Charlene Lanigan - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

2641 days ago

Six months after OHS, I am doing wonderfully!! I finished 12 weeks of cardio rehab and it gave me the courage to do a lot of things! My question to you is ...Read more

Six months after OHS, I am doing wonderfully!! I finished 12 weeks of cardio rehab and it gave me the courage to do a lot of things! My question to you is that I'm having lots of muscle pain in my back between my shoulder blades. My chiropractor said it could be from the OHS and the muscles healing.... Is anyone else feeling this discomfort?

Catie B Congrats on making a fine recovery, Charlene! I hope they can find the source of your muscle issues, ... Read more

Catie B Congrats on making a fine recovery, Charlene! I hope they can find the source of your muscle issues, so you can get relief.

I couldn't sleep in my bed for many weeks. Then had some real struggles with what I initially thought was left shoulder and shoulder blade pain. PT early in the year made things worst and inflamed the right side also. After a few weeks the phys therapist thought my issues were instead in my first rib, spine and upper neck (it hurts front and back). Still wake up very sore a bit higher up than your issues when I sleep on my sides. Gonna seek a spine specialist soon.

Marie Myers I had far more upper back and shoulder pain than sternal pain. It all got better with time and gentle ... Read more

Marie Myers I had far more upper back and shoulder pain than sternal pain. It all got better with time and gentle stretching. Massage is wonderful, too...

Kathy Blank Congrats Charlene. I went to a chiropractor specializing in myotherapy to help overworked muscles hea ... Read more

Kathy Blank Congrats Charlene. I went to a chiropractor specializing in myotherapy to help overworked muscles heal during my rehab!

Lilly Black Yes I certainly did too! Happy you're doing wonderfully. I have been stretching and doing cross overs ... Read more

Lilly Black Yes I certainly did too! Happy you're doing wonderfully. I have been stretching and doing cross overs when I felt my sternum was stronger. It really helped me.

Charlene Lanigan Thank you everyone! I do feel a little better knowing this pain could be associated with OHS. How l ... Read more

Charlene Lanigan Thank you everyone! I do feel a little better knowing this pain could be associated with OHS. How long ago was everyone's surgery?

Catie B mine was 9/29/16

Lilly Black 12/10/2014 my main problem was my sternum. Took 2 yrs for pain to subside in the nerves and surround ... Read more

Lilly Black 12/10/2014 my main problem was my sternum. Took 2 yrs for pain to subside in the nerves and surrounding tissue. Back and sternum doing well now! TG!

Marie Myers Mine was March 28, 2017

Kathy Blank MIne was the day before your's I think!

Peggy Whitecotton Very common, my cardiologist said it is because the upper back muscles support the chest and using th ... Read more

Peggy Whitecotton Very common, my cardiologist said it is because the upper back muscles support the chest and using the retractor to hold the chest open doing surgery puts a strain on them. Also we tend to slump our shoulders in a rounded position due to surgery on the sternum as we are healing. I was given a muscle relaxer and told to do stretching exercises.

Charlene Lanigan Thank you Peggy Whitecotton... that was a good explanation too!!

Charlene Laniganposted an update

2831 days ago

Had my mitral valve repaired last Tuesday, the 7th. Still in hospital because blood pressure went up so I need to regulate it before I leave. Another problem ...Read more

Had my mitral valve repaired last Tuesday, the 7th. Still in hospital because blood pressure went up so I need to regulate it before I leave. Another problem that just recently appeared is a very stabbing pain under my right breast under the rib cage. Surgeon seems to think it's inflamed from the surgery. Has anyone else had this problem?

Kathy Blank I am one day behind you. My mitral repair was on Feb 8th. Last night I started feeling more internal ... Read more

Kathy Blank I am one day behind you. My mitral repair was on Feb 8th. Last night I started feeling more internal discomfort. I am staying on top of pain management so far.Was your robotic or port access or by sternotomy?

Phyllis Petersen Welcome to the other side Charlene! Having to be in the hospital longer can be tough, but you want to ... Read more

Phyllis Petersen Welcome to the other side Charlene! Having to be in the hospital longer can be tough, but you want to be ready for the best recovery outcomes. Hopefully, they'll figure out the stabbing pain. I've had an array of odd pains, but thankfully none that sent me running to the doctor. They put so many tubes and equipment in there, maybe it's to be expected. Praying that you get out soon and have a speedy and uneventful recovery.

