What is the best thing that's changed since your surgery?

[Hot Rod Harry]

Mine is that I dream, EVERY time I go to sleep, no matter if it's 30 min, or longer. I love it!!

The past 2 years, as my symptoms increased, my sleep patterns got worse, and I barely had a dream.

I'm so glad that has changed. My Dr. says it could be because of increased oxygen to the brain, and or, the medication. Anyone else notice this change?

 

[geebee]

I take Inderal which can cause vivid dreaming and it does with me when I can manage to sleep. Sometimes I like the dreaming and sometimes it gets really annoying. Some of my dreams are really stupid and those seem to be the ones I remember most. I seem to quickly forget the great ones where I am a celebrity or an astronaut or rich or dating Mel Gibson (yes, I still like him).

The best thing that has happened to me is simply the ability to wake up each day. I truly feel I have been give 26 years as a wonderful gift that I try to appreciate each day. Some days are easier to do so than others but, even on the bad days, I still try to remember to thank God for keeping me around for who knows what reason?

 

[Ross]

Umm..........No comment.

 

[Jkm7]

I think I've made a few contributions to a few people that may have helped them. If, indeed, they feel I have helped, that would be the best thing I could hope for.

 

[BDMc]

Best Things...

Best Things...

Harry, I didn't post on your other thread, so let me say welcome aboard! Some of the pains I used to get pre-op, I almost never get now I feel like my heart is more open since surgery. It does change one's perspective! Most importantly, I think I'm begining to change. That's something that I wouldn't have had the chance to do without OHS! Brian

 

[Karlynn]

I'm alive! I got to see my children grow up. (I felt so horrible prior to my surgery that I didn't see myself living very long.) And now I'm going to be a Grandma in another month or so. Never in my wildest dreams 15 years ago did I think I'd see that stage of my life. (Granted, it's a little sooner than I would have expected but oh well!)

The best think as far as being valve specific? My clicking is a great party attraction - "Hey everyone - be real quiet so we can see if we hear Karlynn's valve!" The kids that sing on my praise teams at church always ask me to put the mic on my mouth so they can hear me ticking. I guess it doesn't take much to entertain the people I know.

 

[barbwil]

stairs, stairs, stairs

stairs, stairs, stairs

Harry, it's a pleasure to be able to walk up a flight of stairs from doing the laundry in the basement without having to stop half way up due to being short of breath!!

 

[Ozmercy]

Focus

Focus

I have always been a pretty upbeat guy (though sanguine personalities like mine can be subject to drastic lows at times) but since the surgery and since coming home I would say my focus as to what is important versus what the world around me tries to make me feel is important has become crystal clear. My neighbor approached me yesterday and asked if the flowers smell better and food tastes better etc. I answered that not in a literal sense, but most assuredly in a metaphorical sense. I savor everything and enjoy my family so much. I am driving them all crazy, constantly telling them how much I love them and how special they are to me. My oldest is a no nonsense girl and I think she is going to scream if I call her just to tell her much I love her again. On the other hand I know she appreciates it and is very thankful that everything worked out well. So back to the point, I love eating, I am enjoying every moment with friends and family, but most importantly I have a clearer focus of what I want out of everyday and I what I should do with the days ahead of me.
In the Lord of the Rings Frodo said to Gandalf "I wish this ring had never come to me, I wish none of this had ever happened to me." Gandlaf replied "So do all men who live to see such times as these, but it is not up to us to determine the times we are in, but what will we do with the time that we have."
I have learned to make the most of the time that I have and to treasure every moment. The focus is cleaer than ever before in a nutshell, "Love God and love others(family, friends, co-workers, even enemies)." Use every day to do those 2 things and every day will be of value. Sorry that was a long answer to a simple question, but this is why I think that facing my mortality has been the best thing to ever happen to me.

 

[Ozmercy]

whoops another thing

whoops another thing

My wife! Wow what a trooper. She has stood by me through thick and thin. I don't think it will be to much longer before I hear "get up and get it yourself!" but she has been nurse, errand girl, taxi driver, back massager, constant companion and a few other things I can't mention here. Today I saw a really attractive shapely woman (remember I live in L A County the home of silicone and Botox) as she walked by I thought she might be a looker, but would she have spent everyday taking care of me and given me her workout time? Nah, I dont think so. After 27 years of marriage I am more in love with my spectacular wife each and every day.

