About Me (In My Own Words)
I went to a new PCP in January, 2019 to determine why my bouts of fatigue were becoming more frequent. I thought my iron was low, having been anemic in the past. Nine months, 3 cardiologists and many tests later, I am scheduled for open heart surgery- Sept.23. I have had a difficult time wrapping my head around this whole situation. The anxiety has been terrible and periodically I am weepy and afraid. That’s not me! I’ve had 5 orthopedic surgeries and just breezed through them.... but this one is different. Thank goodness for the book- The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. It is so informative! I wish I had discovered the online forum sooner. Because of it, the last few days have been so much better! I highly recommend both.
It has now been one month since my mitral valve open heart surgery. I spent 4 days in ICU on a pacemaker because my own heart wasn’t working well enough to sustain me. My dr. said we would wait 3 more days to see if it would kick in or if we needed to implant a pacemaker. On day 4, my heart woke up - Happy Day! Finally went home after 9 days. The first few weeks were very difficult. I was very concerned about coming home because I had a lot of pain and couldn’t even lift my head up off of the pillow. However, my husband has been my rock - there to help and encourage me every step of the way. I am feeling a little better every day. Just had my one month post op. According to the EKG, my heart is adding a few extra beats, which they will try to regulate with RX. Otherwise, I’m doing well! I am told that the fatigue will eventually pass and the incision will get less painful in the next few weeks. All things considered, I am glad I had the surgery and it is behind me. My plan is to be back in the gym and on the golf course Jan.1, 2020! If I’ve learned anything, it’s that recovery is a marathon, not a sprint...don’t rush it!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
-
I am from:
Bellaire (Houston), Texas
-
My surgery date is:
September 23, 2019
-
I was diagnosed with:
Mitral Regurgitation
-
My surgery was:
Mitral Valve Replacement
Mitral Valve Repair
-
My surgeon is:
Dr. Gerald Lawrie - Houston Methodist Hospital , Houston,Texa
-
My hospital is:
Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
