Day 4 post-op and feeling 😎

Pmacky09 · Jun 30, 2024

Had OHS on Wednesday at Paul’s in Vancouver to replace my bicuspid aortic valve which crossed the “severely stenotic” threshold in February!

I am in utter shock at how good I feel. Pain has never been more than 3 and mostly between 1-2. Only on regular Tylenol! Wowsers.

I had read that, of course, but was fully prepared for an 8 and delighted to convey that none of my worst fears came to pass.

Been getting my steps in. Slow! But moving which I’m SO grateful for.

This community helped me prepared SO well and I will forever be grateful for all the selfless support I have found here. What a goldmine!

My biggest complaint has been trying to sleep amid all the bells and whistles in the hospital. Not so bad. They said I will likely go home today.

Have an amazing day friends!

Survived03 · Jun 30, 2024

Fantastic news and welcome to the other side! Keep getting those walks and do the breathing exercises. I hope you do get to go home. Might be a bit quieter than a hospital

Good luck.

Pmacky09 · Jun 30, 2024

I’m determined to get the walks in and have set reasonable goals to ensure I’m not overdoing it, which I know is a real thing!!

Seaton · Jun 30, 2024

Really great news!

Love those post-op pain numbers you quoted. Long may they continue.

Nice and easy as the days go forward. Things should improve steadily and your strength return.
Fantastic that home is on the horizon later.

Sending lots of good healing thoughts to you.

dick0236 · Jun 30, 2024

Congratulations!! Your post-op story is very inspiring. Don't rush it......you've got a long life in front of you.

d333gs · Jun 30, 2024

Pmacky09 said:
Had OHS on Wednesday at Paul’s in Vancouver to replace my bicuspid aortic valve which crossed the “severely stenotic” threshold in February!

I am in utter shock at how good I feel. Pain has never been more than 3 and mostly between 1-2. Only on regular Tylenol! Wowsers.

I had read that, of course, but was fully prepared for an 8 and delighted to convey that none of my worst fears came to pass.

Been getting my steps in. Slow! But moving which I’m SO grateful for.

This community helped me prepared SO well and I will forever be grateful for all the selfless support I have found here. What a goldmine!

My biggest complaint has been trying to sleep amid all the bells and whistles in the hospital. Not so bad. They said I will likely go home today.

Have an amazing day friends!

Hi Pmacky, this sounds amazing! Did you get the 'full zipper'?
My first week was tough. I did go down to the lobby to get coffee but I had no appetite and I could not swallow without pain. I lost 15lbs? The first week pain often got out of control. I had my first good meal on day 8 at an extraordinary rehab where I stayed for 3 weeks.
Please keep the updates coming!
John

Pmacky09 · Jun 30, 2024

Thanks @d333gs Full sternotomy but not as dramatic as I expected. Probably not entering any bikini contests but that’s OK!

’m actually retaining a bit of fluid so no weight loss

and my appetite gets better every day. I’m alive and very well and could not be more pleased with how things have gone!

Pmacky09 · Jun 30, 2024

dick0236 said:
Congratulations!! Your post-op story is very inspiring. Don't rush it......you've got a long life in front of you.

Thank you! Slow and steady wins the race!

Pmacky09 · Jun 30, 2024

Seaton said:
Really great news!
Love those post-op pain numbers you quoted. Long may they continue.

Nice and easy as the days go forward. Things should improve steadily and your strength return.
Fantastic that home is on the horizon later.

Sending lots of good healing thoughts to you.

Thanks @Seaton My mind is officially blown it’s safe to say! Looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight. Hospital is not conducive to a good night’s sleep!

Chuck C · Jun 30, 2024

Welcome to the other side!

Glad to hear that your recovery is going so well, with very low pain.

Pmacky09 said:
My biggest complaint has been trying to sleep amid all the bells and whistles in the hospital

Hospitals can be pretty noisy and sleep in general is pretty rough after OHS. It will get better in time and being home in your own bed will really help.

Wishing that your recovery continues to be a good one. Please keep us posted on how things progress.

tjay · Jul 1, 2024

Great news, welcome to the other side

And also good to hear how great you're feeling, how manageable was your pain, and how pleased you were with the overall procedure. St Paul rocks. Josh just had his procedure there just a couple of weeks ago with similar experience.

Keep us posted of your continued progress as you get home.

Bionic Orange · Jul 1, 2024

Great News! I can'i wait to see your mountain hiking photos in the months ahead. It will happen, at the right time. Like Dick said, don't rush your gradual steady progress.

tom in MO · Jul 1, 2024

Congratulations. Great to hear you are doing fine.

Lynn · Jul 1, 2024

Congrats! Don’t worry to much about the scar, it is amazing how they fade over time. The first year after mine was so noticeable but now three years out, you have to look hard to see it. It pales in comparison to the wrinkles lol! Welcome to the other side

Dano64 · Jul 1, 2024

Congrats! Love seeing stories like these! Keep pushing on!

Pmacky09 · Jul 1, 2024

tjay said:
Great news, welcome to the other side

And also good to hear how great you're feeling, how manageable was your pain, and how pleased you were with the overall procedure. St Paul rocks. Josh just had his procedure there just a couple of weeks ago with similar experience.

Keep us posted of your continued progress as you get home.

Thanks @tjay. Such amazing care at St. Paul's (though I have nothing to compare to

). The team certainly inspired confidence, which made me feel so at ease under difficult circumstances.

Pmacky09 · Jul 1, 2024

Lynn said:
Congrats! Don’t worry to much about the scar, it is amazing how they fade over time. The first year after mine was so noticeable but now three years out, you have to look hard to see it. It pales in comparison to the wrinkles lol! Welcome to the other side

I think I will wear this scar as a badge of honour. I'm alive, and the experience has changed me in a way I wouldn't have signed up for but am wholeheartedly embracing. This is life. Right now, it's like this.

Pmacky09 · Jul 1, 2024

Dano64 said:
Congrats! Love seeing stories like these! Keep pushing on!

Thanks @Dano64 Appreciate it! The pre-surgery anxiety was the toughest part of the journey. But the support I found here, coupled with meditation, breath work, yoga and lots of other supports really set me up for success. I was very aware of what was in my control and what I needed to let go of.

Pmacky09 · Jul 1, 2024

tom in MO said:
Congratulations. Great to hear you are doing fine.

Thank you @tom in MO!

Pmacky09 · Jul 1, 2024

Seaton said:
Really great news!
Love those post-op pain numbers you quoted. Long may they continue.

Nice and easy as the days go forward. Things should improve steadily and your strength return.
Fantastic that home is on the horizon later.

Sending lots of good healing thoughts to you.

@Seaton, thank you for the healing thoughts! Day 2 at home and sleep continues to be a challenge, but I'm grabbing naps during the day for the first time in my life. Kinda feels luxurious to be honest. The sleep will sort itself I'm sure. The pounding of my heart when I lie down is a little freaky but normal. Will just take time to adjust to Millicent's (that's what I named the new aortic valve) presence in there!

Had my first outside walk today. 15 minutes! VERY slow. But the fresh air on my face was sweeter than ice cream. It felt great to be moving in the world again. Baby steps and I'm good with that. They warned me I don't want to "blow out" the new valve. Um. Nope I do not!

Day 4 post-op and feeling 😎

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