Charlene Lanigan Hi Kathy Blank... My mitral valve was repaired with open heart (sternotomy) As the days went on aft ... Read more

Charlene Lanigan Hi Kathy Blank... My mitral valve was repaired with open heart (sternotomy) As the days went on after surgery, I realized there were more internal pains. After 10 days in the hospital and then going to my regular cardiologist, she explained it was probably from the tubes they pulled out. Sometimes the area gets inflamed but she said it should all go away. Can't complain about too much more and I see big improvements each and every day. Good luck with your recovery!

Charlene Laniganposted a journal

2841 days ago

Barbara Wood, Betsy Crawford reacted to this

So strange to see my name listed as upcoming surgeries! I think my family & friends are more apprehensive than I am about this surgery. Of course, I'm concerned ...Read more

So strange to see my name listed as upcoming surgeries! I think my family & friends are more apprehensive than I am about this surgery. Of course, I'm concerned about the recovery but from this website, I do feel confident that it just takes time to heal and I'll be fine... Just hoping that I'm bringing everything I might need to the hospital... I will have all my electronic chargers, ear plugs!, and pjs. Any suggestion of something you found useful would be appreciated! Thank you and good luck & prayers to all of you!

Richard Clarke Hi Charlene, Just thought I would drop you a note, since we are both EI residents, My wife has had 2 ... Read more

Richard Clarke Hi Charlene, Just thought I would drop you a note, since we are both EI residents, My wife has had 2 OHS surgeries over the past 4 years, 1st at
St Francis, 2nd at Good Sam, I can tell you the doctors and nurses at both are Fantastic !!!

I am sure the surgery will be fine, if you need to talk to someone who has been thru it or if your family has questions after the surgery, please feel free to drop me a note and I will send you our cell phone numbers

Rich & Sharon

Charlene Lanigan Thank you! I will definitely keep you in mind!

Charlene Laniganposted a journal

2857 days ago

Hi Everyone! I have to say it has been a positive thing for me to see all the journeys and successful stories of people having open heart surgery! I am being ...Read more

Hi Everyone! I have to say it has been a positive thing for me to see all the journeys and successful stories of people having open heart surgery! I am being admitted to the hospital on Feb 6th, having an angiogram... and then OHS on the 7th to repair a mitral valve. When I met with my surgeon, the one thing that concerned me about recovery was he said I can't lift anything heavy. That's fine... I'm retired, no children around (well, over 14+ lb cats) and have a husband who will take good care of me. Please don't laugh but I'm wondering about sneezing.... I sneeze very hard and the surgeon had told me lifting something too heavy could rip a stitch! Has anyone ever ripped a stitch? Also, I have a pacemaker. He said that's of no concern... Easy for him to say LOL Just need comforting thoughts I guess....

Ellen Leng Funny, I worried about sneezing as well! Turns out that it hurts, like coughing, after your surgery. ... Read more

Ellen Leng Funny, I worried about sneezing as well! Turns out that it hurts, like coughing, after your surgery. I don't know if anyone has ever ripped a stitch sneezing, but if you use your heart pillow to brace (and you will learn how!), I'm sure you'll be fine.

Steve Lewis I have not heard anything about pulling stitches from a sneeze or cough. I'm 2 weeks post op and off ... Read more

Steve Lewis I have not heard anything about pulling stitches from a sneeze or cough. I'm 2 weeks post op and off the pain meds (just using Tylenol ) and they used glue on me and no one seemed that concerned about me opening the incision from sneezing and coughing. Follow thier instructions and you'll do fine. Including using the cough pillow they will give you.(Squeeze hard) the pain will fade quickly . For me The anticipation of what is to come I feel is harder then the sneeze or cough. The pain meds will help dull the pain but it doesn't take the spike from sneezing away completely.

Catie B I'm a serial sneezer--never one or two! Just grab your heart pillow or if it's not in reach, press y ... Read more

Catie B I'm a serial sneezer--never one or two! Just grab your heart pillow or if it's not in reach, press your hands to your chest and hold on till they pass.

Rita Savelis Everyone sneezes. It's a challenge the first time, as Steve and Ellen write.
But your body and stitch ... Read more

Rita Savelis Everyone sneezes. It's a challenge the first time, as Steve and Ellen write.
But your body and stitches can take it. They are tougher than you think!
I got my pacemaker after (because of) OHS. At least you don't have the worry of whether OHS will give you the side effect of needing a pacemaker!
And congrats that you can have a repair rather than a replacement!
Take care.

Charlene Lanigan Dont know how to say thank you separately for your responses, so thank you Ellen, Steve, Catie and Ri ... Read more

Charlene Lanigan Dont know how to say thank you separately for your responses, so thank you Ellen, Steve, Catie and Rita! I definitely feel better about sneezing and will take all your advices about the pillow!!