Jennifer Lorenz - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

3253 days ago

Mark Caswell reacted to this

Today it's been exactly one month since my surgery and wow, what a month!!! To think I was just coming out of surgery exactly a month ago in the ICU to having ...Read more

Today it's been exactly one month since my surgery and wow, what a month!!! To think I was just coming out of surgery exactly a month ago in the ICU to having a wonderful doctor's appointment today, I couldn't be happier! Everything went well- still in sinus rhythm which was my biggest fear and I get to start cardiac rehab soon which I'm excited about! For anyone having surgery or if you just had surgery, it does get better!!! It's hard to even wrap your ahead around how far you will come in such a short amount a time. You will prevail!!!

Sophia Ridley I'm so happy for you! What wonderful news and it's such a positive boost to your recovery.

Jennifer Lorenz Thank you and yes Sophia!!! Thank you so much for your encouragement!!!! You and others have been ... Read more

Jennifer Lorenz Thank you and yes Sophia!!! Thank you so much for your encouragement!!!! You and others have been such a great support!!!

Anna Jones Thank you, Jennifer. It helps to read your journal. I'm so very glad you are doing well and had a w ... Read more

Anna Jones Thank you, Jennifer. It helps to read your journal. I'm so very glad you are doing well and had a wonderful doctor's appointment.

Judy Freeman Jennifer congrats on the one month mark. You give me inspiration and comfort.

Jennifer Lorenz Thank you Anna and Judy! If you want to talk more or need a cheerleader, please feel free to contact ... Read more

Jennifer Lorenz Thank you Anna and Judy! If you want to talk more or need a cheerleader, please feel free to contact me! Jenlorenz@aol.com
I had a great support system but it is very difficult for someone to understand what you're going through who hasn't been there. I really don't know what I would have done if it wasn't for this site and the support I received! I am so grateful.

Wanda Mroz Glad to hear you are doing well! So happy for you!

Jennifer Lorenzposted a journal

3264 days ago

Whitney Nelson, Mark Caswell, Jeff Oswald reacted to this

Tomorrow will be three weeks since surgery. Trying to learn to be patient with myself. I feel so much better physically in the last couple days, I need to ...Read more

Tomorrow will be three weeks since surgery. Trying to learn to be patient with myself. I feel so much better physically in the last couple days, I need to work in the mental side of it! It sure helps hearing from others that are further ahead of me and are feeling great! Thank you for being such a great support system!

There are good days and not so good days. You will continue to get stronger everyday. I have had to r ... Read more

There are good days and not so good days. You will continue to get stronger everyday. I have had to resist my urge to be reclusive since my surgery. Best wishes!!

Sophia Ridley I found wk 3-4 more emotional than earlier as I felt I could do more than I could and needed to patie ... Read more

Sophia Ridley I found wk 3-4 more emotional than earlier as I felt I could do more than I could and needed to patient with myself. It also coincided with me being alone in the house. Laura's right, there's good and not so good days but getting out and being in the company of others will help. How ever small I celebrated achievements to help me realise I was progressing.

Jennifer Lorenzposted a journal

3267 days ago

Thank you to all who are weeks out and posting how well they feel. Right now, I can feel every day. I can't wait for a time I can wake up and not think of ...Read more

Thank you to all who are weeks out and posting how well they feel. Right now, I can feel every day. I can't wait for a time I can wake up and not think of just having OHS. Happy New Year!!!

Sophia Ridley How are you now after your increased heart rate?

Jennifer Lorenz After they got it back into rhythm I feel better. Also helps that I'm home. Hope I can stay here an ... Read more

Jennifer Lorenz After they got it back into rhythm I feel better. Also helps that I'm home. Hope I can stay here and no more set-backs.

Sophia Ridley Good to hear that it's better. I was in persistent AF for a fortnight post surgery, it's exhausting. ... Read more

Sophia Ridley Good to hear that it's better. I was in persistent AF for a fortnight post surgery, it's exhausting. I was admitted to hospital twice, which unfortunately wasn't the one where I had my surgery. I've had two occasions of a day or so since, can set me back. Please take it easy, mine restarts when I've done too much.
How did they get you back in rhythm? Magnesium IV got me back for a couple of days, I couldn't take the rhythm meds as underactive thyroid so I'm on rate management taking Bisoprolol and Rivaroxaban.

Jennifer Lorenz They gave me Amiodarone through an IV which brought it down a bit but not enough. They then gave my ... Read more

Jennifer Lorenz They gave me Amiodarone through an IV which brought it down a bit but not enough. They then gave my heart a shock which brought it back into sinus rhythm. I felt much better after. They sent me home with Amiodarone pills for hopefully only a short time. Hoping everything stays in rhythm now.

