How has valve surgery changed your life?

[Debster]

Hello All! I hope this is not too lame of a question...I was talking to my mom today when she said that her valve replacement surgery changed her life. We were not able to get into it much, but she just said that she is much more vigilant with her health (such as sodium, etc), and just that things are different for her. Sometime I would like to talk with her more about this, but I wanted to see what others thought about this. Mom had zero choice in having this done, it was that or not be here. Would love to see what you all think...thanks so much-Deb

 

[geebee]

Besides the obvious - it allowed me to stick around longer, I am sure it is the age-old appreciation of the little things. I pay more attention to the people (and cats) I love, to sunsets, to the smell of rain, the chirping of birds (which use to annoy me, big time, in the morning), and I laugh as much as I can. I think OHS has simply given me more of an awareness of life.

 

[debster913]

Hi, Debster (cool name!)
Mine was also "do it, or not be here." Five weeks out of surgery, I can definitely say that surgery has changed my life. I can do things I haven't been able to do in a while, but at the same time, I'm a lot more cautious about things. I really think it's post-surgery worry that will hopefully go away in time. I am glad to be alive, and hope that this repair lasts me a good long time!

Debi (debster913)

 

[Gnusgal]

Those of us who have CHD and lived with heart problems all of our lives have frequently had this type of discussion... Wondering what we would have been like had we not been put into our health situation. And to be honest, I sincerely doubt I would be the person I am today. I have no idea WHO I would be, but I'm sure I got my love of reading/books from the hours and hours I spent in the library when I couldn't attend PE class (now I'm a school librarian). I am sure I learned to sit back and listen more because of my inability to be quite as active as my peers. And I am sure that I have learned to appreciate those around me because of all I've been through. I learned who my real friends are when I went into the hospital for my first OH surgery when I was 21. I learned that my husband will be by my side through thick and thin and that he is the most amazing person I will ever meet. And I learned, by watching others around me with CHD pass away while I lived on, that I must have a purpose here on Earth that I have yet to fulfill.

While I don't have an answer for the specific way that my VR has changed my life, I know that the events of my life have shaped who I am. And I wouldn't change them for the world. No matter how unpleasant they were at the time, they've made me the person I am today, and I think that person is pretty alright.

 

[Phyllis]

Speaking as a spouse and not the patient, it has changed my life remarkably too. First off, I am so thankful to still have Dick here with me. We've been married 41 years, but that's not nearly enough. Second, I have found this wonderful community and have added all these new members to our family!

 

[Guest]

Those of us who have CHD and lived with heart problems all of our lives have frequently had this type of discussion... Wondering what we would have been like had we not been put into our health situation. And to be honest, I sincerely doubt I would be the person I am today.

Ditto from me. Exactly.



Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker
MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/quilt.html
"Why can't that be me?" ... 3 Doors Down ... 'If I Could Be Like That'

 

[OldManEmu]

Not much

Not much

I am not an emotional type so I can't say it has made any change day to day. I had no other health issues before this and have none now other than the valve. The only thing I do different is that I am more careful in situations where I could contract an infection, bacterial endocarditis started this whole adventure and I am not in a hurry to revisit it.

 

[sue943]

Like OldManEmu, mine was down to the endocarditis. Mine cost me my job and finding a new one is not easy, my age and medical history are against me, plus the slight disability from the stroke. Yes, I am also more conscious of possible infection, I really dont' want endocarditis again.

On the plus side, I really didn't care less when I scratched my new car, previously it would have made me very cross - now I cannot fuss over trivial things like that.

 

[RossGurlie]

SO much!!!

SO much!!!

Well, I was 13 when I had mine and for like a year before it I wasn't allowed to run in P.E. or anything. Well, now I can do all that!! Plus having it has opened my eyes to a whole new world. I have met all these cool new people on carepages and now I go to heart events and talk to them all the time. One little girl who has had two surgeries has two older sisters and now they're like some of my best friends!!! So...yeah...

