Debbie 's Journal

Catie B  Oh Debbie, my heart goes out to you. I'm so sorry there seems to be a complication. I know that feels discouraging. I hope the cath brings you the best news possible.

Civita Fahey  Debbie, I'm sorry.. I'll be praying that all will turn out ok for you.. hopefully its just a small set back..

  Debbie, I am so very sorry to hear that you are having these difficulties, I pray that your doctor get it all sorted out and you will be on your way to recovery.
God Bless!

Craig Gay  Great news Debbie! Craig's surgery is tomorrow and he's getting the On-X valve. Any secrets to maintaining the INR level would be appreciated.

Steven A Husted  some have said it takes 4 to 6 months for your full strenth to come back and the tiredness to go away give it time and rest you have been thru a major operation your body needs time to heal praying for you your heart brother

Sophia Ridley  Debbie, I went back after 3mths on a slow staggered start as have long commute through central London (wk1 - 1 day in, 1 Wfh, wk2 - 2 days in, 1 Wfh etc). I was shattered. I'm 9 months post op and I still get worn out . If I'm tired as worked late and not eaten well then I'll get ectopics and possibly AFib. You know your body, but I'm wondering if returning so soon might be too soon.

Wanda Mroz  I was off 4 months before I went back to work and then it was only four days a week for awhile. It takes up to a year for full recovery so give yourself time.... One day at a time! 💞

Clare Auten  Hi Debbie, I can't tell you exactly when it happened but, I did eventually get used to the ticking. I really don't hear it much, except at night. And, I do usually sleep on my right side. I am 2.5 years post op.

Steven Dean  Maybe a white noise machine at night would help? Also I am remember that after my last surgery (no mechanical valve) my heart seemed (and maybe was) a lot louder for a while, especially at night.

Kevin Shackelford  4 weeks post op and learning to live with the ticking. I am actually happy to hear it when it is steady. I had Afib for a few weeks after surgery and the clickity clack of obnoxious non-rhythm!

David C  Hi Debbie, I also wonder if it's part of our recovery? I am a little more than two weeks out, but sometimes at night my heart will literally be shaking the bed so much my wife can feel it. I mentioned it to the doctors and they said it was absolutely normal and a part of the process. I was shocked, but take their word for it. At the same time, after having a super flutter, and mushy aortic valve, sometimes with crazy rhythms, I love having a rock steady, crisp and clear heart beat. Just makes it hard to sleep. I also may be a bit jealous that you can sleep on your side! I'm a side sleeper and haven't been able to sleep that way since the surgery. A friend who has a mechanical valve said his wife loves it, because she remembers his heart before the surgery, and loves that he has this reassuring click sound of his heart working right.

Alan Lonsberry  Hi Debbie, glad you are doing well. I only occasionally hear my valve. Did you get your ring from on x yet?

Kate Watson  Hey Debbie- mine are pretty loud too. I listen to music or meditations while I fall asleep to drown it out. I also use a white noise machine and hold a pillow to my chest at night. I'm almost 5 months post op and still not adjusted to the sound or noise! Feels like a small clock in my chest. I guess I'll adjust someday, that's what they tell me anyway.

Terry Gillen  Debbie I need to write down just a few points you made, so Ican write out some new questions to ask my Cardiologist and my surgeon. This has been very beneficial for me thanks for sharing. The Knowledge you gained from you experience, is very informative. I like your positive attitude God Bless you and your family my dear. I will keep you in my prayers.

Kate Watson  Glad to hear it went well! Hopefully it will fix itself, good idea not to worry about it now. Hope your healing is coming along well.

Lise Bowles  This is good news Debbie, apparently a stint is a day at the beach compared to what you have been through! I am so glad you are doing well, does your chest still hurt? Has that gotten better? And you may not even need a stint....how long has it been now? How are you feeling?

Emily Rowley  You are strong sweetie, I remain positive for good results from you Cardiologist 💕 Sending my prayers and well wishes to you xox

James Waller  I'm 5 weeks post-op and have an echo scheduled for this Wednesday. I'm not worried that something might be wrong but that the procedure will be painful. My incision is still sore and very sensitive. I've had echos where the technician pressed pretty during the test. But I guess after OHS, this will probably be a cakewalk.

Petey Bello  Debbie, I know the feeling of worry before that first echo. I'm sure we all go through it. I hope all went well. Please let us know how you made out! Praying for you...

