in addition to these other health issues, so retirement was my only option in order to regain my health. My health has been improving since that time, for which I am very thankful. One thing I would say to those of you who are preparing for open heart surgery is that I found that the surgery and hospitalization were not nearly as bad as I thought they would be going in. I expected far more pain and for it to take me longer to heal than was actually the case. The hospital staff were wonderful, as were my family and friends. I know that finding this Heart Valve Journal and Adam Pick's book were great blessings, as were all of the wonderful people who shared their stories and knowledge and gave me encouragement when I needed it. Thank you. Another thing that helped me was Peggy Huddleston's book and CD on preparing for surgery. It helped me prepare both mentally and emotionally. The CD helped calm me in the weeks before my surgery. The book educated me on some things I needed to do to prepare and things I needed to ask my surgeon. I was even allowed to listen to my MP3 player with Peggy's audio and other favorite calming and Christian music during the surgery. I was calm going in and came through surgery with no complications. I would highly recommend both her book and CD. I just looked them up on Amazon and found Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster with Relaxation and Quick Start CD: A Guide of Mind-Body Techniques by Peggy Huddleston, which is the book and CD together. They were separate when I got them. I continue to be very thankful that my leaking valve was found and could be repaired and that I am still alive and my heart is healthy. I wish all of you anticipating open heart surgery all the best. I pray that you will find it to be easier than you thought it would be, as I did, and that all goes well for you. I look forward to reading about your progress as you recover and mark your months and years after surgery. Be thankful, as I am, that these lifesaving surgeries and wonderful surgeons and staff are there for us. God bless!

As of July 28th, it has been 5 months since my surgery and 4 1/2 months since my second hospitalization for the bleeding ulcer complication. I am doing pretty well. I don\'t have nearly enough energy, but one of my doctors told me recently that it will take my body a total of 18 months from the surgery date (Feb. 28th) for my body to totally recover. That is 12 months for the surgey and an additional 6 months for the bleed. I guess that explains my lack of energy at this time. I think I am regaining a little energy, but it is happening so slowly, it is hard to notice. She also had me go through a 7 day detox program to help my body get rid of the anesthesia that was still there. I could tell I got rid of some toxins, which is great. My scar still bothers me some (mainly itching), but I think that is because it has keloided. The Xeragel I am using on it is helping some. I do not feel any pain from the incision. Overall, I am doing better, and most of all, I am thankful to be alive. School and my teaching year will begin at the end of this week, so I will be headed back to work. I wish everyone the best as they go into and recover from their surgeries. I thank you all for the support you have given to me over these months.

My latest milestone in my recovery was that I was finally cleared to be treated by my chiropractor, as of the beginning of May. I have had two adjustments so far, in conjunction with ultrasound treatments, and I can already feel some improvement in my back, neck, and headache pain. I have quite a way to go, but at least I am finally getting some pain relief. I am continuing with physical therapy for my back and neck. I have four more cardiac rehab sessions. This has been quite challenging. They push you very hard physically. It has gotten me back to exercising, which is a very good thing, and now I must keep it up on my own.

I am continuing to work through my cardiac rehab, which is still a challenge for me but I am getting a little stronger. I finally had to drop the resistance/ weight training part for now due to the increased back and neck pain. That part I will work on with my physical therapist. I am up to 10 minutes per machine now. I am still waiting for my energy I had after surgery to return. My echo and blood work were fine, so no problems there. I will keep exercising.

Cardiac rehab is going alright. It sure wears me out and gives me sore muscles. My neck, back, and headache as well a chest pain seem to be worse on afternoons and evenings after a.m. rehab. The chest pain is sore muscles. I have started resistance training Wed. and today. I have only had two physical therapy sessions, so it is still a little early to tell how much it will help. I am doing the exercises I have been given. I have had no more episodes of atrial fib, as far as I know. I am just trying to alternate increased activity, as tolerated, with rest. I think all is on schedule, except for my pain. I can go to the chiropractor in early May!

My follow up appointment with Dr. David Heimansohn, my heart surgeon, went well. (If anyone is contemplating surgery in the Indianapolis area, I very highly recommend Dr. Heimansohn, who is part of CORVASC, and the St. Vincent\'s Heart Center.) He said I was doing well. I may now drive and increase my activity (reaching, gradually lifting more) as tolerated. I will let pain be my guide: If it hurts, then don\'t do it. Due to the lifting and dealing with students in wheelchairs, I will not be able to return to my teaching job this school year. That will give me the necessary time to heal, with a little extra time needed because of my bleeding ulcer and second hospitalization. Dr. Heimansohn said my heart sounds great. I cannot yet go to the chiropractor. I was pleased with the report. I will continue with cardiac rehab for a total of 6 weeks, 3 times a week. I started physical therapy for the back and neck pain today, which should help me.

Tomorrow I will have my follow up appt. with my surgeon. It will be 5 weeks tomorrow since my surgery. I am hoping I will get the okay to drive, I will get a few questions answered, check to make sure some minor symptoms are normal, how the rest of my recovery will progress, etc. and thank him, of course. I have not felt as energetic or as well and I have had more pain/ tightness around my incision the last couple of days. I will find out tomorrow if this is normal. I haven\'t heard the results of the echo I had on Thursday. Overall, I am doing pretty well. I think cardiac rehab will help me feel better and help me begin to get into shape,

I went to my cardiologist today. My heart is back in normal sinus rhythm. He said atrial fib is not uncommon after heart surgery. I will continue to take the amiodorone until I go back to see him in about 5 weeks. He said I am doing well otherwise. I go for an echocardiogram this Fri. to check for possible fluid around the heart. I will be starting cardiac rehab soon.