 

[mtkayak]

After my first surgery, I was very recentful and angry that it had to happen to me. Also, the fact that I couldn't keep up with the kids my age played a big part. I think you go through a wide array of mixed emotions..denial, anger, sadness..why did this happen to me? What did I do to deserve this? The older I got the more I learned to accept it. I can finally say after my 2nd surgery (hopefully my last) that I do have a greater appreciation for life and my health. It's probably the best thing that ever happened to me It's definetly made me a tough person

 

[jeffp]

On the plus side, I really didn't care less when I scratched my new car, previously it would have made me very cross - now I cannot fuss over trivial things like that.

Other than making an entire change in my life careerwise, I'd have to agree 100% with Sue. I just don't find the little stuff to be so bothersome. Some friends and family get a bit creeped out by my "when it's time to go, it's time to go" attitude. (Actually, it seems to be more offended than creeped out.)

 

[RCB]

Except for being born....

Except for being born....

It is the single most life defining event of my life!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Other than making an entire change in my life careerwise...)

This comment aroused my curiosity Jeff.

If you don't mind expanding on this topic ,
how did your VR affect your career?

'AL Capshaw'

 

[MikeHeim]

I've been asked this question by a lot of people, and I sheepishly have to admit that I do not think the surgery changed me at all. I would love to be able to say some of the others before me have, in that the little things in life don't bug me as much, but I would be lying. I try to stay away from sodium and caffiene, but cheat on that so much that I don't think any objective observer could say I put any effort into it at all.

 

[Birky]

life change

life change

I think the surgery did change my life. Kind of woke up and smelled the roses.We partied every weekend and wasted at least one day with a hangover and now all is done in moderation. Since I quit smoking, I no longer even care to drink. We usually go out and have dinner and a few drinks, then home. Spend a lot of time with the family which is more important than how we were spending our time.It made me more aware of the important things in life. We still have fun but in a different way. Take one day at a time and enjoy. Physically I have not felt this good in 20 years except for the 15lbs I need to take off. Cardiologist said that he would rather see me with the extra weight and not smoking. I won't go back to smoking anyway.

 

[Marty]

At age 72 I felt old, weak, short of breath, and ready for the scrap heap.
I left my private practise, had the surgery, St Jude mechanical mitral valve, and slowly came back to life. I was encouraged by my cardiologist to go back to work. I got a position with Kaiser Permanente and at age 79 feel better than I did in my 50's. I am very appreciative for the years the great heart surgeons and St. Jude( both the company and the Saint!) have given me. I'm still not ready to quit work.

 

[hpuehler]

Every new day is a gift! I thank God daily! I have greater faith in my God, my family and myself!

Heather

 

[jeffp]

This comment aroused my curiosity Jeff.

If you don't mind expanding on this topic ,
how did your VR affect your career?

'AL Capshaw'

I wound up with a numb hand. The theories are it was from the positioning during the VERY long surgical session. or a small stroke during/right after the surgery. It was the first thing I noticed while comming out of anesthesia aside from "I'm not dead!". Anyway, can't do surgery (at least not well ) with a bum paw.
I was told it would eventually get better. After a year with ZERO change, I decided it was time to move on (careerwise that is). No regrets at all.

 

[Lynlw]

I wound up with a numb hand. The theories are it was from the positioning during the VERY long surgical session. or a small stroke during/right after the surgery. It was the first thing I noticed while comming out of anesthesia aside from "I'm not dead!". Anyway, can't do surgery (at least not well ) with a bum paw.
I was told it would eventually get better. After a year with ZERO change, I decided it was time to move on (careerwise that is). No regrets at all.

ok I know you are a doc, so this is probably a stupid question. Did you have a emg , I think that is the intials, where they stick pins in you to see where the nerves are messed up? I ask because my hand was always numb andI dropped alot of things, it turned out I had some pinched nerves but alos carpal tunnel and dequan, when i had surgery for them, my hand wasn't numb any more. Lyn

 

[labguides]

Speaking as the Mother of a valve repair patient

Surgery gave her the OK to get pregnant! Prior to surgery, her cardio repeatedly told her not to get pregnant. Now, I get to be a grandma again!