Wendy's Journal

Tracy Simmons  Oh goodness Wendy. Best of luck with the gallbladder surgery. Doesn't it seem sometimes that when it rains it pours? I had my gallbladder removed several years ago - it was a relatively smooth procedure and short hospital stay. Very best of luck.

Marie Myers  I think you have already fulfilled your surgery quota for a while! Seriously, hope it all goes smoothly, and that it is the last surgery you will ever need...

Nancy Surprenant Takahashi  Same here, had hysto in 2016 and 14 weeks later had to have my gallbladder out, now OHS....good grief....

Rose Madura  Wendy, what a scare. I'm sure the last thing you want is another surgery. But at this this one will not be as invasive as OHS was. Best wishes.

Charlotte Dowd  Wendy- your post is so inspiring- thank you! I feel like all my appointments and tests are taking way too long. I can't wait until I'm where you are;-)

Clayton Mcarthur  Mine went a little out of whack from that stuff but the cardiologists told me that it should return to normal once the dose was dropped I have no idea how much you are on or for how long

Rita Savelis  Yes this happens. My THS went way up after OHS.
(I haven't ever taken amiodarone). The thyroid, like other organs is trying to deal with the trauma and changes your body/heart has been through following OHS... and needs time to recover. My doctors had me remain on the exact same dose of levothyrox and my THS went steadily down, but it took about a year.
(P.S. I don't have a thyroid, as it was removed in 2010, five years before OHS, so I take levothyrox every morning).

Sophia Ridley  Hi Wendy, I’m not sure if it will return to normal. I refused to take amiodarone because of this, did mean that I battled with AF for months so I’m not sure how wise a choice that was!!

Wendy Evans  Luckily, I was only on it for 30 days, so they tell me, I should return to normal. We are going to recheck every 3 months. Meanwhile, I eating very healthy and watching everything I eat.

Rose Madura  Great report. I'm 7 months post surgery and still have some pain with incision. I think it's normal.

Catie B  I loved cardiac rehab, too. The staff were so supportive and encouraging. Sounds like you're doing great, Wendy!

Nancy James  I started my rehab last week - my surgery was Sept. 26th. I am actually looking forward each time I have to go. I have some pain on the left side of my chest and upper arm, but the exercises don't seem to bother me much. I had a hard time on the arm bike and had to skip it last week, but I've done it this week on Wednesday and today and I got thru a couple of minutes of it. I can see that I'm feeling better and I look forward to more improvement not only in my physical being, but in my emotional being.

Lilly Black  Great to hear, Wendy! I was around the 6 weeks mark when I really started feeling better after surgery. ✌️👊🏻

Gerald Poulton  Good for you Wendy, it does take time but those aches but gradually they will go away. Good for sleeping on uour side, i found if you keep the top arm on your hip it is better than it in front of you body. That seems to press everything together. Hearing your heart beating or pounding as it seemed for me at that time, will also diminish, mine the big fifference finally came about 3 months. Make sure you get some walking in and keep working on those lungs, that one you have to work on because they dont just recover completely on their own.

Rose Madura  Glad to hear Wendy. Once again, Gerald has nailed it! He sure has helpful responses. I have always heard my heart beating but I've gotten used to it. In fact, I'm glad to hear it beating so strongly!

Rose Madura  I don't know about if stress can cause pain. I guess everyone reacts differently to stress. Remember that you are still in recovery mode and need to take it easy. For me, pain came and went and still comes from time to time at my incisions. Hope you feel better soon.

Phyllis Petersen  Your body has been through a lot and is still adjusting. Being patient when you are in pain isn't easy! Take the pain meds as needed. You will feel better and can reduce them when the time is right.