Jean Raber  Hi, Debbie. It's different for everyone, I think. Physical healing depends in the type of procedure, your age, your general health, etc. But there's a mental healing that can be impeded by meds, lack of support or communication with doctors, fears shown by those around you, and the fact that this is a traumatic surgery. I think three weeks is pretty soon to be feeling really good. If you don't feel you're where you should be, call your doctor. God bless you.

Della Parlapiano  Im three weeks out and still feeling pretty rough but i am seeing a littke change for the bettet. My husband sees a huge change but the sadness and fatigue are whatbis holding me back. Slept pretty good ladt night and that helped

Chris Vereb  Hi Debbie. I am very lucky so far I feel the same almost like before surgery. That might sound strange but I didn't feel sick before or after. My chest feels like a sun burn basically. I have chest drains that freak me out. I wish they would hurry and heal. One of them still bleeds a drop or two. What is your daily routine? Are you doing your walking? Are you still using your breathing tool. Try and do small things and then rest. My back will start to hurt if I over do it.

Cheryl Ventimiglia  I'm close to two weeks out and I'm surprised how well I'm doing. Albeit I'm not going to run a 10k. I might even get out my paints and paint this afternoon. Debbie keep moving and adjust your expectations daily or even hourly. There's nothing better than to know the hardest part is behind us. Sending hugs.

Lilly Black  Debbie, it's different for everyone. For me, it was 6 weeks. However I immediately felt I could speak for much longer intervals. I was so surprised at how much that was an immediate improvement! But the feeling like you were hit by a truck, for me, that was 6 weeks. But each day, I worked hard. I made sure to take my vitals, and every day several times a day, I walked. There was not one day that went by that I was simply doing nothing. I made efforts every day to progress. I was extremely grateful for my surgery, even when I was not doing so well yet. Take care. I hope you feel better very soon!

Jean Raber  I don't know if this is a good analogy, but did any of us girls feel back to normal three weeks after having a baby? Not me. (I think it might have taken about two years before the brain fog actually cleared.) Heart surgery creates a lot of chemical changes, trauma, and emotional ups and downs. Feeling normal (or getting used to the "new normal") will take awhile. Be good to yourself.

Petey Bello  Debbie it will get better, hang in there. It is normal & everyone is different. I was really sick after my surgery & lost a lot of weight so I didn't feel good for a while, then I had pleural effusion. I did my spirometer for at least the first six weeks & made sure I did my walks. About 5-6 weeks I got an energy burst & didn't look back.

Your body has gone through a major ordeal, try to be patient & not let it get you down. I hope you feel better sooner rather then later! God Bless

Marilyn M  For me the first few weeks were rough. I didn't start feeling better until week 9. Most likely because I had fluid around lungs since my surgery date. When I came home I was out of breath pretty much the whole time. For about a week it was even too hard to talk. Once the fluid was gone I noticed a real difference. I have more energy and just feel better.

When I had my c-section many years ago it took a year to feel back to normal, so I expect about the same with this much more major surgery.

Hope your healing and recovery goes smoothly!

Wanda Mroz  Give yourself time. Your body has been through a traumatic time and needs to heal. It was longer than 3 weeks for me, SLOWLY it will get better, I promise you that. Be patient with yourself. Be good to yourself. You will feel better!💞

Rita Savelis  It's rough Debbie and there are up days and down days. One can't compare days or even weeks sometimes, but at some point you realise that you are a little better than last week. It's all so variable, everyone has a different story. The psychic trauma is there and also the feeling that you are supposed to be better, supposed to be well. It's hard to describe to anyone else how intense it feels, which is hard because family may not understand. The tiredness is overwhelming, the difficulty sleeping. You can only compare yourself to yourself. As far as being "glad" I had the surgery, wow, that's a hard question. It was a necessity and it brought good things and bad things... The acceptance of it took awhile.

Franklin Wyrick  I'm four weeks post ohs and for me, some days are good and some not so good. Evenings seem to be the worst but I can say that each day I feel a little better than the day before. Walking as much as you can and using the incentive spirometer helps.

Sophia Ridley  It takes time, you will have recovered exponentially since leaving hospital. Days will be good and bad. Give yourself achievable goals each week... Mine were: Walk to X, prepare a meal, go to the coffee shop, colouring pictures with my girls... Gave me something to aim for that I couldn't have done at 2 wks.

