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Good morning! So, cardiology appointment went better than expected yesterday! (Reminder, I’m 3 weeks and 4 days post op: OHS mitral valve repair/median sternotomy)
Dr didn’t seem concerned about my random high BP spikes. They go into the high 150s/110ish with hr between 130-150. But more discussion about keeping heart rate down. I’m on 12.5mg metoprolol. So he said if my hr goes over 100 then I can take another 12.5mg and do some focused box breathing to drive it down. It actually works!! I got my hr down from 133 to 97 in 30 min.
There is still fluid (pleural effusion) on my lower left lung, but he said it’s small. However, we will monitor it and it may still need to be drained, but to keep walking and use my spirometer to keep the lungs getting stronger.
In regards to my actual valve….excellent repair was done by Dr Gillinov at Cleveland Clinic! He was so impressed and said it looks amazing! My left ventricle was severely enlarged before my surgery and that is why I had surgery, because I had zero symptoms. Well, my LV is already remodeling and has decreased by 1cm already!!
I had also had fluid drained off my heart last Friday (1 week and 1 day ago). They took 300ccs off and it is still off. So we are in the clear with no pericardial effusion. Thank goodness! I am still on the colchicine and he said it can help the pleural effusion as well.
I asked about starting cardiac rehab and he said yes, absolutely. He submitted a request and I am just waiting on approval now.
Last and final note, I am currently on IV antibiotics daily for a bacterial infection that they found in my surgical wound 16 days post op. My original incision opened and “stuff” came pouring out. That was on my discharge day Oct 30. I was back in the hospital on the 31 and had a debredment (reopen wound and scrub and clean the area) with wound culture. It took 8 days before the culture came back positive for bacteria. So On the 9th day I had a PICC line placed and I am now self administering antibiotics for 6 weeks. Hopefully will be finished with the PICC on Dec 19. I have an infectious disease team out of Cleveland that is monitoring this via weekly blood labs. I also have to go to the infusion center near my home once a week to get my dressing changed.
Overall, I am on the mend! Still lots of appointments and everyday I am working what feels like a full time job preparing my meds, doing breathing exercises, taking walks, wrapping my PICC before showering, slowly removing adhesive I find all over my arms and chest still, and trying to eat more to get my hemoglobin back to normal.
I am blessed beyond belief that I had such an amazing surgeon and team fix my heart. The complications have felt defeating many times, but my fiancé and mother have stuck by my side and keep me going. I am taking this one day at a time and that is the best way I’ve found to approach recovery.
Much love to all of you for also being on my team and supporting me from the beginning of this journey! This page and you guys means more to me than you’ll ever know. 💕
**I forgot to add that originally my surgeon didn’t know if I would be having a repair or a replacement. He was in a 60/40 position before surgery. My valve always looked as though it was damaged (likely from strep as a child) with the leaflet being thickened and not moving as much as the other. That could have meant the tissue is not healthy enough to repair, and replacement would be my only option. Buuuuut, turns out I had a very textbook prolapse! How amazing! 😇 So it was a very well done repair of my prolapsed mitral valve. He also placed and annuloplasty ring around the valve and it’s doing amazing.

Keep the prayers coming please! I have my follow up on Wednesday, but still working on my lung and this wound vac that is on my incision. Everyday is different and challenging in new ways. Keeping positive as best I can, but letting myself cry when I need to.

doing little exercises at the gym like walking on treadmill and leg raises with breathing between.