 

[Leah35]

Life

Life

I think the most important thing that's happened to me is that I've gotten my life back.....I'm 36 with two youngs boys.... I have always helped out at their school, at their sporting events, held down two or three jobs...and played baseball! As I got to feeling really bad before my surgery, i dreaded each and every one of those things. Of course I wasn't playing baseball, but I did not want my kids to have friends over and i did not want to help at the school.....and I did not want to do a whole lot of things......BUT now...as I get better and better, I find myself looking forward to those things again. I can hardly wait until basketball season starts and we're off and running again!

It's funny.....someone saw me the other day and told me how great I looked....she then told me that the week before my surgery I looked like crap, but she didn't want to tell me that....and then other people have told me that since. I didn't think I looked that bad...because I consciously tried to make myself look good.....but I guess it was obvious!!

I guess life is great!. ....I've never been so happy as the moment I awoke from surgery to see my smiling husband's face and my mom's ecstatic face.....it was a very real moment....that I will never forget...as long as I live!

Hugs

 

[Marguerite53]

Ever since I went on Atenolol my dreams have been so vivid! I'm still on the same dose post surgery and it's getting to the point that once in awhile I'm not sure what was real or what was dream. I could've sworn there was a guy selling fiddles at the side of the road on the way home from the coast, but my husband looked at me like I was crazy when I mentioned it. So.....was I just remembering a snippet of a dream????

In the bigger picture, I think petty things have now fallen off my radar screen. I'm better about getting things done so that they don't take up time in my mind. I walk up a steep hill in the hot sun and even though my heart is pounding, I am not out of breath. I'm sure people stare at me when I look up to the sky with my arms outstretched and smile. It feels so good to be approaching normal!

Good luck to you. And welcome to our community.

Marguerite

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

We take so, so, so much for granted until something, such as OHS, stops us dead in our tracks and forces us to take a good long look at ourselves. The best thing that has changed since surgery is a realignment of what truely is most important in life. Calls to my dad, sister and friends are more frequent. Little things my kids do for me melt my heart even more....love notes, flowers, prayers, huge hugs! I laugh more. I laugh all the time. I thought I was always happy,.but looking back I haven't felt good for such a long time, I realize now I wasn't enjoying my life at all because I had to focus so hard on surviving each day. It's amazing....truely amazing. Life is such a gift. I completely appreciate each and every day I've been given.
(one more thing....i love how easy it is to breathe now.... )
Oh, and one more one more thing....... people get totally whacked out over the most insignificant things...I notice that. ( disclaimer**I am not talking health issues cause I think all health related issues are significant**) My mind's camera lens clearly and quickly distinguishes between nonsense and what truely needs to be addressed. Another revelation is too many people get way too deep into drama and I ain't one of them and I have zero tolerance for those that do. Parent -Teacher Conferences should be real, real interesting this year for my team. I'm afraid the quiet , reserved, me has left the building.
I've noticed I talk way too much on these things. I will put away my soapbox. I used to be so shy.
Debbi

 

[WayneGM]

My experience is like Debbi's. For me, the best thing was the "wake up call" that one can't take life/health for granted. Up to this point I had never been really sick or injured, so thought I was invicible and overlooked many of life's simple pleasures. Now I have a new perspective on what's important and respect for those things previously taken for granted.

One things, for sure....I'll never fault my wife for nagging me to go to the doctor for my "annual" check-up again.

 

[mtkayak]

Yes, I dream like crazy now. I think it's the anesthesia and other pain meds at the time of surgery. I always go through a dream phase after I've had anesthesia after a procedure or surgery. I usually dream up to 6 months to a year after that and they are vivid. I don't take any medication other than warfarin.

It's like a friend of mine, who was a cancer patient, said to me "Cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me, it made me appreciate my life so much more". She is probably the happiest person I know. I didn't quite understand her statement until after my OHS. She was right, OHS is the best thing that ever happened to me. I didn't quite understand things as well when I was a kid but now I do.