Jean Raber  Sophia, that is good advice, and borne out by studies that show that people with reasonable expectations tend to recover better than the overly optimistic. This might be of interesting to some folks here: http://www.npr.org/2016/05/10/477379965/woop-there-it-is-four-steps-to-achieve-your-goals

Rita Savelis  I agree Jean and Sophia. Surgery is over in hours, but recovery can be a long haul, and small achievable goals are a good start. At the start every day/week can seem the same, and the idea of "being better" can seem really foreign. Small goals are good. Small joys are also good. Take care everyone.

Emily Rowley  For me, I was taking pain medication (nothing too strong, mainly panadol+codiene) regularly for the first two weeks (in Hospital). Then slowely decreased after that, I still take it only when I absolutely need it (being couple months Post-Op). I tried massages which helped me.

Meredith Bray  I took acetaminophen/Tylenol for about three weeks. If your pain is on your breastbone or your upper back, may I suggest you practice standing up as straight as you can, and resist the urge to curl inward to protect your scar? I also found that supporting my head/neck and arm weight while resting was a huge help. Good luck!
-Meredith

Rita Savelis  Yes, the discomfort after OHS can be terrible. Take whatever pain relief you need, everybody's pain varies.

Petey Bello  I stopped my pain meds one week post op because I was so sick from all the medicines. Then took Tylenol as needed before bed once I was home.

They say take the meds if you need them since you recover faster when not in pain! Good luck!

Della Parlapiano  All i was able to take was tylenol. Im pretty much able after three weeks to take as needed. I had horrible back
Pain that is feeling bettet from lots of back rubs

Lise Bowles  Debbie, 12 days already? Amazing!!!
I am sorry you are still in pain, I just wanted to say hi and let you know I am thinking of you, xo Lise

Joanna Prisiajniouk  I believe all will get better. Thanks for your honesty as I believe most don't mention this and really should so that we understand exactly what to expect. I sprained an ankle and that hurt like hell for 6 months! Then as if magically the pain was completely gone--it wasn' felt as gradual. So, be patient and know it may take a bi of time for all to settle.

Joanna Prisiajniouk  Forgot to mention but I was told that breaking my ankle would have been easier, less painful. So putting all that in perspective no wonder they say about 6-8 weeks for the sternum to be healed. Then everyone is different. Hope you feel better soon, take one day at a time. All injuries are in general from a breakage standpoint about the same timeframe. Severe sprains with pulled torn muscles take much longer and needs conditioning. We'll need that rehab or close to some form of regular daily exercise to get our heart muscle moving again...no surprise there. I wonder what is the standard here for feeling truly back to normal? For valve repair it appears folks are getting back to normal sooner than those with valve replacement ... like anywhere from 3-12 months I see people report here. So I'm bracing myself not to get too optimistic but just listen to myself and I haven't had surgery yet! Everyone here is an inspiration! Feel better soon--you will!

Maureen Rzasa  Hi Debbie, Sorry to hear you are hurting, I am too. We had our surgery the same day and I guess I hoped by now we would be doing better than we are. This is definitely a tough recovery and people are telling me to take it a week at a time because you will be able to see the improvement. I ended up having the mitral valve replacement on 6/13 and my electrical system was damaged in surgery so had to have a perm pacemaker put in 6/16. Stay strong and prayers sent your way for less pain each day.

Sophia Ridley  It will improve. I couldn't sleep flat due to the pain near my left shoulder. Physio has helped tremendously. I highly recommend post 6wks.

I was told full recovery is more like a year than 3 months, I'm inclined to believe them. It does get to the point where the monthly anniversary of your surgery passes without you thinking of it. Felt it was a good sign.

Emily Rowley  For me it was, I needed my eyes re-tested (waited 3 months) and needed glasses. When I was dizzy and my eyes weren't doing well, my iron wad actually really low. Defiently talk with your Dr and sometimes they settle down on their own esp as some medicine may conyribute.

Pat Bijas  Yep, crazy stuff. Had my AVR done February 19, and I am finally getting past the Vertigo I guess you would call it.

