Jeri is out of surgery

[Jeri]

hi ,,,,this is me!!!!! I am back online at leaast for short periods. I wanted to thank each and everyone of for your prayers and very positive energy. I am slowly on my way back. Since last SaturdAY, i'VE been in and out of a-fib. With and without the AMI drip. I was just beginning to feel better and then that hit. My wonderful Dr. Gleason had more to do that he and I expected. As Tara mentioned, it was a 6-hr surgery; he attempted to repair 3 times and it kept failing. He also found it necessary to work on aorta. It seems that I have had a disease for a very long time......it is something inflammatory called aortitis. After he told me, I remembered that when I was 40, my family doc suspected this also because some of my joints hurt. He ran an ANA WHICH was positive but the LE prep was negative. So he sent me rhematologist who said I was fine...nothing wrong. So he tried to figure it out. Then in my 50s, my CRP has been very high ...like 15 - 17....it come down when i tried taking baby aspirin but never normal....i think lowest was 8 or 9. But I am still in the hospital ...this is my 9th day post op and I am going home. He did not want to do cardio conversion at this time. He felt it would be too dangerous and he thinks I will convert once everything heals. But I know will also take Amiodorane 400 mg bid and coumadin, yuck!!!! i knew this was always a possibility even with the tissue valve but he thinks it will be temporary....about 4 weeks. He doesn't think at this point that this is permanent. i hope he's right. I couldn't believe the FLUID they pumped it. When i looked in mirror the day after, I was in shocked and when they weighed me, I was totally "upset". So then zi begged him for my lasix and he didn't want me to have it right away but I insisted. I had a weight of 99 and 2 days post op, I weighed 119.7. I know weigh 110 but still toooo much but at least I am breathing better. I am not dragging around so much weight. I am only 5"2" with a small frame so " i insisted, My original discharge date was Sunday the 24th so now it is Friday the 29th. I am still wobbly which surprises me...i felt I should be walking better so I am not getting mmuch exercise....I am taking short 4 min walks ....5 times a day. I guess I have to listen to my body. Stairs are a problem also but I will get there. It really does feel like We get run over by a Sherman tank and lived to talk about it. Again, thank you all so much...you are the best and Tara really enjoyed keeping you updated. She was happy to do and found us all very interesting. Well I need a nap now....but I will back to read everyone's posts and I will try to also. Energy level is low but POSITIVE. Remember, He never gives us more than we handle.
God bless you.
Jeri

 

[Greg a]

Jeri , it is so glood to see you post (Tara was good BUT you are better) remember baby steps nap then more baby steps repeat often and soon you will be skipping the nap at walking at full gate

 

[nngbwh]

Thanks for the update. Great to hear you are fine.

 

[epstns]

Jeri - Your path sounds a lot like mine, only without the pacemaker. I had nasty AFIB a couple of days after surgery. I also could barely walk for the first few days, and didn't feel like walking anyway. I had a rough time for the first few weeks, but by week 4 or so I was able to drive and was begging for permission to go back to work part-time. Now at 8 weeks I am walking 2 miles at a time, daily, and working 4 or so hours/day. I really have been feeling "like myself" for the past few weeks, so hang in there for the first few weeks and then it really does get much better fast. Kind of like the reverse of how a valve deteriorates (remember - the worse they get, the faster they get worse) -- the better it gets, the faster it gets better!

 

[Jason]

Thanks for the update, Jeri. It sounds like you are having a few issues, but all are manageable. That is good! As Steve said, you will start feeling better, and it will progress very quickly. I don't know if it is solely physical or if there isn't a mental aspect to it, where you take note that you are feeling a bit better and your brain turns the corner and changes your perspective. Suddenly everything seems okay! I am sure you will progress and feel better soon!

 

[epstns]

Good point, Jason. It does seem that once you realize that you feel somewhat better, you begin to find other markers that show you're even better yet. Maybe that's what I felt that I described as "The better you feel, the faster you get better."