Dean Marney - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

1534 days ago

Steven Methot, Darrin Vohs reacted to this

Heading into my valve replacement anniversary month. All my docs are telling me my heart is doing great but BP keeps creeping up so medications have been ...Read more

Heading into my valve replacement anniversary month. All my docs are telling me my heart is doing great but BP keeps creeping up so medications have been changed. I have a new PCP as my old one took early retirement. He'd promised to get me to 70. Struggling with weight loss! New doc fat shamed me and suggested intermittent fasting. This week, a study came out that it isn't as successful as people thought. When it works, it is because you've reduced your calories. I've started doing Dr. Barnard's (several books) eating plan and I'm up 3 lbs this week! Not the plan's fault, I'm guessing it is medication changes that caused it. My new workout is 60 minutes on the air bike and 500 kettle bell swings for 20 days, I'm on day 3. After 20 days, I'll have done 10,000 swings! I'm still working at the gym virtually and 1 class outside. I have a health coach through my insurance and am part of an A-fib study through my Apple Watch. Living with gratitude but grieving the change in my relationships and fighting to stay on top of the mental game. Still hoping to change my Heart Failure into at least a C+!

Steven Methot Dean, that hit a chord. About 13 months ago my wife and I were flying to Scotland for a vacation and ... Read more

Steven Methot Dean, that hit a chord. About 13 months ago my wife and I were flying to Scotland for a vacation and we sat next to a doctor who was working "Workplace Safety" for a large Oil and Gas concern. In the four hour flight to Toronto to make our connection he consumed 8 beer. Yup. At any rate he found out about my condition and repeatedly and loudly said that I had to lose weight or I'd croak before they operated on me. Now I was overweight but not obese, not by a long stretch. It got annoying and then upsetting as he continued at me. He'd been in the bush for 3 months and I can understand wanting to let your hair down, but 8 beer in 4 hours? I leaned in to him and said "Listen, I am sure you're a great doctor at what you do, but to me it looks like you're sucking back on the beer enough to qualify as an alcoholic... so let's quit the advice for now. Physician heal thyself." We know when we have to lose weight. Oh and by the way, I did lose it and then some.

Dean Marneyposted a journal

2559 days ago

3 people reacted to this

Life goes on. I'm still working at the gym but don't know for how long. I turn 65 this month. Last Cardiology appointment revealed I have Diastolic Congestive ...Read more

Life goes on. I'm still working at the gym but don't know for how long. I turn 65 this month. Last Cardiology appointment revealed I have Diastolic Congestive Heart Failure. It is a mixed bag wanting to know why you feel the way you do and then having to face the reality that you still have a chronic condition without a cure. (A year ago in February I also got my hip replaced. Amazing to be free of that pain but I'm still working to improve my mobility.) I think one of the major things I have learned is that having a life-threatening illness and major surgeries changes all your relationships. I wish I could've prepared the people around me better but am so grateful for the "cheerleaders" I have pushing me to keep on keeping on.

Dean Marneyposted an update

3386 days ago

Anyone else developed edema and intense joint pain? It has almost been a year since my AVS. I'm being told that the cause is my circulatory system (venous ...Read more

Anyone else developed edema and intense joint pain? It has almost been a year since my AVS. I'm being told that the cause is my circulatory system (venous insufficiency) adjusting to a now healed and very healthy heart. This is after having ruled out a blood clot, CHF, a host of autoimmune diseases, and kidney failure. In a lot of pain and have to use a cane to walk.

Dean Marney Meant AVR--aortic valve replacement not AVS. Sorry.

Duane Beeman Joint pain in my hands and knuckles. Can't make a fist in the morning. I'm hoping it is the medicat ... Read more

Duane Beeman Joint pain in my hands and knuckles. Can't make a fist in the morning. I'm hoping it is the medications. I wouldn't call it "intense" pain but I know it's there

Dean Marneyposted an update

3386 days ago

Jean Shinoda Bolen, in her book, CLOSE TO THE BONE suggests you do some kind of ritual for your surgery anniversary. Anyone have a good one they used?

Jean Raber I'm a Catholic convert. We got candles, rosaries, patron saints (St. John of God, patron saint of hea ... Read more

Jean Raber I'm a Catholic convert. We got candles, rosaries, patron saints (St. John of God, patron saint of heart surgery), novenas, holy water (I have some in the fridge now), and (if my husband has his way) the Last Rites the night before surgery. I feel he has the ritual end of things covered and then some.

I do plan to write short notes to people who have been important in my life thanking them for being my friend and giving them to Raber to mail just before I go into surgery, whenever that might be.

Dean Marney I also have a St. John medal and used a Sacred Heart of Jesus Pillow for my "cough pillow" after surg ... Read more

Dean Marney I also have a St. John medal and used a Sacred Heart of Jesus Pillow for my "cough pillow" after surgery. I think you've got it covered. If you have time you might read my story--includes a cool visit from my priest.

Eddie Patton It will be a while for my first anniversary but been thinking about doing a 5k around that time each ... Read more

Eddie Patton It will be a while for my first anniversary but been thinking about doing a 5k around that time each year providing I can build up to a 5k. Maybe wear a heart mended shirt each time.

Duane Beeman I'm considering taking a bunch of stool softeners, sleeping on a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood and sitti ... Read more

Duane Beeman I'm considering taking a bunch of stool softeners, sleeping on a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood and sitting in an easy chair built out of two by fours. Not only will I revive fond memories of ICU, I'll appreciate how great it is to be home.