Nancy James  Hi Wendy - I'm having a lot of pain too. I just posted a note about it on my journal....Tylenol does absolutely nothing for me. I tried Advil and it doesn't do anything unless I take 6 - but I can't do that anymore because I used to do that and messed up my gut and have leaky gut and I don't want to aggravate that again and have an additional problem. I feel for your pain - what's frustrating is doctor's offices don't get back to you - last week I waited 2 days and stayed by my phone - even though it was a cell phone - I had all my notes in a binder of all of my records of blood pressure readings, medicine amounts and times and all that - I didn't want to be on the phone in a store and not have that information with me when they called - but all I got was it just takes time. I am getting depressed and am getting to the point where I am sorry that I had the surgery - I'd rather have been feeling ok even though I'd risk dying, but feeling like this is no life. I just need someone to understand and tell me if they have gone thru this and how they got thru it....
Nancy

Kathi Mancuso  Wow !!!!!! You are doing GREAT !!!!!
I had mine 10-17 so you were 10 days after me ,
I go to Dr 11-15 so we will see how I do !!!
Congratulations to YOU

Gerald Poulton  Great job Wendy but remember the healing is not complete yet so take it easy and take care of you 👍

  Fantastic news! Remember you are still in recovery mode so be gentle with yourself. Great news re: minimal need for pain meds too.

Wendy Evans  Thank you all. Yes, the doctor reminded me too that just because I feel great and am doing well, I have to remember that I am still healing. I am not to overdo or drive for two weeks yet and let rehab tell me what I'm ready to do. I'm just to walk and do the exercises that they gave me. I'm staying with my son, so they keep close watch to make sure I obey doctors orders.

Michelle E  Wendy I just now caught up on your posts - very inspiring and some of it sounds uncomfortably familiar. I have a dry cough I can't shake and mild intermittant pain on my left side. I wonder about the timing of my own surgery date. You sound really good like you came through with flying colors! So encouraging! I'm sorry to hear about your nephew - so young and no warning. My prayers are with you.

Michael Kohring  What a great feeling to sleep so soundly! And it will get better each and every day! Best wishes for your recovery!

Lilly Black  I also did that for my son as well. As soon as I found out about my BAV and that it is hereditary, I took my son with me. My cardiologist offered free Echo exams to my family members....I only had one family member...LOL! but great news, he did NOT inherit my heart issues. TG! I hope that your son is free and clear as well! on the other hand, I inherited it from my dad's side. His older sister died of stroke due to a brain aneurysm, and his younger sister died suddenly of heart issues, but I don't know the exact problem. My dad currently has a descending aortic aneurysm, and he is 92 in several weeks. I'm assuming my younger aunt had a dissection. I wish you and your family receive good news!

Civita Fahey  I was told a bicuspid valve is 25% hereditary and 75% genetic.. meaning that it can just happen 75% of the time in formation in utero.. my family was checked and no one has it thankfully. They also said it would be direct family like parents, kids, etc.. so, hopefully your son is one of the ones that don't have it.. When I had my surgery at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston they asked me if they could take a piece of the old valve and a tube of blood for research they are doing to find the cause.. I was more than willing since I didn't need it anyway lol and if it can help find the cause then so be it.. hopefully in the near future they will know the cause and try to prevent it as 1-2%of the world population is born with a bicuspid valve.

Michael Kohring  Very smart about being proactive. When I was diagnosed With coarctation, BAV and aortic aneurysm, I had all four of my children tested and asked my four brothers to have themselves tested as well as their children. Luckily no one else had the condition, but it certainly helps your peace of mind.

Rose Madura  So happy for you Wendy. I'm glad your son and family are keeping you from overdoing it. You want to take it easy these first few weeks.

  Wendy, I'm so sorry for the loss of your nephew. Sudden death is so shocking. Prayers for you and your family.

Catie B  Oh, that is horrendous! I am so very, very sorry, Wendy. My heart goes out to you over your deep loss. Prayers....

Leslie Bakos  Hi Wendy....What kind of stretching exercises are you doing so soon...one thing I am scared about is I won't be able to stretch out again.

Gerald Poulton  Sounds great Wendy, there always seems to be some complications, seems you got off pretty mildly. Now rest and recover 👍

Rose Madura  So glad to hear everything is going well. And even more glad that they did the surgery when they did. Take your recovery slowly. Welcome to this side of surgery.

Lilly Black  I'm glad your doctor found the problem in time! you will start feeling better day by day. Take one day at a time and tackle the obstacles that come your way one by one. I wish you a quick and successful recovery, Wendy!