Carlos's Guestbook

Hi Carlos- My husband used a small electric hand massager on the areas just below both shoulders as the pain was intense from time to time mostly on the right hand side of the shoulder bones. I had to use a combination of heating pad and a hot water bottle that could be set to the pain center of the shoulder by someone as you can't reach yourself but it seemed the heat alternated for the first days home was a Godsend! The other thing is to concentrate on keeping from hunching over or raising your arms up like to a computer keyboard on a desk as this raises the shoulders and arms at an angle that will just insight more pain until you begin to heal. You are definitely not alone in this as it was the worst of the pain at the start of returning home to heal. I also didn't tolerate pain pills well so I used 2 extra strength Tylenol every 4 hours until the pain backed down. My Good luck to you and know that this will pass in time and you will have made it through one more hurdle! My cardiologist said to me that the bones and body have just had to stay in too many positions due to the surgery that the body felt too aggravated to not react back once back on our feet. Be good to yourself and treat the caregivers like the "gems" that they are for watching us go through these stages isn't at all easy on them either!

HI CARLOS I HAD THE SAME THING PAIN IN MY SHOULDERS AND MIDDLE OF MY BACK THE DOCTOR ORDERED A PAIN PATCH TO STICK ON MY BACK AND IT HELPED ALOT I DIFFERENTLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE ALL HEAL DIFFERENTLY AND WE SHOULD TAKE IT SLOW AND EASY AND NOT TRY TO RUSH THINGS LIKE WALKING AND EXERCISE AND GOING BACK TO WORK TO SOON YOU ARE RIGHT ON HEART BROTHER THANKS FOR THE POST I HOPE IT WILL HELP OTHERS TO SLOW DOWN AND TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME YOUR HEART BROTHER STEVE (POPEYE) MY OHS WAS AUG 19 2014 AND I AM STILL IN CARDIO REHAB

Carlos- I hope your evening is a memorable one and you are able to sleep some tonight! I wish for you that you enter into surgery feeling calm and confident especially with your surgeon and your Team. May all go smoothly and you begin your time soon with your mended heart and continue with your journey. Hope to be reading posts of your experiences soon and know the whole heart community is with you in spirit.

Good luck on your surgery tomorrow. I too was a bicuspid. I am 4 weeks post op and feeling better already. Still a ways to go and a few aches and pains but pushing forward. Prayers your way

Good luck on your surgery tomorrow. I am schedule to go at 0730. I will be thinking about you and praying for the best result tomorrow. Keep us posted on your progress. God bless you.

Dr. Stelzer and the staff at Mount Sinai will take great care of you! Looking forward to seeing your posts when you're all fixed and recovering. All my best tomorrow!

My surgery is also on January 14 for an aortic valve replacement. I wish you the best, Carlos, and am looking forward to your post-operative story. My prayers are with you.