Petey Bello  Yep, I have been having issues with my eyes, thought it was my glasses ...I guess I need a recheck :(

Kate Watson  Yes unfortunately it does seem to be a side effect. For me, it was related to certain meds, I think was the pain meds but still not sure. When I was in the hospital, I couldn't read close up at all but that improved once I got off most of my meds. Now 2 months later though, I experience eye strain after reading or being on the computer. I know I need to get an eye dr appointment.

Rita Savelis  My vision dropped dramatically after surgery. I couldn't read a thing without reading glasses. Coincidence? Age? Heart-lung machine? Just one of the many "side effects" that suddenly appear...?

Sophia Ridley  Yup. Have reading glasses and aura migraines (maybe meds/low BP) now.

I also had high definition vision on what I focused upon and the background was v blurry, this improved after first month.

There's got to be a connection. I did drop an email a few months ago to Adam to enquire with the surgeon community.

Shannon Sullivan  Great to hear from you on the other side. So glad to hear things went well. sending you continued healing vibes.

Joanna Prisiajniouk  Thanks for your update. Blessings towards a smooth and strong recovery! She and your family are in my prayers. 🙏

Wanda Mroz  Oh that is wonderful! I know she was scared... As we all are. Glad she made it to the other side! Tell her we continue to think of her and pray for her! 💞

Alan Lonsberry  My surgery was the same day as your mom's, I have been thinking about her a lot. Tell her Alan is home. She will be to soon. God bless.

Alan Lonsberry  My surgery was the same day as your mom's, I have been thinking about her a lot. Tell her Alan is home. She will be to soon. God bless.

Barbara Laurie  Victoria! Thanks for letting us know. Tell your mom she's so brave. She really was scared, but she held her head up high and now she's on her way to recovering.. Amazing❤️💕❤️

Lise Bowles  Thank you for the update! I am so glad she is doing well, tell her Lise is thinking of her and I am so glad she is on the other side!

Denise Campbell  Praise God. I was hoping someone would let us know. She was so scared. I'll keep praying. Give her my best

Bob Fessler  Thanks Victoria for the update. Please keep us informed as we care. I will say some prayers for an easy recovery.

Peggy Whitecotton  I've praying for her and she was so scared. Now you are on the other side my friend, praying for a fast recovery.

Kate Watson  Yay Debbie! I know she was scared, but we knew she'd get through it. Please keep us updated. We're all thinking of her.

Emily Rowley  This is fantastic news been waiting to hear! 😁 We will continue to prayer for her and keep her in our thoughts. Send my wishes to you-her family, I know this is a tough time at the moment.

Joanna Prisiajniouk  Continuing my prayers! I know I will be exactly scared when my time nears. Thanks for your update. The support here is so blessed for all of us. Please pass on my best wishes for her, you, family and all close to you!

Ashley Molyneaux  Praying! Praying for wisdom for the surgeons, comfort for you and a speedy recovery! You're in amazing hands. Breathe easy - it will be over before you know it.

Emily Rowley  I know it takes time to mentally prepare, take this time now find what thoughts give you comfort, knowing you will come through and your mind, body and soul will follow into being at Peace. I said a prayer for last night and will continue to do so tonight. You are a very thoughtful person especially at such a hard time like this. Your children are with you in your heart and you will get to see their happy faces when you come out, whether that be in Hospital or at Home. Rest up xox

Kate Watson  Lots of prayers to you, Debbie! You'll be so relieved to have this over with. Please keep us posted when you can.

  I'l be cheering for you we came on this site at the same time with the same fears. In your corner all the way.

Peggy Whitecotton  I took a friend with me to pre-op as I was a little nervous. But it went well they did a chest X-ray. Lab, EKG, mouth swab, gave me breathing spirometer to practice on and would help to strengthen my lungs before surgery and I would be using it after surgery as well. I was giving some special soap to shower with the night before and the morning of surgery. It was a busy day and I was very tired but felt reassured and more prepared for my surgery. Stay focus on the fact you need this surgery to save your life and soon you will be on the recovery side.. I will be praying for you and that God will give you a peace. One thing that helped me was Phil 4:6-7 that says not to worry but in every situation pray and make your requests known to God and He will give you peace and guard your thoughts and emotions.. That peace did come, (read my journal and my story). Best wishes....

Emily Rowley  Are you having pre-op testing done? The Nurses and Staff will go through it all with you so you are well aware and informed ☺ What day will you be having your surgery hun? All the best ☺ xox

Marcia Enns  Good luck, Debbie, mine was last week and was much easier than I expected. it's hard to wait. Prayers and best wishes to you. Try not to worry.

