Greetings from this side of the mountain!!

[Jane]

Hello friends, it is really nice to be back with you once again. Many, many thanks for all your good wishes sent to me via my good friend (and boss), Anne.

A fortnight ago last Friday I was "summoned" on my mobile, while I was in town, to get to the hospital by noon that day - it gave me about an hour and fifteen minutes. I then had the op on the Monday. I got out last Friday - a fortnight after admission.

I had a bit of a chest infection straight after the op, then a head cold after that. My pulse is still rather rapid (about 100 bpm) but is improving. The breathlessness is improving too, but I am awfully weak and wobbly still. I have still got quite a lot of pain, but I have tended to overdo things a bit. I am better if I take things quieter.

The weather is vile here - really cold - so it is difficult to get out and walk.

I can remember very little of ITU, only when they moved me onto the high dependency part. I do remember the chest drains coming out - unpleasant rather than very painful.

I am just so relieved that it is all over and not as bad as I had feared.

Joe says I sound like the crocodile in "Hook" - because of the ticking.

I am sorry this is a bit garbled, I think my brain is still scrambled.

Once again, many thanks for all your kind thoughts. It is great to be back with you.

 

[Les]

Jane,
Welcome to this side of the mountain! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Take care, and "Click On!"
__________
Les
AVR '93 / '95

 

[hensylee]

Oh, Jane, what a pleasant surprise on this cool morning in Florida. You sound like you are coming along with only the usual leftovers from surgery. It's a piece of cake from here on out, we pray. Your soreness will subside as time goes by. We thank your 'boss' Anne for keeping in touch. She was super. Take care and we will see you next time you are in the library. Thanks for coming in. God bless

 

[mamsram]

jane,

It was nice to read your e-mail. You sound good and seem to be handling things well. I'm happy for you I hope the weather will turn for the better so you can get to walking. Walking seems to be so important in making progress. fortnite???

 

[JimL]

Congratulations on reaching our side of the mountain, even if you had to stay in the hospital a fortnight (two weeks).

 

[Nancy]

Wonderful, Jane!

I'm so glad that you're home safe and almost sound. LOL. I'm sure you and your family are so happy that it's over, with just the healing to go.

Take care, and we'll expect to have regular updates from you.

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Jane

We're SO Glad to hear from you; and just as glad that you're doing well. PLEASE, don't overdo it!!! We both wish you the very best from here on out.....Please keep us posted whenever you can.

Evelyn and Tyce

 

[Creed3]

Hi Jane!

Hi Jane!

It's great to hear that you are home. Your friend Anne was wonderful when it came to letting us know how you were doing. Please thank her for us. I pray for a very uneventful recovery for you. Remember, rest, do breathing exercises and walk. You will be feeling better in no time. Try to look at recovery from week to week rather than day to day. You will really notice a difference.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[Scottie]

HI JANE!

HI JANE!

So delighted to see you home safe and sound . I know how relieved you will be feeling .I am so glad that the surgery went okay and from now on you just take care of yourself and get well.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery
Scottie

 

[Jan]

Wecome Back

Wecome Back

Hi Jane

so glad that the surgery is over, and that you are on the road to recovery,

Take each day as it comes, and do not over do it

Good thoughts to you and your family

Jan

 

[Johnny Stephens]

It's all good

It's all good

Hey, Jane, it's good to hear you're on the mend. Sounds like you're well on your way! You'll get used to the ticking...

 

[Ross]

Welcome to the top and welcome back!

It's so good knowing that it's over and you can look forward to recovery. I hope it continues unevenful for you.

 

[Granbonny]

Welcome Home Jane

Welcome Home Jane

You really don't need to go outside to walk. Just around in the house. Even now, when it rains..I walk thru the house and around the furniture. My dog and 2 cats look at me strange Remember, NO pulling wet clothes out of washer, vaccuming, sweeping..ect. plus housework makes you ugly anyway Food will taste yucky for awhile..take your pain meds and nap...Spring will be here soon. Bonnie

 

[Jane]

A couple of questions

A couple of questions

Hello people! Just a couple of questions: I am a bit worried because I still need to take Tramadol - an opiate type pain killer, albeit in smaller quantities than before. Paracetamol (tylenol) just does nothing for the pain when it is bad. However one women in my room was getting by on just about 4 paracetamol a day and nothing else for pain. I really don't want to turn into a junkie, and yet I need to be able to breathe and exercise without excrutiating pain. Any advice??

Also, does/did anyone else have a weird sensation - like a clicking inside the throat when lying down? I know it is from the valve as it is the same pulse rate. On exertion, it can feel a bit more like a thud. However the pulse rate is regular and now has slowed down to about 90 bpm, so I don't think it can be too serious - it is just a bit distracting. I realise I am probably being hyperanxious....

Also I had a very dizzy turn yesterday when bending down, but did not pass out and recovered quickly without having to sit down.

Good news. I got Nick to see a private medical consultant this morning about his health. He (consulatant) feels that his allergy was salycilate (sp??) induced and he should not be on aspirin, even though he has atrial fibrillation, and has recommended that he change to another drug. He also feels that he has mild ME or post viral fatigue, and that he is basically unfit. Guess what? He advised a graduated exercise programme of walking 5 mins a day and gradually building up. This is going to fit in perfectly with my own programme. Nick seems much more positive the past few days.

When the consultant heard that I had had an AVR, he said his father and younger brother had had the same operation, for the same reason (bicuspid aortic valve which had stenosed). He said I looked amazingly well - which I do, my colour is 100% improved. So that was a boost to me.

Thank you for all your goodwill messages. It is such an encouragement to me.

 

[Granbonny]

Doing too much?

Doing too much?

Jane, You are only 3 weeks post-op..I feel like your pain is worrying about your hubby and not yourself. You don't need to be up and about so much...Take it easy and let that incision heal..Bonnie

 

[JimL]

Jane,
I kept my painkiller (Darvocet) handy for a good seven weeks after surgery. One before bed for sure, and sometimes one in the afternoon. Resting and walking are both very important.

 

[Jane]

Thanks and a Happy New Year!

Thanks and a Happy New Year!

Just to say a big thank you for all the advice and good wishes. Saw the GP this morning and she reckons I am doing very well, and that I had been thinking of cutting the painkillers out a bit too soon. She also said not to be so hard on myself, and to take my time - all the things all of you have been saying!!! I have got my out patient appointment with the consultant on 6th January.

I am really looking forward to the New Year. I feel so lucky that the operation is over and that things are going pretty well, give or take a hiccup or too!!

Hope you all have a brilliant New Year!!

 

[Creed3]

Hi Jane!
Your doctor is right. Don't be so hard on yourself. I was the same way. I expected I would be pretty much back to normal in about a month. Boy did I have a wake up call. It just takes time. You will get there. I still have some soreness and post op side effects and I'm 14 weeks post op. Things definately get better. I tell everyone to look at their recovery week to week instead of day to day. You will really notice a big difference. Regarding the ticking in the throat. Sounds normal to me. It was one of the first things I noticed after my surgery. Sometimes I notice it more than others. You get used to it. It sounds like your recovery is coming along just fine.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[mamsram]

CHEERS

A happy New Years to you Jane. I'm happy that your on the way over that proverbial mountain. Best wishes on your next visit coming up soon. Gee, I felt so good reading your post.GREAT!