Best wishes, Jennifer! Happy New Year!

Tina Maroon Happy New Year and truly best wishes. I hope you start to feel better soon.

Sophia Ridley Wow! You have been through mill. I really hope it sticks in sinus, for both of us. Now you're in sinu ... Read more

Sophia Ridley Wow! You have been through mill. I really hope it sticks in sinus, for both of us. Now you're in sinus you should be starting to feel much better, it took me a week to get used to the meds and then building my confidence in walking.

Jennifer Lorenzposted a journal

3270 days ago

grayson lopisy reacted to this

Hi Friends! I went for my two week appt. post op (mitral valve repair/maze procedure). My heart rate was 148 and wouldn't go down. Everything else was fine. ...Read more

Hi Friends! I went for my two week appt. post op (mitral valve repair/maze procedure). My heart rate was 148 and wouldn't go down. Everything else was fine. They admitted me and I'm now receiving meds to bring heart rate down. Anyone else go through this?

Emily Rowley It happened to me Post-Op, esp when walking. In Hospital they gave me beta-blockers.

Pat Bijas I am not even scheduled yet for my AVR, however my hear rate is consistently 100+. I hope this is not ... Read more

Pat Bijas I am not even scheduled yet for my AVR, however my hear rate is consistently 100+. I hope this is not a factor when I finally have the surgery...I CANNOT take Beta Blockers due to Raynauds. I wish you well Jennifer...

Liz Burroughs I had my MV repair 9 weeks ago. I've had some episodes of increased heart rate after walking up the s ... Read more

Liz Burroughs I had my MV repair 9 weeks ago. I've had some episodes of increased heart rate after walking up the stairs in my home. A few days ago I was in the kitchen making breakfast. All I did was reach up to a cabinet shelf to put a small bag of flour back/rearrange the shelf. All of a sudden I felt weak & my heart was racing. My heart rate went up (not as high as yours) to 119 (it was 81 less than an hour earlier).

Wanda Mroz I was put on beta blockers in the hospital and still take them. I had MVR and maze as well. It does ... Read more

Wanda Mroz I was put on beta blockers in the hospital and still take them. I had MVR and maze as well. It does take a few months for the maze to lick in and start to work so give it time to heal. My HR only goes up when I'm doing something physical but generally stays in the low end of 100s. In rehab I only reach 90s at best.

Tim Goff Jennifer,
Had both the mitral repair and MAZE 9 months ago. My HR was consistently up in the 120-140 ... Read more

Tim Goff Jennifer,
Had both the mitral repair and MAZE 9 months ago. My HR was consistently up in the 120-140 range post op. First tried Metropolol which didn't work even with increased dosages. Finally tried Amiodarone and with higher doses the resting HR finally dropped down under 100. When exercising it goes up to 140-150 but comes back down at rest. Historically my resting HR was low 65-70, now 85 is the norm. just part of the deal i guess.
The healing process takes time and all of us react differently to the same procedures.
Hope all continues well for you.

Sophia Ridley Hi Jennifer, I was on beta blockers and thinners before leaving hospital due to AF (MV repair 6wks ag ... Read more

Sophia Ridley Hi Jennifer, I was on beta blockers and thinners before leaving hospital due to AF (MV repair 6wks ago) and was readmitted twice due to pulse. It's frustrating as feels like a set back.

As I reminded today, my heart been through a lot and it's still early days. I'm still on meds as AF still settling but I feel that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

I hope that it's under control now and you're discharged soon.

Jennifer Lorenz Thank you all for your support. They did a conversion? (One shock) to get it back into sinus rhythm ... Read more

Jennifer Lorenz Thank you all for your support. They did a conversion? (One shock) to get it back into sinus rhythm and that worked. Was very scared but I was out and it was quick with no pain. Feeling much better and getting released today! I'm going home with meds to hopefully keep it down.

Wanda Mroz I know someone... A couple of people that had that done and it worked very well. Glad you get to go ... Read more

Wanda Mroz I know someone... A couple of people that had that done and it worked very well. Glad you get to go home and hoping things settle down for you.

Michael Bronshteyn My heart rate before surgery was in mid 60s. After surgery it is about 98-104. I went back to the d ... Read more

Michael Bronshteyn My heart rate before surgery was in mid 60s. After surgery it is about 98-104. I went back to the doctor and he said that it was the shock the surgery brought on body and heart is responding to it. More important they said it was regular HR. They told me that it would take up to few months for it go down.