Denise Campbell  I think it would be ok for her to go. She should be made aware of how you'll look when u come out of surgery. The pre op visit will explain it all. You Will have lots of monitors and tubes and you won't be awake to reassure her. They explain it in a very plain way so it's informative but not scary.

Christine Oliva  I would not have her go unless there is an adult with her. You will not feel or look well and be out of it. It passes in a few days. i would say no unless your daughter is exceptionally independent and mature for her age and say this as a former nurse. Also, I know many hospitals have policies regarding age and number of visitors allowed so check with your hospital. Cardiac care unit is very busy and essential tasks place plus you will not feel like talking at least for a few days. Best wishes with your surgery.

Denise Campbell  Aren't you talking about pre op appt.? of course an adult should be with the girl on the day of surgery. And seeing her mom immediately after surgery. Pre op is just blood draw. Talk with doctor, anesthesiologist. That's it.

Debbie Bentley   Yes pre op. She wanted to go and tour the hospital but I'm sure I'll be all emotional so I don't know . I pray when I go to pre op I'll find peace with this Surgery

Bob Fessler  Preop should be okay for a 14 year old. Thinking of my grandkids, who are younger than 14, they would probably be bored but not tramatized or anything lile that.

Rita Savelis  It's okay. Let her experience this in her own way. Even seeing you be emotional is okay. Especially if she asked to do it. Sometimes I transfer what I feel onto my children, but I have since learned that they will experience things in their own way which has nothing to do with my experience.

Denise Campbell  I agree with Rita. Hiding things may be worse. Seeing u upset is not bad. If she is asking I think you should take her. It may help her with her own emotions. I cried and cried. But the day of surgery I found peace. I'll keep praying for you. You WILL do great. God is on your side.

  When I was 11 I had to go thru pre-op for my own surgery, it was the best thing they did to prepare me for what I'd look like and feel when I woke up. Your daughter will get a pretty good understanding of what you will look like and go thru during surgery and it should better help her to get threw it with you. I know it help me parents a lot. Kinda reverse situation. If my son was still young I would not hesitate to bring him to my pre-op in November

Jean Raber  Yes, let her. It will be less frightening for her if she ever has to have major surgery, and she will be able to help her own family. She sounds like a very empathetic kid who can handle it.

Clare Auten  I vaguely remember seeing my husband in ICU the night of my surgery. I know my mom and sister came by and I know we talked but not sure about what. ;)
My husband and I decided before hand that the kids wouldn't come the day of surgery since all the tubes and such would be scary. I know I had friends who came by the day after surgery. The first couple of days are blurry from meds...and it was more than 2 years ago for me and my memory isn't that good. ;)

Cathleen Weed  My last full OHS my brother came into ICU right after and said "hey sis" and my eyes flew open...scared him half to death lol. I knew where I was immediately. My husband was standing there and he said "I love you" and I gave him the I Love You sign with my hand since my breathing tube was still in. By the way, my hands were strapped down..apparently I'd been trying to pull stuff out in my sleep..lol..I'm not surprised. My most recent was a TAVR and I didn't have a breathing tube...I woke up and could tell immediately that it was successful...started crying because I was so happy. :)

Kate Watson  I remember waking up in ICU, probably within a few hours after surgery but it was very foggy that first few days. I told my husband in advance to make sure that the first thing he said to me was that the surgery was over and went great (as long as that was true, which it was!). I do remember seeing him for the first time and having him say that to me, and then I drifted back to sleep on and off throughout the night.. When is your surgery, Debbie? Have you decided on tissue vs mechanical valve?

Denise Campbell  Kate Watson I just read a post from someone on this site from the Ama. It was about mech vs bio. I'm more depressed and regretful then ever that I chose mech. I have been in such a funk. How are you doing?

Meredith Bray  I told my husband that he needed to be holding my hand when I woke up to tell me I made it through surgery and everything was OK. He said he did that, but I don't remember. I remember being awake for about 2 seconds - I saw the clock, the sunshine on the wall, knew I made it through surgery, and passed out for another few hours. It was THE BEST 2 seconds of my entire life, I'll remember them forever. The next few days though.....a blurry fog.

