Michele's Guestbook

Hello Michele, Your date to repair things so you can keep on living is almost here. Yeah! It's a blessing they can help us with heart problems. Your anxiety is normal and my best suggestion is to notice it, accept it and remind yourself that your mind has not has this surgery so it knows nothing about it. Just a lot of "what if" chatter. When it starts, tell yourself that and know you are doing this to save your life. Try any device that will let you use YouTube and find soothing nature sounds (waterfalls, birds, wind in trees, ocean), calming talk down sleep meditations, your favorite songs from long ago, etc. Those things helped me more than I can say to diminish the jitters by redirecting thoughts and they comforted me during recovery. Praying for you.

Saw your question about the TEE. It stands for transesophageal echocardiogram. It is a quick and painless procedure that you will sleep through. It is a better look at the heart and it’s structures while it is beating. The test gives the surgeon more info about your heart. Hope that helps.

Michele, I don't know if you see my response here or on your own page, so I'll do both. I'm learning my way around the site. I will be thinking of you next week. I'm scheduled for a TEE on the same day as your procedure. I am still in the maybe-valve-surgery stage. I've been here before and weirdly I'm rather calm about it this second time around. Best wishes to you! I look forward to reading about your journey and encouraging you along the way as I can. I'm certainly glad for this community.

Hi Michele, Welcome to the "Wow, I get another chance club". I am 74 and had open heart aortic valve replacement 10 months ago. My diagnosis was the same as yours. The surgery went smoothly and I now walk 30 minutes 2X a day where I could hardly walk 10 minutes the month before the surgery after a very active lifestyle. I clean our home, do laundry, cook all meals 6 days a week, play with 3yr old grandson and visit with friends. No, I don't walk or run for miles, but am happily building strength through stretching, light weights and the walking. If you are still walking at a brisk pace and in general good health before surgery, you will do great. The surgery itself was the easiest part for me. Wishing you a peaceful wait before and a quick recovery after. P.S. My mother had the same surgery in 1994 and lived another active 16 years, so age 74 and a new valve can bring us many more years of memories. Just keep moving.