 

[RandyL]

The best thing you ask?
Hmmm.... I know its out there I just can't put a finger on it, must be pumphead syndrome working overtime.

 

[debster913]

Hey there--
Getting my life back. Waking up in the ICU and seeing the happiness in my mother's and husband's eyes. (My mom almost lost me twice--I have no idea how she handled that). Being able to walk with my husband around our neighborhood and not feeling like I want to pass out. Being able to do daily routines without having shortness of breath. Seeing my cardiologist smile when he listened to my heart for the first time after my surgery and didn't hear a murmur. Knowing that I am a survivor: I survived a heart attack at birth, and I've survived heart surgery. Knowing that the first 30 years of my life were limited by my valve disease, and now I can look forward to my next 30 with more confidence and health.

For a while, and I'm sure many can echo my sentiment, I was somewhat depressed (had to deal with other health issues for a while), but I wake up every day grateful to be alive. I'm a teacher, so my mom bought me a Snoopy stamp to use on my students' homework on which Snoopy is hugging his pal Woodstock, and it says, "It's a brand new day, the sun is shining, and I'm alive!" That's how I try to look at every day now, as a gift.

I second what Leah says, I get people telling me all the time how much better I look (and like Leah, I did my best to look good before my surgery). Even the nurse at the surgeon's office told me at my follow-up that despite my efforts to look presentable at my pre-surgery consultation, I looked tired--and now, she said, my eyes sparkle with life.

Now when I feel like crap, I remind myself that God wanted me back for a reason. I'll still have struggles, but I feel more equipped to handle them now...and I'm sincerely hoping I can go back to work and be the best teacher I can be...better than before!

Debi (debster913)

 

[distances]

Nothing like being able to take a deep breath

Nothing like being able to take a deep breath

I love being able to walk up hill without stopping to catch my breath a zillion times. To celebrate, my husband and I just spent fabulous week hiking in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It's taken 3 years' recovery to get to this point, but well worth every minute.

Hot Rod Harry: Ironically, I'm grateful that my horrible nightmares stopped immediately after surgery. I don't miss them at all.

 

[DeWayne]

At this point I don't have a best thing. Although I had and needed surgery I was not feeling bad prior to the surgery. In fact there was little I was not doing until my cardiologist told me to stop lifting things over 10#.
I am 4+ weeks out of surgery and I am still having a difficult time with taste. Nothing tastes right. I find a few things I can eat that are sort of ok, but I am told my taste buds probably won't return to normal till they change a couple of my medications, Iron pills and sotolol. Till then I eat what I can.

I am hopeful that I will return to feeling as I did prior to surgery and maybe even with a little more stamina than I had prior. But I have a ways to go before I find out on that front!

I went into surgery weighing about 168-170# I am currently down to 155#, which is a little lower than I want being that I am 6'-1 1/2" tall. But then skinny runs in my family

 

[RandyL]

At this point I don't have a best thing. Although I had and needed surgery I was not feeling bad prior to the surgery. In fact there was little I was not doing until my cardiologist told me to stop lifting things over 10#.
anI am 4+ weeks out of surgery d I am still having a difficult time with taste. Nothing tastes right. I find a few things I can eat that are sort of ok, but I am told my taste buds probably won't return to normal till they change a couple of my medications, Iron pills and sotolol. Till then I eat what I can.

I am hopeful that I will return to feeling as I did prior to surgery and maybe even with a little more stamina than I had prior. But I have a ways to go before I find out on that front!

I went into surgery weighing about 168-170# I am currently down to 155#, which is a little lower than I want being that I am 6'-1 1/2" tall. But then skinny runs in my family

I had the same problem, lost 60 lbs till I started eating ICECREAM. It will help you get by till you enjoy other food.I really got weak with all that weight loss so fast.

 

[gcmhphleb]

Best things since surgery..

Best things since surgery..

The best thing for me is being able to breathe,, and just being is so wonderful, I know longer let the little things in life get to me. Because I have bigger things to do, I am so happy that I have a future to look forward to. God Bless us all,, We are all miracles of god.. Miracles of modern technology, saved us all. I thank god for all of you everyday!!