Denise Campbell  Take the set with bottoms. You'll have ivs, and blood draws so it will be hard to wear your own gown. So wear the gown they have. And your bottoms once your able. The hospital gowns have snaps so they can remove the gown and not disturb your ivs.

Shannon Sullivan  i bought myself some top and bottom pjs and then altered them with snaps on both shoulders and arms...just like a gown. Adding lip balm and lotion to my list, thanks.

Petey Bello  You can also do boxers or boy shorts if you do not want long pajama pants on while lying in the hospital bed. Any pajama tops I brought I did not wear in the hospital but wore once home - get button down. You will not be able to raise your arms. I also brought eye cover - a mask that blocks out the light, so I was able to snooze!

Patti Talbot  I overpacked and wound up using nothing but a toothbrush, and that wasn't for a few days. As hard as it is to believe, you just don't care right away.

Emily Rowley  Pre-Op I was able to wear my own PJs but post-op I was in their fashionable hospital gown's 24/7 until I left (as a female and with blood there+bruises all on my legs, I felt more comfortable in their gowns) where I wore loose harrem pants and a plain cotton loose top going home. I would suggest front opening shirts and bra. I was able to buy long pj shirts that button up at front since it was Summer here and easy to take off, the arm stretching will hurt for a few weeks. It depends on the Weather too and being inside a Hospital ward=no windows that open=air condition. Same as you Patti I over packed and didn't use much. Phone chargers come in handy & headphones/music player too!

Kate Watson  I lived in my hospital gown there and didn't bother with pjs, but I did bring my super soft bathrobe which I wore often.

Emily Rowley  Super soft bathrobe sounds lovely, did you need to dry it or was it like a dressing gown? My first Op was in Winter so I bought a huge oversized thick dressing gown as my blanket. I agree Wanda, it's alot easier to place Hospital gown that gets washed regularly. Did they give you girls compression stockings? They gave me them and I didn't know they are meant to wash them out instead of chucking them out when they become dirty....opps.. Also I packed a million pairs of undies and I ended up using their disposable underwear.

Emily Rowley  I found this website which sells products for surgery, might be helpful.

https://m.curediva.com/surgery/divas-surgery-must-haves.html

Emily Rowley  Here is a nice feminine 100% cotton gown for surgery patients with shoulder clips and back ties if you rather wear than a Hospital gown.

https://m.curediva.com/surgery/divas-surgery-must-haves/lola-gown.html

Called Lola gown.

Sophia Ridley  I wore maternity gowns from Gownies after my op. As the front flaps down then made examinations / ECGs much easier.

Cathleen Weed  PJ pants and a PJ top that buttons up the front (for comfort and for the wires etc).... I bought PJ's that had the game "Operation" on them..lol.

Emily Rowley  Is that Target in America? Some Target stores here are turning into Kmart since they own them. Wow 3rd, I would like to hear more of your story and what you had done.

Cathleen Weed  Yes it was Target in America :). I would also add for anyone getting ready for surgery that you shouldn't buy anything expensive...I think mine were $20..because I knew I would be leaving them in the hospital trash..lol. There's not enough bleach in the world to make me want to wear them in my own bed later lol. Plus, who needs the reminder of that day? :) So just buy something cotton and inexpensive and take cute pictures and then toss them...that's my advice :). Yes, I've had my aortic valve replaced 4 times and my pulmonary valve once ( in the Ross Procedure process ). I'd be happy to share anything you want to know Emily <3. xo

Debbie Bentley   Chris at this point I'm just taking one day at a time and taking deep breathes . I don't know how I'm going to get through it all but I've got the best leader of all and that's God . Wherever he leads me i will follow :)

Wanda Mroz  We are all much stronger than we think we are. I too marvel at times when I think about what I went through... But I made it and you will too. And you'll feel proud of your strength. 💞Hugs

Emily Rowley  It takes courage and strength, you have both. It's when you feel comfortable. I will admit it's a surreal dealing when seeing your name up on the upcoming surgeries board. When you come closer to the date people may ask "What are your plans for this week?" you could answer "I'm having Heart Surgery and will come out with a healthy heart on the recovery side" cause I know you are strong and will come out with a healthy mended heart ☺ ♥

Petey Bello  Debbie, hang in there. You will be surprised at the strength you have. You are not alone, we have all gone through this with similar feelings. Take one day at a time... God Bless!