I went to see my internist as a follow up to my 2nd hospitalization (ulcer, bleeding, and low hemoglobin count). I am doing pretty well and feeling good except for some persistent back, neck, and headache pain. She changed a few meds and prescribed physical therapy. She did an EKG and discovered my heart was in atrial fib again and at 120 BPM. She put me back on the amiodorone twice a day. She checked with the cardiologist and they decided I did not need to go back into the hospital. I have an appt. with the cardiologist tomorrow, so they will do another EKG and check things out. My energy is good, and overall, I feel pretty good. Thank you to all of you who have posted in my guestbook with such encouragement, prayers, and information. You are all such a comfort. Take care, everyone!

I am progressing slowly, which I think is as it should be. I still have more pain than I would like, but I do not want to take any narcotic pain pills because of the way they make me feel. I think the headaches may be partly from the anesthetics, etc. still making their way out of my body. I am prone to many headaches and back and neck pain anyway. Otherwise, I feel pretty good. I can get around the house and do little things for short periods of time with rest in between. I am glad to have the extra energy that I have regained so far-- much more already than I have had in years. I am anxious to see what it feels like to have even more when I am fully recovered. It has just been 23 days since my surgery, so I think I am doing pretty well. To everyone with doctor\'s visits and surgery this week, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

I mentioned that I had trouble seeing with the new glasses I got just before surgery. The distance vision is pretty good, but the bifocal part was fuzzy. I had a pair of glasses I got 16 months ago that were the wrong bifocal prescription and the correct distance vision prescription, and the eye dr. at that time would never make them right. I couldn\'t wear them and just went back to my old glasses out of desperation. This a.m., I found that pair of glasses with the prescription I couldn\'t see out of last year, and I can now see better with them than with the glasses I got just before surgery. Go figure! God must be looking out for me once again. I am just happy to be able to see much better AND to finally get some use out of those previously unable to be used glasses. Thank you to all of you who responded to my question about vision problems after surgery. I really appreciated the answers.

For those of you who have already been through your open heart surgeries, did any of you experience blurry or not clear vision for several weeks after surgery? I thought I read something about anesthesia affecting vision for awhile. I ordered new glasses a week before surgery, and my husband picked them up and took them to me at the hospital. My vision through the bifocals is still not very clear. My distance vision doesn\'t seems too bad. I didn\'t know if this could be normal after surgery or if my glasses are not quite right. Thank you for taking the time to respond. Tia Phillips

I was discharged from the second hospital stay last night, March 16, at 9:50 p.m. I had to have two more units of blood yesterday afternoon and evening, each taking about 3 hours to be administered, and then a blood test an hour after the last one and waiting for the results. My hemoglobin had been 4.something when I went into the hospital last Sunday, and was 8.6 yesterday morning, and was up to 11.6 before they dismissed me. The scopes on Tuesday found that I have an ulcer in my esophagus, which the doctors think caused all of the bleeding. I had to have a total of 7 units of blood during my hospital stay. The staff at St. Joseph Hospital were kind, very competent, and wonderful. I can\'t complement and thank them enough. I had a few medication changes, but the only diet restriction I have is no added salt and regular diet as tolerated. I cannot take any more aspirin or ibuprofen. I am feeling oh so much better than Sunday when I passed out. I am a little tired and feel somewhat like a pin cushion, but otherwise I feel good. I am ready to continue the process of recuperation from my heart surgery. My husband, Jeff, has been so wonderful through all of this. God indeed blessed me when He brought him to me. I am also blessed with a very wonderful family and wonderful friends. That includes the wonderful friends I have met here on HVJ. Thank you all for your prayers and support.

On Sunday, March 13, I was taken by ambulance to the hospital. I have a GI bleed someplace. They are trying to find it. I am still in the St. Joe Hospital in Kokomo. They are taking excellent care of me. All of my dr.\'s are in Kokomo, so this was the right place to come. My heart went into atrial fibrulation due to the dehydration and low hemoglobin count. My heart is back into normal sinus rhythm as of 3 a.m. today. I have had two scopes and possibly another with a swallowed camera to go. I am feeling much better and will be glad to get back home!

I got home about 7:30 last night. My sister, Tari, came last night, also. I am feeling pretty good. I am taking it easy, as ordered, and I don\'t have the energy yet to do a great deal. That will come. Thank you all for your prayers, cards, phone calls, and posts. Love, Tia

I will be leaving the hospital for home within about 15 minutes. The ride is long, but it will be good to get there. It seems like I have been away forever. Thank you for all of your prayers, support, and posts. Tia

I think they have found the right combination of pills to help combat the pain. It is really hard to type correctly, I guess because the pills make me kind of loopy. The care is excellent here! I would definitely recommend it: the \'\'st \'Vincent Heart Center in Indianapolis. I would also highly recommend my heart surgeon, DR. David Heimansohn. He is one one if the best heart surgeons in the country. He was able to repair rather than replace my aortic valve. He is also very nice. I really appreciate all of the phone calls, visits, and posts to my guestbook. They have made me feel much better.