Cathleen Weed  I would remove the gel because 1) you won't want to deal with the peeling etc later 2) you won't feel like going for a manicure again anytime soon to have them remove it and 3) the nurses like to be able to see the bed of your nails for capillary refill to monitor blood flow and dehydration. It's best if you just go get a nice mani/pedi and have a good shiny clear coat put on your hands for now. You can always buy a pretty color to apply later at home once you are recovering :). *things guys don't have to deal with* lol.

Marilyn M  I had my hair colored four days before my surgery. Figured it would be a few weeks after surgery til I could get it again.

Denise Campbell  Lol. I got a haircut right before my surgery. I wasn't sure what the recovery period would allow. I have gotten a haircut since my surgery. I washed my hair first and had her spray it since I was afraid to lean back in their sink.

Cathleen Weed  Oh, I just realized I didn't answer the hair part lol....yes, totally do it...pamper yourself and do it all...it's gonna be a while before you feel like doing it post-op. It won't affect anything about your surgery. It will make you feel better though and that's what it's all about. Heck, I spray tanned right before mine lol ...it was summer (Southern California thing)! It was great...very happy about it. <3

Patti Talbot  I had my hair cut and colored, and got a pedicure in the few days before surgery. By the time I cared to get a new pedicure (maybe 2 1/2 weeks?) it was a good outing. I waited 4 weeks for the haircolor and made my appointment on a slow day because I was worried about leaning back in the sink. It was all fine, and although there were much bigger issues lol, at least I didn't feel bad about how I looked. Grey roots would've made the whole thing all the worse!

Kate Watson  I think it's a great idea to have your hair colored right before surgery. I did that and was really glad I did because I knew it would be a while before I could again. I'm at almost 6 weeks post op and haven't felt up to getting it done yet, mostly because I can't lean back into the sink comfortably, so I'm dealing with a lot of grey hairs creeping out!
We all understand the fear. It was pretty intense for me beforehand. It's hard not to be scared when you are having your heart operated on! But hopefully you feel good about your surgeon, as putting my faith and trust in him really helped me get through. And seeing all of the success stories on here made me feel much more optimistic about it too. Wishing you lots of strength in the coming weeks! Try to keep yourself distracted if you can :)

Wanda Mroz  I had a cut and color just before surgery and a pedicure... They allowed toe polish but I'd keep the nails clean. Pamper yourself for sure! 💞

Mary K  I found that going to the salon for a wash and blow dry once a week for a month after returning home was very therapeutic. Nice to get out, and they were all so lovely, careful and encouraging at the salon.

Lori Phillips  Wow! That was my exact same question! (The hair coloring-can't afford nails too!) Ok.... I'll go back and see what everyone said. And yes we have the same date!

Lori Phillips  Okay... I've got an answer (I heard from someone else! - Kristine Wagner ) Definately, lose at least one acrylic nail for the pulse ox meter to read your finger. No nail polish (fingers or toes) And quote straight from an article of which I'll give y'all the link...
"If you have color treated hair, you may want to schedule your final color 4 weeks before surgery. Keep in mind that the anesthesia and medications post – op may affect the pigmentation of your hair, not to mention the overall processing of your hair color in terms of whether it will take longer or faster. Also beware that during recovery your skin and hair could become dry and brittle. You may even experience some hair loss and this is normal over time as the anesthesia works its way out of your system."  https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2014/03/27/25-tips-for-women/

Wanda Mroz  Yes you will notice some hair loss. Mine started about two months after surgery... Not handfuls but you could tell it was falling out. After about six months it stopped considerably and I can see regrowth. Biotin seems to help also.

Cathleen Weed  I also took a pack of wet face wipes with aloe and those oil blotters..just to keep my face feeling clean and my skin hydrated. Honestly though, you just kinda feel like a rubber chicken for a while as that anesthesia etc comes out.
I used dry shampoo and wrapped my hair up in a big band. 💛 Oh and baby powder works in the hair too. The travel size section at a pharmacy or Target will have everything (even the dry shampoo spray usually) in a small size so you don't have to invest in the full product for your hospital stay. :)

Sandra Wummer  I got a French manicure before mine...looks better as it grows out a bit. I also had my . Hair colored...my AVR was 3 years ago now... at 2 years I took my grandkids to Disney and went on every ride. If you trust your doc turn it over to the team and don't look back. The hospital will keep you comfortable and teach you how to get through this.... There are lots of tips on this site . Some that . Helped me.when you come home a wedge pillow on the bed is really helpful. If you have a decent size chest, buying a sports bra that closes in the front about 2 sizes larger and a cotton fabric was helpful for me once I started wearing clothes. I wore a lot of button down pj tops. You will do just fine... Keep posting and talking to us who have been there.

David Augustus  I had my valve and root replaced up to the ascending arch. The first artery was attached to the new root.

Marilyn M  I had valve replacement and root enlargement. I told the Dr. I wanted a big enough valve to be able to do TAVR if ever needed. He put in 21mm valve. I guess my heart is small.

Sharan Chahal-Jaswal  My dad just got his double valve replacement surgery and maze procedure last Thursday the 19th. Dr. Thou rani performed his surgery at Emory University Midtown. He's currently in the hospital because they are trying to get his INR levels up before they release him but I can tell you that the staff is great and all the surgeons are the best in their field. It is ranked among one of the best hospitals for cardiac thoracic surgery.

Robyn Tatu  One of my pre surgery thoughts was of being rolled into the operating room but chickening out and getting up and walking away. I just didn't think I could actually go through with the anxiety of that moment but, I never got that close - on surgery day, during the prep, and after I spoke with the anesthesiologist they said they were going to put in my swan lines and A lines and such and they put me to sleep right then. So you may not even be faced with the "rolling" into the operating room. (Your milage may vary) But - they also know how nervous you will be and will be very kind and encouraging to you.

Liz Burroughs  Hi Debbie, I was very scared to have my MV repair surgery but I went through with it because it was the right thing to do. My husband & son came with me to the hospital. After they wheeled me into the OR & I got on the table I remember talking with a nurse. A minute later I was out. That was around 7:00 AM. I don't remember anything until I woke up in the ICU at about 3:30 PM. You'll make it through this. God will take care of you & keep you safe. We'll be here for you too. Everything will be okay. Take care. Liz

susan kotansky  As everyone is saying, most likely you will be sound asleep before you even experience the OR. In my case, I actually walked into the OR, climbed onto the table, and commented on how messy the OR was and asked how they could find anything! That is absolutely the last thing I remember. Just realize we all go through the fear of dealing with the unknown and usually our fears are far worse than the reality. Once you wake up it's directly into recovery gear. It's a great century to have this procedure.

Patti Talbot  HA HA me too Susan. I had to climb on the table myself and remember remarking on how narrow it was and would I fall off - and yes, what a mess the OR was. And then that was it.....they probably wanted to shut me up!

Emily Rowley 
I haven't had one performed before but this video might help http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/cardiac-catheterization-medref

Michael Meyer  Debbie:
Should be event free. Many folks have catheterization through the wrist.

Mine was through the femoral artery. The interventional cardiologist will do the inspection and if there are any issues he/she will stent the arteries. You should be awake but very comfortable ( they provide meds to keep you comfortable). The physician and the team should explain it all to you. They will keep you long enough to ensure you are well enough to go home (not driving of course ;). Just another step in the journey.

Tammy Pilcher  Hi Debbie, sending prayers up for you! My heart cath was through my wrist and wasn't bad at all. You should do fine. God's blessings! Your heart sister, Tammy

Sophia Ridley  Debbie, I was very concerned before mine. Mine was through the groin. It was far better than expected and I amazes myself by asking to watch the screen!

They will give you meds to relax, remember to breath normally (I was so relaxed my breathing slowed and I then had SATS 93%!). Do exactly what they tell you afterwards (minimum bending) and do take it easy for few days, I took OTC pain meds at night. When doing stairs, up with your good leg keeping Cath leg straight; down with cath leg first keeping that straight. You will have a bruise from the pressure exerted, it will be colourful and can travel down your thigh. Mine took two weeks to clear, it wasn't painful.
I hope it all goes well.

Sophia Ridley  Hi Debbie, just remembered something else. If through your groin, please check where your underwear sits. After the dressing is removed you will not want something rubbing on it.

Terrie Syvertsen  Debbie-Hope your test (Cath) goes well today. I had mine done at the groin and I watched the screen and listened while they explained what and why they were doing the test which I appreciated. I am sure you will do well and
remember to just follow their instructions and think of all of the information that this tests gives everyone so they can move forward armed and ready with your heart info.! Take care Heart Sister.